Transition Lenses

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Jun 19, 2016
858
63
I was looking at getting some tinted rx sports glasses for my 8 year old DD and I have talked to two different opticians and they both told me that they do not normally put tinted lenses in sports glasses for kids because they are made of plastic and they can shatter. They recommended the transition lenses. Does anyone have any experience with these? Do they present any problems in low light? Are the actually any good on sunny days. I did tell the optician that shattering is not really a concern for me because she always wears a helmet or a face mask. At the same time, a combo pair might be good to save some money, but I don't want to end up with one pair that isn't good for either low light or bright sun. Despite her age she plays in about 40 games a year both day and night.
 
Jun 22, 2008
3,731
113
They told you plastic lenses shatter???? Plastic lenses are polycarbonate or some other very similar type of plastic and are shatter and impact resistant. Copied and pasted from webMD.

Polycarbonate. These impact-resistant lenses are a good choice if you play sports, work where your eyeglasses could easily get damaged, or have kids who are tough on their specs. They also have built-in UV protection.
 
Jun 19, 2016
858
63
The thing I was thinking about is that polycarbonate is a plastic too; however, it is true that not all plastic is created equal. The other point is that kids and adults wear cheap plastic glasses on the softball field all the time. I would think frame breakage is much more likely than the lenses shattering. I was planning on buying her a pair of sunglasses so it might save me some money, but I don't want to go me up with a second paper weight. My DW (darling wife) already blew the insurance benefits buy buying her a pair that will not fit comfortably under her helmet. I told her to take the batting helmet with her but somehow it got left at home. That optical company has a gurrantee but a poor selection do I am probably going to end up trading her original pair of bulk sports glasses for a second pair of normal glasses.

The problem is I know absolutely nothing about glasses. I have been blessed with good vision and I buy $5 sunglasses at Walmart or Target that last about 3 months before I lose them or break them.
 
Last edited:

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
I would recommend using contact for sports...then your DD can wear regular sunglasses when she needs them.
 
Jun 19, 2016
858
63
I would recommend using contact for sports...then your DD can wear regular sunglasses when she needs them.

She is 8. The doctor she saw doesn't prescribe contacts until 12. I have heard some doctor's will prescribe them for younger children but I am not sure she would do well with putting them in and taking them out.
 
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
I can only give you my experience with transition lenses. Transition lenses do no have enough tinting to be effective on sunny days, they just don't get dark enough. They can also be a pain when you quickly transfer from sunny conditions to a room without much light, it takes the lenses a little while to transition back to normal. It has been at least 5 years since I have owned transition lenses and I did not care for them.

My daughter turns 9 in about 1 week, we are hoping we can get her comfortable with contacts this year.
 
Jul 16, 2013
4,659
113
Pennsylvania
I have been wearing transition lenses for over 20 years. I can say that the newer versions are much better than the older versions. While I don't disagree with what Gambler Bob stated in his post, I have never had any issue with them. DD also wore them for approximately 3 years before she switched to contacts. She has not worn her glasses since.
 
Nov 26, 2010
4,784
113
Michigan
Side issue with transition glasses. Your kid will be the one in every team picture with sunglasses on. Everyone else will take theirs off, your dd will leave them on because she needs them. In a few years you will look at all these pictures and wish you could see your dds eyes.
 

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