Tragically myopic...

[damsel]

I know they're not, strictly speaking, dive gear, but does anyone have any experience, good or bad, with Transitions eyeglasses - the lenses that change from ordinary lenses to sunglasses in bright light? I'm finally bagging my contacts in favour of a prescription mask, but obviously I still need to see when I'm abovewater. I spend most of my days outdoors, and ordinary glasses with clipon sunglasses just aren't working out. Would I be wiser to try the Transitions lenses, or just wear a prescription pair of sunglasses and switch back to my ordinary glasses indoors?

 

[The Kraken]

My daddy always said that one tool designed to do two different jobs can do neither adequately.
I asked my opthamologist about those types of glasses and she steered me away from them. This was the opthamologist not the optometrist so I don't think there was a profit motive involved.
I do know that the gradient change is not as quick as sometimes suggested through advertising.

 

[yknot]

I've had two pairs. One some years ago were solid glass. These worked well but glass lenses are heavy. They were referred to as "photo gray" lenses. The last pair I had were plastic and these also worked well. There are different grades available. The pair I had were capable of about the darkest tint available with the possibility that their indoor clarity could be somewhat less than the ones that had less outdoor darkening. In other words, there was a choice of clear indoors to somewhat darkened outside -to- very dark outdoors and somewhat dark still indoors. Bottom line is that I was very happy with them. They changed in a matter of seconds to dark when I went outside. As far as I know these lenses would still function but there in a drawer somewhere- I got laser surgery and now I just use cheap sunglasses.

 

[Damselfish]

I had a pair of the glass "photo gray" and it is certainly more convienient than 2 pairs of glasses, but it was a compromise. They changed slowly enough both directions to be a problem sometimes and as sunglasses they weren't as good as single-purpose sunglasses. This was awhile ago so maybe they've got better stuff now - it would be nice if they have a non-prescription sample of whatever you're looking at to try out.

(I have separate regular and prescription sunglasses now and I really like having prescription sunglasses. I got a case with a zipper on each end that hold 2 pairs of glasses which is very handy.)

 

[saltwater taffy]

Hey Dansel,

I, too, had a very severe vision correction. After years of trying to deal with, I took the plunge and had surgery on both eyes. My surgeon, just happens to be a xcuba diver. I was absolutely amazed at the difference it has made in my diving pleaure. No more contacts, no more glasses.

Good luck,
SWT

 

[geraldp]

I know they're not, strictly speaking, dive gear, but does anyone have any experience, good or bad, with Transitions eyeglasses - the lenses that change from ordinary lenses to sunglasses in bright light? I'm finally bagging my contacts in favour of a prescription mask, but obviously I still need to see when I'm abovewater. I spend most of my days outdoors, and ordinary glasses with clipon sunglasses just aren't working out. Would I be wiser to try the Transitions lenses, or just wear a prescription pair of sunglasses and switch back to my ordinary glasses indoors?

My eyes are extremely sensitive to sunlight. When I originally started wearing prescription glasses I just got an extra tint put in them. This was no good - kind of too dark at night, yet not dark enough during the day. So the last pair I got were Transitional. At the same time I had them add gradient bifocals, plus polycarb lenses. To be honest, the glasses don't get near dark enough for me. I think (but am not sure) that the fact that I asked for polycarb lenses and/or gradient bifocals limited the darkening capability of the lens.

Anyway, the glasses are never too dark for me inside or at night, but I end up having to wear clip-ons or switch to my prescription sunglasses in the sunlight.

Hope that helps,

Jerry

 

[baitedstorm]

Photogray and Transition lenses are two very different lenses.... The most obvious would be one's glass the other's plastic.

Today’s lenses have come far in technology! The new Transition lenses (called Transition Xtra) get darker faster as well as lightening up much more quickly than before. Also an added benefit, they no longer get that nasty little yellow tint to them after they start to age like the older one’s did. They even come in a hi-index material that I would strongly recommend if you are truly highly myopic (stay away from polycarbonate lenses, they might be lighter in weight, but they don‘t tint worth a damn, and they scratch very easily (much softer material in order to “flex“ to meet safety standards).
Not sure if you need them or not, but since they were mentioned, progressive lenses (bi-focals) wont make a difference in the way the lens darkens, but it will definitely make them heavier, my suggestion, single vision lenses unless you plan on doing a ton of reading topside

If you need anymore un-bias info. let me know.

Vickie

 

[geraldp]

Photogray and Transition lenses are two very different lenses.... The most obvious would be one's glass the other's plastic.

They even come in a hi-index material that I would strongly recommend if you are truly highly myopic (stay away from polycarbonate lenses, they might be lighter in weight, but they don‘t tint worth a damn, and they scratch very easily (much softer material in order to “flex“ to meet safety standards).

Since I lost my primary vision in one eye long ago polycarb lenses were recommended to me (by the optometrist) to keep my other eye "safer". You know the old addage: "don't look into the laser with remaining good eye"... I can definitely confirm that they don't tint very well. I haven't had a problem with scratching, though.

If you need anymore un-bias info. let me know.

Vickie

Thanks...

 

[captain]

I have used both prescription lens in a mask and contacts. I gave up the prescription lens long ago. I much prefer the contacts. Also once on the surface with my mask off I can still see, which could be important in certain emergency situations. I use the stick on Optx 20/20 stick on lens in my mask to read my gauges. If there is no medical reason to ditch the contacts I would stick with them if I were you.

Captain

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

Damsel,

I am a migraine sufferer and quite sensitive to strong sunlight (and grew up on the sunny Texas Gulf Coast too - there's reasons I don't buy Lottery tickets . . . ).

I have used Transitions lenses for some time now. They darken sufficiently, and darken / lighten much more rapidly than older Photo Gray tech, but when driving or riding in a vehicle the tinted / polarized safety glass keeps the lenses from darkening to the same degree of "darkness" you would obtain standing outside a vehicle - but they do take the edge off. Works pretty well for me.

I started wearing soft (2 week disposable) contact lenses as an alternative about two years ago after my wife commented on how much more stuff she could see if she wore her contact lenses while diving. I use only single pane masks - anything in the nose bridge area makes me see separate images - and this works great with contacts. I can also wear regular $10 sunglasses when wearing contact lenses, and being disposable, are pretty easy to adapt when my presription changes. I do keep a set of spectacles with Transitions, anti-glare, etc. and probably split my time about 50/50 between wearing contacts and wearing spectacles. I'm not sure why you'd bag contact lenses in favor of a prescription mask, but to each his/her own for whatever works for you.

Hope this helps!