Which type of glasses

Which type of glasses

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Discussion

Sogra

Original Poster:

471 posts

210 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Hi looking for advice on glasses with helmets. I have had to wear reading glasses for some while but now need glasses for distance (I can just about pass a number plate test but not all of the time). I am currently trying Vari focals but didnt know what to do for the bike. may be I need more time with them but the way you advised to tilt your head for reading doesnt (checking speedo etc) seem right on a bike as this is normaly just a flick of the eyes.

So my choices are I think, carry on not wearing distance glasses as long as I can, wear single vision glasses and not be able to see the clocks, cary on with vari focals.

Have I missed a choice?

I have been told I cant do Laser surgery yet as my vision is still getting worse (due to age)


annsxman

295 posts

241 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Sogra said:
Have I missed a choice?
I use contact lenses rather than specs. Means you avoid the "removing the helmet having forgotten you're wearing glasses moment" when your glasses hit the ground leaving you with a potentially large bill.

John D.

17,700 posts

208 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
How about some normal lenses? Or am I missing something here?

Contacts might be a good option. No faff with taking helmet on and off.

I started wearing glasses for reading and driving/riding last year. Couldn't get on with contacts. Optician recommended Oakley frames as the arms are straight and don't bend down behind ears. Makes the easier to put on with a helmet.


Nigel Worc's

8,121 posts

187 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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It depends on your eyes op, none of us can see through them.

I've needed to wear glasses since I was a toddler with the original NHS jap sniper types of the 60's.

I've always needed very strong prescriptions, but even now, in my mid 50's, I can still wear my single strength long vision glasses and read the speedo without issue.

With my reading glasses the speedo looks superb, but I can't see past the front wheel !

Fred Leicester

404 posts

162 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I wear contacts on the bike personally. I find I just can't get on with glasses, find it too uncomfortable.

Weirdly, I used to find contacts lifting off my eyes at speed with my old helmet, but it's been fine since I've had my Shoei. Aside from that, they're all good!

Sogra

Original Poster:

471 posts

210 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
John D. said:
How about some normal lenses? Or am I missing something here?

Contacts might be a good option. No faff with taking helmet on and off.

I started wearing glasses for reading and driving/riding last year. Couldn't get on with contacts. Optician recommended Oakley frames as the arms are straight and don't bend down behind ears. Makes the easier to put on with a helmet.
If I just have normal lenses I will be fine for distance but not sure how good they will be as I also wear reading glasses and think I would have problems seeing the clocks (just about okay without any glasses on but the distance glasses will distort close up things)

Bought some Okaleys but normal frame style(I have some wrap around Irridium Oakley sunglasses so will try them for helmet fit) as well as some Titanium ones both as vari Focals but now I am wearing them I am not sure how they would be on the bike.

Contacts ! couldnt go anyware near my eyeballs, my wife wears contacts and I cant even watch her take them out.

I will give them ago tomorrow.

sjwb

550 posts

207 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Same as me!
I use varifocals and find them ideal. The very fact that just a movement of the eyes to read the instruments means you are using the reading part of the lens. Eyes up and back to the distance, no need to move the head.
I accept that the areas for each focal range are limited, but it doesn't take long to work it out.
Persevere is the only advice I can give.
Is there a downside?
Yes, for me. I never knew I was travelling so fast! Bloody BMW crammed speedo. :-)

evo8

468 posts

214 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I only wear glasses for distance and like you I could not do contacts. When I had my last set of glasses I took my lid with me to Specsavers to make sure they were ok as well as the making sure the internal sun visor did not hit them. But my lid is a Shark Vision R series 2 which is designed for people who wear glasses.

Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I worn specs for as long as I have been riding bikes. Never had any issues finding space for the glasses in the helmet and have never felt cramped or uncomfortable.

I'm shortsighted and have always struggled with distance. If there is anything in the distance I'm struggling with, I just speed up to get it closer

Vin

67 posts

205 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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I bought a agv compact helmet so wear my glasses under my lid. they are the only ones that seem easy to wear glasses in comparison to full face lids. Have you tried to fit some sort of glass that will magnify the clocks. would that help at all times. is it just the speedo you need. as mentioned first i have also considered laser but not quite there yet.
hope you find some thing
vinnychoff

HelenT

263 posts

138 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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As an optician I would always encourage you to bring your helmet in an try frames on with your helmet , frames such as Flexon with a degree of memory to the frame material work well. Bifocals with a small reading area and less peripheral distortion can work better than varifocals where the change of head position compared to normal viewing could cause problems depending on your position on the bike. Contact lenses are great if you are long sighted you will get better near vision than with just distance glasses if you are short sighted it will be worse. Multifocal contact lenses do not require a change in head position unlike spectacle lens but often reduce the distance vision.

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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I've worn glasses since 16 for distance work. Id go distance glasses for now and see how you get on. I have a couple of Shark helmets both of which have slots in the lining for glasses so are very comfortable. The flip front is most practical and easy on/off...

Andy XRV

3,837 posts

179 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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I use a prescription visor. Much better than glasses or contact lenses.

DH01

820 posts

167 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Varis work well on the bike. If you can work them around the house/up and down stairs then you'll have no probs on the bike. When I first tried them it took a day or so to get the hang of it, having worn single lenses for 30 years or so.

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

260 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Could someone design a lens to fit over the clocks so that optically they would be 100 yards away? A bit like a heads up display.

SVS

3,824 posts

270 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Whichever glasses you choose, I'd highly recommend using Essilor OptiFog lenses thumbup

You'd be surprised how easily glasses can fog frown Essilor's OptiFog lenses solve this properly (much better than other anti-fog products and potions wink ). They are superb quality lenses too.

Sogra

Original Poster:

471 posts

210 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for so much advice.

I think one of the things I now know is I should have gone to an Optician not the equivelant of a Kwik Fit that sell glasses (sounds like something savers)

I think the questions I asked I have been badly advised on so I am going in to discuss later in the week.

thanks