Prescription Riding Glasses

[agilwolf]

If you wear Bi-Focal / Multifocal glasses and want to change to contact lenses for your cycling endeavours, you'll be faced with a decision on the contacts.  If you're going single vision contacts, choose carefully if you want clear vision up close, or further out.  If choosing clear vision for further out, you'll have some troubles come puncture repair time, or keeping an eye on your bike computer ...

[Caerus]

32 minutes ago, agilwolf said:

If you wear Bi-Focal / Multifocal glasses and want to change to contact lenses for your cycling endeavours, you'll be faced with a decision on the contacts.  If you're going single vision contacts, choose carefully if you want clear vision up close, or further out.  If choosing clear vision for further out, you'll have some troubles come puncture repair time, or keeping an eye on your bike computer ...

I'm short sighted, so thats fine. I do wear multifocals though. So would probably just get single vision contact lenses.

Ive got single vision day 2 day sunglasses.

 

[BikeisLife]

https://darcs.co.za/product/darcs-optic-inserts-compatible-with-peak/

 

[Murrob]

I’ve gone full circle on this, also short sighted. Have tried expensive inserts, custom lenses on sunglasses the works. With inserts and fogging up being a major challenge across different brands and approaches. Back to contact lenses, using Cooper Vision dailies for riding. It did take some concerted effort to get used to them and getting the technique to get them in, but they are very comfortable now and I can wear them for extended periods of time. Pricy, but I now buy in bulk from contact lens club to bring the prices down significantly. So would recommend you go to an optometrist and get the right script and size and give it a good go. It will come right in the end, the tech has come along way with soft lenses and breathable lenses etc making for more comfortable wearing. 

[Shebeen]

On 1/3/2026 at 8:44 AM, Zebra said:

On a different, but related note; Wife bought me a set of affordable yet decent sunglasses with built in READERS (x2.0), which have been a game-changer…

…now not needing to haul readers along whilst cycling, for Garmin head unit as well as cellphone reading during coffee stop(s).

I sort of had this issue for adventure racing, going shortsighted and need to read 1:50 000 maps to navigate whilst riding.

https://www.takealot.com/snowbee-polarised-fishing-sunglasses-with-built-in-1-5-magnifier/PLID90395723

I found these on takealot, different magnification options - they are basically fishing sunglasses, i can imagine you need to see close up when tying the fly onto your line etc. They work pretty well for me at least, don't really care about the latest protour styles. My looks are not as important as being able to see properly.

[Daniel Christensen]

Lens inserts is just horrible. The sweat coming in between the lens and the blind spots is a huge problem for me. I wasted so much money thinking it would be the solution. Just go with contact lenses. I did have my contacts blown out by the wind 2 times in about 270 rides. 

[DieselnDust]

6 hours ago, BikeisLife said:

https://darcs.co.za/product/darcs-optic-inserts-compatible-with-peak/

 

compatible with Peak and Vantage II

[ACM]

I tried contact lenses years ago and again a while a go and just can’t wear them without eyes becoming irritated - tried different types of lenses.

Then used Rudy Project with insert for a good 10 years of cycling. Disadvantages already mentioned here (sweat between insert and frame lense) - very annoying.

About 2 or 3 years ago I used ocorner.co.za to cut a pair of prescription lenses for a oakley flak xl. Service was excellent, never been happier!!!

so happy I ordered another pair for driving.

can’t remember costs - was not cheap, but worth the money.

 

[DieselnDust]

8 hours ago, Caerus said:

That's the one thing I also had an issue with: getting the contacts onto my eyeball. 

I didn't think about the sweat part, is that a common problem do you think for people.

I don't know, but it is an issue for me. even when surfing, salt water splashing in my eyes is initially a problem. Once exposed for a few seconds the burning sensation goes away. I can afford that during a paddle out but i cant afford it when hurtling down singletrack and sweat drops onto my eye ball

[Daniel Christensen]

9 minutes ago, ACM said:

 

About 2 or 3 years ago I used ocorner.co.za to cut a pair of prescription lenses for a oakley flak xl. Service was excellent, never been happier!!!

 

Send me a pic of how your glasses look please

Edited January 5 by Daniel Christensen

[Caerus]

13 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

I don't know, but it is an issue for me. even when surfing, salt water splashing in my eyes is initially a problem. Once exposed for a few seconds the burning sensation goes away. I can afford that during a paddle out but i cant afford it when hurtling down singletrack and sweat drops onto my eye ball

I haven't thankfully got to that stage while bodyboarding yet where I would need contacts. I can understand it while riding though, way too many hazards.

[DieselnDust]

40 minutes ago, Caerus said:

I haven't thankfully got to that stage while bodyboarding yet where I would need contacts. I can understand it while riding though, way too many hazards.

hence i surf without anything. fortunately i'm far sighted

[Eddy Gordo]

I have a pair of adidas with the inserts. They are very convenient, but i tend to look pass the lense to the left and right and then I can see much. I am now using contacts and couldnt be happier

[David Marshall]

Stressful and expensive exercise.  A minefield to research because there are no "try before you buy" options.  Advice from other users is not always helpful because everyone's script is different. From what I can gather the heavier your script is the less curvature can be built into the lens which reduces the options available.

I started off with a Torga sport sunglass with my bifocal script.  Vision was brilliant BUT the frames were quite thick and limited my peripheral vision.  Not at all good for a roadie.  

Next pair was to go for a cycling sunglass with inserts.  Initially a disaster.  As mentioned sweat issues and in my case channelling the wind directly onto my eyeballs.  I worked with the supplier and a different frame improved things.  The inserts on the new one mount onto the frame as opposed to the special nose piece giving a more stable platform and holds the insert slightly further from the eye.  I still need to ride with a sweat band.

In hindsight a better option would have been to ditch the bifocal and just go for my distance script.  My computer has a large display and I can see it fine.  With the lower script rating the Optometrist could still make a more curved lens and fit to a frame like the Oakley Flak.  Then a credit card type reader to read the menu or fix a puncture.

[amac]

I use Rudy with inserts. More comfortable than contacts, but on long rides I do get irritated by sweat on and between the lenses. Also if riding is more technical, the glasses bounce more and vision is compromised. Also if its raining, can't see through glasses. So if I am riding technical terrain or if the weather looks dodge, I put a contact into one eye. If I wear in both I can't read my watch, gps, phone, nor can I see properly if anything goes wrong with the bike.  I think deteriorating eye sight is the most irritating part of aging ( at the moment, anyway.)