Transitions Lenses - Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down

After 10 years in the optical business, today I got my first pair of glasses with Transitions lenses. Transitions is one of several brand names for photochromic lenses which get dark when exposed to UV light and then clear up when you come indoors. 

Some people LOVE them. Gray is the most common tint color and is available on most lenses we sell here at Specs. Brown is offered on some lenses and fun fashion colors (like blue and rose) are available for special order on a few lenses.

My eyes are super sensitive to light and I can't drive even on overcast days without sunglasses. And I always get the fully-tricked out lenses (polarized with backside anti-reflective) for whiny girls who don't like the sun in their eyes. 

I could have gotten Transitions a long time ago, of course, but didn't because 

1. they don't work in the car since most windshields and windows block UV. And they don't get dark enough outside. So, they're better for people who spend more time outdoors than I do.  



See, they're just not that dark outside in full sun.

2. I've never liked the look of them. I think they always have a residual tint, even indoors, and I certainly don't need anything else to accentuate the dark circles under my eyes.

Do you see that they're still pretty gray inside?

So here's my first hand evaluation: Give me back my sunglasses. I was optimistic that Transitions would be good for walking my office dogs around the block, even if they wouldn't work for driving. But they just aren't dark enough for me. 

I kept squinting to block the sun. And, if I don't need dark circles, I really don't need more wrinkles. 

So, if you love your Transition lenses, great!  But I love my sunglasses. Sorry, Transitions!