|   Prescription Sunglass......Help! | brianc
Feb 20, 2003 8:19 PM | | First off, I'm blind as a bat. Second, I have long eye lashes, so inserts are out.
So, I threw down some tall coin and got a pair of Zeal Lasers with three prescription lenses. (Brown, Rose, and Yellow) I had the LBS double check with Zeal to make sure my prescription could be put in these frames. I was told they've put stronger in with no trouble.
The glasses came in the other day. When I first put them on I could tell there was a problem. As I looked around the store things an different distances we moving at different rate. (i.e. Big distortion) Everything was in focus and the guys said it took them a bit to get used to them when they got themselves a pair.
So I took them and have been trying to get used to them. Here's my thoughts. First off the Fit and optical clarity is outstanding. Probably better than my regular glasses. And if I focus at long distances ( > 100 ft) they are amazing. I can see much farther than with my regular glasses.
BUT, up close everything is very distorted. Basically it looks like I'm trapped in and MC Escher painting. Everything appears to be on the surface of a sphere.
Have any of you had similar experiences? is this just something you have to live with b/c the lenses are so wrapped?
the LBS is supposed to be talking to Zeal to determine my options, but their stated policy is the customer is responsible for half price should there be problems with prescriptions glasses. (i.e. I'm out $175!)
Any advice?
b |
| That sucks. | Zonic Man
Feb 20, 2003 8:30 PM | | The only perscription sunglasses I've owned have been Revos and Oakleys, so no problems here. Sorry to hear of your problems. |
| I went to an eye doctor for my Rx sunglasses. . . | Mowerman
Feb 20, 2003 11:15 PM | | I wouldn't just go anywhere.
I went to the optician (is that what you call him???)
where they give eye exams and sell prescription eyeglasses.
They also sell sunglasses with Rx lenses.
I got a sweet pair of Rudy project Rx sunglasses.
They did say that because of some slight curvature, that there might
be some distortion (this is why not every pair of sunglasses can be made to a prescription, because the lense curvature is too great for prescription usage).
They are great. Unfortunately there is a small difference between them and my regular eyeglasses (lenses are pretty flat), which I sometime have to switch to while doing an evening ride. |
| What do you mean by slight differnence? | brianc
Feb 21, 2003 8:04 AM | | I'm trying to gauge if what I see is the "norm" and if I want glasses that wrap, then I either have to deal with it, or give up and get something else.
My eyes tear up a lot at speed so wrapped glasses would help a bunch.
b |
| Yup, been there | Pirate Girl
Feb 20, 2003 9:37 PM | | Practically blind & long eyelashes...me too. I don't want contacts (work with chemicals) & laser stuff is too scary for me (I work with a ton of optics engineers and they all still wear glasses, so that's a red flag to me).
I bought a pair of the Rudy Kryptonites and was told my prescription would fit just fine. Well, it did. But here's the thing...just because the prescription fits doesn't mean it will work great with your eyes. My problem was the curvature of the lenses. They were too curved, so although everything was clear, it was very MC Escheresque, as you described. And it didn't go away. I tried them for awhile, but my eyes just couldn't adjust. Gave me an awful headache. The wake-up call was when I was riding at Fantasy Island, which is a trail that I know like the back of my hand. During the day I was riding with some friends and went off the trail over a dozen times due to seeing things way differently. After that I gave the glasses to Zac, and he rides with them just fine (he's got a much weaker prescription than me).
Originally I bought them so that I could have clear riding lenses, and not use my normal glasses. I ended up buying a pair of sunglasses frames and having clear lenses put in. They were much flatter and I had no trouble. So it was the curvature. With the Rudy's I even tried different lens materials, but they all had the same effect. The doctor said some people have eyesight reactions to different materials, but because it was the curvature bothering me, it didn't matter.
Sorry, this probably wasn't what you wanted to hear. But don't be surprised if your eyes don't adjust to the curvature. Having to wear glasses just plain sucks sometimes.
P-) |
| I was afraid of that. | brianc
Feb 21, 2003 7:55 AM | | I'm going to try one ride on them, with my other glasses with me. And see if it's something I can live with. But it looks as if I'm going to have to find another solution.
thanks.
b |
| I gave in and went for Lasik...... | Battman42
Feb 21, 2003 11:09 AM | | Even after working on lasers and optics etc.
I wanted glasses that wrap for the same reasons plus light leakage when going thru the trees.
I lucked out that my company health plan paid for the whole deal.
Because of this alot of my coworkers had the proceedure.
This gave me a chance to hear from them about the Eye center and what the results were.
Brian I now have 20/15 in both eyes and buy shades off the shelf.
It is not for everyone and if you consider it check the Eye center out carefully.
Tim(glad they didn't reboot windows during the proceedure) |
| You would be amazed at what your brain can get used to. | KRob
Feb 21, 2003 7:46 PM | | It's not your eyes that have to adjust, it's your brain. Most of what we perceive as correct vision is highly modified and adjusted and even added to (it fills in the blanks sometimes from memory) by our brain. The visual cortex does the "seeing".
You're right though, the high curvature of your prescription sunglasses is the culprit for your fish bowl vision. With time, and persistance almost anyone should be able to adapt to this phenomon. It won't ruin your eyes, but it might make you sick to your stomacn or make you crash like pirate girl did. So be careful while adjusting. But you'd be amazed what your brain can and will adapt to and eventually straighten out for you. They've done studies on kittens where they but glasses on them that flipped everything totally upside down (cruel, I know), and within a week they were functioning normally again.
Give it some time. It's hard to say if what you are perceiving is the same, worse, or less than the average person would, but if you post your Rx, the lens size (width in mm across one lens), and the base curve of your lenses I can give you an idea if the distortions induced are within reason.
KRob,O.D. |
| Exact problem with a pair of Skeey's | Timmy
Feb 21, 2003 9:49 AM | | Took out the insert and use them as normal glasses with contacts.
I did have some luck by bending the insert outward. Still it wasn't good enough to use. |
| Dude! It's simple... | silversurfer
Feb 20, 2003 10:13 PM | | Electrolysis! You don't need eyelashes! Then you can get the inserts!
I realized after hanging out with you guys in Shanty Town(hey, I didn't hear any Jimmy Clif!), and then walking off in my post-race stupor, that you and Little B don't live here! Oops, I meant to say goodbye! Oh well! See ya at the fling!
brian |
| I've got to have something to make the girls Envyous! | brianc
Feb 21, 2003 7:58 AM | | No worries. The fact that you were able to stay on your feet for so long and hang out with us after the race was amazing. you even managed to put forth corherent thoughts. =)
see next month.
b |
| Have you tried curling them? | JS5280
Feb 21, 2003 10:55 AM | | My recommendation, find a propane grill, turn on gas with lid closed, open lid, put face close to grate, close eyes, drop match. Much cheaper than electrolysis, works great for nose hair too. . . |
| I had a spanking pair of perscription Arnette Ravens crafted. | SunDog
Feb 21, 2003 6:51 AM | | But some bunghole stole them.
I had some problems with the curvature and eyelash contact but I adjusted in the name of fashion. My prescription isn't too bad, yet. I tried desperately to get another pair but no one would touch my request due to the distortion problem. I ended up giving up on fashion and going with Bolle's with inserts. I find them versatile and durable. Multiple replaceable lenses are a good thing and a maturing prescription is easy and less expensive to compensate for.
Bottom line is if you cannot adjust to the optical distotion you will have to go with flat lenses or get cycling glasses with inserts and get used to the minor annoyance of eyelash brushing, it can't be that bad. Also as PG stated consider the safety issues created by the optical distortion.
Louis |
| Oh, it's that annoying. | brianc
Feb 21, 2003 8:01 AM | | It's amazing what it feels like to have you eyelashes brush on things. I've very concerned with the safty aspect. So if after one ride it doesn't feel right then I'm off for another solution.
But this time I'll only get one shade of lenses. And go to a real eyeglass place.
See you next month.
b |
| my .02 | Hollywood
Feb 21, 2003 9:09 AM | | I went through the same queasy feeling when I first tried on my Oakley Racing Jackets w/wrap-around lenses. But I've gotten used to them.
My thoughts are to take them to a 'real eyeglass place', like you said, for their opinion on them. Then either ask the LBS for a refund and have them done right or see if you can adjust.
HW |
| Good Idea | brianc
Feb 21, 2003 9:31 AM | | it is on my To Do list for the weekend.
thanks. |
| Two suggestions for you... | NuMexJoe
Feb 21, 2003 11:27 AM | | First, if you decide you can't live with them, even as riding-only glasses, then talk to the good folks at www.hidalgos.com. I've used them for years for my Rx & non-Rx glasses needs, and they won't sell you anything they're not certain that you'll be happy with. Lots of good info on lens materials, etc. in their catalog, and very fair prices. Second, do consider Lasik (or whatever it's called). Donna did that down at Coleman Vision in ABQ a few years ago and is still thrilled with the results. She was pretty blind beforehand, so maybe you're not beyond help. Good luck!
- Joe |
| Yep.... | Dr.Faustus
Feb 21, 2003 12:11 PM | | Brian,
Sounds like the lenses they ground for you have some pretty noticable distortions in them. i.e. you can compensate when viewing things at a distance, but close up it's too much. Don't know about the wrap on those frames, but in general the flatter the frame (Ray-Ban's are about the flattest) the easier the lenses are to grind.
What I did was buy some frames that are prescription compatible and took them to a local optician. This optician has their own lens lab and I had them promise me that they could put my prescription in that frame (Rudy Project - Fat Rob). It still took them two tries to get the lenses right, but the end result was great!
Personally I'd raise a stink with the manufacturer and tell them that lenses with gross optical distortions are not acceptable and either demand new lenses or a refund.
Dr.(pretty blind too)F. |
| I had that same Escher-esque experience... | Drevil
Feb 21, 2003 1:00 PM | | ...I had some lenses made for my Rudy Projects as well, and when I tried them for the first time I got a really bad headache. I popped them on the morning that I left the Philippines to get back home to Maryland, so I had them on for at least 24 hours on a packed, stuffy flight. I almost yakked!
I stuck it out, and my eyes adjusted to them really well. I prefer to use those glasses while riding because of the nice peripheral coverage they give me. |
| re: Prescription Sunglass......Help! | uofabill
Feb 21, 2003 1:33 PM | | I've got two pair of Rudy's. The first pair are Graals with the snap out lenses. Had my Rx ground into those and I am really happy with them. No problems with distortion or eye lashes. My prescription is not really strong though. Had the lenses made at some place in Pa. that is hooked up with Rudy. They were extremely helpful. If you go to the Rudy website their link is there plus a place in Lakewood, Co.
If you call them and tell them what your Rx is over the phone they will tell you if they can successfully grind it into the pop-out lenses. The other pair are Kerosenes with inserts. I'm not quite as happy with them, my eye lashes touch but not real bad, the vision quality with the insert is not as good as with the Graals. I had the insert made at Wal Mart because a friend of mine worked there, that may be part of the problem. I probably should have sent it off to the guy in Pa. again. As in you get what you pay for. I have slight distortion with the Kerosenes with the insert. I would recomend contacting the people in Pa. They are triatheletes and use the glasses themselves so they'll be speaking your language. |
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