Evan MacKenzie

Comments regarding prescription sunglasses

Comments are edited slightly from the original responses to correct for
grammar/spelling/ formatting, but are otherwise as I received them. I
cut paragraphs in order to keep the individual responses more clearly
separated. Please do not consider this list comprehensive or unbiased,
it is only a compilation of responses I received after a post to the
listserv. Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment.

1) Smith make the best prescription sunglasses you can get,
Interchangeable lenses and they are the same frames as you would use
without prescription, so if you get lasik you can still use them :)
2) Bolle makes very nice sunglasses that have a prescription insert
that you clip in. They have interchangeable lenses as well.
3) There's risk in everything. (And it get's spelled out quite
clearly before any slicing, dicing and hacking occurs.) The nighttime
contacts sound great but I suspect there's risk involved in wearing
those too. The risks (and side affects) presented to me in the surgery
(Lasik) did not outweigh the benefit of never having to wear glasses and
contacts again. That, and I can wear any pair of sunglasses I want.
4) Get Lasik. Best money I ever spent.
5) Oakley. Nice Nice Nice but pricey.
6) Drop an email to Floyd Landis, he seems to be on the cutting
edge of sunglass fashion.
7) From what I've heard, the Oakley prescription glasses are hot.
Very expensive though.
8) I think Smith make really good interchangeable prescription
sunglasses, they are just like their regular glasses with an
interchangeable prescription lens.
9) Rudy Projects are great. Much of their line is available in Rx,
and you can't tell by looking at 'em that they are Rx (i.e. cool
looking, not dorky!) Not sure if you can get them in interchangeable
lenses- I asked about that, but you would have to pay quite a bit extra
for each set, the lenses cost far more than the frames. However I have
found the "racing red" color to be pretty versatile, good for cloudy or
sunny days, though sometimes they are not quite dark enough for really
bright days (but how many of those do we have? :-)) They are not cheap,
but they are worth it.
10) I got Oakley half jackets made to my prescription at a place in
the pearl district. They were covered by my vision insurance at work.
They do have a moderate dork factor, but I only wear them to drive and
ride. They stay on well, and they don't fog up like most of my others.
11) Rudy project is the only way to go. they give you a few
different options:
a) full prescription lens that doesn't come out of the frames.
b) a clip on that goes behind the interchangeable lens. This is
nice as some of the clip-on's fit a few different frames, so you can
change without a problem.
I have both types and have been using them for years. They don't
look stupid.
12) I've been using the Bolle Parole sunglasses that have a snap in
prescription "insert". On a dry bright day, I love em. And in low light,
I love em...the polarized lenses are perfect for that. This model can be
ordered with interchangeable colored lenses for different conditions.
Another good part is the sunglass part is wraparound and so you get
protection along the side, which I never had before these glasses. Most
prescriptions would be too thick at the sides to allow that. The initial
investment was about $100-150, for frame, full set of lenses, and the
insert. I forgot whether that included making the insert into my
prescription or not. Your optician will do that, normally. One downside
is that the places the lenses fit the frame seem to get worn down after
a year or so and the lenses don't stay in well. So I have to get a new
"mainframe" yearly. The lenses and insert can be used again, so it's
just the frame, which is about a $60 deal each year. Not awful, but I'd
count on it. The other downside is that when it is wet and cold, I think
they are useless. They get fogged up on in inside, even when I use
defoggers, and I can't clear em while riding, much less while racing. I
mean, if you take em off and snap out the insert you can wipe em down
and they are fine again, but I can't do that on the fly. I just wear my
regular glasses in real bad weather..or just don't race when the
visibility is ridiculous. A couple of other companies make sunglasses
with inserts like this. If you look at the Colorado Cyclist catalog, or
Performance, or Excel, you'll see a couple and the ones with the
prescription insert are clearly identified.
13) I have had Spy prescription sunglasses for over 2 years now and
am happy with them. I have the M2 frame and they ground the lenses at
Spy. Bike N Hike sells them. They are pretty good and I use them a lot,
no fogging and pretty good optics. Also they're about half the price of
Oakley's. They also have a complete quiver of interchangeable non
prescription lenses.
14) I think Performance makes good looking glasses that can utilize
an ocular insert along with interchangeable lenses. Bolle, IIRC also
makes sunglasses that can accept inserts. I currently wear Oakley
prescription glasses with a tint until I get clearance to resume wearing
contact lenses.
15) Call Jim Cech 503.642.2505. He is an eye doctor in Aloha an
understands biking.
16) Your optometrist should be able to order prescription Oakleys.
They are by far the best. Prescription lenses are set into a laser cut
out in regular Oakley lenses so there is only one lens when it's done.
17) I used Rudy Project until I got Lasik surgery. I think they make
great glasses, and they have interchangeable lenses and all that
jazz...I had the Graal Fyols. The eye glass shop I go to in Bend is a
Rudy dealer and they'll make the lenses in house. You can also find
places through the Rudy site that will do it online. By the looks of it,
they have a bunch of models that can be prescription. My requirements
were similar to yours when I got these. I didn't want them to look
prescription. But they are interchangeable, so if I was wearing
contacts, I could put in the regular lenses.
18) Try Smith Slider Mainlines. The problem is that you have to pay
for each prescription lens you order, but it sounds like that's what you
were asking for. The mainlines are probably their most full coverage,
but I manage to pull off wearing them around town, so that gives you an
idea.
19) Bolle makes very nice sunglasses that have a prescription insert
that you clip in. They have interchangeable lenses as well.
20) Okay, I'll add my 2cents: Smith's: I loved the Moab's but the
lenses don't have a scratch resistant coating and the scratch quite
easily. Bolle: Hated the ones I tried because they fog up to easily.
Oakley: Very expensive. Even for the insert type lens, you just about
have to take them to an authorized Oakley dealer = more money. Rudy
Project: you can go either way here, with an insert or direct in frame.
They also have a scratch resistant coating on the regular lens. However,
this does not protect them from concrete or asphalt.

Links to those brands mentioned:

Bolle
http://www.bolle.com/

Oakley
http://oakley.com/brochures/eyewear/

Rudy Project
http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/products/sunglasses/index.htm

Smith
http://tinyurl.com/pbnpz

Spy Optic
http://www.spyoptic.com/the_products/rx_products/login.asp

Evan MacKenzie
Urban Planner I
City of Hillsboro
150 E. Main Street, 4th floor
Hillsboro, OR 97123
503-681-6154
evanm@ci.hillsboro.or.us
http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/Planning_Department/


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