What Are Transition Lenses in Glasses?

Transition lenses in glasses are lenses that change from clear to dark depending on the light in the room or outside. When one wears transition lenses in his glasses, his lens is clear inside but as he walks outside the lenses darkens automatically so that the glasses now resemble sunglasses. When he returns inside the lens automatically clear again, so that the glasses now return to clear reading type glasses.

Features

Transition lenses contain a patented material called photo chromic dye (see References below) which causes the lens to darken when it detects ultraviolet or UV rays. When it no longer detects the UV rays, it returns to the clear color. Transition lenses work with all styles of frames and most prescriptions.

Types

Types of transition lenses include single vision, bifocals, multi-focal and progressive lenses. Single vision refers to a solid lens while bifocal and multi-focal refer to two or more lenses in one eyeglass frame. The purpose of this type of lens is to provide the user with more than one vision type, commonly reading vision and general vision. Types of materials include plastic and shatter proof materials.

Effects

When a person wears transitions lenses in her glasses, she can see better since the lenses automatically adjust for the bright sunlight. She will no longer have to squint in the sun, which reduces wrinkles around the eyes. She won't expose her eyes to the harmful UV rays, so she is less likely to develop certain eye diseases related to exposure to UV rays such as cataracts (see References below).

Benefits

Transition lenses automatically change from clear to dark because of external conditions so one does not have to think about protection from ultraviolet rays. If a person is wearing the transition lenses, they protect him. Transition lenses save the person from need to buy two pairs of glasses. Since they double for both sunglasses and clear reading glasses one saves money with just the one pair of glasses. One does not have to remember where he put his sunglasses since they are always located on his face. A person does not have to switch his glasses every time he goes indoors or out since the transition lens changes automatically. Transition lenses are available nationwide so your present provider most likely carries them making it easy to find and buy them.

Warning

Make sure you get an eye check-up yearly by a competent professional. Even though you wear transition lenses, an eye care professional can detect eye diseases or changes in the conditions of your eyes and prescribe products to improve or maintain your current vision.