prescription glasses

[Faithsock]

Hello,
I am about to start mountain biking (very much at entry level!). Anyway I have to wear glasses to drive so had better wear some to cycle. I'm really not sure what to wear or what to get. Presumably I should invest in some sort of wrap around rather than wear my every day glasses? Also should I get sunglasses, normal glasses or lenses that react to the light? I really don't know where to start!
Thanks!
Sharon

 

[Accy cyclist]

From my experience i prefer contact lenses protected with either clear or dark safety glasses,depending on the light out there. Normal prescription glasses can easily slip off especially if you're going off road on a mountain bike and prescription safety/goggle types are expensive if your prescription changes frequently. Get some contacts then a pair of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bolle-RUSHTWI-Twilight-Safety-Glasses/dp/B008LICPVU/ref=pd_bxgy_diy_img_y I find them comfy,wind and rain resistant and if you lose or break them it wont cost a lot to replace 'em!

 

[Faithsock]

I've never really got on with contacts to be honest. I'm a bit squeemish about eyes!!

 

[rb58]

Prescription cycling glasses from Optilabs. Been very pleased with mine.

 

[ianrauk]

Prescription cycling glasses from Optilabs. Been very pleased with mine.

+1 great product, great service.

 

[T4tomo]

I just wear my normal glasses and had some prescription glasses made up with a lightish tint on the usual 2 for one offer. If the frames fit you they won't fall off your head as someone suggested.

 

[numbnuts]

I just wear my normal ones as I'm poor and can't afford posh one for cycling

 

[Accy cyclist]

I just wear my normal glasses and had some prescription glasses made up with a lightish tint on the usual 2 for one offer. If the frames fit you they won't fall off your head as someone suggested.

From my personal experience even well fitted glasses slide off or down a wet or sweaty head. It's best to have one of those stretchy thin bands to fit to the glasses and wrap round the head,if you're going to wear glasses while doing physical exercise.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I've never really got on with contacts to be honest. I'm a bit squeemish about eyes!!

Oh! i suppose then that you wouldn't like to undergo a detached retina operation,where they root behind the eye to weld the nerve back on,and put tiny disolvable stitches in the front of the eye.(?) Meanwhile you're fully awake and can hear the cutting and snipping going on!

 

[Feastie]

I regularly sweat in my glasses as I wear them to go running, cycling, everything... never once lost them, although I do push them up my nose from time to time If your glasses are a bit loose, try adjusting the nose pads and also if you take them to the optician they can bend the bit of your glasses that goes behind the ear so they hang on a little better. I have to wear mine all the time for everything and it's perfectly feasible to do so without worrying for their safety. Could do with some windscreen wipers on them when it rains, but other than that...! You can just wear your normal ones.

Also, glasses that react to light can drive people a bit crazy, just to warn you! They react to indoor light as well as outdoor light and some people find them going dark when they come inside... this is just going off what friends have told me about their glasses, I personally have never had a pair of reactive lenses.

Contacts are great You get over poking yourself in the eye eventually and then they're a doddle and a joy to wear as you re-discover this lost power known as peripheral vision!

 

[Fubar]

+1 great product, great service.

++1 for Optilabs - had mind for over a year and they have been brilliant.

 

[HLaB]

The majoritory of time I cycle in my normal glasses which are reactolight but they were chose to be light, strong and a pair I could wear close to my face (relativey wide but short) so as to give a reasonable level of eye protection. I ocassionally wear disposable contacts and normal cycling glasses with interchangeable lenses on top. The advantanes there if its pi$hing doon etc you can remove the glasses and still see to cycle. I may go down the optilabs route in future however as they've also been consistently well reccommended too and weather is less changeable (touch wood) down here.

 

[400bhp]

I had a bad experience with Optilabs so I didn't end up ourchasing a pair from them.

I used Spex4less - had the glasses coming up to 2 years. Please with them.

I went for the lenses that incorporated reactolight, scratch resistant and toughened lense. Seeing as I cycle about 10 hours a week an extra few bob spent on specific glasses seems well worth it.

 

[ianrauk]

I had a bad experience with Optilabs so I didn't end up ourchasing a pair from them.

I used Spex4less - had the glasses coming up to 2 years. Please with them.

I went for the lenses that incorporated reactolight, scratch resistant and toughened lense. Seeing as I cycle about 10 hours a week an extra few bob spent on specific glasses seems well worth it.

Yes I remember you saying before.
Shame that, as they really did go out of their way to be helpful both pre and post purchase.
2 years down the line I needed some replacement rubbers for the arms, they sent some free of charge.

 

[srw]

I've got a pair from Optilabs which were great, but the prescription is now out-of-date. For the last year or so I've been riding in my regular glasses without any elastic bands or anything. The only issue is that above about 35mph my eyes start watering a bit. On the front of a tandem that's not great, but if you're (a) mountain biking and (b) just beginning, that probably won't be a problem. Lenses these days are pretty much indestructible, so the old issues we used to have with glass lenses cracking have gone away.

My advice would be simply to wear your ordinary glasses until you think you really need new ones, then look at Optilabs or similar.