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xkcd #2929: Good and Bad Ideas
(imgs.xkcd.com)
Alt text:
While it seemed like a fun prank at the time, I realize my prank fire extinguishers full of leaded gasoline were a mistake.
I want transitions lenses so bad, but the women in my life won't let me 😔
Why not? I thought they were pretty popular.
I don't know. I think it's because they're practical?
It's because they are not practical. They do not work inside cars, they transition super slow in winter, they are clear when you need sun glasses and dark when you need to see.
So the scenario is A) you have transitions that work 90% of the time and a pair of prescription sunglasses for the times they don't Or B) you have regular glasses, and still have prescription sunglasses.
Option a means 90% of the time you don't need to carry an additional pair of glasses with you.
I used transition lenses for a decade, they are great.
They transition just fine in winter, even down to 10f or lower.
They have a version that works in cars now. But that's an issue with the car windshield blocking UV. So leave a magnetic "clip on" shades in the car. They look exactly like your frames, with them attached you can't tell they just stick on from the front - they look just like your glasses.
Yeah, I've used mine while cycling in freezing temperatures without an issue.
Then just use the clip-ons all the time and not pay for mediocre sunglasses? I'm not a fan, I've tried them and hated them. Super slow to go back to clear and unreliable. I don't want my lenses deciding when I need tinted lenses or not when I can just carry around either clip-ons or a complete second pair of prescription sunglasses. IMO Transitions are a bad solution to the problem.
Because I don't have to carry the sunglasses with me all the time?
98% of my time I'm not in a car, and my not mediocre sunglasses work better than the clipons, since I prefer the color, they already block UV and aren't too dark.
Why should I carry something else?
As it is, I put my glasses on when I wake up, and most days only take them off to clean them or go to bed. They're almost hassle free, unlike carrying around sunglasses, putting them on, taking them off, yada yada , like I did for 10 years before I got transitions.
Why do you carry a smartphone, instead of a laptop, tablet, feature phone, GPS, mobile access point, multiple credit cards, rolodex, checkbook, etc?
It's funny you trying to tell me that I'm wrong to choose what works for me.
Calm down and quit shilling for "big-transitions".
They worked pretty well when I was in high school marching band. I didn't drive yet so I didn't need road vision, they darkened while out at practice and were clear elsewhen. Got an actual pair of prescription sunglasses in flight school though.
why is it considered a bad idea?
I could never get a straight answer. I think it's fashion.
If it’s the women in your life, then yes. They are the epitome of turbo-dork when it comes to eyewear.
You know, we're generalising, but you've got a point. None of my male friends have glasses in any kinds of shapes other than "boring grey ovoid."
I have to wear them every day with any outfit at any occasion, it sounds silly to choose something flashy.
It’s not the shape, it’s just the transitions themselves. Aesthetically, sunglasses have a handful of popular styles. Whatever frames you have for your regular vision correction, most likely aren’t one of those styles.
They work based on UV light. So they will not transition inside cars. They also will not transition in cold weather, so you'll walk in snow with clear glasses and have dark ones for 5 minutes once you go inside.
Never had them not work in cold. They change even during heavy snowfall when it's well below freezing and well, no sun, heavy clouds. It's great because they help with the glare from snow.