Prescription Riding Glasses Advice.

I've recently gone down the same route.

Varifocal, photochromic, RAD8s.

Pretty happy with them TBH. I've not done loads of techy riding in them yet, do sometimes find the middle distance vision a bit limited, but partly think its just getting used to it. But do wonder if I should have gone bi.

I only need reading glasses but have been raving about voltX bifocal safety specs since discovering them. Worth a look at if you've a simple prescription and can no longer focus on your GPS without it having what'd be a 50cm out front mount.

For me... Optilabs, varifocal, photochromatic. They've made a great difference, love them  and Optilabs were great to deal with.

Rad8 use optilabs, on my 2nd pair. Very comfy and great for day and night use

As an alternative voice, I winced at the price of cycling specific varifocals, so went cheap and got a pair of single vision cycling specs and stick on bifocal lenses from Amazon, using my varifocal prescription as a guide to the appropriate strength (my eyes are virtually the same prescription, this may not work if very different). The bifocal bits are cut to size/shape and stick with just water, and haven’t come off in a couple of years of riding in all weather. While I wear varifocal for everything else, I’ve had no problems with bifocal on the bike.

As an alternative voice, I winced at the price of cycling specific varifocals, so went cheap and

Wear a single contact lens in my weaker eye. It works really well. This was forced on me at Dyfi in the wet when I discovered I'd run out of the other lens and there was no way I was riding without goggles.

Thanks for the reply's so far.
All good stuff.
Any other thought welcome.
Specially if anyone has used prescription goggles.

Rad8 are excellent. Had mine a couple of years now and wish I’d shelled out for them years ago.

My prescription is ~-5 if that helps. Can’t comment on the bi/varifocal question.

I have worn varifocals for years for general use. I have a very expensive prescription so use single vision for cycling. They are good enough.

My normal glasses are verifocals but like @slowoldman I couldn’t stomach the cost for riding glasses. I have transition single vision Oakley’s which are brilliant. I’ve had glasses with prescription inserts before (adidas and laterly melon optics) - great idea but I think they fog up more and rain can drip between the lense and the insert. I think you can get goggles with inserts. Have used RX sport a few times and can’t fault them.

Single vision Oakleys here. I have had varifocal glasses for a couple of years now and still don’t particularly like them. I am short sighted (I think, close things I can see, distance I cant). No idea if that makes a difference.

I don't have that problem yet but my other half does. Originally bought varifocals from RX and over the years had had the lenses replaced as his prescription has changed. Had a few problems over the last year with his right eye which has seen a couple of changes in persciption.

Been using select specs for the re glazes who have been first class. You can usually find a 20% discount code for the lenses.

He likes the varifocal option as its his daily wear not just for on the trails

The problem as usual is that there isn't much frame selection for women

I can't sing Rad8s praises enough and now had two pairs and even when mine got broken they sent me a replacement part for free. Just awesome people to deal with.

I wear varifocal glasses and no issues and much MUCH cheaper than Oakleys from RX that I'd had previously.

James

If it's really a distance thing only I would be tempted to just get a pair of single vision. Have been pleased with a decision to go with Oakley transition lenses as it saves the "which pair should i wear" dilemma.

Varifocals here.

I just use either my ordinary day glasses (with goggles) or an old pair of single lens Oakleys that I've had re-glazed several times. I do have a failure weak prescription and this might be why glasses over goggles works fine for me. I can pass the driving licence number plate test without glasses, which is scary.

I prefer the goggles over the Oakleys as I suffer badly from 'watery' eyes, especially in the cold and I can map read with no issues. They do steam up a bit on warmer days though. I might get the Oakleys re-glazed as varifocals at some point.

@ped - which VoltX glasses do you use?

Id recommend a company called Goggles4u.com

I have prescription distance only glasses from their sports range and they are really good. Very clear, mirror finish and cost about £25 delivered in less than a fortnight. And at that money Im not too worried about loss or damage. I normally wear varifocals but these are ideal for riding.

Their site is a bit of a nuisance to navigate - search for SPORT and choose XL option . They also have endless deals - my current pair had a supposedly 75% discount!

Thanks for all the replies so far.
I'll get Mrsstu to have a read of it later.
Still no one with any experience of prescription goggles?
She's been looking at Smith and POC so far.

@murray I've a pair of their clear 'GT 2020' ones, which are decent but can slip a little as the nosepiece is the moulded from the plastic as the lens. And I've also got a smoke tinted pair of 'Constructor Ultimate' which sit a bit more comfortably. It's quite a dark tint and I may grab one of their others to try too for not-so-bright days.

I use the cheapest voltX glasses as the lenses are smaller.

I tried their more expensive models (with deeper lenses) but found that the 'reading' bit was too low.

Just got voltX Constructor. Took them for a ride today, they work well. Much less wind in the eyes and I could still read my phone. All for £10.

Id recommend a company called Goggles4u.com

I have prescription distance only glasses from their sports range and they are really good. Very clear, mirror finish and cost about £25 delivered in less than a fortnight. And at that money Im not too worried about loss or damage. I normally wear varifocals but these are ideal for riding.

Their site is a bit of a nuisance to navigate – search for SPORT and choose XL option . They also have endless deals – my current pair had a supposedly 75% discount!

Well, thanks to this recommendation I've just ordered a pair of varifocal sunglasses for £36.28 delivered, 'discounted' from £90. For that money I'll take the gamble, and if they're alright I'll order another pair of clear glasses.

Stu -
"Anywhere other than RX Sport to look at what’s good?

Also any advice on prescription goggles?"

Years ago I got 2 pairs (a quad?) of sports prescription sunnies (one dark, one clear) from Asta optician for about £100..
Every few years I just get my new prescription put in them by a local 'factory specs direct' guy..

About 2 weeks ago I got a goggle insert from amazon (bolle, for about £12) adn for £50 he's putting my prescription into that, so i can use goggles too... Will feedback once they are received!
Cheers

DrP

Will feedback once they are received!

👍

Every few years I just get my new prescription put in them by a local ‘factory specs direct’ guy..

@DrP Please could you let me know who - I've got a pair of sunglasses that need new lenses.

Ok..so having never seen his website... This is it..
https://www.factoryspecsdirect.co.uk/

Amusingly, the website looks completely fake! With the 'lorum ipsum' stuff in there.. it's basically a one man show, and he's really nice and really good (obvs not at websites..)..

If you're local to Worthing, give him a call first and then pop in - his shop is tiny, and he told me he's looking after his elderly dad at home,just round the corner, so he can pop to his shop ASAP...

I got some Oakley aviator lenses replaced with prescription lenses by him.... Beautiful 'petrol reflection' lenses that matched the OE ones perfectly....

DrP

Well, thanks to this recommendation I’ve just ordered a pair of varifocal sunglasses for £36.28 delivered, ‘discounted’ from £90. For that money I’ll take the gamble, and if they’re alright I’ll order another pair of clear glasses.

Just to follow up on this, my new glasses just arrived. Arrived in just less than a week, hard case and cloth included, 'build quality' seems good, optics aren't quite as good as my all day every day, optician-fitted glasses, but they were 1/20th of the cost and, importantly, seem more than good enough for riding in. Overall, I'm impressed.

I got a set of bolle safety glasses, they look pretty NHS but then absolutely all riding glasses look ridiculous and make you look like an arsehole so at least I look like I'm only wearing them because the government made me. Worked out way cheaper than riding glasses, I could try out the frames before buying because they're standard bolle, and they're good. They don't feel like a cheap option, tbh if I'd had to buy them for work purposes they'd feel expensive, they're just away from bike tax.

For goggles, I wear contacts. Not for everyone obviously. I did try some RX goggles ages back and absolutely could not do it, supposedly you learn to look with your head not with your eyes but I damn nearly fell over in the shop a couple of times. As for varifocal etc it depends so much on the owner of the eyes but my riding stuff is all just simple mid-vision, all I want to see is the bit of trail, and I don't want any weirdness or changes of vision or whatever, this I reckon is what works best while riding, to just sacrifice everything else completely for the most critical stuff. It does mean I basically can't read with them on, which is occasionally a pain in the arse but at least it's a pain in the arse while I'm trying to read a menu or disclaimer or something, rather than while I'm trying to ride down a cliff.