Driving with photo-chromatic transition lenses.

[otherclive]

Following on from the recent “ Good or Bad” thread on driver sight testing I had my annual eye test yesterday. Overall nothing had changed in my prescription so new lenses aren’t required. The OCT scan showed no change in a very early cataract, and did pick up initial signs of Macular Degeneration, although the optician was at pains to emphasise that it wasn’t concern. His advice was to carry on eating the broccoli, spinach, kale and other foods that support eye health. The other recommendation was to consider transition lenses for daily use. I had transitions lenses years ago when they were in their early days. They never cleared fully even indoors, and walking into a pub it seemed to take hours before they cleared enough to spot the bar!!

However since then things have moved on a lot. I use polarised sun glasses for driving although my prescription is three years old so recently I’ve used polarised clip ons over my normal clear varifocals. I’m seriously considering transition polarised varifocals that transition in the car as my everyday glasses. At night the lenses are virtually clear so no concerns in that direction. My main concern relates to day time driving especially when going from sunny road into a tree shaded section, or through a tunnel. With my clip ons I can just flip them up.. With either normal sunglasses or transitions I would have to just look over or under them, something I’d prefer not to do, although my normal unaided vision is only just below the legal limit.

Do any members drive with transitions, any feedback on good or bad points would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Sam Vimes]

My optician appointment is on Friday.

Currently I have varifocals that are also photo reactive, if that's the term. They darken down when the light is bright. I've had them for a couple of years now and have got to the point where I dislike the reaction aspect and will be asking for plain glass, still varifocal, this time around.

When driving they don't darken enough in the car and don't reduce glare, especially reflections on the windscreen.

Outside they darken considerably but are a pain when you walk inside somewhere because they're too dark to see things and take ages to clear.

They also seem to have a permanent tint to them now.

I have a pair of Polaroid over glasses and these are great, so that's why I'm going for non- reactive glasses this time.

 

[RogerL]

Following on from the recent “ Good or Bad” thread on driver sight testing I had my annual eye test yesterday. Overall nothing had changed in my prescription so new lenses aren’t required. The OCT scan showed no change in a very early cataract, and did pick up initial signs of Macular Degeneration, although the optician was at pains to emphasise that it wasn’t concern. His advice was to carry on eating the broccoli, spinach, kale and other foods that support eye health. The other recommendation was to consider transition lenses for daily use. I had transitions lenses years ago when they were in their early days. They never cleared fully even indoors, and walking into a pub it seemed to take hours before they cleared enough to spot the bar!!

However since then things have moved on a lot. I use polarised sun glasses for driving although my prescription is three years old so recently I’ve used polarised clip ons over my normal clear varifocals. I’m seriously considering transition polarised varifocals that transition in the car as my everyday glasses. At night the lenses are virtually clear so no concerns in that direction. My main concern relates to day time driving especially when going from sunny road into a tree shaded section, or through a tunnel. With my clip ons I can just flip them up.. With either normal sunglasses or transitions I would have to just look over or under them, something I’d prefer not to do, although my normal unaided vision is only just below the legal limit.

Do any members drive with transitions, any feedback on good or bad points would be appreciated. Thanks

I understood that polarised lenses at night were a big no-no as some car lighting is also polarised and might result in not seeing an oncoming car.

 

[birdman101]

I have the full works lenses for driving. Varifocals,Wide angle, Transitionals and Anti. glare. Thinned down lens The Anti glare reduce the dazzle from oncoming LED headlights at night.

 

[Hutch]

My glasses are the same as Birdmans, the full works, whilst driving I don't notice any real darkening, they do have a "green "tint which works well in the car for sunshine.
When using them on my motorbike I have to be careful when riding in and out of shade, or riding into tunnels, but in that case I pull down my sun visor prior then raise it again when in shade and my glasses are clear.

 

[GUMPY]

I also have the full works except my distance prescription is 0.95 so no difference with or without.
Its UV light that makes my glasses darken.
Most car windscreens remove much of the UV so the glasses don't get as dark as they do outside.

 

[Jcloughie]

Like Birdman, I have the all singing and dancing varifocal thin transition lenses. And though they are a little slow to adapt, I do not find that to be a problem. They don’t darken as much as I would like in the car, but that is to do with the windscreen built in UV protection.

There are different transition systems, mine are whatever Boots use.

Overall, very happy with them.

My prescription and diagnosis is almost word for word that of OC’s

John

 

[otherclive]

I understood that polarised lenses at night were a big no-no as some car lighting is also polarised and might result in not seeing an oncoming car.

Transitions polarised do not polarise to any great extent inside the car in daytime as the windscreen blocks UV light and at night the polarising wavelengths are not present. They come into their own when outdoors.

 

[RogerL]

Transitions polarised do not polarise inside the car as the windscreen blocks UV light and at night the polarising wavelengths are not present.

I don't understand - UV isn't the only form of light that can be polarised and polarisation can occur at night - also the windscreen doesn't completely block UV, merely reduces it.

 

[otherclive]

I don't understand - UV isn't the only form of light that can be polarised and polarisation can occur at night - also the windscreen doesn't completely block UV, merely reduces it.

It is the UV and some wider frequencies that polarise the Transitions lenses. Unlike normal Polaroid lenses Transitions are dynamic polarisation. The Transitions website confirms that the polarisation doesn't occur even in daylight within the car as the windscreen plus windows effectively reduce its effect to minimal. But they do darken within the car but not to the level of normal sunglasses. Polarisation does fully occur when outside of the car. So if its effects are minimal even in daylight I would think that at nighttime its would be minimal and not noticeable. whereas an anti glare coating will have benefits, both at night and in daytime.

Transitions XTRActive Polarized

Transitions XTRActive Polarized

www.transitions.com

 

[otherclive]

Thanks to all for the replies. I have decided to go with the Transitions Gen S as they are more suited for my everyday usage and are clear and are the faster reacting of the Transitions range. So whilst driving I expect them to be clear, in which case I can use my clip on Polaroids, or just revert to my normal glasses with the clip ons.

 

[borderbilly]

Can you get the wee roon ones like john lennon 🤔