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

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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.

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I will have to look at Sports Optical. I'd like to have polarized shades to keep in the car, too. And contacts are a definite no-go. Between all my allergies and the debris that flies around behind sunglasses that seems like a bad option for me.

[nuliajuk]

It's true about the curved lenses not working well with strong prescriptions, my husband had the same issues before he developed cataracts and his natural lenses were replaced with Toric artificial lenses.

Prior to that, he had a pair of prescription racketball goggles that he used for cycling, as well as a pair of traditional sunglasses with big flat lenses. His eyes are sensitive to wind, to he preferred the racketball goggles for most riding.

Now he has 20/13 vision in one eye and 20/15 in the other and can ride without a prescription. He's been buying sunglasses off the rack and really enjoying being able to do that.

e.t.a.: Here's a solution that I sometimes see on site visits. We're supposed to be using the special safety glasses with the dust gaskets that the client specifies for their minesites, but sometimes I see people using these add-on side shields for their regular prescription glasses:
http://www.northernsafety.com/News/A...-safety-device

[Thorn]

Along the lines of nuliajuk, if it is just for the cold winter days, a cheap solution is to buy over-the-glasses (OTG) safety glasses. I bought some off the internet that aren't the big, bulky safety glasses you get from the hardware store, but instead just fit over my glasses.

One of these days I'll buy prescription cycling glasses, but I'm not convinced I can successfully purchase glasses over the internet (I know, I know, many do it without issue, but I've had problems with in-person purchase that I'm skeptical)