Prescription driving sunglasses

[Dogbreath]

Hi
Just been advised by my Doc to go for an eye test as I'm on the borderline of needing glasses to drive! I've never worn glasses and and would rather have prescription sunglasses. Anyone wear these? Advice, recommendations would be great chaps...
Thanks
Lee

 

[tangey]

It you need glasses for driving, you need them night and day, which means sunglasses alone aren't going to help you. Personally, having worn glasses for many years, it is only the last 4 years or so I got prescription sunglasses (in my case Oakley)....really find they are a great benefit to reducing glare, should have had them ages ago.

I also assume that when a medical profession tells you you are borderline, you need to get it confirmed/denied ASAP for insurance reasons, and if it turns out you need glasses, you probably can't drive until you have them.

 

[whitenemesis]

Don't get suckered into getting photochromic lenses as they don't darken behind glass as the UV is filtered out by the windscreen

 

[Dogbreath]

Hi
Yes I'm booked in for an eye test next week. I have eye screening once a year for my Diabetes and this is where it was picked up. The Dvla and my insurance company know of my Diabetes. I will just have to wait until I get the eye test results.
Love the Oakley, wraparound style sunglasses so will have a look at them.
My eyes don't seem any different when not driving so wouldn't wear glasses all day long.
Lee

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I was prescribed driving glasses 10 years ago and have had prescription sunglasses a few times, unlike others I have found that some self-tinting glasses do work in the car, in my case Transitions have a product called something like ActiveX which do tint in my cars.

This time around I have gone for just 1 pair of glasses with the tint and I obtained a good deal on Rayban Wayfarers via RX sports online. You need to ask the optician who does the test for the measurement between your pupils as they will ask this online. I forgot and measured myself, RX said that my measurement was exactly what they recommend as average anyway - I've always strived for average!

The lenses do tint a little in any kind of light so are rarely completely clear, some people don't like this as it is said that people who wear such glasses have a reputation, I don't give a toss as 1) I tend to only wear them for driving and outside in sunlight and 2) I've already got a dodgy reputation.

In all I had a free eye test and the Raybans cost me around £120.
(The reputation was free).

 

[Flackadder]

As your windows are tinted...and you have been happy with that, I guess. Get some proper glasses and make sure you get the anti-reflection coating - slightly greenish normally. No tinting or photochromic useless garbage. Job is done.

I have worn glasses for 30 years or more.

 

[Codger49]

I have just started to use prescription glasses for driving, but don't wear them otherwise. I found they interfered with my spatial awareness, mainly I think due to the change in vision at the edges of the lens. Gradually getting used to them, but my next pairs will have larger lenses, probably of the aviator style.

I did get two pairs, one clear (for night) and the other 50% sunglasses (for day), I didn't want the sunglasses to be too dark as the car has tinted windows anyway.

As well as sharpening up the text on road signs, a big advantage is a reduction in glare from oncoming headlights at night.

 

[Dogbreath]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all the info, I suppose. It's horses for courses regarding what style, colour, lenses your happy with. As I've only ever worn sunglasses I thought this option would be easier to get used to?
To be honest I didn't realise there was such a huge difference in lenses, tints....!
Lee

 

[GordonTarling]

A few years ago, I used to wear glasses and went through most available combinations of sunglasses for driving, including clip-ons and prescription. Then I saw the light and went with contact lenses, now I can pick and choose almost any pair of normal sunglasses that I want.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

Do a Billy Connelly , get a prescription windscreen.

 

[RonFleet]

I started wearing glasses when at school, 50 years ago, and have had many pairs with photochromic lenses over the years (different brands, including Transitions). The problem for me was that they could become very dark, even on an overcast day in winter - depending on how much UV was getting through, I suppose. For this reason, I gave up on them. I now have a pair of untinted glasses for use most of the time and prescription sunglasses for sunny days. Both sets are varifocals and are treated with anti-glare coatings.

 

[st13phil]

As has already been mentioned, if you need glasses for driving you will need clear ones primarily.

Over the years I've had both prescription sunglasses and photochromic lenses - and yes, some photochromic lenses will go dark(ish) behind a windscreen - but now wear varifocals which are not readily available as prescription sunglasses unless you have a commercial frame reglazed.

For the clear glasses, an anti-reflective (AR) coating is pretty much essential for night driving. Personally, I always go for a hard coat on the lenses too as it makes them much more difficult to scratch.

If you're considering prescription sunglasses as a style statement (for which you will pay a premium), then Oakley are one possibility, but there are others. When I last looked, Bolle offered a good range, but don't discount getting a standard frame glazed up to suit. Also remember that polarised lenses are generally best for driving sunglasses.

Now I wear varifocals I managed to find a good pair of "over glasses" sunglasses (not clip-ons) from my local optician which work really well, but may not meet everyone's "style" needs.

 

[tangey]

Hi
Love the Oakley, wraparound style sunglasses so will have a look at them.
My eyes don't seem any different when not driving so wouldn't wear glasses all day long.
Lee

Expect to pay north of £300+ for oakleys+lens. As I recall, I paid over £100 to get the lens changed last year, and those weren't oakley lens.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

It pays to shop around.

 

[whitenemesis]

Just this last week I got new prescription (varifocal) glasses and sunglasses. I went for the S series varilux lenses for the widest field of view and for the sunglasses (Ray-ban Aviators) the next level down, Physio 2 polarised. Must say very impressed, extremely light lenses for my quite high prescription. Not much change out of £1200.....

 

[Lennox]

Hi
Yes I'm booked in for an eye test next week. I have eye screening once a year for my Diabetes and this is where it was picked up. The Dvla and my insurance company know of my Diabetes. I will just have to wait until I get the eye test results.
Love the Oakley, wraparound style sunglasses so will have a look at them.
My eyes don't seem any different when not driving so wouldn't wear glasses all day long.
Lee

I have bought 5 pairs (1, new 4 used) of Oakleys WHY 8.0 frames....


The used ones I get new sleeves and get them reglazed, all in I'm about £100 a pair...

These ones...

Get loads of complements about them!!

 

[DrNick]

Last pair of prescription glasses I bought (about 2 months ago!) was £12.95 delivered, as I wanted a spare pair for the car.
Just watch out for offers etc from glassesdirect, specky4eyes and so on. Moneysavingexpert will give you the current best deal. You just need a valid prescription. Note if you need varifocals, then get the optician to measure your Inter pupil distance (IPD) as this will be needed as well as the prescription.
Check out the online opticians before parting with ridiculous amounts of money.
Eg current offer on at Glasses Direct has some Ray Ban and Oakley prescription glasses and sunglasses for about £100 all in.

 

[BTB 500]

now wear varifocals which are not readily available as prescription sunglasses unless you have a commercial frame reglazed.

I wear varifocal sunglasses when driving - difficult reading the cluster/radio/satnav etc. otherwise. Quite often you get a 2nd pair of glasses free (or heavily reduced).

 

[Dogbreath]

Getting myself all mixed up here....! So in theory could I buy the frames I like then with my prescription get them made up in say normal glasses and sunglasses ?
Saying all this even before I know if I need them...!
Appreciate all the replys from you seasoned glasses wearers!
Lee

 

[Dogbreath]

Just this last week I got new prescription (varifocal) glasses and sunglasses. I went for the S series varilux lenses for the widest field of view and for the sunglasses (Ray-ban Aviators) the next level down, Physio 2 polarised. Must say very impressed, extremely light lenses for my quite high prescription. Not much change out of £1200.....

Wow that is eye dedication right there....! My thinking would be free ****ty boots glasses and a 77mm pulley and remap:bannana: