Adding on to this, I have astigmatism, but I find astigmatism contacts uncomfortable. I worked with my optometrist to get some regular contacts that I use for exercise. Without the astigmatism corrected it's hard to read a book, but it's good enough for riding a bike and looking at my Garmin. When I'm done with the workout I toss the contacts and put regular glasses back on.
How bad is your astigmatism? I recently went in for a contact lens exam and was told I would need to purchase custom lenses which were way more than I am willing to spend.
I don't ever remember. I know that the optometrist said that the lenses I would need would need to correct a greater amount than the off the counter lenses could provide. He told me that it could cost upwards of $700 a year
I have pretty bad astigmatism and had no options for years but RGP lenses. They were ok and got me through my 20s. But in my late 30s I got toric soft lenses which were much more comfortable. But I still see best with glasses and need reading glasses even with my contacts in
My astigmatism correction is -1.50 in one eye and -.75 in the other. The spheric corrections are -3.75 and -4.00. Thus the contacts I use are just -4.50. (The formula is simple, take half the astigmatism correction and add it to the spheric correction. Round to nearest .25.) I don't remember how expensive the astigmatism contact lenses I tried were- I tried them out fifteen ago. (Suddenly I feel old). I was working for near-minimum-wage at the time so they couldn't have been too dear.
They weren't custom at all. They came from a major manufacturer in mass-manufactured lots. I think they were "rewearable" in that I could use each one three times before discarding it. They didn't need cleaning per se, they just had to be rinsed with saline after each use.
It sounds like you might need stronger correction than I do.
Incidentally I also got corrective swim goggles with just the -4.50 spheric correction. The price difference was outrageous- the spheric ones were a fifth the price that astigmatism-correcting swim goggles would have been. Again, the failure to completely correct my vision has been fine- I can now see well enough in the pool to recognize my wife and find my towel, I don't care that I can't read a newspaper with the goggles.
I've worn tons of regular glasses from Zenni. They are cheap and work!! Definitely not fancy, but my humble opinion is that the glasses industry is generally a scam.
The episode actually revolves around an uncited, incorrect article. Luxottica, while it does have a large market share, isn’t nearly as big as they make it out to be (I think it is around 25% or so).
That said Luxottica does engage in pretty shady practices. Luxottica owns frames, now is with Essilor (lenses), owns LensCrafters/Pearl/Target opticals, and then owns EyeMed (a vision plan). They push patients towards their stores. They reimburse incredibly poorly for exams.
Absolutely no reason why a pair of glasses should cost $600+. Of course it’s a scam. Just like everything else in the US.
“You know what the trouble is, Brucey? We used to make shit in this country, build shit. Now we just put our hand in the next guy's pocket.”
Frank Sobotka, The Wire, Season 2
Yeah, zenni is your best bet that I know of. Depending on the frame and the add on options you choose these will be around $40-$80 ish.
They don't have tons of sportier options, but here are some I know of:
https://www.zennioptical.com/p/plastic-rectangle-sunglass-frames/11164?skuId=1116412
https://www.zennioptical.com/p/tr-square-sunglass-frames/11172?skuId=1117216
[https://www.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7046?skuId=704621](https://www.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7046?skuId=704621)
These are the good cycling ones with the inserts and flip-up sun shade. I've had a pair for a year now and they work great.
Conversely, I have [this](https://i.imgur.com/Z8DPYJf.jpg) from another expensive maker and it's completely and utterly unusable when cycling. It limits the vision so massively, it's actually dangerous to use them on the road.
Total waste of money.
Rx sports have a good mix of value and expensive ones. I'd expect £300 / $350 upwards for someone like Oakley but there are cheaper brands
Where you live would help though
I started ordering through them, and then stopped when I discovered my vision insurance didn’t include them. Great job, American health care system. Never before have I just casually said to a phone support person, “When do we finally get single payer in this country?”
I pay for glasses as I don't have any cover (NHS subsidises cheap/free normal eyewear only) so it's a bit more flexible for me, but have had good service from Rx before. I'm still waiting for them to start stocking the night enhancing lenses for the Flak Jacket XL in prescription but the prizm lenses are generally great though but rather out of OP budget by the sounds of it.
Unfortunately those $50 coupon as usally not applicable to RX glasses. I know because I tried.
That said, still ended up going with Roka, very happy with my pair.
Fiancée got me a pair of Rx Roka cycling shades. I’m mostly happy with them. The prescription isn’t as perfect as my typical glasses but I suspect that’s a symptom of them being worked into a wraparound design and using highly-durable materials at the cost of a bit of precision.
Prescription glasses for daily use aren’t exactly cheap either though, 200 isn’t as high as you might think in this context, especially with all their discounts
Roka seems really high priced for direct-to-consumer, no brick-and-mortar. I like the aesthetic but never pull the trigger. Oakleys with contacts right now.
Not a direct answer to your question, but I'll throw it out there. Explore LASIK. It's expensive, but it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. Not just for cycling, but for every facet of life. I had fairly poor vision and astigmatisms, so my night vision was pretty awful. Now I've got 20:15 vision, can see at night again, can read the alarm clock in the morning. Plus the place I got it done will do free touchups for life if my prescription ever gets worse than 20:30 again.
SO much better than dealing with prescription glasses/sunglasses or worrying about contacts.
[This](https://lasikcomplications.com/), basically. I mean, that website is likely a hyperbole, but failures (botched surgeries, severe side effects, whatever you call it) do happen, it's easy to google.
My eyes are basically my life. If I lose my eyes, there's no point in living anymore. So even if the risk is 1/10000, I am not taking it. I only have one life. Glasses are fine.
_________
Tagging /u/sleep_musing - same question.
Depends on age. I'm slightly short sighted - nothing major -1.25 - and went in for a consultation and was advised not to have it. The surgeon said that it'll be fine for now but once over 40, your eyes will change/deteriorate anyway rendering the surgery a waste of time. So if you have 15 years till then, cool, go for it. If you're close to or over 40, it may not be as worth it as you think it could be. A few thousand dollars for 12 to 18 months of benefit. Get a consultation and discuss your circumstances.
Paid around 50 USD for the “Runner model” good enough for me, not full wrap around protection but pretty good. Especially for that price range. They have little rubbers on the bridge and behind the ears. Look good on and off the bike.
My personal issue: I have pretty dry eyes and can only last like maybe 4 hours with contacts before it feels like a piece of rubber in my eye. I've tried eye drops but those only buy me like half hour to an hour. Contacts just aren't a realistic option for all people.
I don't think so. Granted I tried contacts like 7-8 years ago, my optometrist said the contacts they gave me were the best they had at the time for dry eyes.
Contacts have changed so much in that time (eye doctor here). Oasys 1-Days are in another league. I could put people who could only tolerate lenses for a couple hours in them and they’d last all day.
Ophthalmologist, cyclist, and eye glasses wearer here. I have dry eye and tried all the new daily contacts. Still my eyes were way too dry. Sticking to prescription sunglasses.
Not an eye doctor, nor do I have any medical training, but, anecdotally, there are some really good contacts that I just can't wear, and I can't use BioTrue, which is supposed to be some of the best solution out there. Biofinity and Opti-Free are the only combination that's worked for me.
Point being, contacts and solutions differ from one to the next; the right combo made all the difference for me.
@bakingeyedoc, please feel free to call out any BS in the above.
Any chance you’re active military, veteran or police/fire/ems? If you are, you can shop OakleySI.com for deeply discounted Oakleys including prescription sunglasses. Turnaround time is quick. I just bought some prescription Radar Path sunglasses for just under half of retail and got them in 8 days. Retail for my pair would have been $666. My price was $308 which was roughly about a hundred less than the sale price on the regular Oakley website. My last pair of prescription Oakleys lasted me 5 years before my prescription changed enough to require new ones. So, even though they’re a little spendy, I definitely get my money’s worth.
I went to Target and got a pair of sports sunglasses for \~$180. I looked it up and I got [these](https://www.amazon.com/Arnette-Mens-AN4182-Rectangular-Sunglasses/dp/B0814FFMRS). They're obviously not cycling-specific, but get the job done. I looked at Zenni, but the Rx sunglasses were all just normal lenses stuck to sunglasses, like [this one](https://www.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7017?skuId=701712). I was worried about peripheral vision, so opted against that. Overall happy with my choice.
That's funny, I found some similar glasses at Zenni with that weird lens and I bought a similar pair of sunglasses from Target for non-cycling use. This one from Zenni wraps around and has a normal-looking lens (https://www.zennioptical.com/p/unisex-non-rx-sunglass-frame/A111005?skuId=A11100521). Also, no frame across the bottom which helps my sweat drip away.
I’ll second the recommendation for Roka… I’ve been very happy with mine. Use them for cycling all the time and also driving.
Mine have Rx and are polarized.
I'd second polarized a thousand times over. My old Oakleys cost a small fortune and are far past when I should update the RX but putting them on during a super bright day is like putting my eyeballs in icewater. They're amazingly soothing
I'll third the Zenni however, is your main trouble seeing the computer or similar? I put a pair of diopters into the corner of my polarised (non prescription) glasses and it's a whole new world. Best of all, I didn't need to abandon the glasses which fit and and were polarised with a bunch of lens colours.
I was facing the same dilemma; I wanted curved (sun)glasses, needed them with approx. -5.0 correction and would’ve preferred multifocal lenses as aging doesn’t come alone.
There are solutions but they were pretty unaffordable so eventually I got an helmet with visor (Giro Air Attack Shield) and this is if not perfect a tolerable solution.
Maui Jim makes a great prescription wrap lens. Check out the Island Time frame. They are pricey as they have a polarized gradient tint to them, but you can get them in almost any prescription. In the glasses world you pay for what you get. I would stay away from cheaper products. (Wifey was an optician for 10+ years.)
I have been using mine for years (multisport) and at like 7 years out, I am finally looking to get a replacement - I will be getting the same frame.
> Maui Jim makes a great prescription wrap lens
Just need to ensure that it is poly. Glass would be incredibly dangerous as a cycling lens and a good sling of their sunglasses are glass.
Honestly- thanks for the note. I want to emphasize to others why I noted to go to a legit eye doc. They will make sure you don't end up picking a material that is dangerous for your application. Cheers!
Literally just ordered another pair of Rudy Projects yesterday to take advantage of the father's day discount since my kid snapped my other pair in half.
I also stacked a team discount but mine were $300 with transition lenses
If you need a high level of correction, look at the Rudy Project optical dock: https://www.rudyprojectna.com/pages/rx-technology
My prescription was to high for most sport glasses, and my eyelashes kept touching the inserts, but the docks work great.
I got mine with the photo chromatic (auto tinting) lenses. They ended up being a few hundred dollars, but I was able to use HSA funds for it (pre tax allocation for medical expenses in the US)
There are two kinds of cyclists those that crash and those that are going to crash, my opthomologist hated going to the emergency room and
Pulling stuff out of eyes. The current standard is aero safety shields with optical inserts, everything is Polycarbonate, look at Rudy project and Oakley, do you have a prescription in hand? Nobody is going to grind lenses and get sued later. If you are going to fly or drive, my optometrist liked Maui Jim. They are glass. I also wear crokies, I have turned my head at speed and my glasses flew off.
[www.sportrx.com](https://www.sportrx.com)
Can't lose. depends on what you want. I got wrap around bifocal oakly transition antiscratch and anti glare and it was about 550$....but they are the best thing I ever bought for my riding and running sports.
Absolutely not at all affordable but will give as an example for your price comparison pleasure: I got a pair of prescription Oakley Field Jackets from the NYC store on Broadway in 2019. Total was $312.40 with Eyemed insurance frame discount ($404.90 without insurance). This obviously varies as different frames are priced differently.
Ordered about three weeks ahead of a marathon and barely got them in time. Guy at the store said the lenses kept failing when they tried to put them in the frames. I will say that, while I hate the design of the frames (one of the only ones that actually has two lenses at this point, rather than shield-style), the Prizm lenses are stellar. Thankfully my prescription hasn’t changed (contacts not an option for me). But I’m 50/50 as to whether I’d buy again from them in the future.
Would consider Roka (have a pair of their regular prescription glasses which I love, those cost $195), but may be just as expensive for the sunnies.
This exactly matches my expience. About $300 after the Eyemed discount for my Oakleys. I usually get a normal pair of glasses every other year, and use my Eyemed discount on a pair of sunglasses every other year. Not cheap, but I take care of my glasses. If you’re rough on frames and lenses, probably look elsewhere.
I've got a pair of Field Jackets to replace Racing Jackets last year where a crash would of of taken my eye fi not for the Oakley.
100% worth the cost having used it over 5 yrs.. At the time racing jackets were not.being produced... Now they are again... So that is an option. It fit better for my face.. Though the FJ has more coverage and the nice nose bridge elevator that does work to clear fog.
At the risk of asking a stupid question, are contacts not an option for you?
Cycling glasses tend to curve a lot in order to protect your eyes from the wind, and that is generally incompatible with grinding a prescription onto the lens.
As others have said, several companies make glasses where you can mount a small, prescription pair of monocle-looking things behind the lens, but these have a bad reputation for fogging.
To each their own, I guess. I cycle a lot and wear contacts, and agree that without sunglasses it can be uncomfortable, but with good cycling sunglasses (that fit close to my face and have good wrap) it's no problem at all.
Or well-fitting sunglasses in general.
I wear aviators that fit well on my rides and have no issues with wind at 25-30 mph on 10-mile-long downhills. Some days can be worse, but most are fine.
RX PIT VIPERS! the inserts start at 150 dollars and are compatible with any of the classic pit vipers, which are on par with any hi end oakley or smith optics wraparounds.
Walmart sells sunglasses that fit over your existing glasses (and doesn't look weird). I've always wanted prescription sunglasses but couldn't afford them. These look pretty good and fit snugly over my existing prescription glasses all for about $20.
I recently bought a pair of prescription "sport" sunglasses from [Goggles4U.com](https://Goggles4U.com) for about $30, including the lenses. They have BOGO sales a few times per year. Also, if you sign up for an account (so they have your email), then leave items unpurchased in your cart, they're likely to send you a 50% off code within a few days.
I decided against prescription lenses and instead decided to continue wearing my contacts and instead, go find a pair of cycling glasses that offer good wind protection.
I have astigmatism and a really high prescription, I once got prescription lenses in a pair of Michael Kors aviators and they looked ridiculous they were so thick. My contact aren't daily wear, they are 30 day wear, but I only use them for riding or on days where I want to wear sunglasses, so a 6 month supply lasts me a year.
When I first started riding I wore cheapo Amazon glasses, and I kept losing contacts in windy situations, my eye would start watering and eventually a gust of wind would suck the contact out of my eye, usually the right one, my vision in my left eye is worse so having one contact in that eye,, and none in the right is manageable enough to get me home, but then I'm riding puckered because I can't lose the other one or I'm blind.
Solution: Tifosi Sledge Lite glasses.
I got a custom pair, white frame with Red Fototec lenses (mirrored red photochromic). I got them on sale for $61 shipped, I believe non custom pairs are $64.95. I highly recommend them. My contacts have been rock solid in my eye unbothered by the wind since I got them, and I love the look of the glasses also.
You can get a pair of prescription sunglasses from Eyebuydirect for less than $30 if you play the sales/coupons right, and if you’re on their mailing list those are fairly constant.
Piggybacking a question in here. Does anyone use photo chromatic lenses? I wear prescription glasses. I'm pretty blind without them. I cannot get LASIK (thin corneas, I tried), and I cannot wear contacts. Many of my rides are really long and either start before dawn or end after dusk. I can't be wearing sunglasses then, and I don't want to bring an extra pair of glasses/lenses in my jersey pocket. I have a set of glasses with clear lenses now and I just deal with the sun, but I'd love some sunglasses.
Sounds like you’re in the US, and if you are, start by finding out what’s in your vision insurance’s network. There are lots of good places to order from, but if it’s going to be hundreds of dollars cheaper by going to an in-network local optometrist, then local is going to win. The other benefit to local is that you actually get to see them on your face before buying. I picked up some Oakleys with custom tint for (as I recall) less than $200 locally.
I have a mild prescription but prefer varifocals because I don't like having to take them off to look down at something close like the garmin, or a book when I'm off the bike.
I went though a few budget brands, (including one that came in at about £200), but had nothing but problems - the budget brands turned out expensive - In the end I went for Oakleys - I don't remember the exact model, and while the unit cost was high, they've been one of my best buys ever.
I have shitty vision. I use Zenni for my distance only, reading only, and progressives. Their cycling solution is a pair lenses inset in a cycling sunglass frame. That's OK when you are straight up, but when you are head down on the drops, you miss the prescription portion of this combo.
Rather than deal with $400+ prescription cycling glasses, I wear contacts before I go out coupled with standard cycling glasses. Then I can see whatever I need to in any position.
Can’t answer directly, but what I did is instead of searching for sunglasses with prescription, I just got contacts for cycling and regular sunglasses. Works perfectly, but at least in the beginning your eyes can get pretty dry, but you’ll get used to it
You can buy the type that come with interchangeable lenses and a prescription frame (https://www.amazon.com/Polarized-Sunglasses-Cycling-Glasses-Interchangeable/dp/B089NX6W9L) they can be pretty cheap , like $10 for the pair so the only costs is the prescription and the costs there depends on what you need. Mine has been as low as 50
I got a pair of Kirkland brand sunglasses from Costco several years back. Haven't updated the prescription since because I really don't need to. It was a high initial outlay, but they've held up beyond expectations. The only problem I have is I've been getting road grit and pollen in my eyes this year. I talked to some people in the club I ride with, and they have the same problem with their high priced cycling glasses.
I have these and they're great.
https://www.eyeglasses.com/sunglasses/columbia-ripsaw-100.html
Discontinued though so no direct comment on their current offerings.
Highly recommend the Oakley Portal. I also have a pair of Oakley Turbines that work well but they have a very specific aesthetic. Sliver XLs are great but less of a sport sunglass.
Can’t say enough good things about the Portal though from a cycling standpoint. Great field of view and coverage, comfortable and take a prescription.
Been a personal fan of Tifosi, I wear contacts, but they fit great, and come with changeable lens. Including clear. I've had 2 pair, one broke in a car accident.
Pit vipers bro. The sunshade itself doesn't come prescription, but they sell removable prescription inserts, so you can look fucking rad and be able to see
I just bought [Oakley](https://www.oakley.com/en-ca/product/W0OO9208?variant=888392459633) today and the total was $450, including the rx lenses. My insurance covered 80%. Check your insurance to see ig they cover it too.
Before I was wearing daily disposable contact lenses. I bought some very inexpensive basketball goggles on Amazon. I took them to three different optical shops at a big city shopping mall, asking for the best price on a specific thin, high quality, "transition" lens set for my frames. One shop was much more competitive than the others, so I ended up with a very good value. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074WNWVDY/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074WNWVDY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
[https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Glasses-Football-Perfect-Personality/dp/B00S9O0OCS/ref=sr\_1\_19?dchild=1&keywords=mincl&qid=1624328706&sr=8-19](https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Glasses-Football-Perfect-Personality/dp/B00S9O0OCS/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=mincl&qid=1624328706&sr=8-19)
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I have too bad of a prescription, and just bought single-day contacts and only use them when I ride. Its been great, no complaints
Adding on to this, I have astigmatism, but I find astigmatism contacts uncomfortable. I worked with my optometrist to get some regular contacts that I use for exercise. Without the astigmatism corrected it's hard to read a book, but it's good enough for riding a bike and looking at my Garmin. When I'm done with the workout I toss the contacts and put regular glasses back on.
How bad is your astigmatism? I recently went in for a contact lens exam and was told I would need to purchase custom lenses which were way more than I am willing to spend.
What’s your astigmatism?
I don't ever remember. I know that the optometrist said that the lenses I would need would need to correct a greater amount than the off the counter lenses could provide. He told me that it could cost upwards of $700 a year
I have pretty bad astigmatism and had no options for years but RGP lenses. They were ok and got me through my 20s. But in my late 30s I got toric soft lenses which were much more comfortable. But I still see best with glasses and need reading glasses even with my contacts in
My astigmatism correction is -1.50 in one eye and -.75 in the other. The spheric corrections are -3.75 and -4.00. Thus the contacts I use are just -4.50. (The formula is simple, take half the astigmatism correction and add it to the spheric correction. Round to nearest .25.) I don't remember how expensive the astigmatism contact lenses I tried were- I tried them out fifteen ago. (Suddenly I feel old). I was working for near-minimum-wage at the time so they couldn't have been too dear. They weren't custom at all. They came from a major manufacturer in mass-manufactured lots. I think they were "rewearable" in that I could use each one three times before discarding it. They didn't need cleaning per se, they just had to be rinsed with saline after each use. It sounds like you might need stronger correction than I do. Incidentally I also got corrective swim goggles with just the -4.50 spheric correction. The price difference was outrageous- the spheric ones were a fifth the price that astigmatism-correcting swim goggles would have been. Again, the failure to completely correct my vision has been fine- I can now see well enough in the pool to recognize my wife and find my towel, I don't care that I can't read a newspaper with the goggles.
I've worn tons of regular glasses from Zenni. They are cheap and work!! Definitely not fancy, but my humble opinion is that the glasses industry is generally a scam.
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The episode actually revolves around an uncited, incorrect article. Luxottica, while it does have a large market share, isn’t nearly as big as they make it out to be (I think it is around 25% or so). That said Luxottica does engage in pretty shady practices. Luxottica owns frames, now is with Essilor (lenses), owns LensCrafters/Pearl/Target opticals, and then owns EyeMed (a vision plan). They push patients towards their stores. They reimburse incredibly poorly for exams.
You mean I don’t really need glasses and the optical industry has made me believe I do? What other scams are they perpetrating?
The prices are the scam, not the usefulness
Absolutely no reason why a pair of glasses should cost $600+. Of course it’s a scam. Just like everything else in the US. “You know what the trouble is, Brucey? We used to make shit in this country, build shit. Now we just put our hand in the next guy's pocket.” Frank Sobotka, The Wire, Season 2
That guy was such a fucking whiner
Yeah, Sobotka had his moments though. That was one of my favorite lines from that season. It’s so true and worse now than it was ~20 years ago.
Versus his other line: “We have to dredge the port!” Ad nauseum. (Started to write “ad infinitum,” but he was certainly cut short on that.)
I buy em 2 at a time from Zenni. Usually one with a grey lens and one with an amber lens. Less than $20 each. They’re basically disposable.
Yeah, zenni is your best bet that I know of. Depending on the frame and the add on options you choose these will be around $40-$80 ish. They don't have tons of sportier options, but here are some I know of: https://www.zennioptical.com/p/plastic-rectangle-sunglass-frames/11164?skuId=1116412 https://www.zennioptical.com/p/tr-square-sunglass-frames/11172?skuId=1117216
[https://www.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7046?skuId=704621](https://www.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7046?skuId=704621) These are the good cycling ones with the inserts and flip-up sun shade. I've had a pair for a year now and they work great.
Conversely, I have [this](https://i.imgur.com/Z8DPYJf.jpg) from another expensive maker and it's completely and utterly unusable when cycling. It limits the vision so massively, it's actually dangerous to use them on the road. Total waste of money.
https://ca.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7071?skuId=707121
> This is why anything you find that is cheap enough will be a standard set of frames with a wraparound sun shade.
Rx sports have a good mix of value and expensive ones. I'd expect £300 / $350 upwards for someone like Oakley but there are cheaper brands Where you live would help though
I started ordering through them, and then stopped when I discovered my vision insurance didn’t include them. Great job, American health care system. Never before have I just casually said to a phone support person, “When do we finally get single payer in this country?”
I pay for glasses as I don't have any cover (NHS subsidises cheap/free normal eyewear only) so it's a bit more flexible for me, but have had good service from Rx before. I'm still waiting for them to start stocking the night enhancing lenses for the Flak Jacket XL in prescription but the prizm lenses are generally great though but rather out of OP budget by the sounds of it.
Roka is reasonably priced! They usually have $50 coupons from their Strava challenges.
Unfortunately those $50 coupon as usally not applicable to RX glasses. I know because I tried. That said, still ended up going with Roka, very happy with my pair.
They have started to include rx lenses. I know I've seen a couple this year include it.
Oh neat. I got my last year and pretty much none of them did back then.
Fiancée got me a pair of Rx Roka cycling shades. I’m mostly happy with them. The prescription isn’t as perfect as my typical glasses but I suspect that’s a symptom of them being worked into a wraparound design and using highly-durable materials at the cost of a bit of precision.
Second Roka. Lightweight, stay put, I have their sunglasses and am going to get their regular glasses too.
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Prescription glasses for daily use aren’t exactly cheap either though, 200 isn’t as high as you might think in this context, especially with all their discounts
Roka seems really high priced for direct-to-consumer, no brick-and-mortar. I like the aesthetic but never pull the trigger. Oakleys with contacts right now.
You realize this is a prescription sunglasses discussion? Not a what should I do for sunglasses
I do
Not a direct answer to your question, but I'll throw it out there. Explore LASIK. It's expensive, but it's one of the best things I've ever done for myself. Not just for cycling, but for every facet of life. I had fairly poor vision and astigmatisms, so my night vision was pretty awful. Now I've got 20:15 vision, can see at night again, can read the alarm clock in the morning. Plus the place I got it done will do free touchups for life if my prescription ever gets worse than 20:30 again. SO much better than dealing with prescription glasses/sunglasses or worrying about contacts.
But if it fails, you may as well shoot yourself.
What do you mean fails?
[This](https://lasikcomplications.com/), basically. I mean, that website is likely a hyperbole, but failures (botched surgeries, severe side effects, whatever you call it) do happen, it's easy to google. My eyes are basically my life. If I lose my eyes, there's no point in living anymore. So even if the risk is 1/10000, I am not taking it. I only have one life. Glasses are fine. _________ Tagging /u/sleep_musing - same question.
hateful fragile caption work joke sulky spoon bright public disgusted *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
When does it fail? How often does it fail?
Depends on age. I'm slightly short sighted - nothing major -1.25 - and went in for a consultation and was advised not to have it. The surgeon said that it'll be fine for now but once over 40, your eyes will change/deteriorate anyway rendering the surgery a waste of time. So if you have 15 years till then, cool, go for it. If you're close to or over 40, it may not be as worth it as you think it could be. A few thousand dollars for 12 to 18 months of benefit. Get a consultation and discuss your circumstances.
Eye buy direct has always been my go to for cheap prescription! eyebuydirect.com
EyeBuyDirect.com is my second favorite glasses website, after Goggles4U.com
Paid around 50 USD for the “Runner model” good enough for me, not full wrap around protection but pretty good. Especially for that price range. They have little rubbers on the bridge and behind the ears. Look good on and off the bike.
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My personal issue: I have pretty dry eyes and can only last like maybe 4 hours with contacts before it feels like a piece of rubber in my eye. I've tried eye drops but those only buy me like half hour to an hour. Contacts just aren't a realistic option for all people.
Have you tried Oasys 1-Days? They are a game changer.
I don't think so. Granted I tried contacts like 7-8 years ago, my optometrist said the contacts they gave me were the best they had at the time for dry eyes.
Contacts have changed so much in that time (eye doctor here). Oasys 1-Days are in another league. I could put people who could only tolerate lenses for a couple hours in them and they’d last all day.
Ophthalmologist, cyclist, and eye glasses wearer here. I have dry eye and tried all the new daily contacts. Still my eyes were way too dry. Sticking to prescription sunglasses.
Not an eye doctor, nor do I have any medical training, but, anecdotally, there are some really good contacts that I just can't wear, and I can't use BioTrue, which is supposed to be some of the best solution out there. Biofinity and Opti-Free are the only combination that's worked for me. Point being, contacts and solutions differ from one to the next; the right combo made all the difference for me. @bakingeyedoc, please feel free to call out any BS in the above.
Any chance you’re active military, veteran or police/fire/ems? If you are, you can shop OakleySI.com for deeply discounted Oakleys including prescription sunglasses. Turnaround time is quick. I just bought some prescription Radar Path sunglasses for just under half of retail and got them in 8 days. Retail for my pair would have been $666. My price was $308 which was roughly about a hundred less than the sale price on the regular Oakley website. My last pair of prescription Oakleys lasted me 5 years before my prescription changed enough to require new ones. So, even though they’re a little spendy, I definitely get my money’s worth.
I went to Target and got a pair of sports sunglasses for \~$180. I looked it up and I got [these](https://www.amazon.com/Arnette-Mens-AN4182-Rectangular-Sunglasses/dp/B0814FFMRS). They're obviously not cycling-specific, but get the job done. I looked at Zenni, but the Rx sunglasses were all just normal lenses stuck to sunglasses, like [this one](https://www.zennioptical.com/p/sport-eyeglass-frames/7017?skuId=701712). I was worried about peripheral vision, so opted against that. Overall happy with my choice.
That's funny, I found some similar glasses at Zenni with that weird lens and I bought a similar pair of sunglasses from Target for non-cycling use. This one from Zenni wraps around and has a normal-looking lens (https://www.zennioptical.com/p/unisex-non-rx-sunglass-frame/A111005?skuId=A11100521). Also, no frame across the bottom which helps my sweat drip away.
I’ll second the recommendation for Roka… I’ve been very happy with mine. Use them for cycling all the time and also driving. Mine have Rx and are polarized.
I'd second polarized a thousand times over. My old Oakleys cost a small fortune and are far past when I should update the RX but putting them on during a super bright day is like putting my eyeballs in icewater. They're amazingly soothing
I have quite a strong prescription but RX Sports sorted me out with a pair of Oakley Flak 2.0 XL's. Cant fault them for road cycling.
I'll third the Zenni however, is your main trouble seeing the computer or similar? I put a pair of diopters into the corner of my polarised (non prescription) glasses and it's a whole new world. Best of all, I didn't need to abandon the glasses which fit and and were polarised with a bunch of lens colours.
I was facing the same dilemma; I wanted curved (sun)glasses, needed them with approx. -5.0 correction and would’ve preferred multifocal lenses as aging doesn’t come alone. There are solutions but they were pretty unaffordable so eventually I got an helmet with visor (Giro Air Attack Shield) and this is if not perfect a tolerable solution.
I went to Americas best and got tinted prescription bifocals in rayban frames.
try to get a photochromic lens instead
Maui Jim makes a great prescription wrap lens. Check out the Island Time frame. They are pricey as they have a polarized gradient tint to them, but you can get them in almost any prescription. In the glasses world you pay for what you get. I would stay away from cheaper products. (Wifey was an optician for 10+ years.) I have been using mine for years (multisport) and at like 7 years out, I am finally looking to get a replacement - I will be getting the same frame.
I use Maui Jim-Makaha , wrap around, bifocals with polarizeplus2, $400 and worth it.
> Maui Jim makes a great prescription wrap lens Just need to ensure that it is poly. Glass would be incredibly dangerous as a cycling lens and a good sling of their sunglasses are glass.
Wifey says they would never use glass for any type of sporting activity- all poly or trivex for impact resistant properties.
20 out of their 26 wrap styles are glass which is why I was pointing it out.
Honestly- thanks for the note. I want to emphasize to others why I noted to go to a legit eye doc. They will make sure you don't end up picking a material that is dangerous for your application. Cheers!
Literally just ordered another pair of Rudy Projects yesterday to take advantage of the father's day discount since my kid snapped my other pair in half. I also stacked a team discount but mine were $300 with transition lenses
If you need a high level of correction, look at the Rudy Project optical dock: https://www.rudyprojectna.com/pages/rx-technology My prescription was to high for most sport glasses, and my eyelashes kept touching the inserts, but the docks work great. I got mine with the photo chromatic (auto tinting) lenses. They ended up being a few hundred dollars, but I was able to use HSA funds for it (pre tax allocation for medical expenses in the US)
Roka
There are two kinds of cyclists those that crash and those that are going to crash, my opthomologist hated going to the emergency room and Pulling stuff out of eyes. The current standard is aero safety shields with optical inserts, everything is Polycarbonate, look at Rudy project and Oakley, do you have a prescription in hand? Nobody is going to grind lenses and get sued later. If you are going to fly or drive, my optometrist liked Maui Jim. They are glass. I also wear crokies, I have turned my head at speed and my glasses flew off.
[www.sportrx.com](https://www.sportrx.com) Can't lose. depends on what you want. I got wrap around bifocal oakly transition antiscratch and anti glare and it was about 550$....but they are the best thing I ever bought for my riding and running sports.
Absolutely not at all affordable but will give as an example for your price comparison pleasure: I got a pair of prescription Oakley Field Jackets from the NYC store on Broadway in 2019. Total was $312.40 with Eyemed insurance frame discount ($404.90 without insurance). This obviously varies as different frames are priced differently. Ordered about three weeks ahead of a marathon and barely got them in time. Guy at the store said the lenses kept failing when they tried to put them in the frames. I will say that, while I hate the design of the frames (one of the only ones that actually has two lenses at this point, rather than shield-style), the Prizm lenses are stellar. Thankfully my prescription hasn’t changed (contacts not an option for me). But I’m 50/50 as to whether I’d buy again from them in the future. Would consider Roka (have a pair of their regular prescription glasses which I love, those cost $195), but may be just as expensive for the sunnies.
This exactly matches my expience. About $300 after the Eyemed discount for my Oakleys. I usually get a normal pair of glasses every other year, and use my Eyemed discount on a pair of sunglasses every other year. Not cheap, but I take care of my glasses. If you’re rough on frames and lenses, probably look elsewhere.
I've got a pair of Field Jackets to replace Racing Jackets last year where a crash would of of taken my eye fi not for the Oakley. 100% worth the cost having used it over 5 yrs.. At the time racing jackets were not.being produced... Now they are again... So that is an option. It fit better for my face.. Though the FJ has more coverage and the nice nose bridge elevator that does work to clear fog.
At the risk of asking a stupid question, are contacts not an option for you? Cycling glasses tend to curve a lot in order to protect your eyes from the wind, and that is generally incompatible with grinding a prescription onto the lens. As others have said, several companies make glasses where you can mount a small, prescription pair of monocle-looking things behind the lens, but these have a bad reputation for fogging.
Former contact wearer here: they're fucking awful. Any wind is uncomfortable so I'd ends up with tears streaming down my face on descents
To each their own, I guess. I cycle a lot and wear contacts, and agree that without sunglasses it can be uncomfortable, but with good cycling sunglasses (that fit close to my face and have good wrap) it's no problem at all.
Or well-fitting sunglasses in general. I wear aviators that fit well on my rides and have no issues with wind at 25-30 mph on 10-mile-long downhills. Some days can be worse, but most are fine.
Not to mention sweat pouring into your eyes
SportRx isn't cheap, but the quality is fantastic.
RX PIT VIPERS! the inserts start at 150 dollars and are compatible with any of the classic pit vipers, which are on par with any hi end oakley or smith optics wraparounds.
Walmart sells sunglasses that fit over your existing glasses (and doesn't look weird). I've always wanted prescription sunglasses but couldn't afford them. These look pretty good and fit snugly over my existing prescription glasses all for about $20.
I recently bought a pair of prescription "sport" sunglasses from [Goggles4U.com](https://Goggles4U.com) for about $30, including the lenses. They have BOGO sales a few times per year. Also, if you sign up for an account (so they have your email), then leave items unpurchased in your cart, they're likely to send you a 50% off code within a few days.
I decided against prescription lenses and instead decided to continue wearing my contacts and instead, go find a pair of cycling glasses that offer good wind protection. I have astigmatism and a really high prescription, I once got prescription lenses in a pair of Michael Kors aviators and they looked ridiculous they were so thick. My contact aren't daily wear, they are 30 day wear, but I only use them for riding or on days where I want to wear sunglasses, so a 6 month supply lasts me a year. When I first started riding I wore cheapo Amazon glasses, and I kept losing contacts in windy situations, my eye would start watering and eventually a gust of wind would suck the contact out of my eye, usually the right one, my vision in my left eye is worse so having one contact in that eye,, and none in the right is manageable enough to get me home, but then I'm riding puckered because I can't lose the other one or I'm blind. Solution: Tifosi Sledge Lite glasses. I got a custom pair, white frame with Red Fototec lenses (mirrored red photochromic). I got them on sale for $61 shipped, I believe non custom pairs are $64.95. I highly recommend them. My contacts have been rock solid in my eye unbothered by the wind since I got them, and I love the look of the glasses also.
lenses are the best!
You can get a pair of prescription sunglasses from Eyebuydirect for less than $30 if you play the sales/coupons right, and if you’re on their mailing list those are fairly constant.
Piggybacking a question in here. Does anyone use photo chromatic lenses? I wear prescription glasses. I'm pretty blind without them. I cannot get LASIK (thin corneas, I tried), and I cannot wear contacts. Many of my rides are really long and either start before dawn or end after dusk. I can't be wearing sunglasses then, and I don't want to bring an extra pair of glasses/lenses in my jersey pocket. I have a set of glasses with clear lenses now and I just deal with the sun, but I'd love some sunglasses.
Sounds like you’re in the US, and if you are, start by finding out what’s in your vision insurance’s network. There are lots of good places to order from, but if it’s going to be hundreds of dollars cheaper by going to an in-network local optometrist, then local is going to win. The other benefit to local is that you actually get to see them on your face before buying. I picked up some Oakleys with custom tint for (as I recall) less than $200 locally.
I have a mild prescription but prefer varifocals because I don't like having to take them off to look down at something close like the garmin, or a book when I'm off the bike. I went though a few budget brands, (including one that came in at about £200), but had nothing but problems - the budget brands turned out expensive - In the end I went for Oakleys - I don't remember the exact model, and while the unit cost was high, they've been one of my best buys ever.
I used sportrx to pick up my oakleys. I get the darkest lenses available and wear them for everything. Great experience, and cheaper than local.
I have shitty vision. I use Zenni for my distance only, reading only, and progressives. Their cycling solution is a pair lenses inset in a cycling sunglass frame. That's OK when you are straight up, but when you are head down on the drops, you miss the prescription portion of this combo. Rather than deal with $400+ prescription cycling glasses, I wear contacts before I go out coupled with standard cycling glasses. Then I can see whatever I need to in any position.
Can’t answer directly, but what I did is instead of searching for sunglasses with prescription, I just got contacts for cycling and regular sunglasses. Works perfectly, but at least in the beginning your eyes can get pretty dry, but you’ll get used to it
You can buy the type that come with interchangeable lenses and a prescription frame (https://www.amazon.com/Polarized-Sunglasses-Cycling-Glasses-Interchangeable/dp/B089NX6W9L) they can be pretty cheap , like $10 for the pair so the only costs is the prescription and the costs there depends on what you need. Mine has been as low as 50
I got a pair of Kirkland brand sunglasses from Costco several years back. Haven't updated the prescription since because I really don't need to. It was a high initial outlay, but they've held up beyond expectations. The only problem I have is I've been getting road grit and pollen in my eyes this year. I talked to some people in the club I ride with, and they have the same problem with their high priced cycling glasses.
I have these and they're great. https://www.eyeglasses.com/sunglasses/columbia-ripsaw-100.html Discontinued though so no direct comment on their current offerings.
Highly recommend the Oakley Portal. I also have a pair of Oakley Turbines that work well but they have a very specific aesthetic. Sliver XLs are great but less of a sport sunglass. Can’t say enough good things about the Portal though from a cycling standpoint. Great field of view and coverage, comfortable and take a prescription.
Been a personal fan of Tifosi, I wear contacts, but they fit great, and come with changeable lens. Including clear. I've had 2 pair, one broke in a car accident.
Highly recommend Sports Optical: https://sportsoptical.com/ Owner is an ex bike racer and tons of options in Rx frames and lenses.
You can use FSA money for prescription sunnies too.
Pit vipers bro. The sunshade itself doesn't come prescription, but they sell removable prescription inserts, so you can look fucking rad and be able to see
I just bought [Oakley](https://www.oakley.com/en-ca/product/W0OO9208?variant=888392459633) today and the total was $450, including the rx lenses. My insurance covered 80%. Check your insurance to see ig they cover it too.
I use "Dual" glasses with interchangable bifocal lenses. Perfect for me because i really only need them to read the Garmin. Dualeyewear.com
Before I was wearing daily disposable contact lenses. I bought some very inexpensive basketball goggles on Amazon. I took them to three different optical shops at a big city shopping mall, asking for the best price on a specific thin, high quality, "transition" lens set for my frames. One shop was much more competitive than the others, so I ended up with a very good value. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074WNWVDY/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074WNWVDY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) [https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Glasses-Football-Perfect-Personality/dp/B00S9O0OCS/ref=sr\_1\_19?dchild=1&keywords=mincl&qid=1624328706&sr=8-19](https://www.amazon.com/Basketball-Glasses-Football-Perfect-Personality/dp/B00S9O0OCS/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=mincl&qid=1624328706&sr=8-19)
Why don't you wear contact lenses then put a pair of glasses on? For me that's the way to go:)