transitions & react-a-light lenses
Discussion
Are the modern lenses that react to differing light actually any good? Pros & Cons?
Sometimes I get pissed off swapping specs to suit the light (although my 5 year old Optical Express green tints allow good vision in a great range of light or lack of it).
Would love contacts as occasional alternatives but astigmatism prevents this.
judas said:
My current set of glasses has reactalite-type lenses. Next time I'm getting ordinary ones and a pair of sunglasses, as these a) don't get nearly dark enough in sunlight, and b) take bloody ages to fade back to normal after being outside.
That help?
Yeah a lot of people make exactly this complaint about reactalite lenses. The other thing is that the photochemical reaction that occurs also diminishes with time, so the lenses will be slightly tinted in the light and won't go clear in the dark.
Contacts would be one option, but if you can't because of astigmatism, then LASIK is another option.
I got some of these....got the lenses replaced will normal ones the next day!! Any uv rays at all that are about will cause the lenses to go dark. So I'm sat there, inside, and they were going dark! Then, as has been mentioned, they takes ages to go back to normal. Took them back, had to convince the manager to swap the lenses. She says, "Oh yeah, we've had loads of complaints about them...they just go dark even when it is cloudy dont they" They are useless IMHO 
judas said:
My current set of glasses has reactalite-type lenses. Next time I'm getting ordinary ones and a pair of sunglasses, as these a) don't get nearly dark enough in sunlight, and b) take bloody ages to fade back to normal after being outside.
That help?
Totally agree - I also find that their effect is noticeably reduced when in the car, frustrating, as this was the main reason I got them.
>> Edited by bazc on Thursday 23 February 16:26
Don Veloci said:
Would love contacts as occasional alternatives but astigmatism prevents this.
Does astigmatism stop you wearing contacts? I'm pretty sure that's what I have and I wear one normal and one toric lense (monthly disposable) - just checked and yep I have astigmatism
You can get daily disposable toric lenses now too. >> Edited by foreright on Thursday 23 February 16:03
sputnik said:
Would love contacts as occasional alternatives but astigmatism prevents this.
Try Specsavers. They do monthly Toric and disposable Toric lenses.
Advertising disclaimer. Other opticians are available
>> Edited by sputnik on Thursday 23 February 16:01
Cheers for the advice folks. I won't bother with the reactalite lenses then.
I've seen adverts for toric lenses but in the past had the impression they were expensive and may not be a soultion.
I know 968 is in the industry and may like to comment on toric lenses? Re. LASIK - he has previously indicated that there a LASIK surgeons and LASIK surgeons he would trust. The cost would be a lot to me especially as I'm working to moving house.
Don Veloci said:
Would love contacts as occasional alternatives but astigmatism prevents this.
Try Specsavers. They do monthly Toric and disposable Toric lenses.
Advertising disclaimer. Other opticians are available
>> Edited by sputnik on Thursday 23 February 16:01
Cheers for the advice folks. I won't bother with the reactalite lenses then.
I've seen adverts for toric lenses but in the past had the impression they were expensive and may not be a soultion.
I know 968 is in the industry and may like to comment on toric lenses? Re. LASIK - he has previously indicated that there a LASIK surgeons and LASIK surgeons he would trust. The cost would be a lot to me especially as I'm working to moving house.
I'm on monthly disposable (one Toric Lens and one normal) + solutions = £22 pm with boots and I get a 30% discount on any glasses as well.
Cheers to foreright and sybaseian for the toric info.
I'll visit some optitians in the next week or so.
Anybody recommend a specific Optician in Edinburgh? I've previously been with Optical Express but happy to try somebody else. O.E. have never sent my 2 year reminder out this time anyway so maybe they've forgot about me.
I'll visit some optitians in the next week or so.
Anybody recommend a specific Optician in Edinburgh? I've previously been with Optical Express but happy to try somebody else. O.E. have never sent my 2 year reminder out this time anyway so maybe they've forgot about me.
Been there, done that and got the T Shirt!
Had toric soft lenses for seveal years, they were fine, but I lost trust in them and decided they were old and should be replaced. Optican said they were fine and I could continue to wear them, but I stopped wearing them and reverted to glasses. With contacts though you will still need sunglasses whether reactolite or not so the problem remains!
Also had reactolite glasses, all promised to change quick, they always go dark quick, but the return to clear takes ages, and as people have said as they get older they remain tinted and never go clear.
Then two years ago I was getting married and went to see the optican for a time appointment before the wedding. Minor change to my prescription and happened to mention the wedding. She says "Well in that case you'll want clear lenses as otherwise your glasses will show as dark in all the photos" so I got clear glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses. However since then I only wear the clear glasses and did so on my honeymoon in Malayasia and Singapore.
There really is no need for sunglasses at all, just rain your eyes to be used to bright light!
Had toric soft lenses for seveal years, they were fine, but I lost trust in them and decided they were old and should be replaced. Optican said they were fine and I could continue to wear them, but I stopped wearing them and reverted to glasses. With contacts though you will still need sunglasses whether reactolite or not so the problem remains!
Also had reactolite glasses, all promised to change quick, they always go dark quick, but the return to clear takes ages, and as people have said as they get older they remain tinted and never go clear.
Then two years ago I was getting married and went to see the optican for a time appointment before the wedding. Minor change to my prescription and happened to mention the wedding. She says "Well in that case you'll want clear lenses as otherwise your glasses will show as dark in all the photos" so I got clear glasses and a pair of prescription sunglasses. However since then I only wear the clear glasses and did so on my honeymoon in Malayasia and Singapore.
There really is no need for sunglasses at all, just rain your eyes to be used to bright light!
I have *always* gone for React-to-light lenses. Which I wear 100% of the time. Now. Don't have any of the problems you lot are describing other than going into a dark pub on a bright day does equal a comical lack of vision!
I got clear lenses to get married in - this is a known problem. Sunnies look *dire* in photographs and since you get your pics done outside the lenses *will* go dark.
I also got a set of prescription sunglasses. What a ballache! You *never* have them with you when you need them. They're always in the other car's glove box - or some such nonsense.
Ideally you'd have a set of all three. Once you're married you can get by with just the react-to-light jobbies. Provided you remember they're not so fast to react-to-dark.
I got clear lenses to get married in - this is a known problem. Sunnies look *dire* in photographs and since you get your pics done outside the lenses *will* go dark.
I also got a set of prescription sunglasses. What a ballache! You *never* have them with you when you need them. They're always in the other car's glove box - or some such nonsense.
Ideally you'd have a set of all three. Once you're married you can get by with just the react-to-light jobbies. Provided you remember they're not so fast to react-to-dark.
968 said:
My current set of glasses has reactalite-type lenses. Next time I'm getting ordinary ones and a pair of sunglasses, as these a) don't get nearly dark enough in sunlight, and b) take bloody ages to fade back to normal after being outside.
That help?
Yeah a lot of people make exactly this complaint about reactalite lenses. The other thing is that the photochemical reaction that occurs also diminishes with time, so the lenses will be slightly tinted in the light and won't go clear in the dark.
Contacts would be one option, but if you can't because of astigmatism, then LASIK is another option.
Perhaps you should try the new lenses by Kodak they work on a new principle and should not deteriorate with time. However I do agree for sunny days they don't go dark enough, for skiing they are great.
Also think of toric contact lenses, either available as a daily disposable for small amounts of astigmatism, or monthlies for higher astigmatism.
Don Veloci said:
Cheers for the advice folks. I won't bother with the reactalite lenses then.
I've seen adverts for toric lenses but in the past had the impression they were expensive and may not be a soultion.
I know 968 is in the industry and may like to comment on toric lenses? Re. LASIK - he has previously indicated that there a LASIK surgeons and LASIK surgeons he would trust. The cost would be a lot to me especially as I'm working to moving house.
It depends a great deal what kind of astigmatism you have. There are some kinds which toric lenses struggle to correct, mainly because they must be stable in a particular direction to correspond with the axis of astigmatism. Some types are difficult to correct with lenses alone.
LASIK is an option. One of a few options, depending on your situation. I tend to recommend Accuvision to most people, down in London, simply because I know the chap that operates there, and have worked for him, so can recommend him. They charge 750 per eye, I think.
i aggree , i always think the same for some strange reason Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff