Prescription Sunglasses?

[SR500]

I have the insert setup from Performance and think they are very nice for the money. I just ordered the glasses and lenses from Performance and then WalMart filled the Rx. They work fine for me and were around $200 complete.

My husband had Smith glasses with an insert before getting the Tifosi glasses. He likes the single lens Tifosi much better. Even with his poor eyesight the Tifosi lens is excellent, better then the Smith insert. Plus the single lens is way better if you sweat a lot. Occasionally sweat can get between the lenses - big PITA.

He still uses the Smith's with an amber lens for low light conditions, but I wouldn't be surprized if he spings for another pair at some point. The biggest advantage of the inserts is you can swap lenses for light condition.

[Eden]

I have Columbia Sports wrap around style glasses with RX lenses in them. My perscription is fairly light and I can get any lenses even though I do have some astigmatism. I didn't want to get the insert type just because it seems like it would be too easy for them to fog up inbetween or to get water in there if its raining. It would be nice to have interchangable lenses, but I do the second best thing by getting photogrey (transitions) on all of my glasses. I'm pretty light sensitive so I get all of my glasses done this way, otherwise I'm squinting all of the time.

I'm thinking about getting some Smiths this year. They are one of our sponsors and I've tried on a pair that are actually small enough for me. (this is another problem for me - I'm small and have a narrow face with a narrow interpupilary distance too, so I often must buy childrens' glasses) They are definitely more stylish than my Columbias, but keeping grit and water and wind out of my eyes is the most important thing! I think that they have a model that has RXable interchangeable lenses, but the lenses are so expensive that getting more than one with my prescription might be way to pricey. I'm hoping I can take advantage of the sposored price and my insurance, but getting an itemized reciept may not be possible.

[Aggie_Ama]

Eden- I am thinking of getting transition lenses since I will have to give up my interchangeables. Do they get pretty dark?

[Eden]

They aren't quite as dark as the pair of dedicated sunglasses that I have (they are the darkest lens available) but they get dark enough that I don't have any problems no matter how bright it is outside. You sometimes get a choice of lenses that go from light to medium dark or medium to very dark too.

[Bad JuJu]

My everyday glasses have transitions lenses--I've been using transitions for several years now. As Eden said, they don't get as dark as actual sunglasses, so I don't use them for cycling. But for just everyday life, they're great. I walk around campus from my office to classes, library, etc., and it would just drive me nuts to have to be changing from clear glasses to sunglasses every time I entered or exited a building.

Xeney, the serious astigmatism is my problem, too. Sounds like there's a general feeling of satisfaction with the sunglasses-with-Rx-inserts, so I guess that's what I'll go with. And I'm told I can get them as bifocals, so I can read my computer (my regular glasses have progressive lenses--between the progressives and the transitions, it's a good thing I've got the vision plan with my health insurance! )

[SalsaMTB]

Have you checked out ryders at all? With prescription lenses, you are limited to the amount of curve you can get. Ryders (and maybe other companies?) have some frames with a gasket so you can get an 8 base curve with prescription lenses. Basically, the gasket reduces the lens curve to 6 base, but the frame is still 8 base so you get really good coverage while riding.

Just something to consider

[SadieKate]

http://www.heavyglare.com/

About 4 mos ago, Bill got Rudy Projects with Rx. One eye has a very high correction power plus an astigmatism. He talked to company after company. Heavy Glare was the only place that would even attempt to work with his prescription. He's very happy with the results.

He did not want an insert due to the field of vision plus one more place to trap dust, fog, sweat, whatever. Generally, increasing the layers of lens reduces optical quality.