Optilabs - photochromic lenses

MIsterGoof

AS my bike spending continues, my next purchase will be some prescription cycling glasses

Optilabs look good and I can get there easily.

I like the idea of the photochromic lenses but

Do they really work?
How quickly do they change - I was thinking of situations when cycling in bright sunlight then suddenly your in a heavily tree lined lane. WIll they adjust quickly enough tobe safe?

Ta

MG

pyro_maniac

they dont change that quickly, and there is always a slight tint there, they wont go completely clear
also when they do go dark in very bright light they still dont block out as much light as prescription sunglasses, when i get new glasses i might get a normal pair and sunglasses instead of the photochromic lenses

yakk

Hi, Ive got a pair of these. Agree with Pyro-M; slow to change and don't go completely clear, but haven't found that to be a problem. Just make sure that the fit is good, as at the time I got mine all their frames were one size fits all, and the fit isn't good on the nose bridge or around the ears. Another thing about them is that there are no vents, so they steam up quickly when you stop.
I've since had the luxury of some Rudy Projects, which do fit well, although the inserts are noticeable. Out of the 2 I prefer the latter due to the fit, and have got used to the inserts now.
Good luck.
Yak

MegaCycle

I have them and they are good, but they steam up a lot on wet cold days.

fatfreddy

I have the Optilabs Scorch with bifocal transition lenses. Good fit and the bifocal really works - can now see road signs and my computer. Transitions aren't as dark as normal sunglass so it's a trade off. I needed the prescription more than the dark lenses.

FF

McBain_v1

I have the Optilabs photochromatic lenses, which do not change all that fast, as well as the permanently tinted ones. I agree with the fit criticism though, the fit on my permanently tinted lenses is much better. Basically, the nose-rest is too wide on my photochromatic lens gigs.

Gr.uB

I disagree with the above posts. I have the photochromatic ones and I come home at night quite often, proper night riding, and they are perfectly clear. Mine are the brown tinted lenses, not the grey, so perhaps that makes a difference?