Rx sunglasses – need recommendation help

Trying to solve a problem without buying first and having regrets.

Here’s my issue. I need a pair of prescription sunglasses specifically for fishing. Think Rainy lake stained water and pike.

Here’s what I’ve tried: Just busted a pair of Ray Bans that I really liked. There great every day glasses due to the grey lense. They were okay not great for fishing. I think due to the lense color. Could order replacements, best for daily life but not best for fishing.

I’ve had a pair of Oakley’s for much longer. They have a bronze iridium lense. The recommend a bronze lense for fishing. Here’s the catch. Anything other than a perfectly sunny day and they’re too dark. I can’t see crap in the water on a cloudy day. Don’t know if these get darker due to Rx or if this is normal. The iridium coating is supposed to cut glare, maybe it makes them darker.

What’s next is the question? Tried to talk to someone at an eye glass store yesterday and was pretty worthless. Uhh, umm, well, maybe you could try… Asking you guys seemed like I would get better info before dropping the cash.

Maui Jim’s? Costa’s? guessing an amber or bronze lense

Thanks in advance

You can buy Rx sunglasses directly from OpticsPlanet.com. You can browse all the Rx brands they carry.

Here’s Oakley, for example: http://www.opticsplanet.com/s/eyewear?cat=22&brand=1835

Not sure what their return policy is on Rx, but you can certainly get plenty of options there.

Grouse

I have prescription Oakley Fuel Cells, with Polarized Oakley G30 lenses. I fish a lot up in Canada which has the same time of water. Works awesome and even better in clear water.

I golf a lot as well and they’re the best lenses I have used for both and I have tried a few different lens types.

My next Prescription lenses will be the same ones. Hold up VERY well to scratched and stuff which is another plus.

@CMESS – thanks for the feedback. Did a little internet research. Looks like the option for G30’s is “G30 iridium polarized”. If I’m correct the iridium is the mirror type coating Oakley uses.

While researching your lenses there appears to be no such thing as Bronze Iridium which is what I was told I had yesterday. I guess either they are discontinued or the guy didn’t know what I had.

Spent quite a bit of time researching tonight with the majority searching a few years of posts here. There’s some really good info here from a few of you that regularly post. ie. James, Ben, Joel, Suzuki, Wiggum, Mr Schultz, etc.

Here’s my tentative conclusions based on too much internet time, please reply if you have better ideas:

1. Oakley replacement lenses. I like the idea but really struggling to see why one they offer is better than what I have. Getting a second opinion tomorrow from the eye clinic I bought them from. Need to know for sure what I have.

2. Costas if I can find the money. Lens choice will either be the Green Mirror or the Copper. Advice seemed to be the Green Mirror was the best all arounder and Copper a little better for lower light. 580 in glass too. A little afraid to price these out in prescription form.

3. Smiths – couple lens choices to choose from. Copper, Amber, or photochromatic in similar colors. Well recommended and I had a non-prescription pair 10+ years ago but really liked them. Might be less money than the Costas.

I wear contacts so I don’t have rx glasses obviously. I do have a pair of Costa’s I got the 580g green mirror amber lense. These are leaps ahead of my old pair which were not a cheap pair either. I really love them. I do think that no glasses give you that perfect sight on cloudy days or a bit further out from the boat l, but these are close.

Of course there is the price, it took me a bit before I really could convince myself to get them. In hindsight I have no regrets should have bought them sooner. Now have been wearing them for almost a year and no damage to the lense or issues with the frame.

Good luck with your decision. My vote is go with the Costa’s.

I make eyeglasses for a living, so I’d be happy to help you in any way I can. Looks like you’ve narrowed your choices down a bit already, but here are a few things to consider when looking for RX sunglasses.

First and foremost is budget. You named a few different options, and within those brands, the price for RX sunglasses can vary drastically. In general, you do get what you pay for as far as eyewear goes. THese are other things to consider.

1) How strong is your prescription? THis is THE most important factor in choosing a frame. In general, the higher your RX, the flatter (less wrapped) and smaller you want the frame to be.

2) Single Vision/ Bifocals / or Progressives? This also has bearings on what shape of frame will be ideal for you and your vision.

3)Metal Frame or Plastic? There are infinite styles of frames, but most can be broken down into one of these to categories. Most people will have an automatic preference due to most metal frames having nosepads and most plastic frames, not. Makes a large difference in how the glasses feel.

4) Lens colors. Once you have a frame picked out you can then start to explore lens choices. Not all lenses are available in all frames. The comfort of your glasses is of upmost importance, so figure out that first, and then look into what your lens options are.

Beyond all else, I highly suggest going into some stores and try frames on! There is really no other way to know if you will like any given pair of glasses. If glasses aren’t comfortable, you won’t enjoy wearing them as much. A good optician can help you determine glasses that are a proper fit, but you need to decide if they “feel” right. Just because your buddy loves his oakleys, maui jims, or costas doesn’t mean that you will.

If you need any other help, feel free to PM me. Ive sold\ sell some of the brands you’re looking at and am willing to help you however I can.

BTW: Your current oakley lenses are probably bronze with a gold iridium coating. Never heard of a bronze iridium. That company has gone through some MAJOR changes is the past few years though…..

Had 2 different pairs of these for 4 years and still going strong. Costa del Mar Fathom with Amber lenses. I would buy them again. Light weight great for fishing and golfing.

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eyecatchum wrote:

BTW: Your current oakley lenses are probably bronze with a gold iridium coating. Never heard of a bronze iridium. That company has gone through some MAJOR changes is the past few years though…..

Thank you! That makes the most sense for what I have. I’ve also heard through a vision clinic that all Oakley’s major changes may not be for the better.

I’ve got most of the above narrowed down. I’ve had two pairs of Rx sunglasses.

1. Prescription isn’t that strong. Don’t have it handy though
2. Single vision(for now at least 5 more years…)
3. Plastic is much preferred for sunglasses
4. Lens color – this is the main area of research. If I don’t get lenses I like the then I’m back in the same boat.

What I’m willing to spend: Can’t break $500. Ideally this would be $200 or so but I’m realistic. To get quality you have to pay for quality. Looking like $350-$500 is what this is going to take.

Did some pricing on Costa’s this morning. Looks like I can be under $400 if the 400p lenses but if the glass, 580p, up in the high $400’s. $340 for replacement lenses for my existing Oakley’s, high $400s if I get a frame too(unlikely). Smith I don’t have good numbers on yet.

Going to see if I can try some different frames on later today.

Agree with the plastic lens. You don’t need to take something to the eye and have glass break all over in your face.

Mine have plastic lenses

Smiths will be close to Costa’s as far as price but you’ll have a bit more lens color choice with Smith, mostly because Smith makes lenses for applications other than fishing, like ski goggles and tactical wear. Smith also makes a green mirror lens, I have it in a pair of Mavericks. I’d say Smith vs Costa quality is comparable and is up to availability and personal preference.

http://www.smithoptics.com/lensSelector
https://www.costadelmar.com/shop/sunglasses/technology/color

If you’re having a hard time finding lenses that aren’t “too dark”, make sure you pay attention to base tint (grey base will be “darker” than a brown/copper base) and the variable light transmission (VLT%) stated, which varies on different lens colors and styles.

FWIW, it might not be in your budget but I’d highly suggest glass over plastic. Glass gives you a lot better optical quality vs plastic and despite what’s mentioned above, glass is more durable and much better with scratch and impact resistance. I also believe if you want to get mirrored lenses, which I really like, you have to get glass because they aren’t available in plastic. Plastic is noticeably lighter and less expensive. Good luck with what you decide.

Decision made with much thanks to all of you.

First off, thumbs up and a hearty referral to Jean at Uptown Vision Clinic. Stopped over at lunch and she went above and beyond to help me.

What actually happened is none of the above. Custom choice, Kaenon brand lens in Copper color but will be made to fit my existing Oakley frames. Below is the long version of what happened:

Here’s what I thought would happen. Struggle with the dollars then buy Costas in the glass 580g lens @ just under $500. Be happy with purchase but do a little whining and crying about the money.

I thought if my conscience played into it there would be replacement Oakley lenses for my existing frame. Was debating between a couple of choices. Did confirm my existing ones are the Gold Iridium which has a 9% light transmission(Nathan was spot on above). kind of explains why they’re good on sunny days around snow but so good for cloudy days on the lake.

From a co-worker I got a referral to check out Kaenon. While at Uptown vision they had become a dealer for that brand. Turns out I really like two of the lens tint options but not super wild about frame fit. Being quite slow on the uptake I didn’t understand what Jean was telling me for a while. Kept thinking that if I wanted to use my Oakley frame I had to get Oakley branded lenses which she sold too.

Finally the light bulb came on and I got what she was saying. I could get the Kaenon lense I liked and the lab they use could make it as a replacement lense for my existing frames. Here’s the kicker, this is the lowest cost out of all the options. Done deal!

Headed to Canada in a couple weeks. I’ll post up a review when I get back. What I’m hearing is Kaenon is a couple of guys that left Oakley.

Nice! I’ve contemplated some Kaenons. I’ll be interested to hear how you like them.

@keeley21

So, what do you think of the Kaenon lenses? Are they the “SR-91” material?

Love my Costas, and I’ve heard amazing things about the prescription! I believe for fishing applications the copper is definitely a better choice. I have had both the copper and the copper base with green mirror and definitely prefer the copper for the kind of fishing we do around the midwest. I find the green mirror to be too dark in a lot of the fishing situations. I can wear my copper 580 lenses up until pretty much dark and they help. Otherwise when it’s not perfectly clear skies and high sun, the green mirrors aren’t as good. But in my opinion they look cooler! And everybody knows, pretty boats, fancy rods, and jacked up trucks catch fish!

@Ralph Wiggum

Can’t say on the exact material and here’s why. The lenses were made by an independent lab to follow Kaenon specs. What I can’t say for sure is did they use the exact same raw materials from what Kaenon does in house?

Here’s some feedback now that I’ve had the lenses for a month. I chose the Copper 12 tint.

I’m on the fence on a couple things. This has a lot to do with not having other examples to compare.

If I think about these in a purely fishing context:
Note: I’m always wearing a hat with a bill when fishing

Pros: work really well on Sunny to mostly sunny conditions. Tint provides good visibility to see under the surface. Lens quality appears to be high for clarity(wish I had Costa’s side by side to compare)

Cons: Having second guesses about maybe getting a lighter tint, Copper 22. When mostly cloudy or the last couple hours of light they were good but wondered if the grass is greener for a bit lighter tint. That said I did wear them in the middle of a rain squall and was able to function just fine. Much improved over my old lenses that were 9% light transmission.

If I put this in context of day to day wear:
Pros: excellent clarity, brighten images, okay to wear in a variety of conditions. Good all arounder.

Cons: Not dark enough for sunny days around town. No mirror to prevent my wife from seeing where I’m looking I spend time in Brainerd just recreational boating.

I just got my 3rd pair of Costas.
I get to use money my company dumps in a fund for vision and teeth so they’re basically free to me. Use it or lose it and my teeth are good and my RX is not enuf for full time glasses.

Anyhow, this pair I had Bi-Focals put in.
Sweet. Had a hell of time tying knots before these.
I can actually see what I’m tying now.

Smith Chiefs Polarchromatic. RX version available. I am going on 3 years on my pair and I wear them every sunny day and always fishing. Best I ever had and I have been wearing Smiths for 20 years.
Remember I tried to hook those guys up with you several years ago. They remain the fishermans choice out west but cant seem to get a foot hold here.

I can no longer edit my post. I mistook the OP. Thought it was James which explains my reference.