I bike and kayak, and of coarse drive my car.
Can anyone recommend sunglasses that will fit over my prescription glasses?
Thanks,
Robert G
Well, Aviators, Wayfarers and Cat-Eye sunglasses are trending in market now. But also Polarized sunglasses are most trending in different shapes.
So — what wraparounds does Mr Stoff recommend? Ive been buying Solar Shield for a long time and love them.
I told my neurologist years ago about what I called my "pretty-day" migraines. He immediately told me sunlight is a trigger for me and that I should wear shades outdoors. Those particular migraines stopped. I always have my wraparound shades now when I'm driving or just being outside during daytime. I use the kind that go over my prescription glasses. Do they look dorky? Probably. I don't care.
2
As a Glider pilot, I use sunglasses made in England, by Bigatmo. Their progressive lens glasses enable you to read instruments and distance in a wrap-around design.
2
I've heard for years from eye Docs that polarized sun glasses are the only way to go. The good ones are pricey but effective and worth it. Yet this piece only mentions polaroid lenses in passing as though transitions are the be-all end-all. Huh?
4
“...polycarbonate material of most sunglass lenses....naturally blocks UV rays, but UV protection has to be added to plastic lenses.”
Polycarbonate IS plastic.
4
I was told recently by the doc at my local eyeglass place that I was developing cataracts, but would likely not need surgery for at least 10 years. I'm in my mid 50s. I asked him if there was anything I could do to postpone the need for surgery. He said no, there was nothing I could do. He did not even ask if I spend much time outdoors (I do).
But after doing a little online research, I think he was wrong. I will continue to wear hats and sunglasses. I am looking now for wraparound sunglasses that fit over my existing sunglasses to provide better protection on the sides. I found some that look promising online using the keyword or brand name "solar shield."
Cataract surgery may be simple, but it can't possibly be as simple as buying a $10 pair of sunglasses.
4
I started wearing rx eyeglasses a couple years ago and made sure to get transitions added to them along with a pair of rx sunglasses for driving. Prior to that I've been a constant wearer of dark sunglasses since my teens. I figure if I'm squinting bc of sunlight it can't be good for my eyes so am never w/o sunglasses. one bonus is my eyes aren't nearly as wrinkly as those in my age group who don't wear them as often.
6
I have declined cataract surgery for staying with my transitional lenses. I fear if surgery corrects my vision I will abstain from use of my glasses full time. My doctor is very pushy for me to have him do the surgery, in fact just this month the discussion became very heated. I like hiding behind glasses anyway for they mute many of those added features we acquire through the years, i.e., dark circles, wrinkles, moles, yada, yada, etc. No wonder I weight more in my dotage with all these new non-beauty marks. The Times as well had an excellent article on those of us after 75 (extreme elderly) very cautious about surgeries and/or its recoveries. So no back surgeries either.
1
@jaxcat
Extreme elderly is 75+.... Oh dear. Just about everyone I know is is that age. Getting older, sure. But extreme, not yet. That can wait until at least mid-80's. ;-)))
10
@jaxcat Cataract surgery is a medical miracle which has benefited millions of people in both the developed and underdeveloped world. It is now a routine surgery, done on an out patient process. It is one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine. It cannot be equated with back surgery.
1
I used to wear transition lenses - and liked them. The problem is that the anti-glare coating on the lenses from too much sun exposure gets - for lack of a better word - icky, and after a while, they are difficult to see through. That's why I finally broke down and bought prescription sunglasses. It will make my regular glasses last longer.
4
@Iggy. My transitions stopped “working” after three years, on a very expensive pair of glasses to which I had added all the extras.
1
The information here is outdated. The new transition lenses do, in fact, work for driving. I bought a pair this year.
4
Transition lenses are not polarized lenses like good sunglasses. The darker lenses cause the pupil to enlarge allowing in more unfiltered rays outdoors. I've noticed some elementary grade students wear transition lenses in the classroom. The lenses darken slightly in the overhead florescent light. I've wondered if this causes eyestrain when they read. Just get a decent pair of sunglasses and regular glasses prescription glasses. Transition lenses are sub-optimal in all instances.
3
It is too bad this article starts with and encourages the common presumption that UV protection is provided by sunglasses only, and only after fully articulating that position and then morphing into an argument for transitions-type lenses, does the author fess up to the fact that anyone wearing corrective lenses is probably already protected.
I've worn glasses since 3rd grade. They have always protected me from UV. In fact I believe wearing sunglasses is WORSE than wearing regular UV-blocking glasses because they allow your eyes to dilate more, thus exposing your cornea to more UV which is still coming in from the sides and bottom not blocked by lenses. (UV reflects off water, snow, pavement etc.)
5
This article is so short sight and wrong that I won't begin. As a natural vision educator and movement expert the only thing I want to say is that over time sunglasses will inhibit the ability of the retina to function properly and our balance comes from the peripheral vision through the retina. Balance problems in our country is epidemic and sunglasses are contributing to the problem. In children you won't see the effects until they get to gym class in school and can't balance with way the other kids can. Sure if your an adult and don't care about your balance fine but do we really need to do this to our children as well. Sunglasses are a billon dollar business in this country another way to make money.
1
Your comments have no basis in modern ophthalmology. Yes wearing prescription lenses alters your accommodation points which can upset balance briefly, but the average brain takes two weeks to learn the new pattern and can jump back and forth between the old pattern and new patterns.
Your personal experience obviously was traumatizing.
9
@Kay Hogan unless you have some solid scientific evidence to back your claims peddle your hooey elsewhere ma'am.
2
@Kay Hogan
Your comments have no basis in scientific fact.
Sunglasses protect the skin, cornea, lens, and retina. They do not affect balance at all.
2
My contact lenses have UV protection. Is this the same as UV sunglasses. I had always hoped that UV protected lenses would afford me the same benefit as UV sunglasses. Elwhat do you know about this?
1
Transitioning lenses only work in direct sunlight. Here in sunny Los Angeles, where we spend inordinate car time, the lenses are ineffective, something I discovered after spending the extra money for changeable lenses. Only then did the optometrist reveal that direct sunlight - not light filtered through car windows - was needed. For those who don't walk outside, consider cheaper but fully protective regular sunglasses.
3
I jumped on the cataract surgery bandwagon as soon as my doctor said I could in my mid-60s and have never regretted it. My vision went from worse than 20/400 to 20/20 in both eyes. Several years later, I feel much safer walking around at night in my home and much more comfortable not having glasses on my face indoors.
Outdoors, I religiously wear UV-protection sunglasses and a hat (and sunscreen). In the strong Southern sun, this is a must. Wrap-around sunglasses make good sense when outdoors for prolonged periods. Rather than multiple pairs of transition eyeglasses, they allow one to wear prescription eyeglasses as usual with added side protection.
5
I have not read the comments so apologize if my question has been addressed. But, when I look at all those sunglasses in Wirecutter, the word "transition" is not mentioned once. I am really interested in transition lenses since Oakley stopped providing them.
l'm an older millennial who agrees that transition lenses can look dorky, especially half-dark. I wear them anyway! My grandma really suffered from failing eyesight. I converted my mom to transitions too. Big, bold frames can support both the indoor and outdoor "looks" well. :)
7
A friend with transition-style lenses was driving on a bright summer day and his glasses were in highly protective mode. He was on a bridge, leading into a dark tunnel. His miracle lenses did not change to clear nearly quickly enough and he was injured in the resulting slight accident. It certainly could have been worse. His experience has left me skeptical about these miraculous lenses.
4
@Ruth P transitions lenses don't work in autos bc auto glass is uv treated, so unless he had his head hanging out the window I'm not sure how this happened? I've occasionally opened my car window to try to darken my glasses and it really only works if I literally hold the glasses out the window.
1
I was just and I mean just as in four days ago diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in my left eye. Had my initial vitreal injection of Avastin. Yes, in the eyeball. While not painful; it was not pleasant.
Doctor said it was genetic. Nothing I could have done to prevent it, he said. I'm taking my AREDS-2 vitamin twice daily and will be upping my intake of foods high in those vitamins. Wear sunglasses religiously.
BTW, I'm 74 and have avoided all of the chronic diseases: high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes. Was never a sunworshipping; burn too easily.
Would like to know if there are any clinical studies that prove the efficacy of those sunglasses or if it is purely anecdotal and seems to make sense.
4
@Beverly Dame. Switch to Eyelea instead of Avastin. Much, much better drug. My family knows...
As far as I know, I cannot get photochromic polarized lenses yet.
1
I have worn Solar Shield/ fit over since the 80's. Eye Dr said they will help save my eyes from macular degeneration. Plus reduces sun headaches/migraine. Done deal
5
They’re awfully expensive. Just saying.
7
For driving, I like "fit over" sunglasses like Cocoons which let me use my prescription lens and offer complete sun protection including on the sides. They're about $50.
12
I purchased yellow night glasses for about $20
Put them over my progressives and no glare!
6
@john kevin
Can you elaborate a bit more? I’ve heard of this but don’t see them anywhere...
1
I wear high quality metal frame Transitions eyeglasses with either clip on or magnetic sunglasses lenses, until an optical shop pro suggested Fitovers, wear-overs, or Solar shields sunglasses to wear with my prescription glasses! A miracle. No losing the clip ones as I can ‘park” the fitovers on top of my head when indoors & never lose them. Extra protection that work in car, bus, etc., well made, comfortable & moderately priced in drug stores. Love’em. Highly recommend with Transitions, especially on brighter days or conditions. Hope this helps.
Millennials all about style instead of function? In USA?? Nooo!
6
I love my transitions glasses but they don't stay dark when I'm driving so I have to buy prescription sunglasses as well. I imagine my insurance is not the only one that's pretty ungenerous in its contribution toward one pair of glasses per year.
7
Simply put - I love my Transitions lenses! And, now, they even work in my car so I dont have to change to sunglasses while driving.
5
I'm a long time transitions lens fan. I have a pair of glasses without because in the winter the transitions won't lighten immediately when coming indoors fyi. At any rate I've been excited about transitions launching their updated lenses this past week. I've been waiting to order new glasses. I do find it interesting this article appears right after the big release hmmm.
7
Do you get the feeling, as I do, that the transition glass makers prompted an article touting how great their product is. Transition glass wearers have usually been the older population, who are decreasing. The young don't want these dinosaurs that cause more difficulties than they give solutions. Next we may see an article about the necessity of napkins, something else the young don't buy. Times change. If the transition glasses were any good they would transition in real time, -seconds. A time frame that is vital to avoiding a car accident, missing a step up while entering a darkened building, grabbing a railing in deep shadow. I just spent an afternoon with my sister who has them. She kept taking them off so she could see as we went in and out of antique stores along a sunlit street. Um, ridiculous.
38
@grandma No, I don't get the feeling that this piece was prompted by transition eyeglass makers. But if it was, I am thankful for it. The article makes an excellent point regardless of who prompted it, and if it saves anyone's vision, the person or persons in question should be equally thankful. Meanwhile, if you prefer to go blind, or have your vision impaired as described in the article, that's your business.
11
@grandma Is it really bothersome to take off one's glasses when going indoors? I have wraparound dark tinted prescription Oakleys for Driving, and "regular" transition lens glasses for everything else. The wraparounds are necessary as I drive a convertible, top down, 6 months of the year. I wouldn't go back to clipons or fitovers. If the new generation transitions even darken inside a car, so much better. and I just had cataract surgery, so I will be getting new glasses in 3 weeks or so.
3
I’ve never tried transitions because long ago I heard that they cause the muscles around the eye to weaken. Think about going out into bright sun and your eyes squint until they adjust. With transition lenses this doesn’t happen and thus you aren’t using those muscles.
Is this all just an old wives tale?
2
No, not a wives tale. A Harvard-based Behavioral Optometrist warned me about this in the 1990s. Use your muscles/response system or lose them. Eye protection when needed: yes. Lenses that do things our eyes should be doing themselves: no!
2
The American Association of Ophthalmology does not list that as a “con” in their 2017 pros and cons article.
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/pros-cons-of-transitions-lenses
5
I'm 79, have worn Transitions for many years, and I'm not aware of any weakness in my eye muscles. And I'm pretty sure that squinting isn't going to enhance anybody's skin.
7
Jane, you provide a good justification for updating the photo that accompanies your column!
1
I tried transition lenses and found them very unsatisfactory. They never fully screened the sunlight out-of-doors and were too slow to return to normal inside, so I kept having to take off my glasses for a while. Fortunately I could see pretty well without glasses. I'm back to regular eyeglasses and use sunglasses that go over them when outside. I would never recommend "transitions" to anyone.
25
Polarized sunglasses lens prevent the wearer from seeing most digital display screens. They block the view of liquid crystal displays which themselves use polarized light to function. Not seeing your smartphone screen outdoors or driving may or may not be a good idea, but the FAA has counseled pilots not to wear polarized lens while flying (despite increased UV exposure at altitude).
12
@Acute Observer
This used to be the case, but most modern displays, like the ones now used for phones, have transitioned to a circularly-polarized design rather than the linearly-polarized one previously used. Polarized sunglasses will not block these displays, though they may distort the colors slightly.
1
@Acute Observer. Polarized lenses are a must when boating.
In addition to always wearing sunglasses when outside during the daytime hours, I always wear a hat, offering additional protection to the eyes as well as the rest of the face. Skin cancer on my lip 25 years ago cured forever my desire of acquiring a "healthy tan". The sunlight is so much stronger nowadays that it makes good sense to start early in life the habit of always wearing sunglasses.
30
@RBR I customarily wear a shady hat when outdoors. People find it unusual, but I'm happy with it, so others accept it. Since it shades my face, it probably helps reduce small-scale wrinkling of my skin. There were two things that convinced me to adopt that habit: working for a dermatologist and observing a dark spot under my eyes where my glasses focused the rays of the sun. The dark spot has since cleared up on its own.
I wasn't satisfied with transition lenses, so I got one pair of prescription sunglasses that I can use when driving the car and riding a bike. They are dark enough that when the sun is low at sunrise and sunset, it's not blinding. They also help with glare. They're a neutral color, and make colors look more vivid.
Last month at my ophthalmologist office I learned that transition glasses that work in a car have recently come on the market.
17
I’ve used Transition lenses exclusively for at least the last twenty years. The newer models go from dark to light and vice versa much faster now. I am completely satisfied with them. For bicycling a larger sports shield blocks more wind, is darker, and works better. As for not looking cool to millennials? (I’ve seen them described as “dad glasses”) We can safely ignore their opinion. I’d recommend sun sensing lenses to anyone.
19
The Transition brand calls their lenses which darken inside a vehicle "Drivewear". They are also polarized. Drivewear had been made for several years and I'm surprised the author did not know that. The downside of these glasses is that they never fully clear up when inside a building and the manufacturer does not recommend them for any use other than sunglasses. You can buy them at Costco where in a progressive lens costs only $170, a steal compared to optical chain stores. I just ordered a pair but haven't picked them up yet. Overall, the reviews have been excellent and Costco has a money back guarantee on prescription lenses.
5
@Larry Lief
I love mine. It's true they do not go to clear indoors, though in brightly-lit stores (such as Costco!) I find I do not have to remove them to see well.
1
I lost an eye when I was six and always wore sunglasses out of doors to protect my good eye.
At 80 after a recent cataract surgery, which was a life changer, my distance vision is 20/20 and the ophthalmologist told me my retina is very young.
The lens of the eye focuses light rays to a small spot on the retina where we have clearest vision. So it makes common sense to wear protection for the retina.
I prefer polarized glasses for fishing and golf and have no problem driving with them. My transition glasses are also polarized and do not darken if the cars windshield is tinted. If you want transition lenses to drive you probably need non polarized.
8
Advice handed down through the generations of my family:
Always use sunscreen. Use it daily on your face, neck and hands. You will thank me when you’re my age.
Make sure you wear sunglasses each time you leave the house during the day. You don’t want wrinkles from squinting.
Be sure to eat your peas.
This is something to do with vision but we never could figure out what...an old wives tale?
And here it turns out all our careful use of sunscreen and sunglasses was healthy? Guess our grandmothers were way ahead of their times...however a bit off track.
6
Polarized lenses are not good for driving. It will affect what you see on the dashboard as well as black ice on the road.
5
One disadvantage of Transition type lenses is the time it takes for the transition. Going inside with darkened lenses can be unsafe. Going out, especially if you have light sensitive eyes, is difficult in bright sun, until the change kicks in. I’ve found a solution using my glasses that came with magnetically attached flip up sunglasses. Transition is instant. Sadly, the manufacturer no longer makes these and I haven’t been able to find a substitute so I treasure the ones I have.
8
@John Everyman
See if you can find the frame brand Ogi--they offer the sunglass clip. For the womens frames I got, the clip was an additional $129. Not inexpensive, but considerably less than a separate pair of sunglasses.
4
I have worn glasses since fifth grade and love them. My eyes feel unprotected without them, and my longish nose looks a little less so with glasses.
People don't realize that the first thing people generally look at is your face. So from a fashion standpoint, glasses are very important. I often will cycle through two or three pairs at a time, just as somebody would wear a different outfit on a different day.
I think transition lenses still have a way to go technologically. They darken reasonably quickly outdoors, but they don't lighten quickly indoors, and they have a lot of trouble distinguishing between a brightish cloudy day, and a true sunny day. But I definitely understand the value both cosmetically and healthwise of eyeglasses.
8
I've tried transition lenses twice and while I love the idea of them, they don't work well enough. Maybe they're better now but they usually don't lighten up enough in a bright indoor room. I have prescription sunglasses instead.
14
Another NYT “health” article designed to get us to buy unnecessary, expensive stuff. If you don’t need prescription lenses you can buy plain sunglasses most anywhere and replace them cheaply when you lose or break them.
Transition lenses are pricey. And as for fashionable....I guess it is all in how you want to look.
21
@Storyteller No one is making you buy anything. Shooting the messenger never worked.
and clearly, this article IS about people who need to wear glasses.
5
well ,wearing glasses is not just a matter of fashion but should wear according to situation.
But most of people wear it for better look
1
Have Transitions lenses gotten better? I tried them years ago, and they did not lighten fully indoors, nor did they sufficiently darken outside. I found myself using clip-ons on them outside. Not worth the investment.
11
@Andrew Porter
After many years of wearing Transition lenses I finally stopped with my most recent prescription. They have not gotten any better. In the winter I would have to take my glasses off inside and stick them in a dark pocket until they lightened up. My optician convinced me that they just weren’t as effective as real prescription sunglasses. I do miss the convenience, however.
8
My experience with photochromics is that while they darken quickly, they don't lighten fast when going indoors. Also, they can remain too dark in cloudy weather. Temperature is a factor on how fast the lens changes. Maybe they've improved these aspects, but I've stayed away for those reasons.
Also, another thing to consider: cost. My polarized progressive sunglasses lenses already cost upwards of $450. How much more to add transitions? Glasses are becoming unaffordable.
28
I recommend trying Polaroid sunglasses - they are RX-able and cost less than $90. Fully polarized lenses and super lightweight. Worth trying!
1
@Catherine Habermann
If you have a simple prescription they may cost $90. My own experience is with a cheap frame at LensCrafters the cost is around $400.00.
3
Consumer Reports indicates Costco prices are the lowest. My progressive Transitions Drivewear glasses were $270 with designer frame (just happened to be the one I liked the best); they can be significantly less with an off-the-rack frame. I'm not sure you you even have to be a member to get glasses there.
2
It would be useful to have a discussion on which color of sunglasses lenses is best for which situations. It is not just a matter of fashion.
10
@zmkedem
There is some science to suggest that amber tints are best for depth perception. I've always worn coated amber lenses (Serengeti Drivers, now Transitions Drivewear) and the clarity is startling. The Transitions are really good in all kinds of weather - cloudy, bright sun. I don't know about other tints (grey, green, etc.).
1
@zmkedem
The visible color of sunglasses is irrelevant to its UV blocking capability.
After having cataract surgery with multifocal implants I can see distant and read tiny print with good lighting, not as well with less than optimal lighting and do resort to reading glasses at times.
Also have started wearing "computer glasses", to block blue light as I spend half my life staring at a computer screen or big screen tv and it makes a lot of difference in reducing eye strain.
And, of course, going outside I need to wear sun glasses.
That's three pairs of glasses to haul around. I kind of miss the days when I could just put one pair on in the morning and take them off when I went to bed.
11
I wish I got a second opinion when my doctor told me I needed cataract surgery. Even before surgery, I only needed glasses for distance, never needed them for reading, sewing, or even threading a needle. First of all, my beautiful brown eyes turned ugly gray, now I have to wear my glasses all the times, and they are never comfortable. I spend hundreds of dollars on my glasses each time. I’m an avid reader and it is getting harder to read for long periods. In addition to that, my dry eyes are so severe now that it feels as if I have sand in my eyes all the time. I use prescription and over the counter drops constantly and sometimes I want to scream, I’m so miserable. Get a second opinion, don’t trust your eyes to even the doctor you have been seeing for years.
44
@BB I don’t know how long ago was your surgery, but my cataract surgery, including implants, was a godsend. For the first time since age 7 I could see clearly without glasses (I was very nearsighted) and, in good light, don’t need reading glasses to read. Cataracts had begun making driving dangerous for me and the rest of the world, particularly at night. I don’t know what caused your eye color change or your dry eyes, that has not happened to me nor anyone I know. My doctor even repaired my astigmatism which caused problems with my sight when wearing corrective glasses or contacts.
I agree that you should get a second opinion and research your ophthalmologist prior to any surgery on your eyes. Right now, your eyes are irreplaceable.
I recall my grandfather’s cataract removal surgery was difficult. He was confined to bed for a week with sandbags immobilizing his head. Thankfully, we have moved way beyond that.
32
Either you reacted unusually to the surgery, or your doctor didn’t do a good job. Nothing that you’re saying as side effects makes sense. An implant can’t change your eye color! Perhaps you should see another specialist?
A top surgeon did mine, and I ended up with a slight astigmatism in one eye. Beyond that, my vision, which was never bad, is now excellent and, as expected, I wear glasses for reading. Also as expected, my color vision is vastly improved.
5
Always. Always. Get a second opinion on All health related issues.
Dr’s are fallible. They have expenses. Student loans to repay. Kids going to college. Etc, etc, etc.
4
Having grown up in the Caribbean, starting at age 6, I instinctually always closed my left eye when walking around in the outdoors. Still do that here in summer (New York) some 65 years later. When getting my eyes checked recently the doctor told me that my right eye (the one never closed for the sun) was perfect but my left eye (always closed during bright day light) showed some problems. Go figure.
6
That's 400 nm = 400 NANOmeters, not 400 mm.
26
Most people I know would not be caught dead in transitions lenses, especially since they are frequently in half-shade, even when someone is indoors. They look ridiculous. Just put some sunglasses on.
60
Transition glasses have greatly improved. The current ones are much better at clearing quickly. And of course the article explains the many reasons for wearing protection, including the many situations in which one is not likely to put on sunglasses, such as the sunlight that is likely entering ones home much of the day.
15
@ck: I wear prescription eyeglasses. To "just put some sunglasses on" I would have to get and carry around prescription sunglasses, and keep fumbling and changing them off and on as the light changed.
The photochromic / transitions lenses are the most convenient, and they change quickly enough for me.
If most people you know "would not be caught dead in transitions" that says more about them than about the lenses.
64
I have several pairs of fashion forward French and Italian frames that I bought in Europe. All are transitions. No one has ever said they look anything but fabulous.
11
I think that educating people on the importance of protecting their eyes from UV is important, but I also think that it is unrealistic to expect it to happen unless transition sunglasses and other protective sunglasses are made less expensive.
It is really unrealistic to expect people to change their lifestyle, even if it is a change for a better, healthier future, unless they have an incentive such as the ability to have access to cheaper options or at least lower payment plans.
Even then, we have to be honest with ourselves. What with Netflix, and Wifi, we spend more time in front of a screen than we do outside in the sun. There should be affordable glasses that protect against both the sun's harmful rays and our screen's harmful rays.
12
@Annette Chavez
Not an expert here, but I think that brown/amber/yellow lens block blue light and can also come in transitional styles.
2
@Annette Chavez
Your screen does not have harmful rays.
I'm an indoor person, but I always wear tinted lenses. Easier on the eyes. Hide the sags and bags.
11
Jane Brody must have good vision coverage through the NYT for all those glasses she got from Michael!
51
@missivy ...Good point! I've a sneaky feeling that many of us readers would love to be able to "spend a little extra" (as Jane Brody can, apparently) to secure optimal eye-health, but it just isn't possible for all of us. Not everyone has that "extra" to spare.
37
@fiona You're correct, not everyone has that "extra" to spare. In fact, the majority of Americans don't have that "extra" to spare. And many NYT readers don't either.
28
@fiona
You’ve obviously missed The Great Leader’s message to MAGA by getting yourself into the 1%
12
I had a basal cell tumour on my lower eyelid. Two surgeries later I have clear margins but a scar which remains uncomfortable monthe later.
7
A steel helmet would not only protect the eyes, but also the head, neck and face. Really.
12
“The Ayes (or Knows) have it”
1
Transition makes a lens that does darken behind the windshield of a car. It works well, though not as dark as sunglasses.
8
@Richard Genz Transitions XTRActive, which I use, darken in cars, and also get darker than their regular line. They have a very slight tint in reduced light indoors. There may be competitors who offer similar options.
7
If my only objective in choosing eyewear is to protect my eyes from the sun, it seems that for any eyewear with lenses having 100% UVA, UVB and UVC protection, clear, untinted lenses would be better than any tinted lenses (sunglasses) for two reasons. First, by not shading the eye from sunlight, clear lenses allow the eye’s natural protection (squinting) to assist in controlling exposure to the sun while sunglasses lessen or eliminate the need to squint. Second, by shading the eye, sunglasses allow the pupil to dilate more than clear lenses under the same conditions, thus allowing more light to enter the inside of the eye which makes the eye more susceptible to sun damage than with clear lenses.
6
@one Nation under Law
It is also desirable to decrease the amount of blue, visible light hitting the retina. Clear lenses will not do that.
1
@one Nation under Law
Your pupils will still constrict with sunglasses on.
Also sunglasses will protect the skin of your eyelids from the UV rays. Most people do not put sunscreen on their eyelids. Squinting is not good sun protection.
Nice that Wirecutter’s top choice was only $17.
13
After a lifetime of wearing glasses and/or contact lenses, I had Cataract surgery, WITH corrective Len placement, two years ago. BEST thing I’ve ever done. Now, I’m addicted to Sunglasses. I love them, I covet them, I wear them unless it’s DARK. Twenty years of the extremely bright Kansas Sun, especially doing yard work, probably led to the cataracts. WEAR sunglasses, whenever you’re outside. Just DO it, please.
31
@Honeybee
Yes, the only downside for me is now having to Wear reading glasses, when before I just had to remove my regular glasses. No biggie, cheap drugstore glasses work fine. Also, you might check out Nordstrom Rack, online. They have fabulous, discounted Designer Sunglasses at deep discounts. One you figure out the best sizes and shapes for your face, it’s simple. I have bought about ten pairs. So Far.
6
Transition lenses can be expensive. Add prescription sunglasses for driving on top of that and you’re talking serious bucks.
I’ve been buying my glasses online for about six years now and I couldn’t be happier. I am confident about making fitting adjustments, so the glasses fit well. My ophthalmologist sees not problems.
I’ve saved thousands of dollars and am doing better for my eyes than the one pair I could afford every few years from a brick and mortar supplier.
12
@GiGi, also I highly recommend Costco Optical. Great price and excellent quality, according to my ophthalmologist, with great service and adjustments included. They have saved me a bundle and new glasses or sunglasses are no longer a luxury. One caveat: the frames they carry are meh so I feel I can splurge on my own and merely pay a nominal extra fee.
17
@GiGi I, too, buy glasses online and have done so for several years...thus saving beaucoup $$$. While I paid $113 for my latest pair of progressive lens glasses, my cousin paid $700. Stupid. Fortunately, some more affordable eyeglass shops are available and becoming popular. The markup at regular optometrists establishments is ridiculous...much like the markup for some medicines. Ah, capitalistic American health and eye care.
7
@GiGi and Judy
I've used Costco and an online site, and it is true, they are both life ( eye) savers.
The last pair I bought from a local optometrist (whom I would have liked to continue to patronize) were way too costly, especially since I wanted multiple pairs (I like pure distance glasses for driving because the offer a wider peripheral vision area, pure reading set, and then a bifocal pair).
1
I was severely myopic in my young life. Had cataract surgery 8 years ago. The doctor had planned to use lenses that would give me perfect distance vision. However, after the initial eye was done, it became obvious that the lens used gave me middle distance correction but not perfect distance correction. Why this happened is a long story that involves ignorance on the part of the medical assistant in his office. However, he was able to use a lens in the second eye that corrected for distance better than the initial one. Since I value crisp vision, I decided to wear glasses as well. I have a .75 diopter correction in one eye and a .5 in the other, as well as magnification in the lower part of the lenses for reading and transitions for UV protection. I put them on first thing in the morning and take them off for swimming and sleep. Even without glasses, my vision is so much better than it was when I was young. While it wasn’t the solution that I expected from having cataract surgery, it’s one that works well for me.
6
I have a head-up display in my car, which projects speed and navigation information onto the windshield. My polarized sunglasses render the display almost invisible.
One great technology kills another.
40
@Charlie B
If you're not on a boat overlooking water, why wear polarized glasses?
4
@JustInsideBeltway ...I've worn polarized lenses for six decades because they are very effective in reducing the glare and allowing you to see a storm coming.
4
that could be repaired by the designrrs. they need to appreciate the problem
1
One point I never see covered on this topic is reading glasses for bright outdoors. I know many people who read at the beach or in a park and wear reading glasses for it, but they also wear sunglasses to protect their eyes and cut down glare, and so end up awkwardly and uncomfortably layering two pairs on their heads. And the tint of the glasses often means they need even more powerful magnification. I knew one woman who got magnifying sunglasses (store bought, not prescription) specifically for the beach and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was healthy.
3
@Cormac
I tried those magnifying sunglasses at first - but after my first pair of prescription sunglasses with progressive lenses (good for distance and reading), I'm never going back there.
6
@Cormac Many years ago I purchased a pair of reading sunglasses. They are available.
4
@Tamar
Indeed, you can get lenses just for reading, just for distance, and just about everything in between now, for sunglasses, for indoor glasses, for transitions.
They cost, but now, whenever my prescription changes, I just buy for whatever need I have at the time, keeping the old ones, and eventually, you will have a decent pair for every need.
1
I spent many years engaging in outdoor activities without any protection before my eyes began to exhibit the early stages of the dry form of age related macular degeneration. Now I wear lightly tinted sunglasses almost all the time I am outside.
I did not know that UV can still harm eyes on cloudy days. And that it can come from behind. I need to wear glasses with protection as noted in the article ALL of the time. Thanks!!
29
@Honeybee
The ozone layer absorbs UV light, does not "bounce " it back into space. The hole in the ozone layer occurs in the winter in the higher lattitudes of the Southern hemisphere, and is not relevant to exposure in the Northern hemisphere.
Winter sunglasses are important because of scattering from snow.
5
@richard
My dad was a farmer - thus outside a lot, He also usually did wear sunglasses but not fro the many years when he was young. He became legally blind due to AMD.
3