PhotoChromic Glasses Explained - Everything You Need to Know

Learn about photochromic glasses! Photochromic lenses change from clear indoors to dark like sunglasses when you step outside. Today we review everything you need to know about photochromic lenses!

Sponsored by Zenni Optical

Photochromic glasses offer numerous benefits, making them a versatile choice for eyewear. These lenses automatically adjust their tint based on UV light exposure, remaining clear indoors and darkening outdoors to reduce glare. This adaptability provides convenience and comfort, eliminating the need for separate prescription sunglasses and reducing eye strain and fatigue.

One of the key advantages of photochromic glasses is their 100% protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays. This built-in UV protection helps prevent long-term eye damage, such as cataracts, photokeratitis, and skin damage. Additionally, modern photochromic lenses ensure excellent optical clarity and performance, providing clear vision in various lighting conditions.

These lenses are available in different materials and can be customized for various prescriptions and frame styles, making them suitable for various users and activities. With technological advancements, photochromic lenses now come in various colors, allowing wearers to maintain their style while enjoying functional benefits. By choosing photochromic glasses, you can enjoy all-in-one eyewear that adapts to your environment, protects your eyes, and enhances visual comfort and clarity.

The glasses I wear in this video

Black Frame I wear most of the video: (Ruby Lenses)

Gold Frame with Transitions® Gen S Ruby Lenses

Blue Frame with Transitions® Gen S Saphire Lenses

Geometric Frame with Transitions® Gen S Emerald Lenses

Clear Round Frames with Zenni photochromic Amber Lenses

Brown Frames with Zenni Photochromic Grey Lenses

Gold Round frames with Transitions® Drivewear

Additional Resources

✅ Recommended playlists:

Eyeglasses Tips and Tricks to help you!

💡 Videos for frequently asked questions:

Let’s Connect! Dr. Allen on Social Media:
TikTok: doctoreyehealth

#photochromic #glasses #zenni

0:00 Photochromic Glasses Explained
0:55 How photochromic lenses work
1:13 Benefits of Photochromic Lenses
2:21 Types of Photochromic Lenses
3:35 Transitions Drivewear
4:26 Transitions GEN S
5:09 Where to buy photochromic glasses

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[DoctorEyeHealth]

Do you have any other questions about photochromic lenses or any other questions about glasses lenses?

[brucesmith]

I have Transitions lenses at present and they’ve done well for me. Long ago, there used to be Photogray lenses but they were available only in glass lenses. Transitions are in plastic lenses including multifocal lenses, a nice plus. A couple observations:
- Photochromic lenses work best in cooler rather than in hot weather.
- Concave lenses appear to get darker than convex lenses (think how light is refracted in each lens type)

[TheCowthulu]

It might be good to go over what the Category of Sunglasses lenses are.

All Sunglasses should have on the left temple a number fallowed by a P for Polarized or an N for Non-Polarized. So for example a 3P would be category 3 Polarized.

Category levels:
Category 0: 0-20% light blocked
Category 1: 20-57% light blocked
Category 2: 57-82% light blocked
Category 3: 82-92% light blocked
Category 4: 92-97% light blocked

It’s rare to find category 4 on a sunglass as they are illegal to drive with. Category 2 and 3 are the most common with 3 being best for sunny weather and category 2 being good for cloudy weather.

[marksmith]

I’m a career law enforcement officer and I used to wear them. During a foot chase the bad guy ran into an abandoned house with no light. Since it was a day shift I didn’t have a light on my belt. Anyway it was a very clear dry cool day. The guy ran into the home and hid in a closet. As I searched the house I realized my glasses were not transitioning very quickly but I continued to search the home. I came to the walk-in closet and I having no idea where he was he ran out of the closet and shoved me backwards. Of course I fell in the junk and he took off. I caught up with him on the highway where he had both lanes stopped trying to pull an elderly man out of his truck. But the old man hung on until me and an off duty officer were able to get him in cuffs. The moral of the story, don’t use them in police work. It could get you hurt or killed.

[tjs]

My primary sunglasses for the last 4 years have been Transitions Drivewear which I've been very happy with. The lenses are multifocal and by default the Drivewear line are polarized (which I always make sure I get.) The lightest color of the lens is an olive green, then they shift to a copper color and finally brown is the darkest. But beware, these are sunglasses; they don't go clear like most transitions lenses.

[jrzills]

Thank you Dr Joseph Allen. Your eye care videos are interesting and informative. Have a great summer.

[FRACC]

I love those ruby lenses. They are gorgeous. Please showcase any of the new sunglasses that you added to your collection. I also love your sunglass collection video.

[ZERO_SVN]

Thanks for this great video. It helps me choose from new transitions colors 😊. I've been using photochromic lenses for a long time. Because I have a prescription, I can't use regular sunglasses. My prescription sunglasses are awesome, but moving from outdoor to indoor requires changing glasses, which is why photochromic has been my go-to for years. Best of both worlds. Transitions lenses are fast and get darker, but they cost more than Blockz or the generic photochromic option. I would love to see a video comparing Blockz photochromic vs Transitions vs the new EyeQ photochromic.

[davidc-l]

I've been wearing glasses for many, many years and Zenni has so far been my favorite glasses retailer (online or brick-and-mortar). Glasses from the eye doctor are too darn expensive for what you get!! Anyway, I've shied away from photochromic lenses mostly because I prefer my sunglasses to be a bit larger than my everyday glasses. But maybe I'll check out these new Gen S lenses from Zenni after I see my eye doctor later this week and she inevitably tells me I need a new prescription haha.

[raymondfryar]

Good info doc. I've been neglecting my eyes for several years by wearing reading glasses after loosing my prescription glasses, over the counter eye drops for dry and itching eyes when I think something else may be going on. After this neglect my eyes go on seeing like noble servants. Transition glasses my be worth a look no pun.

[palapeura]

I just got Transitions Gen S Ruby lenses. The first day I wore them my brain really struggled to "understand" the red tint, because even at midday the lighting conditions looked like sunset! But on the second day, I have to say they are growing onto me.

Green sunglass lenses are usually my favorite, due to how easy it is to enjoy nature through them, blues and greens look very pretty through them. I could still switch the Rubies to Emeralds if I don´t like the red, but the more I use them the more I enjoy them. Other people also seem to react positively to the red lenses. The pale shade when the color is just about to turn isn´t my favorite, but looks much more attractive than, say, a pale grey or brown.

The red lens is extremely comfortable for the eyes. I wore them yesterday for a midday walk on snow on a sunny day and I didn´t get any kind of eye strain. As I said, nature looks quite odd while wearing them but the comfort level is unquestionable.

These are my first photochromatic lenses, and I think I´ll buy ones in emerald green or sapphire blue some day. I did not expect this level of comfort and convenience. Fantastic purchase.

The Ruby is a cold shade of red which I do enjoy. They enhance contrast very well and make judging distances easy. I can see why shooters/archers etc use red lenses.

[frankiesalinas]

Hey Dr! Wanted to see if you had any thoughts on Zeiss Photofusion and if you were able to do a comparison between these and the Gen S! I would love to hear your thoughts

[Loraxsix]

Love Zenni! Affordable and good quality! My OG glasses outlasted my eye prescription! 🤣 Just received my order for my new script. The new transition lenses are indeed fast to change!

[vinnyheaphy]

I've saved this video to show to my eye doctor, I hope to see this week! You talked about using Red Therapy light devices but didn't know what frequency to use, well, I have the list of frequencies from Royal Rife that can be applied to a LED device, just got to get the device that you recommend!! Can you help me?!

[TheCowthulu]

While Dr. Allen did mention Transitions Gen S can get to a category 3 it’s important to know that they get anywhere in between clear and fully dark outside.

For example if you are walking on a tree shaded path the glasses are going to lighten up as the trees block a lot of the UV light. If you were to have Category 3 sunglasses on it might make that environment too dark but with Photochromatic they just reacted less and give a nice comfortable light transmission without being too dark.

[Peace-Out-Now]

Lots of good information here, thanks! By the way, Zenni's “in house” photochromic lenses work quite well and are very affordable.

[aleksandarbasaric]

What are the glasses you're wearing at 1:40 in the video? Thanks a lot

[DAS-Videos]

Is there an eye exercise to help reduce age related farsightedness? I currently need to use 2x reading glasses. My long range sight is pretty good.

[TradewithSalim]

These frames are awesome. Whats name of those frame?

[carriemeandro]

I have the Zenni photochromic and I love them, I also have the Ruby Transitions. They are both awesome!