Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms New Driving Glasses are the tops

I had an eye test 10 days ago and although my reading sight had deteriorated a little, I didn't need some new reading glasses but I did mention that I struggle to read the sat nav and instruments in the car (tin top) and that I was having to resort to put my reading glasses on in the car for a few moments, which isn't good

So, I was recommended some Zeiss lens varifocal driving glasses which also come in the zeisses version of reactolite (can't remember the name) so they darken in sunlight

They are also polarised to cut down on glare and are recommended for night driving as well

I had the lenses put in a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses that I had so I didn't have to pay for the frames

Well I took the Mog for a long drive today up to Fleetwood and then down the coast through Blackpool and Lytham in beautiful blue skies and strong sun

These new driving glasses are brilliant

All my instruments were crisp and clear and so is was the road

I wore them all day and didn't need my readers when I was posting and catching up on TM on my iPhone when I stopped for lunch

I can heartily recommend them

I'm wearing them now as I post this

Not cheap at over £400 for just the lenses but as I drive a lot (30-40K p.a.) this could be money very well spent

That's good news Stewart, I've had the same for the past couple of years and agree they are brilliant. I think I had the same problem as you in that I could see down the road fine but when looking at instruments or sat nav etc it was hopeless. Mine are transition lenses which go dark in light and also when behind a windscreen which not all do. Only drawback is when you walk indoors after being out in bright light they take a while to lighten again, always makes me feel like I'm trying do do a poor Roy Orbison impression.

Also had a wider field of view for the varifocal bit as previous pairs had me looking down my nose to focus, as you say cost more but well worth it.

I bought some "Maui Jim" sunglasses a couple of years back and was surprised to find I could read the dash instruments and satnav clearly while wearing them.

Looking on the back they have a small strip "glued" to the lower part of the lens which obviously gives a bi-focal effect.

They cost a little over £100 as I recall. They were bought from a standard display and I had no idea they were bi-focal when I bought them.

I have had the same problem but had a reluctance to change from my wraparound Ray Bans which also keep out the wind.

Having realised recently that I cannot read my dials I investigated the route that my good lady has taken having bought new Ray Bans with a bifocal element. Unfortunately they don't do my preferred glasses in bifocal so I apprehensively tried the following cheap option assuming that they would be rubbish:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hydrotac-Stick-On-Bifocal-Lenses-1-25-x/dp/B00IF93794

The result is excellent and has sorted my problem, not as good a solution as Stewart's no doubt but satisfactory if you don't want to change from your favourite sunspecs.

I had a slightly different problem, I believe it wasn't that my eyesight had chang d but my arms were no longer long enough. I bit the bullet and went for varifocals with transition lenses - amazing, I could see what speed I was doing again!

Zeiss lenses which are photochromic and polarised?
Please remember the name and post it, sounds like heaven.
Nick

https://www.zeiss.co.uk/vision-care/en_gb/products-services/spectacle-lenses/drivesafe-lenses.html

With prescription progressive lenses

On my receipt it says 'Photofusion' so I'm guessing that's the light sensitive tinting

I do need glasses for reading but not for distance. I have been thinking of getting something similar. I am told it is possible to get plain photochromatic polarised lenses. If I get more info in the next few days I will post it.

Exactly the same with me Peter

Absolutely fine with distance but struggle to read the sat nav on my tin top especially Road names and postcodes when I'm inputting data

The bottom bit of the lens is around 1.5 and it then progresses into clear for distance

When I was having them measured up, they measured where the glasses sat and their relationship to my eye movements

I can't believe that wherever I look, whether it's at the dash or off in the distance on the road it's all just sharp and perfect

And I can read in them

I believe my father has something similar. He think's they're great too.

Make me feel old why don't you

Thanks for the link Stewart.
I can't see how these are both photochromic and polarised though.
They are fast changing and have a special antiglare coating for driving, but no apparent polarisation.
I'm probably missing something and I'll try and call them.
Ta again,
Nick

Great Stewart can see it clearly now!
Personally I do not like polarized glasses, as many screens are polarized tomtom, ipad, iphone etc bevome very difficult to read.
Exploring Cornwall with my Mog at the moment and find it bloody irritating that I cannot read the tomtom whilst driving. Problem gets worse with sun from behind, better to drive without the sunglasses, at least I know where I am going.
Today very wet, Mog shows up it leaks...
Cheers,
Bert

I just spoke to the optician. The lenses that he uses are Serengeti Drivers, made in Italy (Italy is a major manufacturer of eyeware). There are several different options available including polarised lenses. The whole range is photochromatic.

The cost of plain lenses is about €300 and prescription multifocal lenses are €400 to €600. Certainly not cheap and you wouldn't want to leave them in a restaurant or somesuch.

It would actually seem much cheaper to buy the plain sunglasses ready made. Amazon Italy have a wide selection, such as this one: https://www.amazon.it/Serengeti-Ferrara-...905WD7VWHY7MTK7

You might be right
When the optician was talking about the anti- glare properties, I did mention polarisation that I already had on my Ray Ban sunglasses and she said these would be as good if not better for reducing glare and reflection especially at night, I assumed it was polarisation

When I turn my glasses up to the light they have a blueish reflection off the lenses but the tint is brown

I'm out in the Mog tonight, just stopped for dinner at an Indian restaurant and these glasses are fantastic

It's like have 20/20 vision again and photochromatic eyes

I did wonder about polarisation as I was told it was not possible with reactors .

Sounds like a great solution though, I did visit my local Ziess shop and was a fraction away from ordering - high price same as yours but sounds worth it!

Thanks for the feedback Stewart.

Sadly not photochromic and polarised together though.

Although they do seem to claim it on their tech page, opticians say not available. I'll try and contact them directly and get a proper answer.
Nick

Ok. Called a client who claims to know. Apparently these are photochromic but don't go anywhere near clear. So they are designed as sunglasses which can darken or lighten a bit.
Which seems fair enough. He also said they are brilliant for driving but you wouldn't wear them around the house or all day etc.
Sadly, I'm looking for something which will go virtually colourless so my search continues.......
Nick

Nick, I don't think your client is talking about the same glasses

I've just walked in and seen your post and taken this

My normal prescription glasses are on the left and the my new driving glasses on the right

Here's another comparing the two now the driving glasses have completely lost their tint

The driving glasses are on the right

Just taken this off the Zeiss website info on their Photofusion and it appears the glasses get to 92% clear but to me they just seem clear

I think that you will find that they are.

Check their website http://www.serengeti-eyewear.com/Technology.aspx

I will know more later this week. I think that it is impossible to have polarized lenses without some tint but I will find out.

Thanks for your input gents.
Stewart, the zeiss do go clear and quickly but they aren't polarised, my client was referring to the serengeti ones.
Peter, ta everso, look forward to the info as I'd really love to find lenses that achieve this.
Ta again,
Nick

Why so keen on polarised Nick?

If you will use these glasses for driving (amongst other things) check you can see through the windscreen of all your cars without distortion. On some of the cars I had at the time I bought some polarised Serengetti glasses, a pattern of fuzzy grey squares would show up in the windscreen - presumably something to do with the lamination process creating a polarising filter effect in the screen which interfered with the polarisation of the glasses.

Gave the glasses to my Dad. On his car, there was no distortion.

Whilst the frames may be Italian Peter, Serengeti are an American company (formed by Corning) and are part of the same group as Bollé.

My Optician swears by the quality of their lenses and I have a couple of pairs of their prescription sunglasses with graduated lenses, neither of these cause problems with the windscreen of our cars, but one pair does not like our TomTom - making it virtually unreadable!

I am on the same search as Nick.

But think it's not possible - that is reactors which are also Polaroid.

Only because I love my Polaroid sunglasses. They make everything look brighter and clearer and so I am reluctant to give that up.

Am almost resigned to just having two pairs - one as sunglasses one for everyday.

There is one make that make transitions which go pretty clear but they have a strange yellow tinge and the polarization is quite weak.
I love polarised, it seems to remove the glare without the need to be really dark which I find very restful. It's true that some windscreens look odd through them... particularly the older ones which used to shatter...and side and rear car windows can look odd, but I don't mind that. And being able to look at water without squinting is brilliant too. I'll try and remember the yellowish ones and post the details.
Talking of windows thoigh, has anyone tried rain x on house windows? I was wondering if it would help them stay clean...?
Nick

Here's the link to the only transition/polarised I've been able to find.

http://www.transitions.com/en-gb/transitions-every-day/the-technology/drivewear-technology/

Nick

Very interesting thread. Thanks Stewart.

I may look at those lens, as I struggle to drive comfortably with my varifocals. I much prefer driving in single vision especially at night.

I've worn Varifocal lenses for years, there are a number of makers and the way the different elements are located within the lens differs between the makers and within a makers range, with the "quality" of the lens.
Generally the top of the range lenses have the least edge distortion.

The main suppliers are:

Essilor - "Varilux Comfort" & "Varilux Physio",
Nikon - "Presio",
Hoya - "GP" & "Summit"
Carl Zeiss - "Zeiss Progressive Individual 2" & "Zeiss Progressive Plus 2"

I have tried both Essilor and Zeiss and prefer the Essilor ones. Even so on more than one occasion I've rejected a set because they were not "right" for me. The optician said that the reject rate was typically 10 to 15% and there are a number of reasons.

The Zeiss ones I have now are perfect, varifocal and polychromatic with hard scratch proof lenses. They were about £400, excluding frames.

I also have a pair of classic Ray Ban Aviator glasses with vari-focal tinted lenses for use in cars when the polychromatic tint doesn't work as well as it does outside or on the bike!.

Has anyone experienced different optical effects using vari-focals when driving the Morgan. Recently returned from my first European tour in the Morgan and found when driving for long periods a degree of eye strain I don't experience in my other cars. I wondered if the closeness of the screen could have some effect.
Anyone?

Not so far although I've only driven about 100 miles in the Mog with them and around 80 miles in the tin top with them

I've certainly had stinging eyes and watery eyes in the Mog but I put that down to either sun cream and perspiration or dust getting into my eyes behind my glasses

I must admit I don't really know how eye strain feels Ron

Is it an ache behind the eyes or is the vision affected?

Mainly having to consciously adjust focus through different parts of the lenses and getting watery eyes using my daily vari-focal specs.
Like Peter, I also have aviators with vari-focal which have a much greater lens area which seemed to be much easier to focus possibly there is a more gradual transition. These were better.
I wondered if there might be some secondary infringement from the closeness of the Morgan screen that causes a focus issue.

I too had trouble with my first varifocals from one of the High St chains sent them back as they were useless. Then went to a family business and now have 4 stage lenses and there is no noticeable difference going from one distance to another.

Many people when driving are concentrating so much that they actually don't blink. The eyes then get sore and red.

I always blink when I see a pretty girl

Don't you mean "wink"?