13ollocks

I have a couple of pairs of prescription sunglasses - Ray-Bans - a casual pair with mild “shade” that could be worn anywhere and a darker more obviously “sporty” pair that I bought for sailing but work well on the bike. Which ones I wear depends on the brightness I'm encountering

Jay Turberville

I just use my regular day-to-day glasses. I used to use Bolle sunglasses that had a prescription insert behind the lens. But It was just too much hassle/expense to keep the prescription up-to-date given that my regular glasses seem to work fine. I do use a visor that I 3D printed to be extra long to help when the sun is low on the horizon and shield my face from harsh sunlight in summer.

70sSanO

For years I used my regular glasses to ride, with photo gray and then transitions lenses.

5 years ago I had cataract surgery. I’m sure lenses have improved since then, but I ended up with 2 different lens mfg that gave me a bit of monovision.

My right eye can see clear beginning at around 18”, but has a bit of midrange (4ft-10ft) clarity gap. But my left eye starts a little further out and picks up the midrange. Both are great at distances. Together this gives me pretty seamless clarity, with the exception of close range. That kinda stinks for wrenching, but I’ll use readers when I need to.

I now ride with Nike wrap around sunglasses.

John

Yan 

Contacts.

staehpj1

I see this thread is rolling around again about the time I am about due for another trip to the eye doc. My Wiley X Twisted glasses are now about a year old. They are not cycing specific glasses but I have been pretty happy with mine. I wear an old pair of aviators in an old prescription (close enough that I don't notice any difference in the distance prescription and the reading one is close) when I need clear lenses.

I guess I will see what the doc recommends at this next visit wrt cataract surgery. Mine are ripe enough that it is an option and I am pretty sure he'd recomment it if I was complaining about night driving. I have mixed feelings about it and will get it when he recommends it. That will mean a complete reshuffling of my glasses setup.

If I wind up needing to spend a bundle replacing all my new glasses to upgrade my prescriptions this go round I may consider just going ahead with the surgery now. I might have to compare the costs in deciding. I won't cheap out, but it may be a factor in which way I go. The flexibility of not needing a prescription lense to ride would be a great plus on that side of the equation. It would be so nice to have nonprescription lenses that could be swapped for different conditions.

Trek1100FeltZ5

When I first went to bifocals, I had a pair of sunglasses configured to the just the distant correction, thinking that would be all I needed on a ride. Boy, was that stupid!

ofajen

I did that on my previous prescription, but it seemed to scratch the front surface of the lenses. I’ve just worn this prescription plain and they are doing great.

I use a basic Trek helmet with a visor so the sun is generally not an issue. And most all eyewear blocks UV. It costs extra to get lens materials that pass UV.

Otto

David_Harris

This is what I have done so far, and it has worked for me, but my prescription and need for up-close adjustment has changed enough that my next pair of sunglasses may have the bifocal just as my regular glasses do. I had to get computer glasses this time around, which sucked because I didn’t have the money to get those and a new pair of regular glasses or sunglasses and had to continue with the old ones. Does make the daily office work less straining on the eyes, though.

jnbrown

I am curious about these glasses. I have two pairs of Oakley and don’t like either one.
On one of them the arms come up too high and are very rigid. When I put on my helmet it pushes on the arms causing the frames to push against my face. Do you find the P17 have enough clearance for your helmet? Also I use a bike peddler clip on rear view mirror. It looks like the arms on the P17 might work with it. On my other pair of Oakleys it does not stay on and had to use silicone tape to keep it in place.

PaulJensen

My prescription glasses have the auto-darkening feature, but not polarized… After a long ride on a bright day my eyes were so tire because the darker lenses caused my pupils to be bigger, but the lack of UV protection let in rays that hurt… I switched to a pair of prescription *sunglasses* that were a few years old but really filter the bad rays nicely…

AndrewJB

OP would seem to be talking about near-sighted correction lenses. Some have replied regarding far-sighted correction (bi-focal or progressive). I use these bi-focal safety glasses available on Amazon and many other sources. Quite reasonable, polycarbonate lenses, various strengths, in grey or brown lens for sunny days (I prefer the brown for improved contrast). There is a Yellow lens option that is actually quite good for improved contrast and reduced haze on overcast & hazy days.

Ironfish653

I've had good luck with Zenni Optical online. I have a fairly straightforward Rx ( that's been stable for many years) and had the measurements of a good -fitting existing pair, so I'm pretty confident that a pair ordered online will fit correctly.

They have a pretty good selection of frames, and the lenses are fairly reasonable.Lot of tint colors are available as well as polarized/mirrored and photochromic options (for a little more $$)

I have several pairs, both sunglasses and daily wear glasses, and depending on the options, they came out between $80-$110 per pair
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Camilo

I have a pair of Bliz glasses for XC skiing because the don't fog easily. The lens coverage is huge which is good if it's snowing. I haven't checked into prescription lenses (the lenses are replaceable), but I do put stick-on cheaters on them. Haven't used them for cycling since the Oakleys I mentioned in 2022 above are still in good shape.

Road Fan

Those look great! Still an Optical Department under Sears?

staehpj1

My Wiley X are the Twisted model. They look like they would be similar to the P17 in regard to how they would interface with the helmet and mine heve not had any issues with interfering with their fit because of the helmet (Smith Forefront 2). The Twisted have a real wide earpiece that probably wouldn't work with your mirror, but the P17 looks like it would be fine. Best to verify by trying them on though.

This is where buying local has an advantage. Take your helmet and mirror with you when choosing. Or order them in and try before commiting if possible. I probably paid more by buying locally from the eye doc, but could try them on with helmet before choosing since they had a variety of Wiley X models in stock. My eye doc is a mountain biker and recommended them or I wouldn't have even heard of the brand, but as it turned out I liked them.

flan48

I just learned about Zenni very recently. I ordered bifocal glasses from them, as a back-up, and specifically for cycling and exercise in general. I also have a couple of pairs of "sunglasses over glasses". One can get them from "Cocoons", rather expensive, or a knock off from Walgreens, CVS, etc. They do a good job of blocking wind, and the frames are the right thickness for the attachment of mirrors such as Third Eye.

Best regards

indyfabz

According to Wikipedia, there are only 13 locations remaining.

I was shocked to see this one near Newport, VT in 2022. As the sign notes, it was in the process of closing.

Caliwild

I've been using Oakley's Flak Jacket prescription glasses for years. I have the clear lenses for dark rides and the prism lenses for sunny conditions. I love the fit and the clear, undistorted field of vision they provide...

dmanders

Maui Jim progressive lens in brown work perfectly for me.

DaveSSS 

I bought wrap around frames with progressive bifocal lenses from opticalfactor.com. I got the Gabe model frame. The prescription was accurate. They only cost $92 with a first time buyer discount.

I get adds for reks.com on Facebook also. They have several wrap around frames.

I bought Oakley half jacket frames 3 years ago. They've been great, but from sportrx.com they now retail for $977 with progressive bifocal lenses. I'd need a big discount to buy those again. I paid under $400 with some help from VSP. VSP vision insurance provides little discount with sport Rx.

MinnMan

I don't like wearing my regular glasses while riding. They are too fragile and, in the cold, the metal frames cause problems. Also, if riding on dusty gravel or similar, the lenses can get scratched.

When I don't need sunglasses (i.e., riding in the dark, overcast days, rain), I wear my Rudy Project glasses without the shaded lenses - just the prescription inserts. Works great.

Alan K

I use prescription sun glasses with progressive lenses. The lenses are polarized and supposed to be shatter proof.

andydallas

My main hobby is flying remote control airplanes, you HAVE to have great glasses for that (yes the planes can be very big but the bigger they are the farther you tend to fly them from you. I have sunglsases in 3 different shades and then clear, but glasses are very cheap compared to planes. I bought two pair of 'cycling' sunglsses from a website I have used before, about $120 each, but ince I have had cataract surgery a few years ago, my prescription tends to stay the same for a long time. Polarized are generally better, but there are times a light tint is better based on plane color and clouds,,,lets face it for cycling we need to see, but I can ride without perscription if I have to

Alan K

My distance vision is still good but because of astigmatism, I cannot read distant signs, which is more relevant for the night time driving in unfamiliar areas. For reading, for a while I could manage by moving paper farther away until my arms got too short. Hence the need for progressively ground lenses.
Do you play with battery operated model planes or are some of them gas powered too?

jnbrown

I was lucky in that SportRX is located nearby.
Went there and they have a great selection.
I went with Bolle Anaconda and got a $50 discount.
These replaced my Oakley Fives Squared which were problematic.
Really happy with the glasses and they work well with my clip on mirror.
Cost was about half of the last pair I got through my optometrist.