Transitions/Polarising

**Lewy** · 07-09-2005, 04:34 PM

Does anyone know of a supplier of a transitions lens combined with a polarising filter. I have a client who will be rowing the Atlantic soon and requires good eye protection.

Many thanks,

Lewy

**chip anderson** · 07-09-2005, 04:57 PM

Sell him two or more pairs of glasses. Transitions doesn't get near dark enough for this type of stuff. At certian times of day in certian conditions yellow-amber will be much better. Other times the darkest gray you can get. All polarised of course. That transitions stuff is great for sales but not really up to serious work in the sun.

**Aarlan** · 07-09-2005, 05:20 PM

If he's rowing the atlantic, I don't think he's going to want to tote around two pairs... I have a buddy at BelOptix, I'm fairly sure he may be able to help you out. I'll get his contact info.

AA

**edKENdance** · 07-09-2005, 07:39 PM

I'd actually suggest Maui Jim rx. They'd probably even make this guy a poster child. Rowing the Atlantic? I know Oakley would set this guy up but frames and lenses aren't as good imho.

**Joann Raytar** · 07-09-2005, 07:45 PM

I second Aarlan's advice about contacting Beloptix.
http://www.beloptix.com/

I'm also fairly sure that the person Aarlan is talking about can help you out. He's a good guy and a good Licensed Optician. I know he has dealt with shipping overseas and customs in the past so I don't think that would be a problem.

**rinselberg** · 07-09-2005, 08:38 PM

As someone who is not an optician and does not even have a good pair of sunglasses (at present), I cannot say if polarized photochromic lenses are of any particular use. I have been searching the Internet a lot, just to see what is available, however, and I can identify a number of companies that offered polarized photochromic lenses in either plastic, polycarbonate or glass. The options would depend on whether the client needs non-prescription (plano) lenses, or has an Rx and needs SV, bi-focal or progressive type lenses. This is probably a lot more than most OptiBoarders want to read about such lenses, but I didn't want all that web surfing that I did to be a complete waste!

First of all, Beloptix. Their website is showing "Polarchromix" polarized photochromic lenses in eight different colors with plano, SV and PAL (progressive) Rx options.
http://www.beloptix.com/index.htm
http://www.beloptix.com/polarized.htm

Kbco had "Transhades" polarized photochromic lenses in plastic (1.52), gray or brown, plano and SV. I don't know if they were discontinued or may be currently available.
http://www.kbco.net/home.cfm

Revo has offered some lenses that were polarized and photochromic. They might have been glass. I don't think that they had any Rx options and I suppose that the lenses could only be obtained as complete sunglasses (Revo lenses in Revo frame).
http://www.revo.com/

The Serengeti website has "Strata" polarized photochromic lenses that are glass and "Polarmax" polarized photochromic lenses that are polycarbonate. They have an Rx program. I think that these would only be available as complete sunglasses (in a Serengeti frame).
http://www.serengetieyewear.com/default.htm

At one time Specialty Lens Company had polarized photochromics that were called "Polar Active" lenses, but they may have been discontinued.
http://www.specialtylens.com/

The X-cel Optical website lists some glass lenses as both polarized and photochromic. The website also references the full range of Rx options, including PALs and segmented lenses.
Polarized Photochromic Glass Colors:
Gray - Corning Thin & Dark® Gray* 40% to 16% VLT
Brown - Corning Photo Brown Extra®* 38% to 19% VLT
Autumn Gold™ (Melanin colored indoors when polarized)* 32% to 15% VLT
CPF 527X - Corning CPF (amber colored) medical grade filter* 16% to 8%
http://www.x-celoptical.com/Autum%20Gold.htm
http://www.x-celoptical.com/Polarized.htm
http://www.x-celoptical.com/

"Nxt" is another term for the Trivex lens material. "Intercast Europe S.p.A. introduced during Vision Expo a new family of POLARIZED and PHOTOCHROMIC lenses for the sun and sport markets using patented* NXT™ urethane technology." I don't know if there are Nxt lenses that are both polarized and photochromic, but they may be coming out with it, if it is not already available. Rx options would be an additional question. Here are some websites of companies that are involved with Nxt lenses production and marketing.
http://www.intercast.it/interno/indexe.html
http://www.nxt-vision.com/
http://www.peakvisionsports.com/
http://www.randolphusa.com/
http://www.zerorh.com/inglese/site.html

**Chris Ryser** · 07-09-2005, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by rinselberg

This is probably a lot more than most OptiBoarders want to read about such lenses, but I didn't want all that "web surfing" that I have done to go to a complete waste!

Rinselberg you just tha nail on the head.....................to much research on the web.

While polarized lenses are good for comfort on the water because of their properties

I would go for more protection and high contrast, also less expensive. A good Blue-Blocker lens will give full 100% protection against the UV and blue rays as well as provide a good vision with high contrast on the water.

**chip anderson** · 07-09-2005, 09:23 PM

Anyone who can manage keeping all the stuff correct for a long boat trip, can afford and is smart enough to keep up with multiple pairs of glasses and will be a lot better served with same than any form of transitions. I have used same in the Gulf and they just too damn light for the sun on the ocean. The same goes for the those damn blue blockers too.

Chip

**Chris Ryser** · 07-09-2005, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

The same goes for the those damn blue blockers too.
Chip

Chip, you got some learning to do..........................

I can make you some damn Blue-Blockers in ........the old Ray-Ban green............grey...............brown..........chocolate brown that transmit 5% visible light. Dark enough?

If that is still too light for you I can give you some full occluders............that will help for sure. In my 32 years of boating I never tried occluders.

**rinselberg** · 07-09-2005, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Lewy

Does anyone know of a supplier of a transitions lens combined with a polarising filter. I have a client who will be rowing the Atlantic soon and requires good eye protection.

As Lewy's client is soon to be rowing the Atlantic, I would like to raise the possibility of sunglasses that would FLOAT on the water if there should be some small mishap.

Zerorh+ "Nemo" sunglasses are light enough to float on water.
http://optiproject.it/eng_version/press/press_032.html

As they are described (at the web page, above), I think they would have to be exclusively non-prescription (plano only) format.

These can be viewed online at:
http://www.zerorh.com/inglese/site.html

And this is on a web page from the year 2002, but I have not found any more current reference:
"Nautica Microgravity Sailor Eyewear: A four-time America's Cup champ, Dennis Connor, helped design these lightweight sunglasses specifically for bright days on the open water. They'll also stand up to rough conditions."

Of course there are any number of sunglass lines that are marketed towards sailing and other water sports. Just to be complete, here are some of the lines that have Rx programs:
http://www.bolle.com/performance_eye...t_marine.shtml
http://www.costadelmar.com/
http://www.hobiepolarized.com/

"OVER AND OUT."

**rinselberg** · 07-10-2005, 08:10 AM

I wouldn't feel "complete" without unloading at least one more post into this thread. Maybe the LAST one!

SOLA was offering what they called "PLS" tinted lenses. There were five different PLS color options. One was called "Water Park (PLS)".

"This exceptional tint (amber), primarily designed for water activities, is able to filter out specific light configurations. The overall transmission has been specifically designed so that water reflects only three to thirteen percent of incident light. Water and sky will appear bluer and truer, the clouds in the sky will sparkle while vivid colors will pop."

The PLS tints first came out only on non-prescription (plano) lenses from the SOLA Sunlens division.
http://www.solasunlens.com/template_....cfm?IdNews=19

Then they were offering it on SOLA Rx lenses under the name "SunRx (PLS)". It was available on CR-39, Spectralite and Polycarbonate Rx lenses. There was the "Water Park (PLS)" (amber) color, and four other PLS tint colors: "Field of Play" (olive green), "Driver's Seat" (rose brown), "High Country" (brown) and "Snow Country" (honey brown).

These were just tinted lenses: Not polarized and not photochromic.

I got this from a recent SOLA catalog, so it may be a current option.

SOLA Technologies
1050 Worldwide Boulevard
Hebron, KY 41048
866-289-7652 (toll free)
E-mail via customercare@sola.com

**Chris Ryser** · 07-10-2005, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by rinselberg

"This exceptional tint (amber), primarily designed for water activities, is able to filter out specific light configurations. The overall transmission has been specifically designed so that water reflects only three to thirteen percent of incident light. Water and sky will appear bluer and truer, the clouds in the sky will sparkle while vivid colors will pop."

Here again you just talk about Blue-Blocker lenses...............that can be made in different colors.

**rinselberg** · 07-11-2005, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by Lewy

Does anyone know of a supplier of a transitions lens combined with a polarising filter. I have a client who will be rowing the Atlantic soon and requires good eye protection.

I never make product recommendations, because I am not an optician. But I have done a lot of web research (as Chris Ryser has noted) to see what is available to prescription spectacle wearers in the United States. In the way of Rx (prescription) sun protection and sports eyewear, I have seen frequent references on OptiBoard to Oakley, Maui Jim and Rudy Project. I would like to add a few more web pages for your browsing or quick review, in addition to the web pages that I already posted previously in this thread, because I think they present some interesting products. I am not interested in promoting anyone's products. I just want to post these web pages, and if anyone reacts, I MAY learn something new to add to my "Prescription Eyeglass Users Database." Which is strictly for my personal use as an eye patient, but also available to anyone who reads my posts.

First of all, without any further discussion:
http://www.ice-tech.com/
http://www.kaenon.com/
http://www.zealoptics.com/

Finally, TAG Heuer Sport Vision has an interesting lineup of sun/sports lenses and frames.
http://www.tagheuer.com/sportvision/

My impression is that TAG Heuer is oriented towards the more "spendy" or upscale customer, but that could be said to at least some degree for any of the other brands that I have referenced in this thread.

TAG Heuer Sport Vision is distributed by Premiere Vision.
http://premiere-visions.com/

TAG Heuer has eight different sun protection or filtering type polycarbonate lenses to select from:
http://www.tagheuer.com/sportvision/...esentation.lbl

TAG Heuer offers a polarized polycarbonate AR lens specifically designed for Watersports:
http://www.tagheuer.com/sportvision/...0-6A9E9310EF56

TAG Heuer has a prescription lens program, but anyone would have to make their own inquiry to get the critical details on that.
http://premiere-visions.com/PRpage03.htm

TAG Heuer announced a new high wrap frame and in the same press release, referred to SV and progressive Rx options.
http://premiere-visions.com/PRpage05.htm

The Premiere Vision website provides some E-mail contacts:
http://premiere-visions.com/contact.htm

This online magazine article from 2002 has a toll-free contact number at the bottom for TAG Heuer Sport Vision (or maybe it's for the Premiere Vision distributor.)
http://www.visioncareproducts.com/17/eye_tag.html

**AWTECH** · 07-11-2005, 09:29 PM

I know ICE-TECH is one of the very few sunglass companies that actually owns our own lab. In addition we have developed very specialized technologies for producing the best polarized sunglasses possible. We produce the thinest lens possible using our own process, Thin-ICE Rx, which does not use conventional laps.

ICE-TECH can produce a -5.00sph utilizing and 8 base front curve lens with a maximum thickness change of 3mm. These lenses are much lighter than if traditional surfacing methods were utilized, and you do not have to dumb down the base curve to make it fit.

We feature our Advanced Polarized lens technology in every ICE-TECH Rx with back side AR standard, our Free-ICE Super Hydrophobic-Oliophobic smudge free final treatment that is permanent and superior to current hydrophobics. In addition our lenses can be ordered with our mirror coatings that are just like the plano ICE-TECH lens colors. Yes this technology is all in our facility which gives us the opportunity to offer the best possible turn around time for full featured lenses.

Our Research and Development department is constantly exploring new technologies to produce, as our mission statement says "The best prescription sunglasses possible."

Although we do not yet have information on our web site regarding this prescription program, as we roll this out to new accounts we will be adding the description of what we offer to the site.

Allen Weatherby
Founder

**rinselberg** · 07-12-2005, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by AWTECH

... Although we do not yet have information on our web site regarding this prescription program, as we roll this out to new accounts we will be adding the description of what we offer to the site.

Allen Weatherby
Founder

The only thing that I would add to your post, Mr. Weatherby, is a direct link to the ICE-TECH website!

http://www.ice-tech.com/

Sincerely,
Rinselberg

**Lewy** · 07-13-2005, 03:13 AM

Thanks everyone for your comments, I shall be speaking with the 'girls' ( yes 4 of them) who will be rowing, to get their thoughts and see what can be done.

Will let you know what transoires.

Lewy

**QDO1** · 09-19-2005, 10:55 AM

Bolle Nautilux lens is excelent - double grad filter (graduated from the top to the middle and also from the bottom to the middle), and with something llike a croakie to keep them on, and and Jeklin Float to stop them from sinking, couldnt go wrongthe lens is specificaly designed fro "being at sea"

**rinselberg** · 09-24-2005, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by Lewy

Does anyone know of a supplier of a transitions lens combined with a polarising filter. I have a client who will be rowing the Atlantic soon and requires good eye protection

New lenses: Polarized + Photochromic. Nxt (trivex derived) lens material. Plano. Rx --?

Rudy Project press release September 22, 2005
http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/press/...ses/092205.htm

Julbo "Cameleon" lens at Julbo USA
http://www.julbousa.com/Products/Nautic/Typhoon.htm

Scratch-resistant, hydrophobic coated Cameleon® NXT photochromic lenses darken in bright-light situations and lighten as the clouds move in.

credit: http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...ry_rn=10075654

Julbo / International home page
http://www.julbo.fr/

**Happylady** · 09-24-2005, 09:33 AM

I have ordered a transition style polerized lens for a patient. It did not get clear but went from about a gray 1 1/2 to a gray 3. Unfortunately the lens delaminated twice and I won't order it again.