prescription Sunnies vs Normal sunnies with lens cover vs transition glasses

[capt_akun]

Hey all.

I hope this forum is the right place for this question. I am looking at a pair of sunglasses for my eyes, but the problem is that I am shortsighted. Normally, I wear contacts and just a normal pair of sunglasses, but I just want to make sure on those days where I couldn't wear my contacts that I do have a pair of sunglasses while flying into a bright sun. I am hoping those who are in the airlines, or in general can give me some information as to which option works best. Heres the option I have come across:

1. normal prescription glasses with transition lens
2. sunglasses with a prescription lens + a pair of prescription glasses
3. a pair of prescription glasses with a sunglasses cap (addon)

Thanks for your help in advance.
Akun

[Notso Fantastic]

I think the glasses with a hinged sunglass cover look absurd. I won't be seen dead in them! When I see people walking around with the hinges up and the sunnies sticking out, I think they look utterly stupid and want to burst out laughing!

Don't get Reactolites or transitions or whatever you call them. They are not recommended for flying and don't change quickly enough.

Which leaves you with dedicated prescription sunnies. But be careful to get less shading rather than more. Uncomfortable to be wearing shades too dark for the conditions and making it difficult to see the darker corners of the panel. I have dedicated bifocal shades. You only need one pair, so keep them in your briefcase for use flying only. But I have to say I barely ever use them.

[Dream Land]

LASIK surgery. :ok:

[capt_akun]

i thought of laser eye surgery, but i think i might wait till i am 25 to do that.. I heard that's when your body is most likely have finished growing...?

thanks for your posts. Will go do some shopping!

[Dan Winterland]

The clip-ons will scratch the lenses of your regular glasses where they touch. Plus you'll look like a pr@t.

(I know about the scratches, 'cos I looked like a pr@t once!)

[TitanMaster]

I just got a pair of prescription sunnies for use in the TWR and general use other times. Quite honestly when wearing my sunnies I forget they're shaded as the whole environment is still crystal clear to my eyes, just with the super added bonus of much reduced glare and eye strain.

I say go for prescription sunnies!!

[5150]

Option 2 works for me.

My AME winces when I mention eye surgery to him :ouch:

[Sepi]

Contact lenses and sunnies.

Sunnies on/Sunnies off you see crystal clear for any given lighting scenario.

Contacts have gone a long way and are very comfortable these days. I don't think I could fly with glasses again as contacts give a full clear view even in your peripherals which is a god send!!

I've also just moved on to continuous wear lenses which mean I can sleep in them. Even if you don't sleep in them, the fact that you can shows how permeable and comfortable they are!

Hope that helps

[capt_akun]

Ah thanks for the replies!

Sepi, contact + normal sunnies is the best too. I am using that at the moment. Except a month or two ago, I was at a place where it made the eye really sensitive(don't know why), so I had to wear my pair of glasses all the time, and i didn't have a pair of sunnies with precription.

Looks like prescription glasses it is!

Thanks guys again.
Akun

[Sepi]

I'll re-read your post then! Oops!

Sensitive eye for more than a couple of days is bad news, got told off at my last check up for not getting something like that looked at.

All the best with the new combination!

[chevvron]

Transition lenses are not recommended for pilots or controllers because although they darken quickly, it takes an indeterminate time for them to clear again. You can't detect this with the naked eye, but we did tests at my airfield many years ago with the Institute of Aviation Medicine which revealed this.

[PaperTiger]

Transitions are OK for everyday, walking around town etc. kind of wear as they do react (not instantly though) to changing light levels.

For prolonged exposure to sunlight or high daylight level, prescription shades.

I have not found an acceptable solution for day-into-night flights/shifts other than two separate spectacles, which is a little inconvenient to those of us with diminishing memory cells (where did I put those :mad:ing specs ?) !