Prescription sunglasses/googles with strong eye Rx? / Shop for me!

[fallstoclimb]

I've been recently convinced of the need to protect my eyes from cold wind during my winter commute and road rides. I wear eyeglasses and hate contacts, so clear lens prescription sports glasses are the obvious solution. However, my prescription is STRONG. I don't have actual prescription handy but I know my contact lens Rx is -6 and -6.50. I tried to get nice cycling prescription glasses once for the cool factor but was told bc my eye sight was so bad I'd have to get basically prescription insets set behind the shaded lenses, which sounded visibly dorky and I was a little worried about poor peripheral vision.

Anyway, now I'm worried about protecting my eyes so I don't care about the dork factor. Zennioptical.com has a bunch of prescription sports glasses / googles (with big insets, it looks like) for $25-$30, which confuses me greatly. Anyway, does anyone have experience with this site? Other options for strong prescription protective eyewear?

I'd like something like this, but my understanding is that the curved wrap-around doesn't work well with strong prescriptions:
http://www.zennioptical.com/705224-p...l?nav_cat_id=2

Something like this might work better for my prescription but I'm not sure how much it would really protect my eyes?
http://www.zennioptical.com/705015-p...l?nav_cat_id=2

Someone on bike forums just mentioned pteryguim, and I've had constantly red eyelids from commuting this week, so I'm a little freaked out.

[tulip]

I get mine from the optometrist. Polycarbonate with scratch resistance.

[Catrin]

I get mine from the optometrist. Polycarbonate with scratch resistance.

Same here. I have a quite strong astignatism prescription myself. In order to get into wrap-around lenses - which I think is important on the bike - we actually had to cut back a bit on my prescription. There was an adjustment period when I would go between glasses, but once my eyes became accustomed to the change I stopped even noticing it. I won't use those glasses for anything outside of riding or driving - AND they don't have a bifocal...it was the solution that worked for me. My prescription can vary quite a lot from year to year, both directions, so am hoping it will be less complicated next time.

[thekarens]

Another one who got theirs from the optometrist. I didn't qualify for the sunglasses that only had the frame on the top. I had to go with full frame, but I'm mostly happy with them. They are wrap around Ray Bans. I'm another one who won't wear contacts

[zoom-zoom]

I don't have a strong prescription, but have wondered if there are pros to having the prescription inserts with something like Rudy Projects...I gotta have photochromic and REALLY do not like the full frame. I always seem to have a blind spot from the bottom of the frame when I'm trying to see cars behind. Seems like having inserts would make for the same issue, but they're so much cheaper than the wrap-arounds with prescription built-in.

[Owlie]

I don't have a strong prescription, but have wondered if there are pros to having the prescription inserts with something like Rudy Projects...I gotta have photochromic and REALLY do not like the full frame. I always seem to have a blind spot from the bottom of the frame when I'm trying to see cars behind. Seems like having inserts would make for the same issue, but they're so much cheaper than the wrap-arounds with prescription built-in.

Less expensive for sure, and probably "better" (read "more available") for those of us with crazy prescriptions. I imagine you would end up with a blind spot. I ride with an old pair of prescription sunglasses (non-cycling) and I get a blind spot from the frame and the fact that the shape doesn't really work. I end up having to look under the corner. Blech.

It's either Rudy Project (and they don't go up as high as I need either!) with inserts, contacts, or Lasik for me. Blah. I tried the contact route but couldn't get past the mental block on sticking my finger that close to my eyeball. And Lasik? Heck no!

OP: My 'script is in the same range as yours (-5.something, -6.something). BF has a pair, and if you have the sunglass insert in, you can't tell. The clear lens, you probably could, but no one is going to notice.

Or, there are these guys. They seem to get good reviews on other cycling forums. http://www.sportsoptical.com/index.htm

[Eden]

I got my custom prescription wrap arounds from Sports Optical. They did an excellent job. My problem is not a particularly strong prescription, but rather a very small interpupillary distance, but it leads up to the same thing - lenses too thick around the edges for curved frames.. I got photochromic lenses to save some cash and I've been extremely happy with them. I've had them for 4 or 5 years now and they are getting scratched to the point that I should really get new ones. I'll likely go with the same company. I'm unwilling to go with behind the lens inserts because I ride in the rain quite a bit and can't imagine that they wouldn't end up getting wet in between the two sets of lenses... that would be impossible to wipe away and I can't see well enough without glasses to simply take them off...

[smilingcat]

I took Eden's suggestion about 3 yrs ago and bought a replacement insert for my Scotts from Sports Optical. great place. then I lost my replacement on an airplane. I had my regular glasses on and I had put my Scotts in my purse... It fell out either in the cabin or somewhere on the concourse/jetway. sniff... I've been using my regular glasses since then.

Sports Optical was really nice about explaining things to me about different make/model. I found one I liked and he told me that the lens is inserted by cutting out the whole lens then inserting a prescription lens. And it would lose that smooth one piece cool looking factor. It would have a circular line around each lens as if someone took a marker to outline each of my eyes. That is what I remember him telling me. So I just ordered a replacement Scotts at the time. the one I lost... My first one literally dissolved from my sweat and the oil.

[Catrin]

The inserts are less expensive? ??? Hmmmm

[AppleTree]

I liked the looks of the panorama style on those, didn't look as bulky as what you would find in the drugstore. Thanks for the link Catrin.

[goldfinch]

I've bought glassses though not goggles from Zenni. I find they do a great job with single vision but I haven't had as good luck with bifocals/progressive lenses. My vision is as bad as the OP's plus I have astigmatism. A friend bought a pair of their goggles and is happy with them. Her vision isn't quite as bad as mine.