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This could arguably go in the "health" category, but I know it'll get more traffic here.
Who has Transitions lenses? Do you like them?
I was at the eye dr. this morning. I left without ordering anything because my head is swimming. I found out that our vision plan covers Transitions lenses (won't cover the progressive feature in my bifocals, but...). I wish we'd known that when we ordered DD's new lenses last week....but I digress!
The gal at the lens shoppe said that they don't darken in a car because the UV coating on the windshield tricks them. Driving is when I most notice the need for sunglasses. But I don't wear any now, so I wouldn't be worse off -- and something is better than what I'm doing now.
So know I'm torn -- order the frames I really like with transitions, or the frames I like almost as much with magnetic sunglass lenses (what I have now, but I forget to carry the clip on lenses). Or the 2d choice frames with transitions and the clip-ons to be covered for anything.
I guess I'm afraid that I'll dislike the transitions lenses, and want to buy new ones without. But I have to pay out of pocket for the bifocals and the thinner lenses the first time around, so I only want to do that once.
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Last edited by Carousel96; 09-27-2011 at 12:43 PM..
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My son wears Transitions. He hasn't mentioned the car problem, but I bet it is for him. He mentioned this summer that they didn't get dark enough for him while working at the pool and he often wore DDs aviator sunglasses over his glasses.
My DH did one those buy one get one free things at a eyeglass place years ago and had the second pair made into sunglasses. So he uses them when driving or outdoors in the sun. (He has to carry both when at WDW).
I like my transitions lenses. They're especially useful for (you guessed it!) places like WDW where you go from dark ride to bright sunlight. Last time we went, I had my transitions lenses while DH had his regular glasses & sunglasses. It was a pain for him to constantly stop before each ride, switch the glasses, then after the ride, switch back. Meanwhile, I was able to continue on my merry way & not miss a beat!
I notice the convenience mostly at places like amusement parks (we also live near Kings' Dominion) and at the regular ol' park when my kids go tearing off to the playsets. It's nice to not have to take my eyes off them to switch out my glasses.
Like you, I don't use sunglasses while I'm driving --- or at least, not often. I keep my Rx sunglasses in the car for when the sun really bothers me.
As for getting dark enough or not, I remember being told that one of the colors (you get a choice of gray or brown) gets darker than the other, but I don't remember which. In any case, I'm not anywhere that's so bright, I need super dark glasses. I imagine it might make a difference, depending on where you live or if you are near the water.
Good luck with your decision!
Carol
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DH, "Commando" (Let's get a move on, folks!) ~ Me, "Pokey" (Just a moment...Look at this cool trinket!) ~ DD, born 4/2005, "Ride! Ride! Ride!" (Roller coaster! Cars! Dumbo!) ~ DS, born 3/2009, "Charge!" (I wanna goooooo!)
I had them (with my progressive lenses) and they were ok. They do not get dark in the car because of the UV coatings on the glass, so that wasn't great for me, since my eyes are sensitive to glare. They are fine if you are in & out & don't want to bother switching to sunglasses, but if you are at the beach, pool, or anywhere you would want good sunglasses, not so much. I opted not to get them the last time I ordered glasses. The extra expense wasn't worth it to me...it was cheaper to just get new lenses in a pair of sunglasses.
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First trip DW--Nov. 1975; Senior Class Trip DW--Oct. 1979; First trip w/kids--Oct. 1995; Halloween at DW--Oct. 2002; Spring Break at DW--April 2004; Christmas/Pop Warner Nationals-POR--Dec. 2005;Cruisin'--April 2008; Mom/Son trip-POP--March 2010;Taggin' along w/DD on DH's conference-BWI--Oct. 2011; 50th birthday with the Gartner Geeks--Adults only!--BWI--Oct. 2012; The Trip That Almost Wasn't--BWI--Oct. 2013; We climbed The Summit (National Cheer Competition)--ASMovies--May 2014
DH and I both have transition lenses and I really like them for the most part. I have super sensitive eyes so I don't feel like they get dark enough (DH tells me they look like they do so it really might be my imagination! ) but I really haven't had any problems. It's 100% true about them not changing in the car. I just have a pair of sunglasses that I put over my glasses whenever I'm driving and it works great. It seems a little strange but I really would rather just leave a pair in the car and not have to carry sunglasses with me where ever I go.
I've had transition lenses for about 5 years. If you get them, make sure they are actual transitions brand lenses. The cheaper 'no brand' knockoffs (Lenscrafter brand) will peel off after a few years and you'll have to get new lenses. This happened to me twice before I finally got the real deal.
For the most part, I like them. They do work, especially when you're doing something that requires you to go in and out from sun to indoor lighting. As they get older, they don't seem to change as quickly, so places like the AKL are hard to navigate when you first enter the building. This is one of the reasons I didn't enjoy my trip to AKL, the inside of the resort was so dim, my lenses couldn't keep up.
I also purchased a pair of sunglasses-over-eyeglasses that I love. I use them in my car and in very, very bright light. I got mine online for about $12 including shipping. It certainly solved the car problem. And since I mostly just use them in the car, I leave them there, so I don't have to carry around a second pair of "sunglasses" in my purse.
Thanks. It's good to know that no one (so far) has had the "Hate-them-and-I'll-never-do-it-again" reaction. And I hadn't thought about oversized sunglasses for over the glasses in the car. That would be cheap and easy.
I have had transitions for a number of years now. They work just fine for me and I like them. I never notice the sun when I am outdoors. The only time I realize that I have transitions is right after I go back inside and everything is dim for a brief time as they go back to regular. It sometimes surprises me when I look in a mirror and see I have on sunglasses.
DD's lenses came in, and they were miscut. So we're going to see if we can get the do-overs done as Transitions. Since insurance has paid for the first (wrong) set they may kick back the upgrade on hers, but it's still cheaper than sunglasses for her.
We all have Transitions. As a PP said, they are great for WDW or Universal, horrid for driving. I finally buckled down and spent $100 on a pair of prescription sunglasses from Sam's last week b/c I NEED them in the car and wearing something over my cha-ching Fendis wasn't going to work. I'm happy now that I have the best of both worlds.
Have been wearing the Transitions photochromic glasses for two years. They were from Zenni Optical. Although they take one or two minutes to progressively darken, after wearing them, I don’t need to carry a separate pair of prescription sunglasses for the protection against harmful U.V. rays from the sun. It is very convenient.
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Last time we went, I had my transitions lenses while DH had his regular glasses & sunglasses. It was a pain for him to constantly stop before each ride, switch the glasses, then after the ride, switch back. Meanwhile, I was able to continue on my merry way & not miss a beat!
) but I really haven't had any problems. It's 100% true about them not changing in the car. I just have a pair of sunglasses that I put over my glasses whenever I'm driving and it works great. It seems a little strange but I really would rather just leave a pair in the car and not have to carry sunglasses with me where ever I go.
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