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

Omg my DH and I judge people terribly who wear these. They look terrible. We both wear contacts in the sun with sunglasses.

V frumpy.

However Oliver bonas have some lovely glasses chains in stock which are def not frumpy

I'll let DH now that his glasses are all Elvis and super uncool!

He's had them for years. He dirves in them, they do work, they are fairly quick to change to clear glass too.

I had no idea they were considered naff. They're just useful!

My lenses are crazy expensive though because my prescription is complex and I have to opt for the thinner and lighter ones to avoid the milk bottle effect. Not essential but essential to me.

Opinion is really split. Sorry to anyone who has been offended by the thread!

Had never occurred to me that there was a problem with them! My teen is the envy of her friends with hers as they aren't allowed sunglasses at school but she's the only one not squinting in the sun because she has transitions lenses

I'm probably frumpy but I don't care. I wear my glasses as soon as I get up in the morning and don't take them off until bedtime. Like @fromwhenceshecame I didn't realise I was being judged. Fortunately, no one has said it out loud yet. I'm really only contributing to this thread to say I've worn my transition glasses for driving for the last 20 years and never had any problems.

I hate the look of them personally, they seem to take so long to change although I haven't seen any for a while so maybe they have gotten better!

I tend to wear contact lenses in the summer, problem solved.

I had brown ones ten years ago and loved them. I am going to get them with my next glasses as my eyes are so sensitive to light. But I will get prescription sunglasses for driving too.

As long as the frames are nice I am not sure what the problem is tbh.

I think the newer versions are much better. Mine look totally normal out of the sun, but are great when it's sunny out. They transition quite quickly, so much so that I don't really notice the transition.

Ps some very mean comments on here! Not everyone can wear contacts.

memsnutter I may (almost certainly) be less style conscious than you, but I am early 40s and have been wearing them for a decade. It’s a game changer if your eyesight is bad and you can’t wear contacts. Particularly on holidays where you are looking around buildings/shops on bright days.

Maybe consider a pair as an alternative to sunglasses rather than normal glasses?

I love mine! They change super quickly both ways. They go a greeny black not brown and go very dark. People admire my 'sunglasses' and how organised I am in swapping them. My first pair and I am so converted.

OP, I am similar to you. Super sensitive to light, and live in a very sunny place. Light is also a migraine trigger to me. I've often thought about it but a) I do think they look super naff (sorry!) and b) I'm not convinced they get dark enough to cope with proper, mid summer Australian sunlight and I'd end up still swapping around and using sunglasses outside/in the car anyway.

I always do the 2 for 1 deal at the opticians and get a nice pair of prescription sunglasses. Never worn contacts but if I did I guess I'd just use non-prescription, decent sunglasses over the top.

Interested to hear lots of people say the 'newer' types look less naff and work much better. Will def have a look next time I'm at the optician.

I normally wear varifocals, but have bought a couple of pairs of cheap single vision sunglasses - look at Glasses Direct or Select specs. I got two pairs for £40 and was able to choose 4 frames to look at before ordering.

I've been wearing them for years and am 42. I've had to wear glasses all the time since I was 17, so I'm used to having them on my face the whole time. I can't cope with having to swap glasses and love that they just change for me. They seem to take a couple of minutes to change either way, and don't change at all through glass (so they won't be sunglasses when driving).

I'm not very fashionable though, and may well be described by many as frumpy.

I don't know what people mean by frumpy, not that I care particularly. For me transitions were life changing as I don't have to carry two pairs of varifocal glasses around. You can have any frames you like so don't have to be a particular style. Mine get properly dark and change quite quickly. They are absolutely fine for driving.

They seem to take a couple of minutes to change either way, and don't change at all through glass (so they won't be sunglasses when driving). Odd, mine change when I'm driving. I couldn't drive without sunglasses, I have very light sensitive eyes.

I know this is slightly off topic, but have just gone over to transitions contact lenses - as someone with really sensitive eyes it's been a game changer!

I never realised how green the trees were in sunshine because I was either blinded by the sun or wearing brown sunglasses. I can also run without sweaty, steamed up shades.

I’ve had mine for around 10 years. They are brilliant and wouldn’t consider not having them. Over the years the technology has got much better. They are not instant, but nearly, only taking seconds compares with the several minutes my original ones took.
I have varifocals, a distance pair and a reading pair.

@GroggyLegs. I’m envious. Bet they really area life changer. (I want them!!!)

I'm seriously debating a pair now that I've read this thread. I'd never considered them because the only people I know who wear them are pensioner relatives. It seems my view is outdated!

@sskanky

My preferred term for transitions glasses is 'paedo specs'

🤭🤣

@sskanky I didn't know how to say this

@sskanky

My preferred term for transitions glasses is 'paedo specs'

Hilarious

I went from reading glasses and sunglasses which were a right pain on holiday to permanently wearing transition varifocals. Life is so much easier now.
tbh I don't understand why anyone who wears glasses all the time would not want transitions, except for a cost reason.