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Prescription cycling specs

by notfastenough
Mon, Dec 05, 2011 14:51
36

Hi all,
I currently wear glasses to correct my vision, and this includes when on my bike. I am a little conscious that wearing my only pair of (rather expensive) glasses while haring down hills at 35mph is probably inviting some undesirable incident. I'm also guessing that they aren't rated for sports use in some safety-related way for which I'd rather not be a guinea-pig.

The (at times) nigh-on biblical hailstone yesterday lunchtime was sneaking past the normal-coverage lenses and stinging my eyelids, which was the last straw.

So:
I figure laser vision correction is overkill. Only a few more years before my eyes would degenerate naturally anyway.

One pair of presciption cycling sunglasses would be good, but the likes of 'transitions' don't go up to my requirements (-6.5 prescription, high index lens of 1.7).

So, it would appear that my best option (unless anyone can suggest anything else) would be cycling sunglasses with prescription inserts and interchangeable coloured lenses for the 'sunglasses' layer. However, I can only seem to find online outlets for this. I know from experience that the amount of minor tweaking required when I get a new pair of specs means that I really need to be on the same premises as the optician for at least a short visit.

I've asked a couple of local opticians if they would be interested in selling me something appropriate, but it seems that the cost barrier of entry to the sports market (bulk orders etc when I am only one customer) combined with the often more demanding (read: more time/effort) needs of the sports user mean that I'm hitting a brick wall.

Anyone know of a bricks and mortar optician in the North-west (I'm in Manchester) with a line in sports specs?

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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36 comments

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Michael5 | 13 years ago
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I take mine to Vision Express (Halifax branch). They do them in about 2 days as can't do them within the hour as they don't carry the blanks in stock.

My local branch got all sniffy about whether I could prove the insert carried a CE no. so I had to go to the branch near the office rather than closer to home. They did it without question. So, you might have to try a couple of branches before you find one willing to help.

Cost? About £10 for the insert and a further £60 for my prescription so not cheap.

HOWEVER, I would also say that in the sh1tty weather you describe, they aren't great. The inserts tend to fog up and are a pain to clear - also, you can see them in all but the darkest lenses - the link takes you to a pic, which if you look closely, you can see what I mean.. More obvious in real life! See pic at http://calder-clarion.blogspot.com/2011/10/fixie-revival.html#comment-form

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bfslxo | 13 years ago
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Adidas do the elevation & evil eye range. Both take optical inserts. I have the elevation which I use for road work, mtb & my annual skiing trip. The legs come off and take a goggle strap & 3 different types of lenses as well as 2 different nose bridges are all supplied. Not cheap but extremely good.
The optical insert can be put up to your prescription strength - think it costs about £80 ish quid, the thing is if your presecription changes you just send the insert away again and get it changed, I'm on my fourth change with the same pair of glasses.

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notfastenough | 13 years ago
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Chris - Suppose I should have pre-empted that one! 1 Nope, overuse/abuse of contacts in my drunken youth mean I can no longer wear them.

Oakley will do prescription lenses in their less sporty (read: less wraparound) frames, but not to my prescription strength.

Edit: I did look at the Optilabs site yesterday, but Croydon would be a bit of a trek. As an example, I know that one of my ears is slightly higher than the other, so my specs arms always need adjusting a little, hence the need to visit in person.

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jezzzer | 13 years ago
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i've had lenses made for my oakleys more than once by Optilabs (http://www.optilabs.com/index.php).

their service is superb - once a local optician had mis-read my prescription and when we realised what had happened (even though it wasn't remotely their fault) they remade the lenses free of charge.

mind you, they're not the switchable lens style of glasses, so I don't know if they'd do that. normally those lenses are dead thin, aren't they?

anyway, like chris, sorry for not directly answering your question!

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TheHatter replied to jezzzer | 13 years ago
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jezzzer wrote:

i've had lenses made for my oakleys more than once by Optilabs (http://www.optilabs.com/index.php).

I had a look on their website as i'd like to get this done but they don't seem to offer this service- do you know if they still do it?

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KirinChris | 13 years ago
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I know it isn't the answer to your specific question, but does your prescription make it impossible to wear contacts ?

I used to have prescription sports glasses but converted to contacts with normal sports sunglasses and find it much easier when I need to take them off because of fog, rain, light etc.

I have heard of people getting prescription lenses made to be fitted in Oakleys.

Not much help, sorry. 16

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