Darius From Netherlands, joined Jul 2001, 141 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 4066 times:
Hello,
What are the factors to be taken into account while buying sunglasses (uncorrected, I don't wear glasses)?
And are there special factors applying to pilots, because of working high in the sky, or maybe for other reasons?
I am starting ATPL training, and I need some sunglasses anyway, but I want to buy good ones, and if applicable, taking into account flying for a living as well.
Illini_152 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1000 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 4042 times:
None really; personally I always look for ones with quality glass lenses. I stick with Ray Ban, because after years of wearing Rx glasses, I can tell when I'm looking through cheap plastic. Nothing is clearer than glass. It is also resistant to scratches.
Minor drawback is it will shatter on impact. I have yet to have this problem; any blow sharp enough to shatter optical glass will more than likely knock the lense out of the frame.
Look for a color that doesn't distort other colors; stay away from the cheap drugstore mirror finish crap. You don't want something that will block out too much light, but will provide 100% UV protection.
Another thing to think about, depending on what you're flying is the temple piece. A large plastic one that sticks out from your head will ruin the seal around a headset and let outside noises in.
Also, stay away from polarized lenses. They can play havoc with LCD screens, cause weird patterns in curved plexiglass, and most distrubingly, block out reflected light. That may sound good, but many times the only way I've spotted traffic is the glint of sunlight off their wings reflecting back at me.
- Mike
Happy contrails - I support B747Skipper and Jetguy
Bsergonomics From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2002, 462 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 4005 times:
Also, big sunglasses went out in the 80's. Unfortunately, I believe that they're a MUST for flying. It's incredible how much your eyes adapt to bright lights (like the sun) in your peripheral vision. So, large, UV-protection, non-polaralising ones are your best bet. That said, I'm sure others will have different opinions...
The definition of a 'Pessimist': an Optimist with experience...
Ralgha From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 1614 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 3997 times:
Small, wrap-around glasses block out more peripheral light than large, non-wrap-around glasses do.
B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3987 times:
In any case - no matter what your choice, do not buy "polarized" lenses...
With the windshield in airline type aircraft, you blank out all vision...
Most pilots select "Ray Ban"... there are excellent "military issues" available as well in surplus stores...
(s) Skipper
BlatantEcho From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1802 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3965 times:
ok, I just made a three page post about eyewear and deleted it............ARG!!!
anyway, I'll retype it, but damn am I pissed.
The point was: this is what I do, training to take the opticans test and be a certified dispensing optician.
I just had finished my second page about frames, and was going to start on lense choices.......ARG!!!!!!!!!!!
Cx flyboy From Hong Kong, joined Dec 1999, 6057 posts, RR: 57 Reply 7, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3979 times:
I used to wear a small pair of Bolles with the blue polarized lenses (Blue looking from outside in only), but found them too small. Then I had a pair of CKs and now I wear RayBans. A lot of crew in my airline like Serengettis as well. I actually prefer glasses I can see round the side of. Often looking outside is so bright, that looking inside is very dark through the sunglasses, so I tilt my head back and look at the instruments below my glasses, if the sun is really extreme that day. Everyone has different preferences. Buy something you feel most comfortable with.
BlatantEcho From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1802 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3963 times:
FRAMES
Look for lightweight, bigger plastic frames with lots of wrap. You need a frame with a high base curve so it will sit close to your brow line. Gaps near the top and sides are no good. Glare/UV/extra light gets in, defeating the purpose of the frames.
Consider Oakleys/Persols....I work in a super high end optical shop (glasses run $1000+ is not unusual) We don't sell Ray Bans, though I hear they are fine. I have a pair of Serengeties, which are mediocre at best.
I sell lots of Oakleys to older gentlemen who golf. There are many more conservative style than you might thing, plus Oakley stands behind their stuff, generally for life.
If you are getting RX sunglasses, consider a smaller frame and high index lenses to cut down on thickness and weight.
Metal frames I generally won't sell to people, weight penalty is too much for long comfort and plastic is now as durable.
LENSES
Three types of lense material. Glass, CR-39 (plastic), and POLYCRABONATE.
Glass--heavy, bulky and thick, we avoid as much as possible. Mostly old men who are dead set on their ways get glass. We only turn a few glass jobs a month.
CR-39--the honda of lenses. With proper coatings, will resist scratches for a long time, light weight, optics very clear.
Some people mentioned impact resistant. That is POLYCARBONATE. Optics not quite as clear as CR-39, almost negligable though. On impact, will crack, but not shatter. Occupational lenses, or people who might be doing light trade work, young kids, or any sporting, Polycarbonte is a MUST. A bit lighter weight, but more expensive, by about $109 at our store over CR-39.
COATINGS and STORE POLICY
Scratch Coating- We include one on every pair, just helps keep the lenses from those little nicks that mess up the optics.
Anti-Reflective Coating- Reduces glare, though I can't attest through a aircraft windscreen. Helps night time driving in cars though, ask your optomotrist, should help in cockpit. *note A/R coatings are a bit harder to keep clean. You will notice smudges and such a bit more. Have your optical shop give you a few cleaning clothes (should be at no charge) and some solution to help you clean them. A/R coating also looks more professional, to be blunt, you see less reflection in the lense, much cleaner look.
Polarization- Lamination layed in a lense that eliminates glare. Great for water activity, especially fishing. HOWEVER, as someone mentioned, and I can't speak on experience, but polarization should interfere with your vision out of the cockpit windscreen. It might not in a GA aircraft, but best bet is to avoid. Your windscreen should be treated in ways to lessen glare anyway.
Photocramatic - Change from clear inside to full sunglasses outside. Great choice for RX wearers, BUT!, your windscreens should be treated to stop UV rays, and in this case, they WILL NOT CHANGE TO SUNGLASSES WITHOUT UV EXPOSURE. Unless you're in an open top cockpit, don't waste your money.
WARRANTY INFORMATION- Our shop will replace any lenses that scratch, one year from your purchase. No matter what. We sell lenses in some cases in excess of $600, should they scratch for ANY reason, it happens, we replace them for a $12 shipping charge. Find a place that does the same. You need to be comfortable with your purchase, it is a lot of money. A good, quality optical shop will stand behind their products for years.
Clip-Ons- Well, I usually tell people not to bother. We can make a custoum clip on for any frame type, any size. However, the weight penalty, lack of full wrap, I avoid selling to customers unless they will be used for light duty use only. We sell them for around $109-$139, so you can get yourself some decent Oakleys for about that anyway......
In short, talk to your optomotrist. Plane (pun) and simple. They will know best what protection your eyes need. And finally, please don't cut corners and get cheap products. Your eyes are so very important to your profession, they need the very best protection. We use Zeiss, Pentax, Sola and few other brand lenses, SPEND THE MONEY, GET QUALITY. The cost over a few years time is worth it. Your eyes will thank you.
I hope this is of use to you when deciding your optical needs, clear skies (another pun!)
George
BlatantEcho From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1802 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3954 times:
I appolgize for the typos, after writing 3 pages and having it deleted, I rushed this last one, how frustrating.
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7306 posts, RR: 70 Reply 10, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3950 times:
Hello everyone. I am the resident optometrist here.
Blatant Echo did a lot of work for me already. Thanks
Usually I advocate Poloroid lenses and/or an A/R(antireflective) coat. But that varies according to my patient's needs.
"stay away from polarized lenses. They can play havoc with LCD screens One optician I met DID stop offering polaroid's to pilots. However, not many pilots are willing to give up their polaroids. And even a corporate pilot who I examined last week said his issues with the LCDs are minimal at best. Just goes to show that all patients have different needs and perceptions.
A/R coats are nice but I overwarn them that they have to take care of the coating otherwise it'll scratch easy.
GENERALLY, go with this. But it all varies as per my patients' needs. This is foremost!
In order, I suggest the following lens coating options:
1. Polaroid lenses
2. A/R coat
3. a gradient gray tint
As far as the lens material itself, I suggest:
1. hi index
2. polycarbonate
3. cr-39
4. glass
For frames, it's no holds barred.
Blatant, glad to see another eye person aboard!
Be well! And check your eyes once a year, even if "I see good!"
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 3916 times:
I second what many have said. I wear glasses out of necessity and a couple of years ago I tried a pair of no-line bifocals with the (I don't remember the trade name) "auto-darkening" lenses. I'm very happy with the combination, it has worked well for me - I only have to use my dark glasses (G15??? gray tint - the same tint as in the Air force issued glasses) when we happen to be flying directly into the sun. I have tried the polarizing lenses with the EFIS systems, regardless of what some might say, stay a way from them you can get a lot of distortion when you least need it. I had to stop using mine - they're great for fishing though. Personally, I'd recommend buying the best protection that you can afford. This isn't something that you want to scrimp on if you're going to be doing any significant amount of flying.
Jetguy
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7306 posts, RR: 70 Reply 12, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 3913 times:
Ops forgot to add that Photochromic lenses often times will NOT activate behind WINDSHIELDS (auto or otherwise).
The windshields themselves often have their OWN UV coating so the photochromic lens will not work.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
Shaun3000 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 445 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 3883 times:
I wear Oakleys because, in my opinion, they are very good sunglasses and the optical quality of the lenses is wonderful. One piece of advice, make sure whatever sunglasse syou have will fit under your headset.
Pmk From United States of America, joined May 1999, 664 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3802 times:
I wear Polaroid lenses, they are polarized however I have found that NAME BRAND Polaroid lenses do not cause the distortion on windshields and LCD/CRT panels that other polarized lenses do.
BlatantEcho From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1802 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days ago) and read 3782 times:
Pmk, please define what you mean by name brand polarized lenses. Are you referring to the actual lens, or complete frame?
A polarized lens should distort an LCD screen. That's the nature of the polarization. A better brand might be less susceptible to bubbling when cut and edge into a frame, but the optical polarization, well, I don't know what you might mean.
Polarization is basically overlayed and overlapping black lines, embedded into the lens blank, usually 3 layers. They block out light that is not directly introduced to the lens. Surface glare is bouncing/curving waves of light, hence it is blocked out.
I have no experience with "non name brand" polarized lenses. But polarized lenses should all give distortion/problems with LCD and similar panels.
Darius From Netherlands, joined Jul 2001, 141 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 3744 times:
Everyone, thanks a lot for your answers (especially BlatantEcho for your detailed post, typed and retyped ). This topic together with some additional research on the net has given me a good basic view on the ins and outs of sunglasses.
Cheers!
Ejazz From United Arab Emirates, joined May 2002, 700 posts, RR: 36 Reply 17, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 3744 times:
I think it was Balpa or Alpa a year or so ago that did a detailed study into various brands of sunglasses to determine those best suited to flying. The study went into depth regarding the lens material, quality of the lens, UVA, B and C resistance, and comfort amongst other items. The brand that came out tops was Revo, so I bought a pair and have not looked back since. Clearly out classes Ray Ban and Serengettis.
I can't find the article but I can remember some of the important suggestions, such as a non-reflective coating on the inside of the lens, slight yellow tints worked best in the hazy, blue flying conditions, do not buy polaroids or glasses that darken with more light, and opt for wrap arounds if it at all possible.
Pmk From United States of America, joined May 1999, 664 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3671 times:
BlatantEcho:
My sunglasses are "xoor vision" model 2208 in silver, produced lock, stock, and barrel by polaroid. I have used polarized lenses made by companies other than Polaroid and have had problems with distortion on LCD panels, not had a problem with the Polaroids at all. I find them to be the best sunglasses I have ever owned, and I have had Ray Ban, Oakley, the lot!
BlatantEcho From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1802 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 3620 times:
I have limited experience with Xoor frames, the ones I have seen have a weird wrap design to them, squared off temples with tiny lenses there.
Anyway, I think there is some confussion with the Polarization. It is a three layer coating that is inbedded in the lense blank. Polarid, the company or camera, has nothing to do with prescription eyewear as far as I know.
Polarization is done by a number of companies, and again, is just a proccess of reducing glare in a lense.
By nature, polarized lenses should all distort and make unreadable, a standard LCD screen.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 28886 posts, RR: 67 Reply 21, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 3609 times:
Safety tip:
DO NOT WEAR POLORIZED SUNGLASSES WHEN FLYING FLOATS
I wear polorized lenses when I fish, they make it easy to spot the fish in the water, just try and picture judging you weight above the water a 50 odd knots in a floatplane on landing.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6193 posts, RR: 16 Reply 22, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3604 times:
I have a piar of serengeties and I'm happy with them, but I've never tried anything more expensive.
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3104 posts, RR: 38 Reply 23, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3596 times:
The most important thing to look for in a pair of shades if you use a noise attenuating headset is that the earpieces don't alter the seal of the headset to the point where sound suppresion is greatly diminished.
I don't use noise attenuating headsets so I can pretty much wear what I want.
I wear a pair of Oakley Halfjackets.
Frame is plastic, lens is polycarbonate coated with iridium.
Optical quality is top notch. Price is exhorbinant. $100.00
You can pay up to $300 for a pair of metal frame Oakleys.
Pilot magazine rated Oakley's as the number one glasses in lens performance.
Notar520AC From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1606 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (9 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 3461 times:
Okleys tested tops as far as visibility, sun glare, etc. I'm not sure which model though...
Silverfox From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 1048 posts, RR: 0 Reply 25, posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3405 times:
just a nit pick here
Polarised lenses will not affect reflected light from metal.. only refrqacted light from water and glass.
A simple test will prove it.
So Illini -152 polarised are ok to get the glint from wings... BUT NOT the glint from windows!!
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