Here’s the deal. I have cataracts in both eyes. First surgery is 3/11/10 & other eye will be about 2 weeks later. Due to the lens implants I will have, I will be free of prescription glasses save for reading glasses, so I will soon be shopping for good quality non prescription polarized sunglasses. I need recommendations & am hoping to stay in the $100.00 to $150.00 price range, but will consider better if not outrageous & the step up is practical.
The Haber Vision photochromatic copper rose lenses are the best lenses I have used for fishing I have tried many. They sell direct through their website. I prefer the “Nice” model which is $87.50, but they have others with this lens as well as other lens color options.
I also have Hobie, Action Optics, Oakley and others and prefer the Haber glasses. I haven’t had to use their customer service but I understand it is excellent. I bought two pairs three years ago. The second pair is still in the package. The glasses have been very tough.
I have used Action Optics repair service and was very pleased with the turnaround on a pair of glasses with a broken hinge.
There are a lot of good companies out there that make polarized sunglasses but for fishing I prefer Cocoons. They have a number of styles and colors. Check out their website, http://www.cocoonseyewear.com/sunwear/category.php?id=1
I use three different colors. Gray and Amber and Yellow. Gray for the real bright days, Amber for the lower light days and Yellow for dark days and late evening fishing. You can buy several colors for the price you mentioned.
Hey Mikey,
Jean used to do those when She worked as a first assist in the OR if You can get the lenses from Your “Vet” we’ll give You a No Charge operation.
You Will be in Our Prayers My Friend!
Oh Yeah to keep this on topic Head to “WallyWorld” and check out the “Kiddy” Sunglasses;)
I just went through the process of researching and buying a new pair of sunglasses. There are several really good brands out there now, but I finally settled on Kaenon. I wouldn’t spend $300 for their top of the line aviator style, which is my long time preference for sunglasses. I didn’t have to. Kaenon’s Variant model is on sale for $179.00. Follow the link.
I’ve only had these sunglasses three days, but I really do like them. I won’t try to describe Kaenon technology and features because you can find all the good stuff by reading their website. All I will say is that the optical quality is as good as glass, they are as scratch resistant as glass and as impact proof as polycarbonate, and lighter than polycarbonate.
The Variant V-8 comes in a dark copper and a dark and lighter gray. I chose the dark copper for all around outdoor wear - driving, hiking, fishing, etc. I didn’t check to see if the other Variant sizes and styles are on sale. I particularly like the frameless factor for driving for the peripheral vision on that over-the-shoulder look I always do before changing lanes. Those more typical fishing glasses with the very wide frames just don’t do it for me for driving.
Good luck with the surgery - my mom had it done a fews year back and was thrilled with the results.
I have Smith/Action polarchromic bronze glasses. I love them because they adjust based upon the amount of ambient light, so I find they work well from dawn to dusk. Mine are prescription and were arount $240, not sure how much the non-prescription variety were. They’ve held up well for about 5 years, seem to resist scratching because I’m anything but gentle with them.
Here’s a link to a great buy on some really nice Smith/Action Optics glass sunglasses. I tried these for a couple days and really liked them, except for the frame which really interferes with peripheral vision.
I had cataract surgery years ago. You will still need bifocal sunglasses with the reading part about 2.0 power for tying on flies or maybe even for driving.(seeing the gauges). I have prescription polarized sunglasses now and they need to be replaced. I have not found the bifocal non prescription glasses at what I thought was a reasonable price. I will probably go back to Dr for a prescription and go to wallyworld. I will be watching this thread for ideas. Good luck to you!
Perhaps you are getting multifocal intraocular lenses, if so you won’t have this problem. I didn’t get them because of the cost and at that time success ratio was pretty low.
Action Optics, now known as Smith Optics has a website with many, many styles. I have just received my second pair of Rx glasses from them in polarized photochrome copper for use in saltwater fishing. Their clarity and non distortion is unsurpassed, in my opinion! Many non Rx styles are $79-$99 in good looking frames and I would highly recommend them. Their customer service gal, Janet, is great for helping you to make a decision. Good luck with your shopping as well as your surgery!
After reading all comments, researching the net, & making a “site (sight?) visit” to check out tints & sizing, I have made my decision. For me, it will be the Maui Jim’ Ho’okipa with the grey lenses. I had tried an amber tint this last pair & found that I really preferred the grey, especially for driving. For fishing, I really haven’t noticed much (if any) difference. I found Maui Jim’s quality & ratings to be unsurpassed & I was also impressed with the number of Eye Doctors carrying them. The feedback I got regarding their Customer Service was also excellent. The big question, to be answered following surgery on both eyes, is whether or not to opt for the “readers”. If I choose not to get those, there is always the “stick on” option later, if needed.
Thanks to all for your input.
Mike
Well, I usually don’t post after a fella has said he’s made a decision. But I just switched from being a dedicated Maui Jim guy to the new HaberVision line, myself, after some very impressive field testing. But I do not care for the Copper-rose tint. It allows too much light penetration in direct sunlight. And for a guy who has already had cataract surgery, that wouldn’t be a good idea. For freshwater sightfishing, brown and copper lenses are the long-term proven performers with gray trailing closely. But lens tint can often come down to more of a matter of preference than performance except in the most extreme conditions and for people like tournament anglers/shooters, world class athletes, etc. In gray…which is your best “general purpose” lens tint…you can get all of the top picks from HaberVision.
What you want is a lens with max eye coverage. Something in a wrap and large lens design. Make sure they fit your head. The lighter the better and the more positive fit and friction against contact points with your skin the better. You really should forget you have on a good pair of glasses. HaberVision warranties ALL of this stuff. Maui Jim does not. Smith (which includes Action Optics) does not. I’d recommend you look at the Bellagio model in a medium frame and the Kenai and Nice in a large frame. The Kenai comes in a top or bottom mounted magification bifocal and is currently in stock, while the Nice will be back in stock in early March.
In the interest of full disclosure, yes, I did also just become a rep for HaberVision because they are the sunglasses we are endorsing and carrying at the Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute.
Mike,
Good Luck with the eye surgery and your ultimate choice of sunglasses. Your request for opinions reminded me of my poor record with sunglasses. I’m relegated to the $9.99 version just to “cut my losses”. For me. it’s a given. Anywhere from a day to a week, they escape to that “lost sunglasses” place in the sky. I’ve even invested in tethers forr about $3 and in those cases my losses increase to &12.99 per incident. I guess it’s just a case of age and not normally wearing glasses .
Hey that Smiths are pretty much the Sh!t. They hold up well some have interchangeable lenses for specific conditions. I have had natives another great choice but the polarization seemed to be not as good as The smiths.
Check it out
I am looking at the same scenario (minus surgery). I’m looking for an all-around polarized lens that will change with varied light conditions. I don’t really want to switch glasses or lenses as conditions change. My optician pointed me to this outfit:
They are polarized and photochromatic so they can change tint to varied light conditions. You would have to pick your own frames, but could save some money doing that.
i’m not 100% on this, but can ask later today when i call and get back to you. but i am about 75% sure you would currently have to order them as prescription lenses w/a optical base 8 glass lens w/zero script plus the 3.5 mag bifocal. i really like the upper bifocal option in the kenai bifocal that doesn’t interfere w/walking vision, etc.
most of the habervision fishing glasses are also photochromatic, by the way.
and speaking of polarization, the thing i do not like about the copper-rose is that the polarization is only 75% to 80% or so to allow for extremely good depth perception and contrast. however, it also allows some glare to pass through the lenses. and in high glare situations in bright sunlight that just doesn’t cut it for me or the other guy from our institute who tested them. but that is their only lens that wasn’t 100% polarized. and the frames and lenses are virtually indestructible…we really did tear up a pair of bellagios to find out. and i never could break the hinges with my bear hands. we were only able to bend the frames after taking the lenses out, and it returned to original shape and the lenses went right back in without a hitch. they WAY exceed ansi standards and their magnum variant glasses exceed milspec standards for tactical glasses, which must take a .22 LR round fired from 30’ without penetration. and those lenses are optical base 8 for optical clarity…that means they exceed requirements for prescription lenses by 25%. their haberlite and corelite lenses are just stellar! i can’t speak to the carbolite lenses because i have not tested those.