What are cyclists with Coke Bottles using for eyewear?

[The Orangeman]

I have some older Smiths with a prescription insert that I've been using for quite a while... (glue and tape) While at the optometrists office recently, I saw on display some very cool Rudys that I would have bought on the spot, but was told that there was a limit to the strength of prescription they would accommodate. Is there any eyewear out there that will work for "us"?

[nOOky]

Contacts!

[SkiNutIan]

I just use my normal eye glasses. I used to use my contacts but they dried out too much. I find that it's just easier to use my glasses.

[JCavilia]

I've got one of those strong prescriptions that prevents the use of extreme-curvature wraparound styles. I wear prescription sunglasses like these:

They work fine. I think the notion that cycling requires the extreme wrap is mosty style and hype.

Depending on how much you value the coolness factor, this may not be the answer you want to hear ;-)

BTW, this is not a cheap solution. Those frames sell for well over $100, and adding my multifocal prescription, plus tinting and coating, gets to around $500. But they work.

[ClancyO]

What Nooky said. My glasses are a +19. I use them to find my bed at night, and the bathroom in the morning, otherwise I'm wearing my contacts

[Risk3233]

I have a set of the Rudy Prohects, don't know which model. The extreme curvature makes my prescription weird. It takes a milisecond to focus when I look to the extreme sides and then straight again.

I prefer contacts and my Oakleys for riding, but had these made with transitions lenses for low light riding at night or in foggy conditions.

[tazdag]

Contacts (soft hydrophilic) for me as well and rarely, like once every couple years, do have a problem with lense drying out. Plus, if I'm doing a long sustained climb in the heat, like here in the Cascades, and want more wind on my face I can put my glasses in my helmet and still see.

[nOOky]

I wasn't being a smart ass, once you find the right contacts (Accuvue Oasis in my case) and the right sunglasses, it's so much better. Peripheral vision is improved and you don't get that treansition when looking out the side of your eye.
People that try contacts and can't get used to the feeling usually need to try more than one type and stick with it for as long as they can.

[carlislegeorge]

Sports Optical in Denver might be able to help. He makes customized lenses using lens manufactured to his special design spec, and can squeeze out a little more correction than the OEMs will offer. I've bought 3-4 pairs with progressive bifocals, and am more or less satisfied, but my prescription is only borderline and not blind man walking. Details on the website...

[RoadrunnerLXXI]

I have both near-sightedness and astigmatism in both eyes. My right eye is worse than my left. I wear Bausch & Lomb Toric Soflen Disposable. If they start to cloud up, I just toss them and put on a new set. I don't notice I have them on and they don't dry out. It helps when I wear my Oakley Half Jacket or Oakley XX since they are wrap around to block the wind when riding. I haven't worn glasses during any athletic activities since sophomore year of college. Go with contacts.

[matfam]

Getting a pair of Bolle Renos this week. Far sited with astigmatism +6 correction I think. Contacts no longer work for me and I was wearing reading glasses all the time. Why not just wear glasses.

[martino]

ADIDAS evileye with an optical clip-in, works great and i've even made mine a bifocal clip. That being said were i to do it again i'ld go for a straight up bifocal (no clips) with a mirror finish, that way you can't even see the geeky bifocals.
Martin

[velodog]

Safety glasses with side shields.
They ain't Oakleys but they are better than they were ten years ago.

[looigi]

A good optometrist likely can provide you with good options with respect to prescription sports glasses. I got mine at my LOO (Local Optometrist's Office). I used to wear contacts, and they were OK mostly, but in extreme conditions not as much. Then I got presbyopia and needed bifocals anyway. I generally recommend against prescription inserts as that doubles the number of surfaces which get dirty, foggy, create reflections reducing contrast, etc..

There is also this place, among others: Sports Optical ::: Sunglasses, Prescriptions Sunglasses and Exclusive 'Direct Lens Technology'

[The Orangeman]

I forgot to say that contacts were out of the question as well... just didn't work well for me... BTW, the Rudys I saw didn't have the extreme curvature that is typical of most of the cycling frames which is what made them so attractive

[boneman]

I used Bolle's back in the early 90's with inserts. I really didn't like the inserts and the issues they created with reflections and sweat/rain etc. I went to Optilabs in London and purchased bi-focal glasses, one pair with polarised lenses and one pair with clear lenses and they did a pretty good job for the next 10 years. In the last couple of years I've ridden with a pair of RP Horus glasses. My current optometrist and his lab are exceptional at grinding lenses. My right lense is -6.5 and left is -4.5. This pair are varifocal and they work really well.

[Dave Cutter]

How about LASIK (Laser) Eye Surgery.

[768Q]

Contacts here as well, I have been wearing hard lenses (now gas permeable) for 38 years
I was 10 when I got them. I have worn glasses no more than about 8 hours total in those 38 years.

[Special Eyes]

Too bad some folks can't benefit from contacts. There are so many types now, keep trying. At my age (60+) I wear contacts but still need reading glasses for close. For riding I'm using Dual sunglasses that have bifocal type of inserts in the non prescription lenses so you can read your garmin. I like that!

[pdh777]

Oakley whiskers and half whiskers - one each. The local optometrist had to make the lenses - Oakley would not do them (my script is way out of thier spec). They work great.

[Campngolf]

I have bad eyes and have been wearing progressives for about 10 yrs. In addition I have an eye injury from a rock to the eye when I was about 13. So contacts have never been an option. But when I got back on my bike recently, my RayBan sunglasses just didn't cut it. Too much wind and they weren't progressives.

Went for my annual checkup back in January and was a bit annoying with my optician about wanting wrap-arounds. I've been told for years that they weren't an option with my bad eyes. But after doing some research I knew I had a chance. My usual lab couldn't come thru but I was able to get some great Nike Skylon Aces in progressives via a great lab in Reno. It is possible for "us".

[alllyc]

I wear contacts.

[tarwheel2]

My prescription is too strong to wear wrap-around cycling glasses. I've owned some Bolles with optical inserts in the past, but they were way too heavy and difficult to clean. I would not recommend glasses with inserts.

The last time I bought cycling glasses the optometrist recommended some Maui Jim's, which have modest wrap but provide great wind protection. I've been using them for about 5 years, so I guess you could say I am satisfied. They don't vent as well as cycling glasses, which is really my only complaint. I had them made with Transitions lenses, which was a great choice for my riding. I bike commute, so I ride a lot in the dark during winter months, and the Transition lenses allow me to see well whatever the light conditions. The only problem with Transition lenses is they don't darken when you are driving because car windows screen out the UV rays.

My most recent set of sunglasses were Raybans with polarized lenses and a very modest amount of wrap. They are great glasses for driving and general outdoor use, but they suck for cycling because they don't provide enough wind protection. My eyes water like crazy when I try to cycle with those glasses, plus the Polarized lenses make it difficult to read my bike computer, so I rarely use them for cycling.

[jimibonz]

Bausch and Lomb aviator style prescription bifocals have been my choice for years. Great for blocking wind, good peripheral vision and clear, photogrey or dark polarized lenses all available in presciption.