Transitions lenses

[rb58]

Hi everyone

I had some new prescription sunglasses delivered today from Optilabs. I ordered them with Transitions lenses, but I'm not sure if the lenses that are in the glasses are Transitions or just plain clear. Having not seen them in action, I'm not really sure what to expect, and how much I can expect the appearance / colour to change as the light conditions change. On the Transitions website the demo shows them as changing quite markedly, however, the ones I have seem not to change at all, or if they do, it's hardly perceptible. They certainly don't darken in full sun to resemble sunglasses like Tyler Farrar's do in the advert. And they don't seem to be offering any shading from the glare.

If any of you have Transitions lenses, can you please let me know what I should expect please. I'd prefer to have some idea before I call Optilabs.

Thanks
Ross

 

[HLaB]

I wear transitions and as I wear them all the time I would hardly (if at all) notice them becoming dark until I stop and look in a mirror or something then I notice they have indeed changed markedly. Obviously the level of light dictates how much they change but in good light its just as dark as other sunglasses although the user does not perceive it.

 

[ianrauk]

They do go dark but you don't really notice when wearing them. Put them down facing the sun and have a look, you will be surprised at how dark they look from the front and how clear they look when wearing.

But then again you seemed to have done your own test so give them a call. I found them very helpful.

 

[TrevorM]

I have transition prescription glasses from Optilab and they go noticeably dark.
Cover one of the lenses with dark cloth and leave them in the sun for 15 minutes to see the difference

 

[rb58]

Thanks guys. How long does it take (roughly) for them to go dark - say from stepping out from a room into the sunshine? Let's hope it's sunny in the morning so I can test them.

 

[TrevorM]

Thanks guys. How long does it take (roughly) for them to go dark - say from stepping out from a room into the sunshine? Let's hope it's sunny in the morning so I can test them.

Not sure. They aren't quick so you don't get instant benefit as you would putting sunglasses on when stepping out.
I said 15 minutes because if you can't see a difference in the two lenses after that I think you have been given non-transition lenses. But they should go darker much quick than 15.

 

[ianrauk]

Thanks guys. How long does it take (roughly) for them to go dark - say from stepping out from a room into the sunshine? Let's hope it's sunny in the morning so I can test them.

dunno mate.. but they are good.

Remember that they doctor those ads to make things look big/better/quicker/more coulourful etc

 

[HLaB]

Thanks guys. How long does it take (roughly) for them to go dark - say from stepping out from a room into the sunshine? Let's hope it's sunny in the morning so I can test them.

I'm not sure either, I'd hardly notice wearing them.

 

[terry_gardener]

couple of years ago i got some transition lenses from my optician and you don't really see much difference wearing them.

like others have said go out in sunshine and they will change rapidly, the ones i had changed to about 80% sunglasses within just a minute and then to proper sunglasses within about 5 minutes, takes longer to other way however when you go in doors.

also i found that when i drove my car with them they didn't change at all because the windows of the cars blocked the UV rays which are used to activate the transition properties of the glasses.

 

[Norm]

The best way to check (IMO!) is to put the glasses in the sun with one lens covered. Leave them for a short time (15 seconds should be enough to notice a difference) then have a look and see if the uncovered lens is darker than the covered lens.

 

[rb58]

Thanks. I'm hoping it'll be nice and sunny in the morning so I can test them as you suggest.

 

[Lozatron]

They really need sunlight to change - you need an incredibly bright light to get the same effect as moderate sunshine, in my experience.

 

[byegad]

I've been wearing them in my normal glasses for a long time, nearly twenty years. They start to change quite quickly but not instantly. I only notice they've changed if, either someone takes a photograph of me outdoors when I look like I'm wearing dark sunglasses, or I come in from a ride and can't see properly for a couple of minutes as inside is too dark.

IIRC I paid for fast transition lenses last time round, go back 20 years and they were really, really slow to change, so much so that coming in from bright sunshine it was necessary to take off my glasses for ten minutes or more.

Finally, even on a dull day they darken a fair bit outside.

 

[rb58]

I did as suggested and put them outside in the sun this morning for ten minutes. One lens covered, one uncovered. Sure enough when I went back to look, the uncovered one had darkened quite a bit, and the other was still clear. So, clearly they are the right lenses (see what I did there!). Looking through them they don't shade the eye as much as a pair of sunglasses, but I guess I'll get used to that.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Gandalf]

Nice and sunny this morning, my Optilabs Sprints turned blacker than the Earl of Hell's waistcoat very quickly.