Transition Lenses..Good or Bad

[ceegeo]

Friends,

I would like to know from those of you who have or had Transition Lenses and what you think about them.
It's time for new glasses and I don't like changing from my regular glasses to my sunglasses all the time or else I forget the sunglasses. You perscription lense wearers know what I am talking about. Do they change back to normal quickly and are they really clear or have that smokey tint to them inside a room?

Thanks,
Cecelia

[Vinny]

First thing we did when we moved to TV was buy transition lenses. The new ones are great and get dark enough so that you are not getting headaches from squinting in the sun. Takes a few minutes for them to adjust for indoors and they do not get as clear as regular lenses as they have a Slight tint but they are just what we needed. I seldom have a shirt pocket and did not want to carry two pairs of glasses anyway. Ever switch glasses to enter a store only to decide you want to leave and switch again. Not cheap for good transitions but well worth it.

[nitakk]

I have worn Transitions for 4 years now and I love them. Like you, I got tired of the changing of the guard from regular to sunglasses, complete with forgetting a pair and being stuck with sunglasses trying to read a menu! Anyway, you know what a pain it is to carry two pairs of glasses with you.
As for the tinting indoors, it is so slight and subtle that you forget about it. It does take a few seconds when you get indoors for them to lighten up but it is an easy adjustment. You can pick between brown and gray tint to match your frames. I think you'll be pleased with them and no more carrying the other pair around!

[k2at]

As the previous posts have said, I also have used transition lenses for 20 years and just love them. I don't have to carry around an xtra set of glasses and they function very well in the sun and in the shade. I would not purchase anything else.

[KayakerNC]

I love mine.
They seem to take longer going from dark to light than light to dark. And, be aware, they are not going to darken while you are in the car.:cool:

[Vinny]

I love mine.
They seem to take longer going from dark to light than light to dark. And, be aware, they are not going to darken while you are in the car.:cool:

I was told that by my eye doctor but they do get darker in the car although not as dark as being outside. Does not matter much in my car as my windshield is dark enough to make it comfortable along with my glasses.

[marybb]

I've had my lenses for six years. I love them. You will need to adjust to wearing them, took me a week or two.

[Mudder]

Love mine also, yes, it does take a little getting used to.

[Xavier]

I love them as well. My biggest complaint was that they don't darken much inside the motor home or the car. I purchased frames that come with magnetic sun-glass "clip-on type" lenses. They don't clip on though, they stay attached using two round magnets that slip into two little round holes on your frames. The lens for the clip-on is exactly the same shape as your eyeglass lens. I LOVE them.

Xavier

[nkrifats]

I love them as well. My biggest complaint was that they don't darken much inside the motor home or the car. I purchased frames that come with magnetic sun-glass "clip-on type" lenses. They don't clip on though, they stay attached using two round magnets that slip into two little round holes on your frames. The lens for the clip-on is exactly the same shape as your eyeglass lens. I LOVE them.

Xavier
I have the same type and they work great. I wear transition lens when I play golf separate pair of glasses for golf. I need a dark sunglass in car and that is when I found the glasses with the magnetic clip on. I would have nothing else. If I could play golf wearing trifocals I would only need one pair of glasses and they would be the ones with the magnetic clip on.

[2newyorkers]

The transitionals I had never got dark enough, so I was still always changing to sun glasses, especially while driving.
I wore the magnetic sunglasses for years and love them.

[Shimpy]

I bought them anyway but this is what my Optometrist told me. They won't really darken in the car because the UV rays have to hit the lenses and the car's windows block most of them. Second was that in hot weather they aren't as effective as cold weather as temperature has a big influence on how much they change and the biggest complaint in northern climates is they get too dark. In my experience they don't get dark enough in summer or winter and are too slow to change when walking into a building.

[JohnN]

I've worn transition lenses forever (so it seems) and I love them.
They do take a bit longer to go from light to dark (to lighten) but it's been a small issue.

I did notice the last glasses I got (Wal-Mart, good price) the lenses didn't get as dark. They said they were transition lenses, but I think it's wal-mart's version. Get the real deal.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

I've worn transition lenses forever (so it seems) and I love them.
They do take a bit longer to go from light to dark (to lighten) but it's been a small issue.

I did notice the last glasses I got (Wal-Mart, good price) the lenses didn't get as dark. They said they were transition lenses, but I think it's wal-mart's version. Get the real deal.

I'd concur with this! I got glasses a number of years ago that were marketed as having "Transition Lenses".........and they quit 'transitioning' after about 2 years. Bummer. But I did get the magnetic "clip on" sunglasses with them so I'm still good to go. I just miss the transitions!! Time to get new glasses..........

As John said, "Get the real deal!"

Bill

[Endless Summer]

I've had two pair of transitions, both in FL. Both lost their darkening after about 2 years. I checked on line and found that heat can cause this. My husband has not had that problem. I love the transitions but I am due for a new pair of glasses and will have a good talk with my optometrist before I buy transitions again.

[eweissenbach]

I had transitions, but went to regular lenses a year ago and have been happier. I didn't like going from sun into a store, office or home and taking two or three minutes for them to clear up. As others have said, they don't darken much in the car. I bought a pair of polarized sun glasses that fit over my regular glasses, and have found that to be a preferable option for me. I wish I was a good candidate for lasik surgery - would do it in a heartbeat.

[Pturner]

I love my transition lenses. It would drive me crazy to always have to switch between regular and sunglasses. After having had transitions for many years, my eyes changed ten years ago and I had to get new prescriptions. It tried clip-ons but didn't love them. The glasses felt heavy with the clip-ons on, and I found them a little annoying after having gotten spoiled by hands-free transitions.

About five years ago, I switched back to transitions and love them all over again. If they take longer to lighten, I don't notice it. To me, they get dark enough.

They are expensive-- until you consider that its a lot more expensive to buy prescription sunglasses in addition to indoor glasses. Especially by the time you have to have distance and close up transition and the light-weight lenses so they don't look like coke bottles.

[batman911]

I have worn transition lenses since they first became available (long ago) and love them. I currently have tri-focal transition lenses. I wear them every day, inside and out, and have never had a problem with them. There are choices of shades available. I always go with the darkest. One tip I got early was to lay the glasses in full sun outside for a few hours when you first get them to fully activate the darkening process.

[StarbuckSammy]

Another vote for Transistion Lenses. Would not consider anything else. As other members noted, they do not darken in the car because of the windshield. even so....they are worth having.

[K9-Lovers]

Do the glasses become completely clear while indoors, or is there always a slight tint?

[Minnesotalyn]

Friends,

I would like to know from those of you who have or had Transition Lenses and what you think about them.
It's time for new glasses and I don't like changing from my regular glasses to my sunglasses all the time or else I forget the sunglasses. You perscription lense wearers know what I am talking about. Do they change back to normal quickly and are they really clear or have that smokey tint to them inside a room?

Thanks,
Cecelia

I love my transitions, Ever since I was forty and started wearing glasses I've had transitions. I really don't notice a difference when I go outside but when I come in it take a few minutes to lighten up.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Do the glasses become completely clear while indoors, or is there always a slight tint?

If you take them off and look at the lenses after you've been indoors for a while, the lenses will not be crystal clear - they seem to just have a bit of a different cast to them. Put them on versus a pair of standard glasses and you eyes won't notice a difference.

JMHO, as always! :)

Bill

[Barefoot]

I'm finding this thread very interesting. I've had two pairs of transition lenses. Both pairs have hardly darkened at all when I go outside (unless I take them off and hold them up to the sun). So I always end up taking them off and wearing proper sunglasses.

Also, my first pair of transition glasses actually started peeling .. whatever coating they use started peeling off. The first pair I purchased at Sears and the second pair at Walmart.

The posters on this thread have been very enthusiastic which makes me wonder ... are transition lenses purchased from an Optician really that different from ones purchased at an Optical Department of a department store?

[JenAjd]

I've worn glasses nearly ALL my life. I got the transitions back in the 80's and hated them. Same reasons as many posts here. I didn't like how they were inside...too dark and said I'd never get them again.

[ceegeo]

My Friends,
What a great reply. :BigApplause: Thank you all and hope to see you in May with my Transition Lenses.
Cecelia

[Pturner]

I'm finding this thread very interesting. I've had two pairs of transition lenses. Both pairs have hardly darkened at all when I go outside (unless I take them off and hold them up to the sun). So I always end up taking them off and wearing proper sunglasses.

Also, my first pair of transition glasses actually started peeling .. whatever coating they use started peeling off. The first pair I purchased at Sears and the second pair at Walmart.

The posters on this thread have been very enthusiastic which makes me wonder ... are transition lenses purchased from an Optician really that different from ones purchased at an Optical Department of a department store?

Hi Bare,
I wonder, too. It does seem that people who didn't like them said they got them at one of the box stores.

However, I wonder about the peeling you experienced. I've never had the transitions peel, and I don't think it's a coating, at least the ones from an optician. However, I did have glasses once with an anti-glare coating, and that expensive coating peeled in less than two years. :swear:

Might it have been the anti-glare coating, rather than the transition lens, that peeled on your glasses?

[Endless Summer]

Both of my pair that lost the transition darkening after about two years came from an optician's office. Yesterday I broke another pair of cheap sunglasses. :cryin2: Transitions are so worth it to me I went ahead and made an appt for another pair. :icon_wink:

[VillagesFlorida]

As a retired optician I sold many pairs of transition lenses over the years. Since I left the business 13 years ago I have to assume that the quality of the lenses has improved dramatically. Personally, I have never worn them since I never liked that fact that they didn't get completely clear inside. Photos taken of people wearing transitions inside were never flattering. This thread isn't really talking about which type of lens is the best for sunglasses, but do yourself a huge favor and buy a pair of polarized lenses the next time you want a really nice pair of sunglasses. I wear progressive lenses so this can be a bit expensive if you buy in an optical shop vs. Wal-mart, etc. My husband recently bought a pair of progressive, polarized sunglasses from Costco and they were one-half the cost at our local optometrist's office. Polarized lenses cut out a huge percentage of glare so you can imagine how comfortable they are to wear. They are fabulous if you are a boater and they are the best driving lenses you can own. Yes, we wear them playing golf, too! I would rather deal with two pairs of glasses in order to enjoy the huge benefits of polarized lenses. A good, caring optician can show you the benefits of polarized lenses. I also wear an anti-reflective coating on my clear lenses and they CAN scratch easily if one isn't careful cleaning them, etc. My husband found the coating to be too much work but, again, I wouldn't be without it. My aging eyes appreciate anything I can do to cut the glare in the intense Florida sun!

[K9-Lovers]

One trick I have learned for sunglasses, is to have the lab place the non-glare finish on the INSIDE of the lens (the side of the lens closest to your face) rather than on the outside. It really cuts down on reflections, and the non-glare coating is better protected, too.

Polarized sunglasses with non-glare finish on the inside -- your eyes will thank you.

[VillagesFlorida]

One trick I have learned for sunglasses, is to have the lab place the non-glare finish on the INSIDE of the lens (the side of the lens closest to your face) rather than on the outside. It really cuts down on reflections, and the non-glare coating is better protected, too.

Polarized sunglasses with non-glare finish on the inside -- your eyes will thank you.

This is exactly how my husband's sunglass lenses were made at Costco.....anti-reflective coating on the inside of the polarized lenses. As I wrote previously, he isn't the most careful person in the world when it comes to cleaning his glasses so I don't know how long the coating will last! It CAN be removed should it scratch or deteriorate. I agree that these are the best, most comfortable sunglass lenses anyone can wear.....the anti-reflective coating isn't a must if cost is an issue, but I would NOT be happy now without the polarization. Normally, we would not purchase such an important item at a discount box store but Costco's optical shop earned top honors in a recent Consumer Reports article. They did not disappoint us. By the way, at Costco, the anti-reflective coating is a standard on their polarized lenses..no extra charge.

[jazzy48]

I've worn Transitions for years.

If you're really interested in lenses that change, spend the extra money and get authentic Varilux Transitions lenses. Just about anyone that sells glasses offeres some type of generic transitional lens. Even at Ocala Eye, a totally reputable group, in my opinion, I had to specify "Varilux Transitions." The technician told me they sell more of another type of transitional lens, because these were so expensive. My last set, including new frames, cost right at $500. Worth every cent in my opinion.

I've always paid for the Varilux Transitions, and I've NEVER had them not work. I wore my last prescription for almost eight years. They never faded, they always changed, they never scratched, and I'd still be wearing them if the frames hadn't started to discolor and my prescription changed enough to warrant new ones. One complaint many have, especially if you have the progressive lenses, is distortion on the sides. Absolutely NO distortion with these lenses.

True, they don't change while driving the car, but I'm not in the car much here. They do change in the golf cart. Also, others have talked about a tint inside. I can put mine up against a white sheet of paper, and if there is a tint, it's beyond minimal. Even during the summer, mine get very dark. They also change to clear very quickly upon going inside.

One last thought, if you deal with a reputable supplier, if you get the lenses and are unhappy with them after 30 days, or more, they will let you replace them at no cost.

[Jim De Graaf]

I have them and find they make poor sun glasses.They do not work inside your car. I just had cataract surgery and will get new glasses with clear lenses and a new pair of sunglasses

[casita37]

Another vote for transition. I've also worn them for many, many years. I also have progressive lenses. I call them my "everything" glasses. One pair on in the morning/off at bedtime.....so simple.

After years of trying to get my husband to go with progressive and transition, he finally did it...although he had to go with bifocal, instead of progressive, because of an eye muscle problem. He adjusted in amazingly quick time, particularly since he was determined he wouldn't like them....LOL

I would never even consider going back to sunglasses and reading glasses. Just too much to keep up with, plus I have never had any type of adjustment problem. You just forget about them. Put them on and get on with your day, including golf, computer, driving and everything!!

Do get good quality!

[Bruiser1]

Friends,

I would like to know from those of you who have or had Transition Lenses and what you think about them.
It's time for new glasses and I don't like changing from my regular glasses to my sunglasses all the time or else I forget the sunglasses. You perscription lense wearers know what I am talking about. Do they change back to normal quickly and are they really clear or have that smokey tint to them inside a room?

Thanks,
Cecelia

I have used transitions for more year than I can remember. The transition is subtle and responsive. (the only time there was a slight delay (seconds) was coming in from -35 temperature to indoors_ ICANT imagine that happening that happening in the Villages)

IMHO well worth the investment for your eyes!:clap2:

[Golfingnut]

I have liked them quite well. No regrets

[casita37]

I have used transitions for more year than I can remember. The transition is subtle and responsive. (the only time there was a slight delay (seconds) was coming in from -35 temperature to indoors_ ICANT imagine that happening that happening in the Villages)

IMHO well worth the investment for your eyes!:clap2:

I thought I had ruined my first pair of transition just a couple of days after I got them. I was in PA during a big snow storm. I went out in the morning, and the sun was shining very brightly. I walked about 100 yards, or so, in the blinding light reflected off the snow. My lenses got almost pitch black dark and stayed that way for quite a while. I put them in the pocket of my coat for the walk back and they finally got back to normal.