Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Oakley Lenses - Are they worth it?

  1. #1
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61

    Oakley Lenses - Are they worth it?

    This being my first post, I'd like to thank all of you in advance for your replies and seek your forgiveness for any inappropriate actions.

    I am still schooling and have only had a short stint working in this industry but only responsible for sales as I was not allowed to dispense RX. During this short period of exposure, I cannot help but notice that a lot of people come in to the shops with the idea that Oakley makes the best distortion free tinted lenses. Apparently using with a patented method called Polaric Ellipsoid Lens Geometry they claim to have minimize distortion to a minimum.

    I am of the opinion that poly lenses are the same no matter if you call them plutonite or otherwise but my former boss seems to disagree and prefers to have all RX request sent back to Oakley. He says it's too complicated for them to take it up themselves. My question is: "Can't we do it ourselves?" Has anyone here done so without complains or returns.

    I feel that there is a good market as many the Oakley wearers are not keen to fork out top dollars for their RX lens. At the same time, I am looking to deal with someone who can help to cut and produce plano mirror-coated polarized lenses to fit the X metal range from Oakley. Those interested can PM me. Thanks.

  2. #2
    Allen Weatherby
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,286
    Any lens that is placed into a wrap frame requires different than traditional prescription lens processing to allow the patient the same vision as a standard flat everyday eyewear.

    When you angle the lens for wrap then add pantoscopic tilt you will need a different Rx surfaced into the lens.

    My company ICE-TECH Advanced Lens Technologies went even further developing unique individualized backside aspheric curves which are individually compensated based on the wrap, tilt and vertex distance.

    I am not familiar with what Oakley does in processing there prescriptions but I do think they take into account the wrap angle and maybe more.

  3. #3
    What's up? drk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Ohio
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    9,386
    As AWTECH says, Oakley certainly does a good job, but as to the patenting, who knows and who cares?

    Yes, it is complicated, but if you understand the optics like AWTECH, Darryl, and Harry C. do, you can design lenses to offset wrap-induced and basecurve-induced aberrations.

    If you don't have that intellectual capability, then outsource!

  4. #4
    Allen Weatherby
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,286
    DRK:

    Thanks for the follow up. Even someone does have the mental capacity to do some of the basic calculations, the time spent and risk of error make trying this occassionally very risky. In addition to basic wrap calculations we have optimized the backside with an aspheric design. Without spending over 1/2 milliion dollars for the equipment you can not do this. (The equipment does not come with the designs).

  5. #5
    Rising Star loncoa's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Nanaimo, BC, Canada
    Occupation
    Other Eyecare-Related Field
    Posts
    149
    Oakley, Bolle and a few others do seem to excel at this type of rx work. What about plano? They tell us all the time that even on plano wraps this technology is needed. What do you folks think?

    P.S. We do some limited work with wraps and mostly plus rx. The patients are happy. I know for sure if we pushed this envelope we would have people who had trouble.

  6. #6
    OptiBoard Apprentice eyeboy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    liverpool, england
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    49
    We make a lot of lenses for wrap frames and in many cases simply match the base curve to the dummy without any extra tilt calculations (unless requested), 99% of patients report no visual problems!!! I suppose if they had specialised aspheric wrap lenses previously they may notice a difference.

  7. #7
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Folsom CA USA
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    305
    Quote Originally Posted by striker22
    This being my first post, I'd like to thank all of you in advance for your replies and seek your forgiveness for any inappropriate actions.

    I am still schooling and have only had a short stint working in this industry but only responsible for sales as I was not allowed to dispense RX. During this short period of exposure, I cannot help but notice that a lot of people come in to the shops with the idea that Oakley makes the best distortion free tinted lenses. Apparently using with a patented method called Polaric Ellipsoid Lens Geometry they claim to have minimize distortion to a minimum.

    I am of the opinion that poly lenses are the same no matter if you call them plutonite or otherwise but my former boss seems to disagree and prefers to have all RX request sent back to Oakley. He says it's too complicated for them to take it up themselves. My question is: "Can't we do it ourselves?" Has anyone here done so without complains or returns.

    I feel that there is a good market as many the Oakley wearers are not keen to fork out top dollars for their RX lens. At the same time, I am looking to deal with someone who can help to cut and produce plano mirror-coated polarized lenses to fit the X metal range from Oakley. Those interested can PM me. Thanks.
    I've learned one thing having recently put oakleys into my office. ALWAYS order the lenses from oakley unless they don't make what you want. That way, you avoid problems with warranty and rejections from your own lab when they send 'em back with a note "we don't do theses" or "these are not Rxable". I've got my first 4 pair on order with oakley and will get back to you on the time/results.

  8. #8
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61
    Thanks for all the replies. So now I know that sending it back to Oakley also eliminates any warranty issues. My boss was right after all.

    AWTECH, it seems like your company provides a very comprehensive solution to wrapped RX lenses. Do you account for these calculations on plano lenses as well?

    Recently, we had a lot of people coming in asking for Ruby lenses to be fitted. This is the red mirrored lens that Oakley has discontinued. I was told that the margin for error making red lenses are too risky to be profitable. I wish to help these people but I don't know who to turn too. We just turn them away and I don't feel good being helpless about it.

    If you've made Ruby lenses in your own lab successfully, please don't hesistate to let me know.

  9. #9
    Allen Weatherby
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,286
    Yes, we make Ruby Mirror lenses. And as far as I know we are the only polarized sunglass company producing a backside aspheric individualized design.

    We feature this technology utilizing just two front base curves and optimize the lens design on the back surface for these designs. We have a technology we call Thin-ICE that makes for the thinnest lens possible for a wrap around sun lens, keeping the front base curve that the frame is designed for.

  10. #10
    Manuf. Lens Surface Treatments
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    in Naples FL for the Winter months
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    23,240

    Redhot Jumper I happen to know Allen personally.................

    Quote Originally Posted by striker22
    Thanks for all the replies. So now I know that sending it back to Oakley also eliminates any warranty issues. My boss was right after all.
    I happen to know Allen personally and know that he is continously out to find the newest ways to solve complicated solutions............and above all you can talk to him..............and he knows what he is talking about...................equal personal service.

    find him on the net at: http://ice-tech.com/

  11. #11
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61
    Thanks Chris, All looks good. I've checked out the website and sent him a PM.

  12. #12
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61
    I gather from the non- response I got from AWTECH that maybe the risk rewards of doing this RX sunglasses lens job on an Oakley frame may not be attractive. I am now thinking of trying Sola RX or Shamir. Any suggestions or views on these brands will be appreciated.

    Because of my location in Singapore, I would prefer not to be sending the frames over but if needed, I could send the lens as well as the RX and PD info. I do not know what is considered a traditional way to get a pair of RX sunglasses lens done up but I am guessing that by using the original lens as a template, the lab should be able to do up an RX job without needing the frame? Please correct me if I'm wrong as I do understand that RX lenses are usually made thicker and there is a danger that it might not fit into the groove. The ICE_TECH THIN LENS seems to be able to overcome this.

    I'm just trying to understand and learn more about these so please bear with the stupid questions.

  13. #13
    Allen Weatherby
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,286
    On 5-22-2006 I responded to your PM inquiry and e-mail by e-mail.

    Please check your inbox. If you did not receive this e-mail I will also copy and PM to you.

    Allen Weatherby

  14. #14
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Barry Santini's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Seaford, NY USA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    6,008

    OAKLEY aS A COMPANY = nONSENSE

    i TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM oAKLEY, AS they are horrible w/respect to customer service

    Barry

    Their lens technology ain't so great, either
    Barry ABOM

  15. #15
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Folsom CA USA
    Occupation
    Optometrist
    Posts
    305
    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Santini
    i TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM oAKLEY, AS they are horrible w/respect to customer service

    Barry

    Their lens technology ain't so great, either
    Barry ABOM
    But if you do, make sure you send all oakley jobs to the oakley lab!!!!!

    I learned the hard way. Do NOT inflict oakley jobs on your regular lab!

  16. #16
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61
    Seems like I'm not the only one who has experienced Oakley's poor customer service.

    Other than that, I find that Oakley lenses are pretty good in terms of both optics and impact protection although the mirror coating scratches easily. In terms of lenses, Maui Jim, Rudy Project are amongst the best around too.

    I am very curious as to why you would think Oakley lenses are terrible. Could you care to explain? ... and feel free to add your suggestions on which other brand(s) you think is the best in terms of lens technology. Thanks.

  17. #17
    Master OptiBoarder OptiBoard Silver Supporter Barry Santini's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2000
    Location
    Seaford, NY USA
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    6,008
    Quote Originally Posted by striker22
    Seems like I'm not the only one who has experienced Oakley's poor customer service.

    Other than that, I find that Oakley lenses are pretty good in terms of both optics and impact protection although the mirror coating scratches easily. In terms of lenses, Maui Jim, Rudy Project are amongst the best around too.

    I am very curious as to why you would think Oakley lenses are terrible. Could you care to explain? ... and feel free to add your suggestions on which other brand(s) you think is the best in terms of lens technology. Thanks.
    In a word: adhesion. My experience is uniformly poor with respect to oakley iridium (mirror) and AR coatings. and they are only guranteed a year. I'd rather give them Essilor flashback silver or gold. Two year, multi-replacement scratch warranty and a *lifetime* adhesion warranty. And if you use an Essilor *direct lab*, you can get "pair 50" promo wherein the less expensive of two coated pairs (alize?) gets 50% off.

    Essilor's handling of credits *alone* is worth it. BTW, I do all my own wrap comps with Darryl's program, and I feel no need for special aspheric wrap lenses. Just be sure the starting Rx is *appropriate* (euphenism for correct).

    Barry Santini
    ABOM

  18. #18
    OptiBoard Apprentice
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Smyrna, TN
    Occupation
    Dispensing Optician
    Posts
    33
    Be sure to tell your customers when you send off for their new Oakley glasses that it may be up to a month before they get them back.


    Can't tell you how many times I've been chewed out by customers over this.

    Only for Oakley to tell me " Here at Oakley we don't do rush work!"



    _ _ _holes!!!
    MOJO :cheers:

  19. #19
    Bad address email on file
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Singapore
    Occupation
    Optical Retail
    Posts
    61
    I hear you mojo. It used to be a lot faster and the quality was much better. That was the good ole days about 8 years ago. Now it's all downhill, even the supposedly dark black iridium lenses that are coming out of their factory is inconsistent with some looking much lighter than others.

    A case of a large company becoming too complacent perhaps.

  20. #20
    Allen Weatherby
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Occupation
    Other Optical Manufacturer or Vendor
    Posts
    1,286

    Alternative Prescription lens supply source

    If you want great quality sunlenses, ICE-TECH Advanced Lens Technologies has them. Individualized, low stress polycabonate advanced polarized lenses with A-toric backside designs produced using freeform technology with accuracy not possible with traditional lens production.

    Many mirror colors to choose from with delivery on all products in less than one week.

    We are not the biggest company, but we are very good at what we specialize in. We have been producing the most technically advanced polarized lens products for over 10 years.

    www.ice-tech.com/ice-techrx.asp

    or call 888-ice-tech (888-423-8324)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. What makes a safety frame safe?
    By Jedi in forum General Optics and Eyecare Discussion Forum
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 04-03-2011, 09:39 AM
  2. Transitions and AR
    By Jim Schafer in forum Smart Lens Technology by Transitions Optical
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 07-03-2006, 05:16 AM
  3. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-20-2003, 04:06 PM
  4. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-14-2002, 12:22 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •