If you are diagnosed with myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), these transition contact lenses may be suitable. People with astigmatism (irregular eye curvature) can also take advantage of the transition lenses. However, the lenses do not correct astigmatism.
What are Transitions lenses?
Transition lenses are a specific brand for photochromic lenses, which are lenses that automatically adjust to sunlight. Even though Transitions is a specific brand and not the term for these lenses, over the years many eye care professionals have commonly referred to all lenses that are light sensitive as “transitions”.
How do I care for my Transition Lenses?
Always wet your transition lenses with lukewarm water. When tiny dust and dirt particles stick to your lenses, there's a high chance that dry-wiping your glasses can move them around and create micro-scratches on your lens. Avoid spraying household chemical cleaners on your glasses.
Can I use my Transitions® XTRActive lenses while driving?
As a result, just like clear lenses, Transitions lenses do not activate inside a car. However, Transitions ® XTRActive ® lenses react to visible light so they do moderately darken behind the windshield. In fact, many people use them while driving.
Which Transitions Lenses are the best at sun protection?
As we just mentioned polarized lenses are the best at sun protection, which probably brought Transitions® to develop two more Transitional lenses; the Transitions Vantage®, and Transitions Drivewear® that was developed together with Younger Optics. Both of these lenses are polarized and show better performance in sun protection.

How long does it take for transition lenses to clear?
How fast do Transitions lenses work? Transitions lenses begin to darken the moment they are exposed to the sun's UV light, reaching 70% tint within 35 seconds. When UV rays are no longer present, the lenses immediately begin to fade back, achieving 70% clear in just a few minutes.
Can you put transition lenses in any frame?
Yes, Transitions lenses work in virtually any frame and material: plastic, metal, rimless, semi-rimless, or full frames.
What are transition lenses used for?
Transition lenses, or photochromic lenses, are the lenses that darken in the sunlight and lighten in softer light or the dark.
What are transition lenses types?
For more driving needs, one style of photochromic lens is Transitions Drivewear, also produced by Transitions Optical. These are polarized photocromic adaptive lenses that are made specifically for use behind the wheel. They are designed to darken and clear with changing light conditions when inside a vehicle.
How much does it cost for transition lenses?
For patients not covered by health insurance, transition lenses typically add $100-$400 to the cost of prescription eyeglasses, which can cost up to $1,000, depending on the frames, lenses and any additional features chosen.
What color is best for transition lenses?
If you are looking for better contrast to increase visual acuity for things like golfing and fishing, then transition brown is the color for you. If you are looking for the absolute darkest transition lens possible, you should veer towards transition gray.
Can you drive with transition glasses?
Answer: Photochromic lenses work in UV light, which most car windscreens block out. As a result, they tend not to react as quickly in a car as they would normally. Tinted glasses, lenses or visors should not be worn at night or in poor visibility, but are fine to use in good driving conditions.
What are the pros and cons of transition lenses?
List of Pros and Cons of Transition LensesLenses Darken Quickly. Transition lenses are known to darken immediately, as the wearer steps out into the sun. ... Decreased Sensitivity To Light. Direct ocular exposure to UV rays can be extremely harmful. ... Save Money.
Do transition lenses get darker over time?
Technological Improvements. The new technology that makes use of nanostructuring has dramatically improved the performance of the latest transition lenses. Not only are they fully clear indoors, but they darken to a far greater degree upon exposure to light.
What are the newest transition lenses?
Transitions XTRActive new generation lenses are extra dark outdoors and the darkest photochromic light intelligent lens in hot temperatures. They are the only photochromic lens to achieve a category 3 level of darkness when it's hot - the same level as sunglasses.
Can you get transition lenses with bifocals?
Since transition lenses are designed to reduce radiation exposure and glare, they don't conflict with bifocals. Transition bifocal glasses do exist, and we're proud to sell them. In fact, transition lenses you can get transition lenses in single vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses.
What is the difference between transition and progressive lenses?
Progressive lenses offer multiple correction values in one lens, so you can have distance and close-up values in one pair of glasses. Transition lenses are light sensitive or photochromic lenses that change from clear to tinted when exposed to sunlight (UV light).
How do Transitions lenses work?
Transitions lenses are made with a proprietary and patented photochromic dye system that enables them to activate, or darken, when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet light. The greater the intensity of UV rays, the darker the lenses become. When the UV light diminishes, the lenses fade back. As UV light conditions change, the level of tint adjusts, always providing just the right amount of tint. UV blockage remains at 100%, regardless of the level of tint.*
Why do people wear transition lenses?
Because patients have only one pair of eyes, most eyecare professionals now recommend eye protection against UV exposure at all times. Transitions lenses help protect precious sight by providing conveniently and continually blocking 100% of harmful UV rays.*.
How long does it take for transition lenses to fade back?
Transitions lenses begin to darken the moment they are exposed to the sun’s UV light, reaching 70% tint within 35 seconds. When UV rays are no longer present, the lenses immediately begin to fade back, achieving 70% clear in just a few minutes.
What happens when UV light diminishes?
When the UV light diminishes, the lenses fade back. As UV light conditions change, the level of tint adjusts, always providing just the right amount of tint. UV blockage remains at 100%, regardless of the level of tint.*.
How does a syringe work?
They automatically and rapidly adapt to changing light conditions to reduce glare, eyestrain and eye fatigue. They also help preserve your patients’ eye health and well being as they conveniently and automatically block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Do transition lenses protect eyes?
Because patients have only one pair of eyes, most eyecare professionals now recommend eye protection against UV exposure at all times. Transitions lenses help protect precious sight by providing conveniently and continually blocking 100% of harmful UV rays.*
Is transition lens clear?
Absolutely. Transitions lenses are not only as clear as regular hard-coated lenses indoors and at night – and even clearer with the addition of AR coating – they are much better for your patients than regular clear lenses. They automatically and rapidly adapt to changing light conditions to reduce glare, eyestrain and eye fatigue. They also help preserve your patients’ eye health and well being as they conveniently and automatically block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Like clear lenses, Transitions lenses are available in most lens materials and designs, from standard and higher index to shatter-resistant materials, and from single vision lenses to progressives.
What is Transitions XTRActive?
Also developed by Transitions Optical are Transitions XTRActive, which are lenses intended for people who are light-sensitive indoors and want a darker lens when they are outdoors or have to drive. These lenses have a slight tint for indoor use, which keeps the eyes comfortable when they are exposed to digital device screens, fluorescent lights, and other forms of glare and harsh lighting.
What Are Photochromic Lenses?
Photochromic lenses are eyeglasses lenses that are designed to be clear (or almost entirely clear) indoors, and to automatically darken in outdoor, bright conditions. Effectively, they are normal eyeglasses that transition to sunglasses, to allow for improved visibility in the absence or presence of light. They are also known as light-adaptive lenses and variable tint lenses.
What is the most popular photochromic lens?
The most popular one, and the one that is most often cited when talking about photochromic lenses, is Transitions Optical.
What is the most popular manufacturer of photochromic lenses?
The most popular manufacturer of photochromic lenses in the U.S. is Transitions Optical, which is why photochromic lenses are commonly referred to as transition lenses. But there are many other manufacturers.
How much does photochromic technology cost?
Getting photochromic technology added to a pair of prescription eyeglasses usually adds between $100 and $400 to the total cost of those glasses. In many cases, this can bring the total cost of a pair of glasses to nearly $1,000.
Why do people use anti-reflective coatings?
Many people choose to use anti-reflective coating on their photochromic lenses to enhance their performance. Anti-reflective coating allows a greater amount of light to pass through the lenses to provide sharper vision in low-light conditions , like driving at night. This also removes reflections of sunlight and other distractions from ...
Why do my glasses turn dark?
This is the result of chemical responses to the presence (and absence) of ultraviolet light. ( Learn More)
What is transition lens?
Transition lenses are a specific brand for photochromic lenses, which are lenses that automatically adjust to sunlight. Even though Transitions is a specific brand and not the term for these lenses, over the years many eye care professionals have commonly referred to all lenses that are light sensitive as “transitions”.
What is a light adaptive lens?
You can also find these lenses under the terms, “light-adaptive lenses”, “variable tint lenses”, or “photochromic lenses”.
Why are photochromic lenses good?
There are many great benefits to having photochromic lenses, they do a great job at providing a comfortable viewing experience when you are outside. The automatic darkening makes it seem like the change is seamless when you are going outside, to me it just makes it seem like someone just turned the brightness down on the sun. It is a comfortable and very subtle change, so subtle that you might not even realize that your lenses got dark. So what are the many benefits, let’s dive in:
Why are prescription lenses darker than other lenses?
Back in the day whenever you got photochromic lenses in glass lenses, the molecules that darkened when exposed to UV were embed in the glass material. That meant how dark the lenses got relied on how thick the glass material was. The problem was that prescription lenses have various levels of thickness. This meant that you would have a lens where parts were darker than others. Years later, Transition Optical introduced the plastic photochromic lens in which the molecules were on the surface of the lens, which leads to a more uniform darkening of the lenses.
What are the benefits of dark lenses?
So what are the many benefits, let’s dive in: Reduces Glare – This has to be the most obvious benefit of having lenses that turn dark. The glare reduction makes it much more comfortable outside when the sun is out, less glare = less eyestrain.
Do photochromic lenses protect against UV rays?
UV Protection – Photochromic lenses provided constant protection against harmful UV rays from the sun by absorbing 100% of UV-A as well as UV-B. Not Carrying Multiple Pairs – This one was a big one for me, it might not be as much of a problem to other people. I hated carrying extra pairs of glasses around.
Can you use polarized sunglasses in a car?
I personally love my photochromic lenses, I do keep a pair of polarized prescription sunglasses in my car that I could use for driving. There is truly nothing that could replace a polarized pair of sunglasses for driving. Even for some recreational activities such as fishing, it would be more beneficial to have polarized sunglasses to cut down the glare from the water surface.
How long do transition lenses last?
Transition lenses last as long as a traditional pair of vision correction glasses, if not longer. You can expect a pair of adaptive transition glasses to retain their effectiveness for 3 years or more.
How to get rid of oily transition lenses?
Once your transition lenses are dry, apply a small drop of dishwashing liquid to your fingertips. Wet your lenses again, and then use your fingertip to spread the soap around to eliminate any oil and finger smudges that might remain. Repeat step 3!
How to clean glasses after rinsing?
After you finish rinsing them, gently shake off any stray droplets that are on the lens. Gently blot your glasses with the right optical cloth. Don’t wipe or rub them — simply give them gentle dabs with the dry cloth. NEVER dry your lenses with paper towels, tissues, or napkins.
How to tell if your eyeglasses are wearing out?
Another sign of them wearing out is a yellowish tint at the very edges of the lenses.
Can you dry your glasses with paper towels?
NEVER dry your lenses with paper towels, tissues, or napkins. While these materials might seem soft on your skin, their textured surfaces can badly scratch your lenses. Using the tip of your shirt is also a bad idea. To wipe your glasses, we recommend using a microfiber cloth.
Do transition lenses shift?
Transition lenses rarely have any problems. However, you might encounter some issues in very niche situations. Since transition sunglasses work depending on the amount of light in your surroundings, they don’t shift or change as quickly when you’re inside of a car due to your car’s windshield absorbing most natural light.
What is transition lens?
Transitions lenses are brand-name eyeglass lenses that darken with UV exposure and thus provide vision correction and sun protection in one pair of glasses. The adaptive technology of Transitions lenses can accommodate virtually every frame, style, size and prescription.
Which transitions lens has the fastest fade back time?
Transitions Signature GEN 8. Newest technology from Transitions that gets darker outdoors, has the fastest fade-back time of any lens and is completely clear indoors.
What brand of glasses does FramesDirect have?
FramesDirect. If you prefer name brand frames, FramesDirect has them. Show off your Transitions lenses in frames by top brands, such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Versace and more. The retailer honors a one-for-one initiative, which donates a pair of glasses for every order that ships.
What happens to the lenses when exposed to UV rays?
Transitions infuses their lenses with trillions of photochromic molecules that change structure when exposed to UV rays. The molecules’ reaction to UV exposure causes the lenses to darken.
What is transitions drivewear?
Transitions Drivewear. Lenses not only darken, but change color to accommodate light conditions while on the road. The polarized lenses reduce glare to give a clear, picture-perfect drive.
What color mirrors are available for Transitions XTRActive?
Mirror color options include pink, red, blue, green, gold and silver shadow.
Why did Transitions not use CR-39 monomer?
In the end, Transitions did not use the CR-39 monomer for the lenses, as they found the material wasn’t suitable for the production process.
What are transition lenses?
Transition lenses. They function as clear, standard prescription glasses indoors or at night, but expose them to the sun, and the automatically convert into sunglasses. Take away the sun and they revert back. You never again need to buy or carry around two sets of prescription glasses. They come in gray or brown.
How much light can a high index lens reflect?
The higher the refraction index of a material, the more light they reflect, and high index lenses can let in up to 50% more light than regular plastic lenses (approximately 8% of incoming light is reflected by standard plastic, while high index plastic lets in 12%).
Why do glasses have anti glare coating?
An anti-glare coating also makes your glasses look better to you. They reduce the amount of light that bounces off the inside of your lenses and allow more light to pass through, thereby increasing your visual acuity as well as improving contrast.
Do high index lenses reflect light?
Anti-glare coatings are particularly useful if you wear high index lenses. The higher the refraction index of a material, the more light they reflect, and high index lenses can let in up to 50% more light than regular plastic lenses (approximately 8% of incoming light is reflected by standard plastic, while high index plastic lets in 12%).
Do transition lenses have anti glare coating?
Yes, transition lenses accept anti-glare (AR) coating, and there are good reasons to have one applied. An anti-glare coating makes your glasses look better to others. They restrict stray reflections on the front of your lenses, the reflections that mask your eyes. You spend time picking out the most stylish frame, ...
What is a transition lens?
walk indoors), the lenses return to their clear state. Transitions lenses are photochromic lenses that block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Why do transition lenses change?
Because Transitions lenses change with every variation of light, they help you consistently see your best by reducing glare, enhancing the ability to discern objects of varying size, brightness and contrast, and enabling you to see better in all light conditions.
Do transition lenses help with glare?
So, they help enhance the quality of your vision by reducing the sun's glare in different light conditions – on bright sunny days, on cloudy days and everything in between. Transitions lenses are a great everyday solution for outdoor use, but there will always be times when a second pair of sunwear is beneficial.
Do transitions work behind the windshield?
Also, since they are activated by UV exposure, most Transitions lenses don 't work behind the windshield of a car (your windshield actually blocks UV rays). However, Transitions ® XTRActive ® lenses do activate moderately behind a windshield as they react to both UV and visible light.
Can transition lenses be used outdoors?
Yes. If you’re looking for more than an ordinary lens can offer, Transitions lenses are right for you. They are clear indoors and darken outdoors in bright sunlight. As light conditions change, the lenses adjust quickly to provide the appropriate level of tint.
Can you wear transition lenses all day?
Yes. They can be worn any place that you would wear regular clear lenses all day, every day. Transitions lenses help you see more comfortably inside and out, day and night.
Do transitions lenses work inside a car?
As a result, just like clear lenses, Transitions lenses do not activate inside a car. However, Transitions ® XTRActive ® lenses react to visible light so they do moderately darken behind the windshield.
How long do transition lenses last?
Transition lenses generally last the life of a pair of glasses (or longer), though they do wear out after years of use. Most Transition lenses wear out in about three years, with a yellowish tinge forming in the lenses while clear and a noticeable reduction of the lenses’ darkness in full sunlight. There are, however, some things to consider ...
How does temperature affect transitions?
Temperature affects how Transitions change. When they’re hot (like in the summer), the lenses will change slower and won’t get as dark.
Do transition lenses change?
Transition lenses don’t change behind the windshield of a car. When Transition lenses do wear out, they will take on a yellowish tinge when they’re clear. They will no longer get as dark at that point. Transition lenses don’t get as dark as standard sunglasses.
