Glasses question (transition lenses)

[jamesh75]

My question specifically is about transitions lenses.  I've been wearing contacts for a few years.  About 2 months ago, I had an allergic reaction to them caused by the silicon they are made of.  My eye was swollen shut and very painful for several days.  So my eye doctor has been experimenting with different contacts made of other materials.  I hate them all.  Some I've been able to wear a big part of the day, but have to use eye drops constantly or I have to peal them off my eyeballs at the end of the day (yes, it's painful).  Others, I can't wear for more than 5 minutes because I can feel them in my eyes and they drive me crazy.  

I go back to the eye doctor on Wednesday and I think I'm going to tell her to forget contacts and just go back to glasses.  My eyes are pretty sensitive to light and right now my "backup" glasses have the magnetic clip sunglasses, which I don't care for.  I'm wanting to go with the transition lenses, but from reading reviews online, I've seen some that HATE them, and others that like them.  I've also seen these new lenses called drivewear lenses.  I do know that transitions don't tint while in the car.  The drivewear will tint in the car, as well as go to a yellow tint on hazy or rainy days.  

Does anyone have the transitions or drivewear lenses that can comment?  The additional cost of both is quite high, so I don't want to go with them if they really aren't worth it.

James

EDIT:  I was just reading more about the drivewear lenses and apparently the never go clear.  They are designed only for daytime outdoor activities.  So those are out, I guess.

[Razor X]

I tried transition lenses several years ago and hated them because, as you pointed out, they don't get dark enough in the car.  In fact, they didn't get dark enough outside the car, either.  Unless they've improved on them since then (I'm going back about 15 years), then I wouldn't bother with them.

As far as the contacts go, have you experimented with different brands?  I used to wear Surevue lenses and always had problems with them similar to the ones you described.  I couldn't wear them for any more than 5 or 6 hours at a time and sometimes not even that long.  I was about to give up on them completely, when my doctor recommended switching to Proclear.  They are much more comfortable.  I've been wearing them for several years now and can wear them up to 18 hours at a time without any problems.  It won't help you if your problem is truly an allergy, but I just thought I'd throw the suggestion out there.

Good luck.

[pdxtodd]

I agree with Razor -- I had more cons than pros with mine.    They didn't transition very fast,  they didn't get very dark,  and driving at night was a pain as oncoming headlights caused them to darken - which was ok while there was oncoming traffic - but once the headlights are gone you're driving with a pair of sunglasses on in the dark.     I bought a pair of prescription sunglasses and while its a pain to have to carry them around - it worked best for me.   

[marshd1000]

I too am a former contact wearer.  I gave them up because of working around fiberglass for a few years.  But now I need bifocals.  But I do like the Transitions.  Yes, they don't get dark in the car.  But it is nice not having to put clip on shades on my glasses.

[herronm]

I've worn transitions for several years.  They do not get dark in the car, you'll have to do something (clip ons or an extra pair) for that.

[Hook'Em]

I agree with Razor -- I had more cons than pros with mine.    They didn't transition very fast,  they didn't get very dark,  and driving at night was a pain as oncoming headlights caused them to darken - which was ok while there was oncoming traffic - but once the headlights are gone you're driving with a pair of sunglasses on in the dark.     I bought a pair of prescription sunglasses and while its a pain to have to carry them around - it worked best for me.   

Since the sun cant darken them i doubt that headlights will!  They are activated by UV light which our car windows block. I would suggest you stop staring at the oncoming lights. 

[ChallengeMe]

My wife has worn transition lenses for several years and she loves them. She doesn't drive so being in the car is not an issue for her. My eyes are very sensitive and transition lenses don't go dark enough in the sunlight for me. My glasses are tinted. Several years ago I was getting a lot of headaches; I was told to get tinted glasses and that took care of the headaches

[hawkeye]

I had transitions about 4 years ago.  I loved them, until they stopped transitioning back to clear.  I got so used to having them tinted that when I got a new pair of glasses without transitions and I started getting headaches. 

If you are going to replace them every two years, that shouldn't be a problem.  As for driving, I used to just open the window in my car.  Sometimes I would have to stick them out the window to get them dark again.  I suggest not doing that while moving. 

[Alexander215]

I recently had a talk to my optometrist about transition lenses and the technology in them have rapidly evolved in the past 10 years. He gets his from Germany which apparently make better transition lenses than anywhere else, and they do not "wear out" or get stuck.