Transition Lenses

Transitions is actually a brand name of a Photocromic Lens. Although transitions are probably the most advanced photochromic lens on the market there are many others out there.

People call Photochromic lenses by all different kinds of names such as Transitions, Reactolite, Reactions and I’ve even heard them called Graduations. However, they are all Photo chromic lenses.

Photochromic lenses are clear lenses that react with UV and produce a tint effect based on the amount of UV present.

When wearing Photochromic lenses even a dull day some reaction will occur producing a very pale tint and then on a very bright day where more UV is present they will turn quite dark. When wearing them indoors they will become clear.

The idea behind photochromic lenses is that they will provide the correct amount of protection for the varying light conditions you experience. However, when driving, your car windscreen will block a certain amount of UV which is required to make the lens react so they will not work as well as they would outside of the car.

The Two Most Common Photocromic Lenses

Transitions Lenses

Transitions are available in Standard Plastic, Poly Carbonate, 1.6 and 1.67 Lenses. They are the fastest reacting lens on the market and will react into sunglasses within 30 seconds. However, they will take longer than that to go clear again when you go inside.

Reactolite Lenses

Reactolite is a brand name given to a Glass photochromic lens. They do not react as well as the transitions and are much heavier to wear. However, one good thing about glass reactolite is that they work much better behind a car windscreen than the transitions do. (If only we could have the best of both worlds.)

In most cases the Transitions lens is the preferred option due to the over all comfort and performance.

Photocromic lenses are ideal in the sense that they can save you having to purchase two pairs of glasses ie, Clear glasses and a pair of Sunglasses. However, many people who wear transitions also have a cheaper tinted pair just to use in the car.

Please feel free to leave your questions in the comments box and I will try my best to answer them for you.

Tints

Tints can be used to make “Plastic” lenses in to sunglass lenses and are available in many colours. However, 1.67 and 1.74 lenses cannot be tinted as they already contain an antireflective coating to reduce “Power rings” which I will explain later.

Photochromic

Photochromcs are usually referred to as “Reactolite” which is a brand name for the glass variety or “Transitions” which is a brand name for the plastic variety.

Basically they do the same thing. These are lenses which are clear indoors but then “react” to UV (Sunlight) and “transform” into sunglasses.

Although they are not technically a coating and are manufactured this way a thought they were worth mentioning in this article.

NOTE: As photocromic lenses require UV to change, using them behind a car windscreen will not work as effectively as normal due to the windscreen filtering out some of the UV.

However, we have found that the glass reactolite works better than the plastic behind a car windscreen, but not as good as the plastic in normal conditions.

Polarized

Light reflected from surfaces like a flat road or smooth water is generally horizontally polarized. This horizontally polarized light is blocked by the vertically oriented polarizers in the lenses filtering our glare and allowing you to see below the water line. Available in grey or brown polarized lenses are ideal for fisherman and also for drivers.

Anti Reflective

Usually an anti reflective coating is referred to as an “MAR” (Multi Anti Reflective Coating). There are many benefits to an MAR. Firstly they are far more aesthetically pleasing as they reduce the amount of light reflecting off your lenses especially when having your photograph taken.

Other benefits include:-

• Reduced glare when driving at night• People can see your eyes and not a patch of light• Filters out radiation from computer screens• Reduces “Power rings” visible rings on the lens in high prescriptions which is caused by light constantly bouncing back and forth within the lens due to total internal reflection.• Provides UV protection