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Prescription cycling specs – Update!

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  • January 20, 2012 at 1:46 pm #14863
    notfastenough

    Hi all,
    A while ago I posted a topic discussing cycling specs options for people with strong corrective prescriptions. The point was reached where I had found something on the Bolle website about a new product called B-thinactive, but was trying to see them in the flesh.

    http://www.bolle-europe.co.uk/technology/prescription/

    Anyway, I found an optician with a good relationship with Bolle, and they arranged a meeting between them, the Bolle rep and myself. I went down this morning and we spent an hour rifling through a four-foot tall case full of samples.

    Long story short, the B-thinactive thing is amazing. They can get close to -10.0 prescription, so mine at -6.5 plus -1.25 astigmatism is easy. They are still really light as well. Apparently, the innovation isn’t the hardware, the clever bit is a software algorithm that engineers the lens by taking the curved blank lens and machining the optics to provide corrective vision for a normal coverage area on the lens, but then tapering down to no prescription on the edges (ie the wraparound bit). It’s weird. A standard index lens in my prescription would be 20mm thick at a wraparound edge, which obviously isn’t practical. This stuff comes out at 6 or 7mm on the edge for me. You can’t see a distorted area on the lens either. (I checked for you Cat1commuter!)

    There’s a big choice of frames, lenses, colours etc, but I’m looking at the Helix design, which is the white/orange pair on the site referenced above. A high-contrast brown-base lens seemed to work best for me, with either black or grey frames. Polycarbonate with anti-glare, no polarisation or photochromic finish, looking at £254. I’m just waiting on a grey frame sample before ordering.

    I still might fancy polarisation, but at an extra £130, it’s not just an impulse add-on, so I’m having a think first. Do anyone else have any opinion on the value of polarised lenses?

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  • January 30, 2012 at 3:03 pm #662263
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    notfastenough

    Thanks Farky – think ill give
    Thanks Farky – think ill give polarisation a swerve, since I don’t like the sound of invisible puddles hiding invisible potholes! The Bolle chap did concede that if it was his cash, he would just take them as they are, as well.

    Good news that cat1 – although based on the sets I tried, I would recommend asking them to get samples in before ordering. So many of them just didn’t feel quite right for my head. Indeed, I will be buying a pair that are not the best looking of the choices, in my opinion, simply because they were a good fit. Function over form and all that.

    Then again, maybe you have one of those heads that just fits specs!

    January 30, 2012 at 2:08 pm #662261
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    cat1commuter

    My optician does Bollé. They
    My optician does Bollé. They hadn’t heard of B-Thin when I visited them on Saturday, but they were very interested. They’ve been in touch with Bollé today, and can supply.

    It’s a pity that Bollé can’t make the “Draft” model (their most wrap-around) in B-Thin, so I’ll be looking at the Helix too.

    January 23, 2012 at 3:28 pm #662259
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    cat1commuter

    Thanks for the update. Sounds
    Thanks for the update. Sounds very promising. I’ll visit my optician to see if they’ll look at them.

    January 20, 2012 at 11:15 pm #662257
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    Farky

    Sounds good, I’m thankful I
    Sounds good, I’m thankful I don’t need a higher prescription yet!

    Polarisation is a marmite thing. Works really well, make a big difference if you get only a light shading like Oakley VR30 for example, so much light let through on an average day they work but on a very sunny day you’d appreciate the polar. Polar works on any day there is strong contrasting light like after it rains or sunset/dusk. It’s the contrast not light level.

    Some hate it though as it hides puddles as they no longer reflect light if you wear polarised lenses. Bit more susceptible to wear and tear though, can scratch easier and need caring for.

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