Question for the foureyes out there... sunglasses? lasik?

[tygab]

I have been riding with my normal specs all summer. I would like to get a pair of RX riding/sport glasses with changeable lenses (so if it's not too sunny out I could go with a clear or at least light lense). I definitely squint on sunny days and my eyes get blinded by the pavenment halo sometimes... Shatterproof lenses would be good too.

The problem in locating such items - I have a small face and most typical shades are either super huge on me or don't take RX lenses. Any ideas? Anyone have RX ones today?

I have considered laser eye surg but I have mixed feelings about that, for example around cost (is it really worth it) and potential side effects.

[Sheesh]

I always wore my contacts when riding or doing anything athletic because of the need for sunglasses and not wanting to spend extra money to get RX sunglasses. I have been wearing Smith sunglasses with interchangeable lenses for the last few years and LOVE them. I can change the lenses depending on the brightness of the sun, or activity that I'm doing.

I had PRK (a version of laser eye surgery) in December and LOVE not having to worry about contacts. My husband had LASIK in July and he is also pretty happy. We were lucky enough to be able to use our FLEX spending account through work, so we paid using tax-free money. In that way, it was definitely worth the money.

Good luck with your decision and/or finding glasses that you love!

[farrellcollie]

I have worn glasses for 40 yrs - I use the type of glasses that have sunglasses with them as an attachment - magnet on the side right now - I have had pairs with clip attachments. My partner has the lenses that change -dark outside / lighten up inside. I also have a pair of rx sunglasses - fairly small lenses - they can put rx dark lenses in almost any frame these days. My current glasses with sunglass attachment are quite small.

[SadieKate]

I'm a skeptic. I only have one pair of eyes and nobody is touching them for elective surgery.

That said. Go to RudyProject's website. I asked this question for my hubby and the highest recommendations were for Rudy. Look for RxDirect in frame lenses. Almost 100% of the comments about the inserts were "I should have gotten the full lens." The extra layer of lenses is just one more place to catch dust, cause extra reflection and loose acuity.

Best to know your Rx when you look because the site will give you info about max base curve, etc. Depending on your RX you may be limited to certain frames due to the wrap of the frame.

Also, try heavy glare.com.

FYI, I just bought the Ekynox SX frames today with the polarized/photochromic lense. I have a very small face (but not a pointy head ). The SX designation is for small faces.
https://www.rudyprojectusa.com/produ...s/ekynoxsx.htm

[alpinerabbit]

Try disposable contacts. I wear them for sports only (although I used to wear contacts for years) - they are fairly cheap per shot.

I've had two minor problems, but they are bearable:

Sometimes one turns inside out. It will not fit right and I have lost one right out of my eye on a descent when tears lifted it off the cornea.

Sometimes there's a dud - it will feel unpleasant when put in - I just take the next and it will be fine. That's because they are cast, not ground to fit.

[Bruno28]

You can get malignant melanoma in your eyes.

My dad was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma from a secondary tumour that grew in a lymph gland in his neck.

When they were searching for the primary site (which they never found in the end) one of the places they looked was in his eyes. I never even knew you could get melanoma there! He was advised that one of the best precautions people could take was to wear sunglasses.

It is rare to get melanoma in your eyes but please protect them - wear good sunglasses.

[melissam]

Hey there, Tygab!

I wanted prescription wrap-around cycling glasses too, because when I rode fast in my regular specs, the air/wind would get between the glasses and my eyes and cause my eyes to water. See, I had to spend the $$, because it's a safety issue!

Anyway, my eye doctor's optometry department has cycling frames. We got them filled with my prescription, and I got progressive lenses so they get darker or lighter depending on the amount of light.

I've had them for a couple of months and am pretty happy with them.

Good luck to you!

-- Melissa