Prescription cycling (sun)glasses

[GovernorSilver]

I like my Rudy Project sunglasses. They use a double-lens scheme – the protective lenses and the prescription lens insert. The disadvantage is obvious, but the advantage is it’s easy to switch out the protective lens. I originally got the Rudy Project with polarized lenses, against the advice of the optician who sold it to me – he thought I should get the “photochromic” (aka “transition”) lens option since I said I mostly ride as a commuter. Original cost was $300 with my discount. Not cheap, but then a pair of Maui Jims with prescription lenses runs about $700 at my optometrists’ shop.

When fall arrived with ever-shorter days, I realized what he was saying, and coughed up an extra $85 for a pair of photochromic lens for the Rudy Project. Being relatively clear in the dark hours of the morning and evening and darkening upon sunrise, these proved to be ideal for fall/early spring riding.

I don’t regret getting two pairs of protective lens though. Usually in the longer-day months, I want something that’s guaranteed to be dark, as opposed to changing to a darker shade when the design says its time.

[dbb]

I had a pair of Rudy Project glasses with the inserts and tired of them. It seems I sweat too much and fogging occurred between the two lenses. I replaced them with a pair of glasses that I really like. The actual brand won’t be available till I get home on Thursday night. I didn’t bring them with me because there would be no cycling in Louisiana for me. As I recall, they weren’t particularly cheap.

I might be able to part with the Rudy Project glasses as you would be able to get new inserts. If you might be interested, PM me.

[americancyclo]

Am I remembering right that a flexible health care spending account can be used to pay for prescription glasses. Rudy usually offers a free Helmet, Jersey, Bib, or Bag with a $175 purchase. Whether or not any of those are worth the $29.95 S&H is for you to decide, but if you have some FSA dollars that you need to spend, it might not be such a bad idea.
http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/gwp/Rudy-Project-Free-GWP-USA.pdf

[bentbike33]

As dbb mentions above, inserts aren’t great in adverse weather conditions. When I used them in rain, it was a toss-up whether I should keep them on or remove them entirely (and I am very nearsighted/astigmatic). I strongly recommend a single-lens solution. You can at least do a windshield-wiper sort of clearing with thumb and index finger on both sides in the rain to maintain vision.

Also, if you have a high-powered prescription (like me), it may not be compatible with certain sports-oriented frames, especially the aero-looking cycling sunglasses. So last time, I bought some thick plastic nerd-glasses frames (although I think they were actually marketed as “sports sunglass” frames) with transition lenses so they work in sun and darkness.

[GovernorSilver]

I’ve ridden in the rain with my Rudy Projects – including two of the heaviest storms we’ve had this year. Those of who went to a certain 3rd Thursday happy hour this summer probably rode home in the same downpour that I rode in (eg. worktheweb, SteveO). A cycling cap with visor really helps.

I’ve had them fog up on occasion, usually coming out of an air-conditioned environment into a hot and humid one. That happens to my regular glasses too.

I got them in the first place because they actually stay attached to my head no matter how much I sweat – the Maui Jims always slipped off, as well as regular glasses. I do sweat enough in hot weather to completely saturate my Halo headgear by the 6th mile or so of a ride. The breeze generated by moving on my bike usually prevents fog from forming.

I was steered to this brand by my neighborhood opticians because the other brands didn’t make frames that were compatible with prescription lenses that I needed – they tend to be pretty thick unless going high-index.

[AFHokie]

Oakley makes prescription glasses. Theyand a few other brands have various pro deals for veterans and government employees. They’re definitely worth it if you fall into one of those categories.

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[bikesnick]

I, too, recommend Rudy Project. The wrap around lens gives greater viewing than with my regular glasses. The transition lens has worked great. The [URL=”http://http://macphersonopticians.com/”%5Doptician%5B/URL%5D worked with me to get a good fit and prescription with a very small area for biofocals (to read cue sheets). They have worked great in shade, sun, rain, and humidity.

[mello yello]

I’ve heard good things about Wiley X but haven’t had direct experience. They’re more tactical gear and shooting and general sports than cycling.

[AFHokie]

@mello yello 145216 wrote:

I’ve heard good things about Wiley X but haven’t had direct experience. They’re more tactical gear and shooting and general sports than cycling.

Over my career I’ve been issued a couple different models of Wiley-X glasses and I have yet to try a pair that didn’t pinch, rub, fog or come brand new out of the box not warped to varying degrees. They may have since improved, but I’ll never willingly try another pair.

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[BobCochran]

How interesting — a thread on prescription glasses just when I need such a thread! I do have Wiley X prescription glasses. They are a year old. They do make me feel my eyes are protected from airborne objects. I too sweat a lot, and the blasted glasses would fog up, even when I applied “Cat Crap” defogger to the lens. Then recently I took off the inner grey foam cushion and the glasses do not fog as much now. The glasses tend to slide down my nose. I always have to push them back up. Finally, the Wiley X glasses are dark brown in tint (the lenses, I mean) and I need clear lenses, too. When it gets dark in the fall and winter, the dark brown lenses just are not right for me. So I really wish I had two pairs of prescription glasses — one with clear lenses and one in dark brown tint.

Apparently, my eyeglass prescription was such that Oakley does not have the technology to make the glasses, and my online optician suggested Wiley X or another, different, brand. I’m sorry I picked Wiley X.

I have an annual eye exam scheduled next month and I’m going to ask my eye physician what he thinks the alternative providers are if I don’t like Wiley X and can’t use Oakley. For example I wonder if Zenni Optical can do better — they are an online provider too. Or maybe I should just take my prescriptions to my real-live-person-optometrist (just down the road from me) and let her worry about it all.

I can say this: I definitely still do want prescription bicycling sunglasses. One pair tinted heavily as sunglasses, and one pair with clear lenses. The Wiley X have many faults but they do give me a sense of security that a flying twig might not eyeball me on that ride.

Bob

[hozn]

I have a pair of Rudy Project and a pair of Wiley X prescription glasses. These are from sportrx.com which I highly recommend; their customer service is excellent.

Neither of these are inserts; they’re full rx lenses.

Both paid for with FSA $$ (and neither cheap, somewhere in the $400-600 range). While I don’t love how the Rudy Project look, they stay on my face much better thanks to the adjustable nose pads.

First thing to be aware of, maybe already mentioned, is that cycling glasses (typically a bit convex, etc.) take some getting used to. It is weird how optically different it is from riding with contacts, which I also do for time to time. Once you are used to it, switching back and forth to regular glasses no longer takes any adjustment. The human brain is quite something.

I highly recommend photochromatic lenses. I have the lighter version on my RP glasses which go from almost transparent to dark gray in the sun. I use these year round, so lots of riding in the dark. I wish I had done this with my WileyX glasses too, since without that feature they are useless for commuting or am rides most of the year.

I have had the RP glasses for 5 or 6 years now, so it was definitely worth it. The quality of the (polycarbonate) lenses is much higher than typical cycling glasses too, so they’re not noticeably scratched up or anything (despite also using for MTB rides). They are held together with super glue now though, since the removable lenses started popping out when I would clean my glasses on rides.

[Kitty]

@bentbike33 145193 wrote:

Also, if you have a high-powered prescription (like me), it may not be compatible with certain sports-oriented frames, especially the aero-looking cycling sunglasses. So last time, I bought some thick plastic nerd-glasses frames (although I think they were actually marketed as “sports sunglass” frames) with transition lenses so they work in sun and darkness.

This is me. My eyesight is so bad I am legally blind without glasses. Last year I used FSA and vision coverage to invest in prescription sunglasses and it ended up being pretty challenging to find sport frames that would work with my Rx. The fashion seems to be either the “aero” look or face-wrapping, neither of which work with coke-bottle lenses.

I found a pair of Oakleys that work, and actually stay on my face better than my regular glasses. That said, I do have to carry the regular glasses with me when I ride for if I end up going indoors, it gets dark etc. God bless jersey pockets. 😎

[tnelson]

Thanks everyone! This was all super helpful information. I was already leaning towards prescription lenses vs. inserts and this confirmed that decision for me. I’ll definitely look into Rudy Projects. I actually wasn’t even considering photochromatic lenses but with so many recommendations I’ll have to give them a shot. I don’t have an FSA, unfortunately, so it looks like I’ll have to make some out-of-pocket investment… maybe I can at least get a free jersey out of the deal like americancyclo mentioned.

[dkel]

Late response on my part, but I thought I’d go ahead and pile on. I wasn’t using my lens or frame benefit from my eye insurance one summer, and used that plus FSA to get some prescription goggle-looking things. My vision is so bad I had no choice but to go with something from Liberty Sports, since they were the only frame to take my thick lenses. They are fantastic! A strap keeps them on. I only fog up in the winter, and only when stopped, which is easy to deal with. I get no wind or debris in my eyes. I spent extra on transitions technology, and I never even notice them changing, they are so well-tuned to the lighting conditions. They are far more expensive than my regular glasses, but with insurance it wasn’t bad at all. I’ve been at the beach for a few days, and I wish I brought them: they would be great out here, too, even off the bike.

[dbb]

My current glasses are Adidas that have photo-gray progressive bifocals.

[Author]

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