Long considered a fashion faux pas, transition lenses—eyewear that darkens when exposed to daylight and lighten when indoors—are not just for Gram and Gramps anymore. These days, more and more millennials are turning to transitional lenses for a range of reasons:
- THEY’RE CONVENIENT. If you wear prescription lenses, a pair of transitional glasses is like getting two pairs of glasses in one. You don’t need to constantly juggle between prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses as you move from indoors to outdoors and back again. And you won’t have to worry about forgetting or misplacing your other pair of glasses. With transition lenses, one pair does it all.
- THEY REPRESENT A GOOD VALUE. With transition lenses, you only need one pair of prescription glasses, not a pair of clear lenses and a pair of sunglasses, saving you the cost of needing two pairs of glasses.
- TECHNOLOGY IS COOL (AND FASHIONABLE). Advances in technology allow transition lenses to be made in a greater variety of shapes, sizes, and tints than ever before. Lenses are thinner and offer higher levels of protection and vision correction. You can now look great in transition lenses while also doing your eyes a world of good!
- THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOUR EYES. Transition lenses block 100% of UVA & UVB light, providing protection for your eyes that you can count on because with transition lenses you won’t ever forget to bring your sunglasses—they’ll already be on your face! Some transition lenses are polarized as well, while others can to adjust to visible light, which offers greater tinting protection when driving behind the windshield of a car (windshields can limit the darkening effect on some transition lenses).
- TRANSITION LENSES BLOCK BLUE LIGHT AS WELL. This is a huge benefit for those who work with computers and/or have daily exposure to the blue light emitted by computer displays, smartphones, and tablets (which is most of us). Exposure to blue light has been linked harmful effects on our eyes and our sleep cycles.
Survey Says
A 2016 consumer survey by Transitions Optical (the leading provider of plastic photochromic/adaptive lenses to optical manufacturers worldwide), found that more than 1/3 of consumers go without the proper UV and light protection for their eyes because their glasses don’t adapt to changing conditions, putting the health of their eyes at risk. Additionally, while most consumers still choose fashion over function when purchasing sunglasses, 70% of respondents said technology IS an important aspect for buying prescription sunglasses. A further 9 out of 10 said “they would value the convenience of wearing a pair of sunglasses that automatically adjusts the level of tint as sunlight changes throughout the day” and 82 percent of respondents said “they are likely to purchase sunglasses that adjust tint level based on varying light conditions.”
Many respondents indicated they did not know such options were available, let alone fashionable choices existed. Clearly, consumer education represents an opportunity for eye care professional to enlighten their customers. To that end, in March 2017, Transitions Optical debuted a new consumer campaign designed to promote transitional lenses as both a fashionable and a functional choice for millennials.
We’re Here to Help You Look and See Your Best
The professionals at Sunglass and Optical Warehouse have been offering the greater San Diego area’s largest selection of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses for more than 30 years (and counting). Young or old, traditional or high fashion (such as Oakley, Maui Jim, or Rudy Project), transition or non-transition—when it comes to sunglasses, we can fit your face with a new pair of shades that are comfortable, effective, and that help you look and see your best. Check out some of our sunglasses options here.