Photochromic glasses - yay or nay?

L

Lukich

Well-known member
It's nice and warm outside, so at least for a while I'm planning to ride with my visor up, but wearing moto glasses to protect my eyes. I've had these 100% transparent ones, but when sun is in your face, they are suboptimal, so I'm thinking of giving the photochromic glasses a try.

Does anyone have experience with them? has it been positive? If yes, what brand would you recommend?

Thank you!
Luka
 
Sharky

Sharky

Well-known member
If you don't mind wearing glasses under your helmet why not? Personally, I just open the chin vent and crack the shield for extra airflow at low speeds.
I have not recommendation regarding brands, however, generally believe you get what you pay for when it comes to sunglasses.
 
L

Lukich

Well-known member
Sharky said:
If you don't mind wearing glasses under your helmet why not? Personally, I just open the chin vent and crack the shield for extra airflow at low speeds.
I have not recommendation regarding brands, however, generally believe you get what you pay for when it comes to sunglasses.
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What I'm curious about is how well do photochromatic glasses adjust to the lighting levels and how comfortable is the level of darkness they provide.
 
bikeama

bikeama

Super Moderator
Staff member
Have worn them for 50 years. First one were glass and heavy. Transitions work great for me. Stopped wearing them after cataract surgery and I do miss them. Thinking abut getting a pair with just 2.5 bifocals for reading. There is a new XTRActive transitions lens that should work better in a helmet. I talked to their rep at the Quail this year. They were showing transitions shields for helmets $$$.
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
I've been wearing photochromatics for 40 years. Those glass ones sure were heavy. I now have the Transitions. They work OK. They're great for commuting or short rides so I don't have to change to my sunglasses but for longer rides, I change out. They don't get as dark as my sunglasses.
The downside to photochromatics is they don't darken when you put your shield down as they need UV to activate. Same when driving in a car.
 
ST Guy

ST Guy

Well-known member
I need to wear corrective lenses all the time and my glasses do darken and lighten with the ambient light. I love them. And I also ride with my visor up all the time. Doing so seems to catch the air spilling over the top of the windscreen and neatly directs it over the top of my helmet. I'm in a nearly still pocket of air when I ride that way. Close the visor and I get some turbulence.
 
S

Schnellbandit

I see 4 lights!
Gave up and went with clear motorcycle glasses with built-in readers and helmets with internal sun visors. That way I can slide the internal visor up for tunnels and other low light conditions but still have that protection if I have the outer visor up for increased air flow or slower riding.
 
zixaq

zixaq

Well-known member
I do wear glasses under my helmet from time to time, but I usually wear contacts, so I went with a photochromatic visor.

It's amazing. I'll never go back. Yes, it costs 3 times as much, but it's worth it. It takes a couple seconds to adjust going in and out of tunnels, but that's the only issue.
 
kuksul08

kuksul08

Suh Dude
As mentioned they wont darken in your helmet like you think.

I think wearing a tinted/photochromic shield and just cracking your faceshield will be the best. Or get a helmet with a flip-down internal visor.
 
S

Schnellbandit

I see 4 lights!
zixaq said:
I do wear glasses under my helmet from time to time, but I usually wear contacts, so I went with a photochromatic visor.

It's amazing. I'll never go back. Yes, it costs 3 times as much, but it's worth it. It takes a couple seconds to adjust going in and out of tunnels, but that's the only issue.
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A couple of seconds to adjust? I'm only in the tunnel a couple of seconds, isn't that where everyone tests max speed?

Going in, no prob. Coming out might as well be a lens flare in a sci-fi movie.

Just kidding.
 
komali2

komali2

Well-known member
Wait as opposed to just sunglasses? I wear cheapo 10 dollar amazon polarized sunglasses and they work fine, not too dark when I get into the shade. Only downside is the world goes LSD mode if I flip the visor down and the sun hits me at a weird angle.
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
komali2 said:
Wait as opposed to just sunglasses? I wear cheapo 10 dollar amazon polarized sunglasses and they work fine, not too dark when I get into the shade. Only downside is the world goes LSD mode if I flip the visor down and the sun hits me at a weird angle.
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I can tell you from someone that's worn glasses every waking moment for the past 50 years, there is a huge difference in optical clarity, impact resistance, UV blocking, prescription accuracy, frame durability and comfort, etc. between a well made prescription lens and a $10 cheapo set of sunglasses. It would shock you if you found out how much I spend on glasses.
 
nakedape

nakedape

Well-known member
dravnx said:
I can tell you from someone that's worn glasses every waking moment for the past 50 years, there is a huge difference in optical clarity, impact resistance, UV blocking, prescription accuracy, frame durability and comfort, etc. between a well made prescription lens and a $10 cheapo set of sunglasses. It would shock you if you found out how much I spend on glasses.
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I am prepared for the shock. My prescription sunglasses were about $300. Polarized polymer. Decent optical clarity. Bought them to see baseballs going 90mph. Work well for moto. It’s constantly warm here, so visor is often up. Thinking of something better after 5 years with plastic. Do tell
 
Wrycque

Wrycque

Wrycque = Rick
There's a weird optical shimmering illusion that goes on when you wear polaroid sunglasses inside a helmet with the face shield down. Not sure if they all do it but I have talked to a few people who experience the same issue. The fix is to wear some other type of sunglasses or a tinted shield or to get used to it like I have. I didn't know they have a photochromic shield now. I wonder which helmet that is offered on. I used to wear photochromic glasses but I always noticed they didn't get dark enough and they are super slow to change in cold weather. Not sure what has changed in the last several years in that regard. Thanks for the info about this though. I'm all ears (eyes).
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
Right now I'm wearing a pair of Titanium Modo frames with transistion, anti glare, polycarbonate, polarized and progressive. They retail for $750-800. I don't pay retail. My brother is an optician.
 
S

seralat

Well-known member
I've been wearing standard Transitions lenses for 30 years. My eyes are sensitive to bright light, so I need sunglasses when it's sunny. They're a great compromise, but don't get as dark as I like generally or at all when you're behind UV-blocking glass or plastic. Still, they're better than not having them.

Next time I replace lenses, I'm going to try the newer Transitions XTRActive lenses, which darken somewhat even through car glass or visors.

On a side note, I don't understand how anyone who rides uses polarized lenses. Polarization makes it hard to see liquids, particularly oil, on road surfaces. This has always struck me as dangerous for a motorcyclist.
 
bikeama

bikeama

Super Moderator
Staff member
ST Guy said:
FYI, for those of you who are reaching the age where transition type lenses are a must, here are the very, very best I've ever found. I've recommended them to a number of people and they've said the same thing.

https://www.shamirlens.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=16529:shamir-autographiii&Itemid=249
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Those are Progressive lenses not transitions. I might have tried them before cataract surgery. Never could wear the old Progressive lenses. Tried twice and went back to bifocals.
 
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