What Are Photo chromatic Lenses: Benefits and Disadvantages

Photochromic glasses or lenses were a big step forward in the world of lenses. But what exactly does it mean for a glass to be photochromic?

Photochromic lenses are those whose lenses darken or lighten depending on how bright they are at all times. When sunlight (or ultraviolet) falls on them, they darken. And on the contrary, in the absence of light, they become apparent.

An advantage for use in some sports that are carried out outdoors, such as cycling. In fact, it is important to clarify that this photochromic property of the lenses only works outdoors when exposed to ultraviolet light and not under artificial light.

As we said, photochromic sunglasses are ideal for sports with continuous changes in light conditions, such as golf, cycling or even triathletes who participate in “IronMan” style races (which last day and night).

Of course, not all advantages are positive. Therefore, below, we will discuss the different benefits and drawbacks of prescription sunglasses so that you can decide if this type of glasses is an interesting option for you. Designeroptics.com offers prescription sunglasses.

Advantages of using Photochromatic Lenses:

• They adapt to the moment's brightness: This is their most significant advantage, par excellence and the central core of their appeal. In the sports mentioned, often practised for hours, it is common for the luminosity to change throughout the day and is equipped with photochromic type glasses to avoid the athlete the hassle of having to remove the lenses or change to another type of glasses, darker or lighter. In cases with a change in brightness, the glasses will not reduce your vision at all, on the contrary, it will adapt to the conditions.
• Protection and comfort: By not having to go around taking off and putting on our glasses depending on the brightness, we avoid getting something in our eye during sports and distractions, and it is simply more comfortable. In addition, all photochromic glasses have 100% protection against UVA rays, that is, against the sun's rays that are harmful to the health of our eyes.

Disadvantages of Using Photochromatic Lenses:

• Adaptation to light is not instantaneous: Lenses do not adapt to changes in light instantly but usually take about a minute; in some cases, it can even take hours. It will also depend on the environment we find ourselves in and whether we continuously go from light to dark.
• They lose effectiveness: In general, the photochromic effect eventually loses effectiveness, and the crystals turn yellowish or greyish. They are not suitable for cases where there is extreme exposure to sunlight (such as in the snow when skiing).
• Only outdoors: As mentioned above, this type of photochromic lens will not help you in closed spaces, such as inside the car, since the windshields have ultraviolet filters that prevent these crystals from being activated.
• Limited by temperature: Sometimes, it happens that with very high temperatures, they do not darken, and on the contrary, with frigid temperatures, they do not clear. At higher temperatures, the photochromic lens darkens much less. In areas of the beach with higher temperatures, it can cause problems, so it is interesting to check the temperature ranges in which the lenses perform effectively before purchasing them. In the same way that with too much heat, they do not darken; in icy situations, photochromic glasses become very dark. This, depending on the situation, can force you to remove your glasses because sometimes it can take hours to return to their normal state.

Despite the drawbacks above, it is essential to note that most disadvantages are caveats rarely found and that photochromic glasses are still an excellent option for sports such as cycling.

Therefore, if you love outdoor sports and are looking for quality glasses that allow you to practice optimal and comfortable sports, do not hesitate to get yourself some photochromic glasses; they will become your best ally.