So, just got some new prescription cycling glases, first pair I’ve had to get for cycling, they are a wrap around type but they’re having an odd effect and don’t quite feel right, is this normal?

It’s like there’s a slight fish-eye effect, periperal vision is a bit odd. First time use on the bike today and it felt like my side to side vision had narrowed and my up and down had been elongated, a bit like trying to watch a wide screen film in 4:3, if that makes sense? Also felt really high on the bike. Also noticed one eye, left eye, is a bit blurry so getting a slight blur/double vision effect at 50 plus metres – something I’ll be getting in contact with the company about.

My precription was only done about 6 months ago, the glasses I got from that are fine but they are flat lenses. Do the curved lenses make such a difference? I tried my normal glasses looking down the garden and switched to the cycling ones and there seems a big difference.

Is this something I’ll get used to as it felt really odd riding the bike today?

Did you get the Pupillary Distance (PD) correct when ordering the glasses?

yeah, I gave the distance as given by the opticians.

The worse your prescription and the more they ‘wrap’, the worse the combined effect will be I’m afraid. Also the size of the lense will also have an effect.

I for example, am not suitable for the vast majority of Oakley prescription sunglasses because my prescription is too much for their lenses. The only ones I could get were Gascans which are less wrapped and also humongous 🙁

I had some wrapped glasses from Optilabs and they looked noticeable weird for people looking at me. I also found I could only really look through the centre of the lense to get a clear view. I got used to it, by just moving my head more, but they were always noticeable.

The curvature can foul things up, I did try getting a pair of cheap ‘polaris’ branded glasses reglazed a few years ago and the optician said no dice, too much sweep.

Bolle ‘spider’ safety specs are my choice now, swept but not too swept for ciliary blue*

*note: My prescription isn’t too extreme (-2.75/-2.75) and a pretty standard head size/PD so probably a bit easier to accommodate…

My precription is SPH +1.50 CYL -0.25 for both eyes, Axis 160 for right 25 for left – so I don’t think it’s too bad, but maybe I do need flatter lenses? I tried a few frames before buying and got some with a fairly large lens and wrapping as the frames didn’t interfere with my vision like some did, so annoying getting old 😐

Your prescription doesn’t sound particularly huge, The other options are of course is an RX insert type frame; a small flat clip in frame carries your prescription on the inside and a nice big swept and appropriately tinted outer lens goes outside, Rudy project, Adidas and others do these.
Or there’s contacts, you can wear anything you like over them…

I’ve had the lenses changed on some old oakleys by Ciliary Blue. Vision is pretty good out of them – I went for polycarbonate for impact protection. Meant to be worse for optics but they’re great. Maybe they’re just an ok shaped frame? I’ve got quite a narrow head where glasses sit so always have to pick narrow sunglasses – in this case Oakley minutes that I bought in about 2004. No tint on the new lenses – just clear.

Think I’ve got minus 1.75 in the left eye and minus 1.5 in the right. Slight stigmatism in the right eye. But probably a fairly mild prescription overall.

Don’t think I could ever wear contacts, thought of trying to put something in my eye seems wrong. After a bit of research I decided on prescription lenses as I’d read that with inserts you’ve then got 2 sets of lenses to mist up and clean. I’ll see what the company suggests, I’ve read that it could just take a bit of time to get used to them but I was hoping it would be the same as putting my normal glasses on. Tried varifocals after my last prescription but hated those so just had 2 different pairs done, the new cycling lenses feel similar to those although they are just single precription for distance.

Fannied around for 5 years with prescription lenses. The curve in the lens on most ‘sports’ type glasses caused the fishbowl type effect. I found inserts to be heavy & they slipped down my nose all the time. Either would fog. Worse case was night riding in wet but warm conditions. Drops of water on outside of lens, fog on inside. Both reflecting or distorting light beam and made be stop enjoying riding in the winter.
Finally took the plunge with contacts this summer and after a few weeks of having to force myself to man up & put them in/take them out I’m cool with it now. Makes so much difference riding I can’t believe I waited so long.

If the supplier just puts your exact prescription in a wrap around frame it effectively changes the prescription because the lens is at an angle. You can get the lenses compensated for the wrap, which should sort it. It is a specialist job and more expensive. If you don’t get on with your new specs send them back. Not sure how much you would pay though for a proper job.

I think you’ll get used to them. I’ve worn specs for 50 odd years and sometimes a new prescription gives weird peripheral effects. The brain sorts them out fairly quickly.

I have been using prescription jawbones with good results.
When I get a new prescription the curved lense gave me a feeling of being closer to the floor.
Then your eyes just seem to adapt.
Haventn’t noticed it recently so I would give it time.
Thanks,
Max

High base frames cause issues with prescription lenses. Tell the supplier that they don’t work and you’d like them to, or to refund your money. Suggest that they use Rupp+Hubrach to deliver what you asked for.

They should work exactly as your normal glasses do, send them back if they are not right

I’ve had exactly the same as you describe with Ciliary Blue – despite two or three attempts they didn’t really get much better so I gave up and got some with inserts from an optitian. Exactly the same prescription and they are spot on.

Si

It’s a wrap of the lens. Wear them for a while and your brain will soon adjust. This from someone who is +5. Other prescriptions may vary, but do persevere.

I bought some Oakley Airdops (from Pretavoir) recently and my prescription is very similar to yours.
No issues with fish-eye on these at all but I have had it before with some safety-type specs.

I’ll try wearing them around the house for a bit to see if I can get used to them, but it makes me wonder if I’m changing glasses regularly how will my eyes cope with all the changes – when I start commuting next year I’ll wear the cycling ones then change to my normal ones at work then back to cycling ones for going home.

They were done by a sports glasses specialist, they say they can deal with the curvature. Thay did say send them back for inspection, not sure if that can help if I can’t get on with the lenses. They’re onky an hour away so I might ask to see them with my normal glasses and these ones, maybe try another style while I’m there, just don’t want to be sending them back and forth a few times.

I’m pretty sure Oakley compensate the prescription for the wrap of the frame. One of the reasons people get on with them, and they cost so much.

I get a similar effect. My prescription is around -5 (that’s contacts, can’t remember glasses). I had specsavers try some vaguely wrapped sport style glasses as my ‘free’ pair when I last bought new. They advised that it would probably not work well but I thought I’d take a punt.

They’re fine for road riding (I wanted them for commuting) but you get some slightly weird optical effects if you tilt your head back and forward and can sometimes ‘lose’ roots and things as they move down the field of vision. I also find I can’t trust my peripheral vision because of the effect you describe, had some close calls fitting through tight gaps.

It took me a while to get used to them but these days I’m happy with them for ‘general biking about’, but not ‘proper mountain biking’. Oddly they work quite well for night riding, I assume because you tend to be focused on more of a central spot.

Long story short though, if I’d paid serious money and my prescription was as low as yours I’d be pretty miffed. One thing to check- do things improve if you alter where they sit on your face?

I had slightly curved glasses and my depth perception was well out. They were remade and surprisingly came back right.

do things improve if you alter where they sit on your face?

Funnily enough yes – I tried this last night as the lens sit very close to my eyes, if I move them to the end of my nose they’re a lot better, but I can’t wear them like that so think I’ll have to choose a different frame.

I got some safety glasses through work, they have a curve to the lens, not as much as the cycling glasses, but they sit further away from my pupils and they are ok.