Cycling glasses with prescription: Models, alternatives and expert tips

"Good vision!", Carina Freytag-Hafen wishes us as we leave her shop, Optik Marx in Munich-Schwabing, carrying her Evil Eye Trace Pro cycling glasses with varifocal lenses. We had another pair of glasses fitted by Walter Drum at Optik Messbacher, another experienced sports optician from Munich: the Flak 2.0 from Oakley in the XL version. In addition to the Oakley Plazma or Radar EV models, the half-frame glasses with separate lenses are ideal for optical correction.

Prices for cycling glasses with prescription

This much in advance: these visual aids are not made quickly and cheaply. The Evil Eye costs 830 euros including ground lenses, while the Oakley glasses cost 850 euros.

But "good vision" on a road bike is also fundamentally important at the crucial moment, whether it's catching the braking point on a fast descent before a bend or recognising what's going on around you out of the corner of your eye during a bike race. Less serious, but far more annoying in everyday cycling, is when the numbers or map view on the bike computer appear blurred.

Glasses? Contact lenses?

Everyday glasses are usually not an option for road cycling. Their small, almost vertical lenses, which are usually not tinted, provide little protection from the wind, flying insects and the sun. The corner of the eye does not meet the ground glass, so this area remains blurred. The glasses also slip easily on a sweaty nose and head.

Many cyclists get on well with contact lenses and sunglasses - but they also know that the system can reach its limits if sweat is constantly running into the eyes or rain and splashing water wash out the lenses. To ensure that you can continue to enjoy your favourite sport without restrictions, it's worth visiting a sports optician, where prescription cycling glasses are available. "Even cyclists who wear glasses often don't realise that prescription cycling glasses are also available," marvels Walter Drum, himself an active racing cyclist. The demand is constantly increasing, because in an ageing society, presbyopia is also on the rise - with the effect that the lens of the eye can no longer focus so well at close range. We notice this at the latest when our arms are too short to bring the mobile phone display into focus.

Cycling glasses with prescription: more and more offers

The good news is that more and more manufacturers are responding to this development. The selection of cycling goggles for direct glazing is growing, as is the range of models to which you can at least attach optic clips - like goggles in goggles. The Siols road cycling glasses are particularly suitable for optical clips with a very large correction range. According to our research, nine manufacturers now offer direct glazing (Adidas, Bollé, Evil eye, Gloryfy, Julbo, Oakley, Rudy Project, Swisseye, Uvex, Siols); many opticians also fit sports glasses from other brands with ground lenses that do not offer this option themselves. Qualified sports opticians can be found via the Central Association of Opticians (ZVA) or via the website of the Kuratorium Gutes Sehen e.V. (www.sehen.de).

And: Demand is also worthwhile at eyewear discounters such as Fielmann or Apollo-Optik.

Technically, the correction of sports glasses is more demanding than that of everyday glasses. "Due to the slightly inclined lenses or discs and the tilted head position on a racing bike, the corrective cut must be adjusted accordingly," explains Walter Drum. This is why not all sports eyewear models and tints are suitable for prescription grinding; and even with actually suitable eyewear, the possibilities are limited, more than six dioptres can rarely be realised. Generally, glasses with a full frame and two separate lenses, self-tinting lenses and selected single-lens models are suitable for correction. The trendy shield models are poorly suited for direct glazing if their lens does not fit tightly enough around the head. With a varifocal model, i.e. a corrected cut that enables sharp vision at both near and far distances, the lens must be large enough for the transition area between these two zones.

A lot to consider when customising

Measuring the eyes for sports glasses requires more effort than for everyday glasses due to the large lenses and their strong curvature (the base curve). The biggest difference is that the corrective cut must be adapted to the inclined position of the racing cyclist's head and enable a sharp image right into the corner of the eye. Other important parameters are the pupil distance and the height: this refers to the level at which the eyes look through the glasses in the racing bike position - which depends on the individual fit of the glasses. In our examples, the consultation and measurement each took a good hour, with a delivery time of five working days for the Evil Eye and ten for the Oakley.

The varifocals from Evil Eye have been corrected for a slight visual impairment at close range between +0.25 and +0.75 dioptres with a cylinder of -0.75. The first impression: The glasses do not differ externally from the standard model without correction. In the case of severe defective vision, this can be recognised by the fact that the lenses become very thick towards the edge because more material is needed to correct more severe defective vision.

Cycling goggles with prescription unfamiliar at first

On the other hand, the first view on the road bike trial round was unusual. It seemed as if head and eye movements no longer fitted together properly. If you tilted your head towards the bike computer in the usual way with new glasses, the display remained blurred - the result of "ingrained" movement patterns that all spectacle wearers report when wearing varifocals for the first time. You just have to get out of the habit of tilting your head, because now you can see through the lower, corrected area of the glasses. Optician Freytag-Hafen pointed out to us at the handover that it would take some time for the eyes and brain to get used to the new vision. Test wearer Alisa Rathke reports a similar experience - with the opposite sign - about her first experiences with the Oakley Flak 2.0 corrected for distance vision.

Long-term experience

The two TOUR authors Jörg Wenzel and Jörg Spaniol gave up trying out contact lenses and optical clips years ago and invested in direct glazed racing glasses. As a result, they have already gained a lot of experience with prescription cycling glasses. Jörg Wenzel's tip: "In cycling glasses with progressive lenses, the near range is often set to 60 centimetres. However, this can be too much for the classic riding position on a racing bike. I get on better with the usual distance for varifocals of 30 to 40 centimetres."

Jörg Spaniol reports that the transition zone of his varifocals initially irritated him greatly. He also recommends being very critical of the optician's measurements and advice and, if in doubt, asking more questions. "You can't get used to glasses that don't fit your eyesight perfectly, and you shouldn't try. Under certain circumstances, the only option is to exchange them."

Both sports spectacle wearers have one more tip in common: for cycling glasses with prescription, the tint should not be too dark; this makes them more versatile and provides better vision in all seasons.

Cycling glasses with prescription - an overview

• Adidas
• Bollé
• Evil Eye
• Gloryfy
• Julbo
• Oakley
• Rudy Project
• Swisseye
• Uvex
• Siols (no direct glazing - with clip system)#

The models in detail

Adidas

• Price single vision/ varifocal: not specified
• Delivery time4 to 5 working days
• ModelsSP models, all ACTV models
• Filters, tints: not specified
• Dioptre range: -5.5 to +4.5 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 4,00 / 4 to 8

+ many models, favourable for single vision lenses, correction range, optical clips

- no information on website, no information on filters, small dioptre range

Conclusion

Many Adidas models are suitable for ground lenses, optical clips are available from 190 euros; freely accessible information on the website is scarce, but there is a large dealer network. Numerous models can also be glazed for other sports.

Bollé

• Price single vision/ varifocal: not specified / 322 Euro
• Delivery time10 working days
• Modelsalmost all models
• Filters, tintsall tints from cat. 1 to 4
• Dioptre range: -8.00 to +6.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 4,00 / until 8

+ many models, all filters and tints, large correction range

- none

Conclusion

Very wide range of models suitable for corrective lenses, plus all filter variants and tints are possible. Informative website (keyword "glazing programme"), the cut is adapted depending on the focus of use for sport or everyday life.

Evil Eye

• Price single vision/ varifocal: 549 Euro / 829 Euro
• Delivery time10 working days
• Modelsall models except Shield glasses
• Filters, tints: all filters from "Space"
• Dioptre range: -6.00 to +6.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 4,00 / until 8

+ many models, few restrictions on filters, production in Austria, various frame sizes

- none

Conclusion

Evil Eye offers many options for optical correction, including direct glazing, optical clips and so-called adapter glazing, which also allows the correction of trendy shield glasses; information on this can be found on the website.

Gloryfy

• Price single vision/ varifocal418 Euro / not specified
• Delivery time10 to 14 working days
• Modelssix "G" models
• Filters, tints15 tints
• Dioptre range: -4.00 to +3.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 2,00 / until 8

+ Many tints including self-tinting filters possible, large dealer network

- confusing website, model selection not transparent

Conclusion

The Austrian brand is known for its flexible and robust spectacles. Wide range of models, but relatively narrow correction range for mild to moderate defective vision. Information and selection of cycling glasses with prescription hardly possible via the website. Relatively large dealer network.

Julbo

• Price single vision/ varifocal: 299 Euro / not specified
• Delivery time7 working days
• ModelsUltimate, Rush, models of the Aero series
• Filters, tints: Reactiv and Spectron filters; 13 basic tints
• Dioptre range: -6.00 to +4.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 3,00 / until 8

+ Large selection of models, many filters and tints, also optic clips for many models

- none

Conclusion

Informative website; the selection of models, filters and tints from the French company is wide-ranging; optical clips are also available for many models, such as those used by the far-sighted professional cyclist David Gaudu from Groupama-FDJ.

Oakley

• Price single vision/ varifocal190 Euro / 490 Euro
• Delivery time10 working days
• ModelsFlak 2.0, Plazma, Radar EV, other models on request
• Filters, tints: depending on consultation
• Dioptre range: not specified
• Cylinder/Curve: not specified

+ years of experience in glazing spectacles, many partner opticians

- Long delivery time

Conclusion

The selection of models and filters is large, but requires precise consultation with the partner optician. This means that highly individualised solutions are possible, which is why Oakley does not provide any general information on the correction range.

Rudy

• Price single vision/ varifocal: not specified
• Delivery time7 to 10 working days
• Models: 8 models
• Filters, tintsphotochromic, polarised filters, 6 tints
• Dioptre range: -5.00 to +4.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 3,00 / until 8

+ lots of experience, large selection of models, filters and tints, very informative website

- none

Conclusion

A speciality of Rudy Project are the models with "Direct Clip" plus "Flip up", where the tinted lens can be folded upwards out of the field of vision. The huge stock of spare parts, including parts for older models, is easy to service.

Swisseye

• Price single vision/ varifocal: not specified
• Delivery time: 20 working days
• Models: 16 models
• Filters, tintsStandard tints, photochromic
• Dioptre range: -3.00 to +3.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: k. A. / up to 8

+ Large selection of models, filters and tints, clear information on the website, optic clips also possible

- Limited dioptre range, long delivery time

Conclusion

A wide range of spectacle models and filters, optical clips are available as well as Nylor glazing (half-frame frame with thread fixation of the lenses); the free hotline for an initial consultation is service-friendly.

Uvex

• Price single vision/ varifocal: 269 Euro / 499 Euro
• Delivery time7 to 10 working days
• ModelsRXd 4000 to 4006
• Filters, tintsColourvision, Polarvision, Variomatik, Cat. 1 to Cat. 3
• Dioptre range: -5.00 to +5.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: 3,00 / until 8

+ Many filter and tint variants, large correction range, optics clips

- Only the full-frame models in the RXd range are suitable for glazing

Conclusion

The range of directly glazable sports eyewear is clear and limited to full-frame models; there are hardly any restrictions on filters and tints, and optical clips are available for five other models.

Individual case - Siols (no direct glazing)

• Price single vision/ varifocal: not specified
• Delivery time: not specified
• ModelsAero-Cycling
• Filters, tints: 7 filters and tints
• Dioptre range: -15.00 to +15.00 /
• Cylinder/Curve: k. A. / n. A.

+ Many filter and tinting options, clever clip fixation, even severe ametropia can be corrected

- Small variety of models

Conclusion

Modular system consisting of sports glasses and an innovative optical clip in two sizes, which also sits behind the lens but is attached to the frame from the front and snaps firmly into place. The ground lenses for the clip are produced by partner opticians.

A small encyclopaedia about seeing

Presbyopia (presbyopia)

Presbyopia (presbyopia, presbyopia) is caused by the ageing of the lens of the eye. It becomes noticeable from around the age of 45. As with actual long-sightedness, those affected have problems reading at a normal reading distance.

Astigmatism

Refers to the curvature of the cornea; this leads to an abnormal refraction of light rays, so that point-shaped objects do not appear as dots on the retina, but are rod-shaped and blurred.

Dioptres (DPT value)

The dioptre value indicates how much the refractive power of the eye deviates from the norm and how strong spectacle lenses or contact lenses need to be to correct the visual impairment. Long-sighted people have positive (+) values, short-sighted people have negative (-) values. From dioptre values of +/- 1.00, a permanent visual aid is recommended.

Curve

Refers to the curvature of spectacle lenses with numerical values between 1 and 10. The more defective vision a pair of spectacles has to correct, the lower the maximum possible curve.

Short-sightedness (myopia)

Short-sighted people recognise close objects or people without any problems, but see distant objects indistinctly and blurred. This is because the eyeball is too long, the refractive power of the lens is too high or both. As a result, the incoming rays of light are not focussed on the retina, but in front of it. The result is a blurred image.

Farsightedness (hyperopia)

Farsighted people recognise distant objects or people well, but see close objects indistinctly and blurred. This is because the eyeball is too short, the refractive power of the lens is too low or both. As a result, the incoming rays of light are only focussed into a sharp image behind the retina. Young people in particular can usually compensate for the visual impairment through accommodation (changing the refractive power through conscious muscle contraction).

Cylinder

The cylinder is a value, measured in dioptres, which compensates for the effects of astigmatism.

More about glasses

Cycling glasses with prescription: Favourable alternatives

If you are one of those long-sighted people who can no longer see the computer or smartphone display clearly, there are inexpensive options in the form of cycling glasses with a reading zone or flexible lenses that can be glued into your own cycling glasses. Experts recommend both options as a temporary or replacement solution. Due to the less than optimal optical quality and the fact that the correction is not exactly adapted to the individual's visual impairment, for example in the case of unequal visual impairment in the left and right eye, they sometimes take a critical view of the long-term use of such visual aids.

Black Sun Eagle Five

• Price: 54,90 Euro
• Dioptres: +1,5/+2,0/+2,5/+3,0

Hydrotac optical adhesive lenses

• Purchase: Online and specialised trade
• Price: from approx. 39 euros >> available here
• Dioptres: +1,25/+1,50/+2,00/+2,50/+3,00