Transitions lenses - total no go for 42 year old?

[Memsnutter]

I have eyes that are very sensitive to light and I wear glasses all the time. I’m always losing or forgetting my sunglasses (plus prescription ones cost a fortune). I know transitions lenses are probably the answer but I can’t quite bring myself to get them.

Would they be really frumpy? Has anyone got them and happy with them? Do they change quickly and totally when you’re indoors?

Other problem is I’m ginger so usually wear light weight or pale frames which might look a bit odd in sunglasses mode.

Anyone got any thoughts?
Ta

I'm 43 and I think they look naff but I'm considering it as a spare pair as I've just gone to varifocals. For being between house and garden I thought it might involve less faff. Not sure how fast they change though.

Gosh I've used them since my mid-20s! No idea they were considered frumpy! I think they are fantastic - saves having to swap between glasses and sunglasses and the added expense of paying for prescription sunglasses.

They are a popular choice for many. Just bear in mind that you will need prescription specs for driving, as most windscreens have a uv coating so the transition lenses won’t work.

Now I wear varifocals and cannot wear contact lenses for work, I have just ordered transitions as I don’t want to buy a second pair of varifocals

Our whole family has them (50+, 20s and a late teen).
They make life so much easier.

I was really disappointed with my transition lenses.. took an age to change, they weren’t dark enough to make enough of a difference and then took forever to fade out again.

I put up with them for a few weeks and then got some proper sunglasses, it’s a pain to carry two around but for me, worth it.

That’s useful to know @roselilly36
Sorry Blacklamb. It might be just because of the people I know who wear them

Honestly? I think they're frumpy. I personally wouldn't wear them and have a normal pair and sunglasses which it really isn't a hassle to carry. It's personal choice though and you should wear what you want!

See that’s what I’m worried about @contactlesslenses. I don’t like the inbetween look and they’d need to be properly dark in the sun for me

My uncle (by marriage) had these. All of the wedding photos look like my aunt is marrying gone-to-seed Elvis. They’re divorced now.

I tell this anecdote without further comment.

Chain round the neck it is then. That should be 100% non frumpy 😂

Grey tends to be a better/darker colour than brown for transition lenses if you get the choice.

Oh @Billyshears! That’s exactly the kind of impression I’m worried about 😬

The optician told me that transitions lenses change far more rapidly these days and are much better than they were. The only thing I found was that they’re no good for driving.

What? I'm 45 and wear them. I had no idea there was anything wrong with them. I don't understand why it's a different look to having separate glasses and sunglasses.

I find them great and so much easier than having to carry my sunglasses around and change when I'm inside / outside. I never wear sunglasses for any length of time unless on the beach etc. Not to mention cheaper than having two pairs. Mine do change in the car though. I haven't had any problem with them changing slowly / quickly.

I think they’ve got a lot better. My in laws all look shady as fuck on my wedding photos (10 years ago) because they all wore them but their transition lenses never actually transitioned back to fully clear indoors. But my mum has just got a pair and they seem to be a lot better at fully changing and doing so quickly.

I had them years ago, they looked like normal glasses, certainly not frumpy unless you choose frumpy frames! I switched to prescription sunglasses when I passed my driving test (eventually) because transitions aren't good for driving in bright sunlight

I’m hoping the optician has a pair of non prescription ones that I can walk in and out of the shop in. I’m not holding my breath though

It’s not really a fashion choice for everyone though, is it? My vision is so rubbish that I really can’t see without my glasses. Most people with sunglasses, even prescription ones, just pop them up when they go inside for a few minutes or moments. I can’t do that, because I can’t see enough. If you can, carrying 2 pairs of sunglasses is fine. If you can’t, then it probably isn’t and you need transitions.

Glad everyone is secretly judging me for them. Nice to know.

I much prefer proper sunglasses especially for driving.

I used a deal from specsavers so got both normal and a pair of sunglasses. Just carry my sunglasses in my bag

Sorry @Fromwhenceshecame. Tbf I haven’t noticed anyone wearing them recently. I’m basing this on glasses I probably saw about 15 years ago, on older ladies who would have had older ladies frames (nowt wrong with the just not my style).

The new ones are brilliant. I have brown and grey ones (brown in tortoiseshell frames and grey in black frames). I wear glasses all the time and changing from sunglasses to normal glasses all the time is so impractical. Transitions all the way for me. I’m a similar age to you.

And I’m in the same boat vision wise

They are hopelessly uncool, and you should get some cheaper prescription sunglasses.

(I have seen 'transition drive' ones advertised online as an aside) . I have used them for ten years (missed them when I didn't last time around). I like not having to think about it and I care more about my convenience than ornamenting other peoples lives (I can't see them!) I do try to pop them off when arriving at reception wearing a mask though because I realised people were being off with me because they couldn't see my eyes or mouth! I think the brown suits me better than the grey.