I need to sort my vision out for riding, so it's looking like I'll need some prescription riding specs (I already use specs for driving). Can anyone recommend a brand/type/optician/outlet etc - I'm in Calderdale, West Yorks? I'm guessing contact lenses don't mix so well with muddy riding, or do they work ok so long as you wear goggles over them? Ta for any tips.
Bike Forum
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Tell me about prescription Oakleys or similar solutions...
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Never had a problem riding with contact lenses.
Prescription oakleys are only really suitable up to a certain prescription, round about -4, so something bear in mind.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Contacts here, tried riding with glasses of various styles and nothing compares. I dont wear them on a daily basis but always put them in for riding (and other sports)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well, contact lenses and Oakleys would work, if you can wear contact lenses normally.
I can't though, and I tend to lose / crush sunglasses, so I'm not going to shell out £250 on a pair. I get the type with inserts, as they are cheap and you get a few different coloured lenses.
You send the plastic insert off to somewhere like http://www.specsonthenet.com with your prescription and £20, and hey presto, you can see again.
Downsides are that they look pretty plasticky and can steam up a bit after a big hill if you stop for a cake.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Used to use contacts but got bored with the faff as I was only using them for riding. Got prescription Oakleys now with the transition lenses which are perfect, go dark in the sun but clear for night riding. The lenses aren't quite as hydrophobic as the standard lenses though so visibility isn't great when its wet and they do mist up.
Got mine online from the theinternetopticians.co.uk, think they were £175 (lens only no frame) so not cheap... There is a slight risk involved getting them online rather than in a shop as they might not be the right eye width etc but I had no problems.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tried contacts but didn't get on with removing them(apparently a common problem for manual labourers), tried the seperate inserts(lots of steaming up, and extra weight seemed to cause slipping down my nose), and finally bit the bullet and bought prescription M-frame.Wouldn't want to ride in anything else now, and worth the extra cost for Oakley's back up service which has been superb.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I got these from rxsport
See: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/prescription-oakley-split-jackets
Really, really pleased with them. Don't get on with contacts at all as i have an astigmatism which means they have to be a certain way up and apparently my baggy eye lids don't correct them when they move so i get blurred vision all the time
Posted 1 year ago # -
I had a bit of a mare getting prescription lenses in my Oakley's, my prescription is stronger than you can get from Oakley, and despite the best efforts of my local lens grinder, the more powerful lens kept falling out. They're now bodged with sugru, fit for riding only.
I like the ones above with the little RX insert. Similar to what I use for my DH / snow board goggles. What brand are they?
Posted 1 year ago # -
or a similar option...Adidas Evil Eye with optional prescription insert. A benefit of this approach is it's easier / cheaper to change insert when prescription changes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I use the transition oakley Flak Jacket XLJs - I like the contour of these lenses. Had no probs with them. And if prescription changes the lenses can be swapped out.
My optician said that if I had gone for a full framed oakley they could put their own lenses in at a cheaper rate, so its definately worth going to speak with yours. Also you get to try them on. Some of the "sports glasses" make you look like some kind of alien!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
+1 for the adidas evil eyes. I have the explorer model and have three different outer lenses, depending on the conditions. When it's dry I use them with the prescription insert. When it's raining I do find that the double lens makes it more serseptable to misting up and harder to clear, so normally swap to contacts and use the glasses without the insert to stop mud etc.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Shout here for RXSport online. I have had my Oakley Tens for about 8 weeks and they're fantastic. Only when it gets really humid do they mist, and once they get a bit of air circulation, they clear very quickly. I have transition lenses in and they work very well. My prescription in -2/-2.5. I measured my own PD, and even though they felt funny when I first wore them, I used to them now (they give you an odd fishbowl effect compared to normal glasses)
I had planned on using them just for riding, but I have been wearing them as normal sunglasses and my headaches that I normally get on very bright days, have gone.
Money well spent, for me anyway.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've tried contacts and the Adidas things with inserts but keep coming back to my prescription Oakleys. I've got Oakley XXs with prescription lenses, about 10 years old and still as good as new despite being considerably abused, also some Oakley wires (I think) with transition lenses that are also ok for general wear and night riding. Both from a local optician a long way from Yorkshire but if you're paying that much then getting them on the internet is a bit of a risk as mistakes can be costly. I had to have the lenses replaced on the wires because the coating started to come off, done at no cost through the optician negotiating with Oakley's service department.
I find that with contacts I need some sort of eye protection to keep the mud, insects and dog mess out of my eyes so I have to wear glasses anyway which defeats the object, and with the insert things all is well until they fog between the inserts and the lenses at which point I want to take them off and stamp on them.
Posted 1 year ago # -
another for evil eye or Sunwise (both with optical inserts), Much cheaper all round though they don't have the selection of lenses that Evil eyes do but a bigger plus is that the perscription bit is oval in shape rather than round giving me a better periferal vision. and I'm particually blind coming in a +4 and +5.
Tried contacts and normal sunnies and just could get on made my eyes stream.
Not priced them but understand Oakleys with perscritons can be V expensive.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Like others, I can't get on with contacts so I've been using Rudy Project Rydon's for nearly 3 years.
From ...
http://extreme-eyewear.co.uk/Based in Xscape in Castleford
They're the type with prescription inserts that clip-in behind the main lense.
I got three lenses with them. The mirror ones completeley hide the prescription inserts; The "reactive" ones hide the insert when they go very dark; the clear lenses (which I use for v bad light & nighriding) make me look like Mr Magoo!
Overall though, they're super adjustable & durable.I did look at the Oakley split jackets with prescription lenses ... because of the curve of the lense & with my prescription I'd have looked like I had two goldfish bowls gaffa taped to my head!
Posted 1 year ago # -
fubar - Member
or a similar option...Adidas Evil Eye with optional prescription insert. A benefit of this approach is it's easier / cheaper to change insert when prescription changes.I see a couple of you like this option, I bought into it and thought it the biggest load of pap since... well everything. It really took a while to get used to the change over, the lense was uncomfortably close to my eye, though this has the advantage that you do get full coverage, everywhere you look is in focus - a little weird after wearing normal glasses. Yes they do work fine in sunny condition but add a bit of dampness and you have three surfaces covered in condensation - fricken nightmare when out cycling. The rubber surround that holds the inserts onto the outer shell failed on my twice, I gave up with them after the 2nd time.
I now gone and just bought a cheapo set of frames from my local independant optician, with perscription, reactalight lenses they came to a £100 all in. I can live with that... would like to try the Oakley's as there optic's do sound great, but @ £200-300 (a bit less via RX Sports) I'll be sticking with my cheapo ones.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No problems here with contacts and sunnies. I use daily disposables to minimise faff, and don't find that it's a problem with my astigmatism either. I'd suggest that if you already have some expensive sunnies then a trial of a month's worth of contacts might be the cheaper option, and then if you don't get on with it you could go for the pricier prescription sunnies.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No problems here with contacts and sunnies. I use daily disposables to minimise faff, and don't find that it's a problem with my astigmatism either.
Unfortunately i tried 5 different types of contacts and didn't get on with any of them. Like i say.. think my eyelids are too baggy and they aren't correcting when i blink
Posted 1 year ago # -
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=47387. £45 including 3 different lenses. Tenner to get the insert reglazed with your prescription.
They arrived today, and actually the frames are metal, with decent arm springs, I'm really impressed. Yeah, maybe not as stylish as Oakleys or Adidas, but who cares.
Also, they only steam up if you aren't moving
Posted 1 year ago # -
Another vote for the Oakleys, I had refractive surgery close to 20 years ago now, and struggle with Glare and halos. Set of Oakley Jackets with a custom glare coating and small prescription make riding a lot more comfortable.
And as above, highly recommend Extreme Eyewear at Xscape. They were brilliant with the fitting and gave a loaner pair to see if the benefits warranted the cost (which they did)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Contacts are not held in by your eyelids!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Contacts are not held in by your eyelids!
i bloody know that you numpty!!
what corrects them when they start moving? that's right.. your frikken eyelids when you blink!
Wheni blink, they aren't correcting so i had to use my finger to move them back.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Another vote for Optilabs from me. I've never got on with contact lenses, on or off the bike. Tried the Adidas Evil Eyes, with prescription insert, as mentioned above. They were ok but I found they misted up very easily - and because of the insert, you don't just get one misted up lens to look through, you get two! My prescription is too strong for Oakley and, frankly, they're a bit pricey for my pocket, so on the recommendation of a friend, I tried Optilabs. Had them for about 4 years now and really impressed. The fact that they have the style of lenses that go dark in sunlight also means no faffing about changing lenses. Would definitely recommend them and will probably get myself a new pair before too long.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Prescription transitions Flak Jackets are £300 RRP - just been discussing them at the opticians.
So do I go web and save a bit?
Also anyone using black iridiums transitions for night riding or are grey transitions better?
...hmmm...Posted 1 year ago # -
Don't know if they still do them, but bought some decent looking sunglasses from Specsavers (osiris, plastic framed things, rather than just a pair of wire framed everyday glasses with dark lenses) as part of their two for one. Cost about £200 for both pairs including thinned, scratch resistant reduceed reflection lenses for my everyday glasses (most of the cost)and photochromatic (or whatever its called) lenses in the sunnies.
Can steam up a bit when you stop and look a bit like goggles when the lenses go clear but work pretty well.
I mostly use contact lenses now though and have not had any problems even when riding in mud and grit (just make sure the glasses you wear give good protection). Its also easier when getting off the bike and going into pub/cafe ie haven't got to carry another pair of glasses as well or put on goggles to read specials board/pump clips...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I had a pair of M-frame oakleys, but my prescription deteriorated to the point Oakley wouln't make me new lenses. Glad that was the case as I got a pair of photocromic Optilabs, which were less than half the price and 100% of the performance... unlike some photocromic coatings, there's goes 100% clear, meaning I can use it for night riding too! very recommended
Posted 1 year ago # -
Can't be arsed to read all of that but I have some jawbones from RX sport which are great. I got the photochromatic lenses so I can use them most of the time unless it is really dark
Posted 1 year ago # -
I use Oakley's opthalmic frames (ie their normal glasses range) as I have a major astigmatism that isn't compatible with any of the sunglass range.
I have a pair made up as reactions, another as glasses and a pair of sunnies. You don't get the wrap around protection but the quality's been good (bicycle and toddler proof!).
I'd quite like something with inserts and a swappable lens for the bike but adding that to the other 2/3 pairs I need for daily life starts to get silly on cost.
Posted 1 year ago # -
My contact lenses don't randomly start moving (well only if they've been put in inside out) so my eyelids aren't involved in moving them back anywhere.
Back to the op, one thing to be aware of is inserts don't really work if you have long eyelashes.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I_did_dab - Member
Also anyone using black iridiums transitions for night riding or are grey transitions better?
...hmmm...Grey ones here and they are fine for night riding and dark enough in sunlight. Can't comment on black lenses.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Prescription transitions Flak Jackets are £300 RRP - just been discussing them at the opticians.
So do I go web and save a bit?
Also anyone using black iridiums transitions for night riding or are grey transitions better?
...hmmm...The one's i posted above are clear to black irdium lenses and i'd have no problem night riding with them i reckon
Posted 1 year ago # -
Option 1 - Sport frame with insert clip, most of the time great, but if you're hot and moving slow they can fog up.
option 2 - Contact lenses and sport frame, you can actually get better vision from lenses than specs if correctly sorted
option 3 - Find a decent wrap sunny or other frame and take it to a local independant opticians most are glazable with a high base curve lense and can be tinted or made light reactive as required, did this for Chipps a few years back on a couple of Smiths frames and chipps has a reasonable prescription.
Personally atm I am using a JFrey 2298 9272 frame from their cross over range ( a bridge between sport and opthalmic frames ) with transition lenses in, not cheap but the best I have come across in a long time and we've owned an opticians for a while now.
If you want any more info re price estimates mail me, with prescription details and I'll give you an idea of what you can expect to pay at an independant
Posted 1 year ago # -
For RX oakleys, I can recommend http://www.andrewcareopticians.co.uk/. They dude there is a cyclist and they have 20% off the list price for oakley RX. Got some Split Jackets with photochromic lenses mail order from them and they've been great.
Posted 1 year ago #
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