What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Transition Lenses?

Wearing your glasses in the sunlight can be frustrating, especially if you're being constantly troubled by glare. Being blinded by the light might sound like a holy experience, but in reality, it can be very dangerous.

Alternatively, you can switch between your regular prescription glasses and sunglasses, but this means carrying double the amount of eyewear around with you. There's certainly more scope for something to go wrong!

So, what's the solution to this age-old problem?

The Answer... Transition Lenses

Transition lenses - sometimes referred to as photochromic lenses or reactolights - change colour when exposed to UV light due to a special reactive dye coating.

First developed at Corning Glass Works in the 1960s, transitions have come on leaps and bounds in recent years, with early lens designs altering in colour due to a chemical reaction rather than a modern-day dye.

Modern-day lenses are also available in a much wider range of colours than earlier designs, meaning you can choose a tone to match your style.

Need more information on the benefits and drawbacks transaction lenses? Look no further.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Tranisition Lenses

If you're keen to cast off the shackles of multiple pairs of glasses, searching for greater eye protection or a solution that's easy on the old purse strings, transition lenses might be the answer. Discover more about the advantages below.

Convenience 

Transitions are the ideal lens type for a wide range of indoor and outdoor scenarios, particularly in the bright light of the midday sun. How many times have you found yourself switching from reading glasses to prescription sunglasses, or you've forgotten your shades all together? Transition lenses eliminate these issues, leaving you feeling glare-free and smiling from ear to ear.

UV Protection

Ultraviolet rays can have a detrimental effect on the health of your eyes without you even noticing. Transition lenses provide full protection against the sun’s harmful rays by acting as a protective shield between the sun and your eyes.

Cost-effective

Selecting transition lenses as an option for your new frame - or adding them to an existing glasses frame - eliminates the need for you to buy multiple pairs of spectacles. Fewer pairs of glasses result in less expenditure, meaning you can treat yourself with the money you've saved.

Unlimited Choice

The beauty of transitional lenses is that they can be combined with a myriad of other lens options, including bifocal lenses, varifocal lenses and thin lenses. You can even choose from a range of colour changing options to match your style.

Versatile

Transition lenses are so versatile that they can be fitted to almost any frame. From cheap prescription glasses to designer frames like Polo or Oakley glasses, transition lenses can be easily incorporated into a wide range of spectacles. What's more, you can even add transition lenses to your current pair of glasses using a reglazing service.

Transition Lenses Disadvantages

By now, you're probably thinking that transition lenses sound great and you can't wait to add them to your next pair of glasses. Well, before you do, here are a few things to consider...

Varying Reliability

As with any product, different types and brands offer varying results, especially with reaction times. A sudden change in light might catch your lenses off-guard meaning they may require a few additional seconds to adjust.

Changing Temperatures

Whilst transition lenses might be a great summer addition, a change in temperature can cause slight problems. Cold conditions can result in a slower transition between light and dark, making your first few steps inside or our a little more difficult than you were initially expecting.

Driving

Driving in standard transition lenses can be tricky as most car windscreens are designed to block out UV rays. This means that your lenses won't react correctly when you're behind the wheel.

However, there is a solution to this problem. The XTRActive lens is specially designed to adapt to light behind a windscreen, meaning its ideally suited for those long drives in the sun.

Decision Time

So, now you're in possession of the facts regarding transition lenses, it's time to choose. Will your next pair of specs contain transition lenses?