I was just wondering in general what you guys use for sunglasses on the water; more directly, what options do those who have to where prescription eye glasses 24/7 use?
I was looking at getting prescription polarized sunglasses done, but the cost is prohibitive, $375 just for the lenses, that is with a 30% AAA discount, and that is not including the frames; so I set out looking for a much more frugal option Sunglasses are great to have, but I do not wear them enough to justify spending in the $500-$600 range for a pair of prescription polarized.
So I was looking at clip on glasses and thought that is a great option, but found the size match up to my current glasses difficult, one was found to fit, the models that clip onto the bridge of the glasses looked weak and poorly made, all these were in the $9 to $40 range, so I cannot expect too much in terms of quality.
Stopped at Lenscrafters to check out some more clip-ons, when the sales associate mentioned fit over polarized sunglasses, I have never heard of fit-overs before. Styling was pretty good, and they covered my prescription glasses entirely, I found a pair that were most comfortable and proceeded to checkout. I was expecting to pay in the $100+ range, but she rang it up for $49.99 and with my AAA discount came out to $38 and change, with tax.
I would highly recommend checking out fit-over polarized glasses, if you do not already have a solution, for those that wear prescription eyewear. Sorry for being winded, just wanted to share what I found in my dilemma.
Here is the brand they have at Lenscrafters, and sell elsewhere. I am happy with them thus far, I went with standard gray lenses, but they say mirror blue/green and the mirror copper/brown work best on the water.
http://www.cocoonseyewear.com/
i have prescription shades. it's also important to have a strap so you don't loose them.
years ago i fished on one of the salmon charter boats and there was an old man fishing with us. he got really sick and went to the rail to throw up. he went back to rail again to hurl and he lost his glasses. the third time he leaned over, he lost his teeth!!! oh, and he never did catch a salmon... :-\
I've got a pair of Costa del Sol polarized with a bifocal reader insert. On the water I really just need to be able to tie a knot and these work fine and my distance vision is not that bad.
Day to day I wear progressive transition lenses which on the water don't seem to work as well as as the costa del sol.
If I quit buying rod and reels for a month, I'll get the ones I like in prescription. Not cheap!
Quote from: alantani on May 04, 2015, 05:23:45 PM
I have prescription shades.
Same here; two pairs. Being from Palm Springs, I live in them. 8)
Quote from: alantani on May 04, 2015, 05:23:45 PM
It's also important to have a strap so you don't lose them.
CRUCIAL!! Get some Croakies or similar. The sight of your glasses disappearing into the depths is something you never want to experience. :-\
~
A~
Quote from: alantani on May 04, 2015, 05:23:45 PM
i have prescription shades. it's also important to have a strap so you don't loose them.
years ago i fished on one of the salmon charter boats and there was an old man fishing with us. he got really sick and went to the rail to throw up. he went back to rail again to hurl and he lost his glasses. the third time he leaned over, he lost his teeth!!! oh, and he never did catch a salmon... :-\
That's because Salmon are not susceptible to chumming... Dominick
Quote from: Aiala on May 04, 2015, 07:14:23 PM
Quote from: alantani on May 04, 2015, 05:23:45 PM
I have prescription shades.
Same here; two pairs. Being from Palm Springs, I live in them. 8)
Quote from: alantani on May 04, 2015, 05:23:45 PM
It's also important to have a strap so you don't lose them.
CRUCIAL!! Get some Croakies or similar. The sight of your glasses disappearing into the depths is something you never want to experience. :-\
~A~
If my prescription glasses fell overboard I wouldn't be able to see them!
I either wear contacts with real sunglasses or have clipons for my prescription glasses held on by rare earth magnets.
Just received my reader sun glasses Saturday. I went to flea bay and typed in reader sunglasses many options. As others stated get something to hold them on.
I spent more than $300.00 on polarized prescription sunglasses. After about a year the polarization started to wear off. I went back to the opticians and was told that the lab only warrants them for 90 days. After a discussion with the owner of the store he agreed to send them to the lab for $50.00. That really .... me off. I know that he was going to send them to the lab and get them to redo them for free and pocket the 50 bucks. Needless to say they lost me as a customer forever. Dominick
I wear Rx sunglasses when I remember to bring them. I also carry a polarized clip-on in my tackle bag in case I forget to switch before I leave shore. I use Zennioptical.com for the RX glasses, the prices are great. Another place is 39dollarglasses.com.
Nice find. It's a solid ides and it'd very sleek. I just use contacts with sunglasses, makes it much easier
I have an aversion to putting things in my eye, as much as it would help and make a sunglasses purchase/use easier, never could do contacts. I definitely need the Croakie type straps, will look into them, thanks for mentioning the need for straps.
Edit:
"That's because Salmon are not susceptible to chumming..." Dominick
HAHAHA!!! Read that twice and just got it. Lol
Thanks Sunday I crave appreciation for my humor. Dominick
Polarising 'wearing off'? i thought it was an inherent part of the construction of the lens. I have cheap polarised sunglasses (not prescription) and they have been through abuse for many years without any loss of polarising power.
When I last bought a pair of prescription specs I had a 'free' pair of polarising sunglasses to the same prescription for free - still have them and need them to read in the sun, or tie knots!
Quote from: Dominick on May 05, 2015, 04:57:31 AM
Thanks Sunday I crave appreciation for my humor. Dominick
What Humor ??? ;D
Do you really have to spend a lot of money to get good polarized lenses?
I've spent over 500 buck on prescription polarized few years back.
You do need to be gentle when cleaning them or else the coating will wear off.
That pair of glasses decided to do a deep sea dive while I was gaffing the fish ...>_<...
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 05, 2015, 02:31:05 PM
Do you really have to spend a lot of money to get good polarized lenses?
Of course not, Wal-Mart buys work just as well as the ones you help pay the marketing and advertising bill for, while others are very well made and worth the value, to some anyway.
Same concept as a $70 reel catches the same fish as a $300 reel, just about what a person wants.
I have really bad eyes, so I have to pay a premium to get the thin lenses in my prescription, otherwise it would be 1940-50 coke bottle lenses for me, honestly, even worse than that when they showed what it would be with standard lenses, add polarization and frames to that....$$$
Quote from: UKChris on May 05, 2015, 02:19:30 PM
Polarising 'wearing off'? i thought it was an inherent part of the construction of the lens. I have cheap polarised sunglasses (not prescription) and they have been through abuse for many years without any loss of polarising power.
When I last bought a pair of prescription specs I had a 'free' pair of polarising sunglasses to the same prescription for free - still have them and need them to read in the sun, or tie knots!
I did say the polarizing wearing off. Actually there is a coating on the lenses that has blistered. Dominick
Polarization cannot wear off - it's an inherent part of the plastic structure. Whereas an "anti-glare" coating does and will wear off in time.
People who need glasses should try Eyelevel or Coccoons. They are polarized sunglasses that fit over normal glasses - giving you the best of both worlds.
I've had a pair of each of them for years - One with dark brown lenses, and one with amber lenses. They really work well.
Technology have changed mate.
http://www.corning.com/ophthalmic/products/polarizingsolutions.aspx
My pair of coccoon seems to fog up all the time.
Okay I read all the pros and cons so far on polarized glasses, but when you wear prescription glasses..as I do. I have never found a pair of clip on sun glasses that worked for me. Polarized sun glasses that are supposed to fit over glasses are uncomfortable and sloppy. The glasses that I own are transitional lenses...they darken in the sunlight, I don't know if there is a polarized transitional type available now or not but if there is, I'm sure that would probably be best for those of us that wear glasses. I do own special shooting glasses that are prescription with changeable lenses, they are great for focusing on clay targets in all lighting conditions, I have never tried to use them when fishing. The only thing I am saying is adding sun glasses to your already worn glasses is not in my opinion a good way to go.
Thanks for the info Nuvole, I wasn't aware of that! But I still think "built-in" polarization is the way to go just MHO :)
If you find fit-over glasses get to steamy - drill some holes in the side windows (air conditioning :D)
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 06, 2015, 12:57:20 PM
Okay I read all the pros and cons so far on polarized glasses, but when you wear prescription glasses..as I do. I have never found a pair of clip on sun glasses that worked for me. Polarized sun glasses that are supposed to fit over glasses are uncomfortable and sloppy. The glasses that I own are transitional lenses...they darken in the sunlight, I don't know if there is a polarized transitional type available now or not but if there is, I'm sure that would probably be best for those of us that wear glasses. I do own special shooting glasses that are prescription with changeable lenses, they are great for focusing on clay targets in all lighting conditions, I have never tried to use them when fishing. The only thing I am saying is adding sun glasses to your already worn glasses is not in my opinion a good way to go.
I 100% agree with you, prescription polarized is the best option, followed by contacts with polarized lenses, it just came down to price point and how often I would really wear them. I have yet to field test the Cocoons, understand they may be cumbersome, and have to deal with cleaning two pairs of glasses versus one, but that is something I have no problem with.
Don't buy Ocean Waves prescription sunglasses. Expensive crap. The mirror coating bubbled up and came off, they wouldn't warranty it.
My next pair of prescription sunglasses will be Maui Jims. I hear good things from fellow four-eyed fishermen.
If they have Transition style bifocals, great. But otherwise I will get single vision and just move my head a little for close-in work like tying knots.
Catch
I realize technology has come a long way as far as plastics are concerned...at least that is the general consensus today, but for my money glass lenses can not be better performed when it come to optics, hands down. The only draw back is weight, if that is a concern.
Safety glasses are polycorbonate these days...
Quote from: swill88 on May 06, 2015, 11:03:34 PM
Safety glasses are polycorbonate these days...
I know what you are saying,but that's another application. I'm referring to the optical part of the lenses, as in clarity and durability of the coatings in glass, as apposed to plastic lenses. I just don't feel that plastic can out perform glass in that manner.
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 06, 2015, 11:13:54 PM
Quote from: swill88 on May 06, 2015, 11:03:34 PM
Safety glasses are polycorbonate these days...
I just don't feel that plastic can out perform glass in that manner.
Agreed. Also, I wonder if the salt spray is tougher on the plastics?
Quote from: CATCH-ALL on May 06, 2015, 05:44:14 PM
Don't buy Ocean Waves prescription sunglasses. Expensive crap. The mirror coating bubbled up and came off, they wouldn't warranty it.
My next pair of prescription sunglasses will be Maui Jims. I hear good things from fellow four-eyed fishermen.
If they have Transition style bifocals, great. But otherwise I will get single vision and just move my head a little for close-in work like tying knots.
Catch
It's a couple years later and I went with Plan B after finding out that Maui Jims would cost me close to $1,000 for prescription sunglasses. No wa am I going to spend Ten Hundy on freakin' glasses.
A fishing friend - Joe Franz / 1 Bandit - recommended an online glasses outfit called www.TheGlassesShop.com I have bought four pairs of glasses from them in the past couple years - two were everyday glasses and two were sunglasses. All four were prescription, bifocal, progressive. As long as you do a little research in advance you won't go wrong. Glasses Shop allows you to search frames by several criteria, all in the interest of getting you glasses that look good and work great.
Hope this helps.
Mark / Catch-All
Back end of last year I bit the bullet on lens replacement for my eyes (surgery). Not cheap BUT now I don't need readers and my distance vision is fine. The added bonus I can just wear 10$ Eyelevel sunglasses off of Fleabay :)
Quote from: sundaytrucka on May 05, 2015, 04:51:17 PM
I have really bad eyes, so I have to pay a premium to get the thin lenses in my prescription, otherwise it would be 1940-50 coke bottle lenses for me, honestly, even worse than that when they showed what it would be with standard lenses, add polarization and frames to that....$$$
About 10 years ago I ordered a set of the standard lenses, polarized. When the optician came out of the room with them for me to try on I was shocked. MUCH thicker than the estimate they gave me, like wearing lenses cut from glass-wall brick on your face.. :o
Needless to say I immediately took advantage of their 30-day refund policy.
Since then I have settled on using Cocoons, although I wish they had more lens and frame options.
The ones I have survived being accidentally dropped and left on the side of the road while we were stopped on the shoulder.
My brother spotted them hiding in the grass nearly a week later.
Chad
The most economical I've found so far is the Bolle safely glass "tracker" that one can buy a RX insert separately.
For those like myself who require bi-focal will understand the cost of those lens.
Issue is they do fog up unless you drill some hole on the side of the lens, and the strap is required to hold the glass.
(http://www.bollesafety.com.au/sites/default/files/styles/product_preview/public/product_images/44654b4c62c2bbbeab4d6dda01375121f2d65635/1652007-tracker-2-grey-polarised.jpg?itok=0S0Nbf4a)
I had a pair of Maui Jims for 15 years and at least 6 prescriptions. I just rotated getting new prescriptions every other year. Meaning, My normal glasses this year, my maui jims next year. insurance only covers every so often. Still expensive, but if you have a good frame they will last for many years. my 2 cents
The maui jims finally broke on the frame(15years) , so now just a pair of ray bans as they broke on the wrong year...lol
We fish visually, so without Polaroids I can't fish. Since about 10 years back I've been wearing bifocal prescription Polaroid lenses which have been fantastic. The downside is that they effect my balance.
I am already on my 3rd pair but they are much cheaper here, maybe $180 without frames. I provide my own frames from previous polarized fishing glasses.
Maybe if you send me your prescriptions I can have them made up for you....LOL