People playing golf may have the experience when their games are interrupted by sunshine, it is really disappointing when they can not even see the holes. In similar cases, transitions lenses can be very useful.
Recently, though, I was clued in to the flexibility and practicality of Transitions lenses. These are the prescription lenses that darken automatically in response to UV rays and lighten back up again when you go inside. So I decided to try them as a solution to my late-day golfing woes.
Why don't I wear sunglasses? Well, I wear regular glasses, and I can't find sunglasses to fit over my regular glasses without making me look like my late grandmother when she went out for a Sunday drive. And, frankly, prescription sunglasses are far too expensive for the limited utility they would provide.
Transitions lenses: The verdict
I've played several rounds now with my Transitions lenses and have been generally impressed. They allow me to keep an eye on my ball in all but the most blinding conditions, which makes my late-day round far more enjoyable. Even when not facing the sun, I seem to be able to follow my ball against the blue sky much more accurately, cutting down considerably on time spent stomping through the rough.
When it comes to reading the greens, the darker lenses don't seem to hurt or help - basically, I can't tell any difference either way. And when the round is over, and it's time to hit the 19th hole, the lenses lighten up completely within a couple of minutes, which doesn't bother me personally at all. (Years spent in dimly lit dives have apparently inured me to temporary murkiness.)
The one downside to Transitions lenses comes on partly cloudy days, when stretches of bright sun are broken up by sudden walls of thick, fast-moving clouds. On one such day, I stood addressing my ball when gray clouds passed overhead. Suddenly, it was hard to see my ball. It felt like a Biblical plague of darkness, and I began looking around for locusts or frogs. Well, not quite. But I did have to step away from my ball and let my eyes get used to the shade (and allow the lenses to lighten up a bit).
How Transitions lenses work
Transitions lenses have been around for over a decade, and before I got mine, I spoke with a few golfers who had tried them when they first appeared on the market. The consensus was that the lenses performed well on the golf course but took too long to lighten up indoors. In addition, they didn't darken enough (or at all) when driving in the car, as most UV rays are filtered out these days by auto glass.
When being fitted for my Transitions, I was told by the technician that the new generation of lenses lighten up considerably faster than the previous designs. The second issue wasn't a concern for me, as I don't wear sunglasses when I drive anyway.
The third issue is the cost: Transitions lenses run around $80-$100 more than traditional lenses, but this is over $200 less than a pair of prescription sunglasses. In essence, you get two pairs of glasses in one with Transitions, so the somewhat higher price feels reasonable.
All in all, If you need to wear eyeglasses to protect eyes when you are doing sport or going outside, transitions lenses are good alternative for sunglasses.
