Sunglasses & prescription clip-ins

psychle

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience of using clip-in frames for prescription lenses with sunglasses?

It would be good not to have to put in my contact lenses every time I want to ride.

I already have a pair of Rudy Project Rydon's and I know a clip-in frame is available but I'd be interested to hear of any general comments, opinions and recommendations.
I seem to recall Alex Zulle using them... but not always.

Cheers.

The Mechanic

I have an RX insert in my Specialized sunnies. I find them a bit disconcerting when I first put them on. Mine are varifocle like my ordinary glasses but the lens is more rounded so there is a bit more distortion. After about 30 mins riding I do get used to them. At least I can now read my route sheet and computer and hopefully will get lost less on audaxes.

heavymental

Do a search for prescription sunglasses in the forum. There have been a few threads about it in the past. Optilabs are often suggested. I always recommend just getting a pair of sunnies made up by your local optician as then you can get some nice looking frames by any of the big manufacturers. Assuming your eyes aren't too bad and the lenses will fit snugly in the frame.

pete.whelan

I've used Bolle glasses with clip-ins for many years without any problems

bhm100

ditto on the Bolle set-up.

My eyesight isn't that good but the prescription goes into the insert with no problems. I've also got several interchangeable lenses - clear/yellow/grey/mirror so they are year-round specs.

I reckon they must be at least 10yrs old now, and still going strong. Expensive to buy at first, but well worth it.

gundersen

http://www.inland.co.uk/category.cfm?cid=56

Bugly

the adidas ones work well - a bit pricey though

pcd993

I have used the bolle ones for years, and they are fine, albeit a bit chunky. I have bought the Rudy Project Wizard and these are a bit more stylish. The insert is a bit more elegant, and sits closer to your eyes, giving slightly better vision to the side. Quite good value too - although the prescription lens itself is quite pricy.

Cunobelin

I have a pair of Rudy Project glasses and wanted varifocal lenses, but have been told that you can't do inserts as the "blanks" are too small.

Can anyone give a contact that could make up these lenses?

P_J_Rogers

Strongly recommend Rudy Project Horus with photochromic prescription inserts - much better than the clip in that sits behind the cycling glasses.

spasypaddy

it depends on how bad your eyes are. I am -10 and -13 in each eye and i struggled to find some glasses. I eventually found an importer of lenses and stuff that sorted it all for me. Cost me £190 but the glasses are awesome, three interchangeable lenses

i got these ones:
http://www.bbbparts.com/products/bike_w ... rysil.html

Pretre

I use the Rydon's with the insert & they're great apart from from a few minor issues:
1. When I stop the sweat goes between the clip-in & the sunglass lens - a pain to clean & simply not possible at a standard traffic light stop.
2. Maybe due to my head but the right lens is very close to my right eye - eyebrows brush it sometimes
3. Not cheap!

vanleapo

I've got clip-in prescription lenses for Rudy Project Kerosene and Kalyos sunglasses.

I think they are pretty good. I do suffer from the sunglass lenses steaming up occasionally but it's not a serious issue.

I got the clip-in prescription lenses installed by an internet optician they were very cheap, all you need is a prescription form from your optician.

ut_och_cykla

Pretre wrote:

I use the Rydon's with the insert & they're great apart from from a few minor issues:
1. When I stop the sweat goes between the clip-in & the sunglass lens - a pain to clean & simply not possible at a standard traffic light stop.
2. Maybe due to my head but the right lens is very close to my right eye - eyebrows brush it sometimes
3. Not cheap!

Similar here. Haven't had sweat issues but rain can cause similar probs. I use a cycling cap where poss in rain. Would recommend highly as long as they fit yourhead/eyes from the start. My local optician fixed the insert prescription and thought it was great fun having something different on his books!

DomT

ut_och_cykla wrote:

Pretre wrote:

I use the Rydon's with the insert & they're great apart from from a few minor issues:
1. When I stop the sweat goes between the clip-in & the sunglass lens - a pain to clean & simply not possible at a standard traffic light stop.
2. Maybe due to my head but the right lens is very close to my right eye - eyebrows brush it sometimes
3. Not cheap!

Similar here. Haven't had sweat issues but rain can cause similar probs. I use a cycling cap where poss in rain. Would recommend highly as long as they fit yourhead/eyes from the start. My local optician fixed the insert prescription and thought it was great fun having something different on his books!

Appart from the sweat bit, I've experienced the same with the Rudy Project Rydon glasses insert (a bit too close to the eyelashes for my liking). Apart from that they're great. I think next time I get my eyes tested I'll as for contacts!

BigSpecs

As a practising Sports Vision Optometrist I have come across many ways of correcting refractive error and many manufacturers.
Prescription inserts are a good option as they allow you to use the same pair of sunspecs with and without correction (say if you use contact lenses some of the time) They also allow you to use "cooler" more readily available sunspecs as apposed to having to choose from a smaller range that are "prescription ready" They also allow you (in some cases) to change the tint by changing the sunspec lens without having to go to the trouble and expense of more than one set of prescription lenses. Remember the insert and lenses may be dear but def cheaper than two or three pairs of prescription lenses.
Of those currently available the Rudy Project range comes highly recommended by me (I use them) along with Adidas I rate them the best currently available.
Potential downsides include the lenses being too close to the eyes/ lashes as they sit behind the sunspecs. Secondly there is the steaming up problem also due to the proximity of the lens. This is usually easily solved by pulling the specs down the nose a little at cafe stops.
the other large potential pitfall is distortion. I could write pages on this one topic. basically the higher the prescription the more likely distortion is to occur. To try and limit this I would recommend you use the same lens in the insert as you have in your ordinary specs (as long as it is not glass) eg if you have "thinned" lenses in your specs, have the same in the insert. Secondly get the lenses set for height (always done for a varifocal but not always for a sngle vision lens) Also get the lenses measured with your head posture the same as it would be fro riding So for a road bike, with the head tinlted down. This means that when you are one the bike you will be looking through the lens centre. Hope this makes sense.