FordTrax

I would like some advice. I am in my mid-50s and need reading glasses in order to do any kind of close up work; e.g. read, repair bike, use cell phone. Pretty much anything close in. I have a minor correction for distance but basically my distance vision is good. I current wear a cheap pair of readers on a chain around my neck when I ride. I try to ride 5 days a week so I ride about 150 miles a week when once they days get longer. I currently don't wear any eye protection - which needs to change - since I have taken the usual bug strike, chips and dirt in the eye while riding. I guess i should point out that I was 20/20 till 5 years ago when my eyes finally got old - while it is not that big of a deal in the scheme of things my inability to see close-up is a source of some frustration for me since I am very active.


So this year I decided I am going to spring for prescription glasses for riding. I plan to use sports rated frames and lens for impact resistance. Since these will be corrected for both reading and distance I plan to wear them 100% of the time when I ride (I don't ride at night so don't worry). Since these are going to be a fairly significant investment I want to make sure I do this right. My eye doctor took a fair amount of time giving me options for frames and lens and fitting me. I was thinking going to polarized photo chromatic lenses. However, after doing some research I saw reports where polarized lens can effect your view of phone screens, gps units, etc. I use RidewithGPS on my cell phone on virtually every ride so this is a potential problem. So now I am thinking maybe I don't want polarized photo chromatic lenses and perhaps just go to photo chromatic and call it good. I really like the idea of photo chromatic for this I and I was pretty sure I wanted polarized lens for glare. Then I searched the web...and well now I am second guessing myself.


So I would really appreciate your experiences with polarization and photo chromatic lens. How did photo chromatic lens work for you - did they change fast enough in most cases? For those of you that have tried polarized lens how did that work out? Anyone try the polarized photo chromatic combo? Also, any color recommendations for the tint - I need something that will work morning, day, and evenings on sunny, snowy, and cloudy days (I try to avoid rain ).


Thank you sharing your thoughts and experiences. This is a big decision for me and a decent investment.

Shimagnolo

https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...y-cycling.html

Doctor Morbius

caloso

I have not used photochromatic lenses so nothing to offer there. Re polarized: I don't like them for cycling. They make it difficult to read my Garmin and dark spots on the pavement look weird. I am a fan of Smith, lots of non-polarized options.

baldilocks

When it's dark or overcast, I wear yellow tinted safety glasses. When It's sunny I wear cheap sun glasses. I believe they are polarized. They have fallen out of my trunk bag and I don't worry because they are highly affordable.

srode1

I use photo-chromatic when I'm up against dawn or dusk in my ride, but other times I use lenses that are contrast enhancing - like Oakley Prizm trail or road. I have tried polarized and don't like them for cycling for reasons mentioned above.

Glenn6870 

FordTrax

"I use photo-chromatic when I'm up against dawn or dusk in my ride, but other times I use lenses that are contrast enhancing - like Oakley Prizm trail or road. I have tried polarized and don't like them for cycling for reasons mentioned above."

TimothyH

No polarized as it reduces visibility of the GPS screen.

Yes photochromatic. I love it.

FWIW, mine are Rx lenses from Oakley.


-Tim-

sdmc530

Same here......photo and by Oakley. Very pleased!

Greyhounds

I have Oakley Prizm Polarized lenses, (Ruby and Road), and I can read my Wahoo Elemnt screen just fine, and have no issues with them in any way. However, I have used polarized lenses from less expensive "off-brands" and have had trouble reading cycling computer screens, cell-phone etc. I'm not saying Oakleys are any better than any other brand, I'm simply saying that they work perfectly fine for me.

skyblue1

Likewise and they've never let me down (other than losing them a half dozen times but I can't really blame them for that).

kansukee

Tifosi photo-chromatic for me as I ride a lot in the late afternoons/evenings.

FordTrax

I called the eye doctor and requested a price on brown photochromatics with anti-glare coating in my prescription. I am not going to take a chance on polarization - and the chance that I will not be able to see my screens. Thanks for the input.

John_V 

Day or night - Tifosi Photochromatic.