High definition Lenses

We've been asked a few times about "high Definition Lenses". This is really just a brand name that a company has decided to tag the lenses. The are basically the same as a Free Form lens in Trivex that we do. It offers the widest field of view in focus (Free Form technology) combined with Trivex (zero distortion) lens material. If want high definition, go with the Free Form Trivex lens on offered for almost all our products available with prescription lenses. Read more about Free Form prescription lenses. Add Free Form Prescription lenses to your cart here.

January Newsletter

Smith Optics Order now SAVE 10% Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Become A Friend Follow on Twitter Get Smart with Smith As the weather conditions change so can your lenses. The I/O is inspired by rimless fashion eye wear and driven by the need for interchangeable goggle technology, the I/O brings full interchangeability and a sleek rimless design. Not only is there wide variety in lens options but also in goggle color.  Go to http://www.sporteyes.biz/Eyewear-by-Brand/Smith/Smith-I-O-p707.html to check out more options.  Ring In the New Year With Smith Optics Fashionable Functional & Affordable This Month Smith Optics is our featured brand ORDER NOW and get 10% OFF any product.  Discount code for check out : JANNEWSLETTER Expires:  1/31/2011 Smith Optics have been around since 1965. Over the years Smith has gone on to set the standard for high performance eye wear and goggles. With a new year its time to upgrade your gear. With the snow and ski season go to out web site and check out all the goggle options. Smith does a great job at accommodating everyone with color and shape. Pivlock V90 These shades do not rest. The Pivlock V90  has been featured in numerous magazines with great reviews - Bicycling reports "interchange system is simple and intuitive" and the Competitor - "pure performance...an ultra light-weight pair of frame-less glasses with a single lens that offers wide range." KNOWLEDGE TURBO FAN OTG ANTHEM HEIRESS You will be pleased with a Perfect Fit! Through decades of experience and painstaking research and development, all Smith goggles are engineered to work in unison with the wide variety of human facial features.

Ski Goggle Fogging Question

Here is a chat transcript about single versus double lenses and fogging with ski goggles and prescritpion.

shannen: Hi, How can I help you today?
Visitor: I'm looking for a ski goggle that has a single prescription lens
shannen: The way the ski goggles work is there is a piece that carries the prescription and snaps inside the goggle. There is no technology for a full shield type goggle lens to have a prescription made into it. The only other option is for a sunglass type with foam where it has two separate lenses for the prescription to be built directly into the lens.
Visitor: The problem with two lenses is that the inner one tends to fog when one stops skiing.
shannen: You'll have more tendency to fog with a single lens than a double.
shannen: The point of a double lens it to prevent fogging.
shannen: The more temperature difference between the inside of the lens and the outside of the lens causes the fogging.
Visitor: Ok.  What are my options for a prescription solution?
shannen: So with a single lens, you have a larger difference between outside and inside temperature. The double lens provides a layer between your hot face and the cold air preventing fogging.
shannen: The best thing for fogging is the Smith Turbo goggle with the prescription insert.
shannen: The Turbo is a microfan inside the goggle that constantly generates wind to keep the lenses defogged.
shannen: The more airflow, the less chance of fogging. That is why you fog when you stop. You don't have the airflow anymore.
shannen: The fan keeps airflow going even when you stop.
Visitor: does it require a battery?
shannen: It does. It takes one AAA battery.
shannen: battery pack is integrated into the strap.
Visitor: Are there different types of turbo fan goggles?
shannen: Different styles? yes.
Visitor: Which style so you recommend?
shannen: Style wise is just personal preference. They fit different sized head as well. And then the Knowledge one is designed to fit over glasses.
Visitor: It looks like smith has several options for the lens types.  Which is best?
shannen: Depends on lighting conditions. The Ignitor is there best all around lens for various lighting conditions. The Sensor Mirror is more for low light and the Platinum mirror is more for bright light.
Visitor: From the pictures I've seen there are two options for the lenses, an insert and a attached (direct).  Either will work with the ignitor.
shannen: no there is no direct in option for the prescription lenses. There is the insert by itself with no lenses, then the insert with us making the prescription lenses. Those are the only two prescription options.
Visitor: So there is only one type of insert lens not two types that I was led to believe
shannen: no one type of insert.
shannen: I see on their site they offer the Uvex goggle. We used to offer that but it has been discontinued by the manufacturer so nothing like that left. If they have some it is old stock. It was discontinued about 3 years ago.
Visitor: Ok so how much is the Smith Phenom Turbo Fan model with the ignitor lense and does it come with the fog free coating?
shannen: You have to add the fog free coating for $65 more.
shannen: Goggle is $170.
Visitor: So the total cost is?
shannen: So $170 for goggle, $115 for insert with Rx lesnes and if you add the anti-fog coating, it would be $65 more for a total of $350
Visitor: Can I purchase these on-line?
shannen: yes.
shannen: http://www.sporteyes.biz/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=713
Visitor: Thank you Shannen, I'll get my prescription from my doctor tomorrow.
shannen: you're welcome.

November Newsletter

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Get ready for the Holidays!

1/2 Price Gift Certificates! From now until Thanksgiving, buy a $50 gift certificate for just $25!  Limit 1 per person.  Use Coupon Code XMASGIFTCERT at checkout. Gift certificates are emailed to you for printing.  Order gift certificates here:  http://www.sporteyes.biz/GIFTCERT-p728.html Use Flexible Spending Accounts As the year comes to an end, you might find that you need to spend that extra money in your flexible spending accounts for medical purposes.  Prescription eyewear counts!  Use your flexible spending money to get a new pair of sunglasses, sports goggles, ski goggles, swim goggles, etc.!  Next month, look for our buy one get one 1/2 off end of year promo. This is a great way to use your flexible spending money on muliple pairs of glasses! (will apply to certain products only) Other News at Sporteyes! We are often asked about an alternative to Rudy Project because of the high price point.  We've finally found something for you! Numa Optics now available at A Sight for Sport Eyes! We haven't updated them to the website yet, but you can check them out at http://www.numaoptics.com/.   These are a great alternative to Rudy Project at a much lower price point. They have the same ability to interchange prescription lenses direct in the frame without inserts, but at about 1/2 the price.  Look for them in the coming weeks. Switch Vision is also letting us sell online now! Look for those to be updated to the site soon.  They are like Rudy Project too, but interchange in a snap! They use magnets to hold the lenses in so even your two year old could swap your lenses!  They are similar in price to the Rudy Project but with one difference: 35% off the second, third, etc. pair of prescription lenses! That is a huge savings if you are going for multiple pairs of lenses.

Sports Eye Injury Prevention Month

Prevention is the key! Wear protective sports eyewear and prevent becoming a statistic. Having the best eyesight and protection provides the ultimate performance on the field or court. You don't want to be on the sidelines or in an emergency room. Besides, the styles are cool now so you no longer look like a geek when protecting your eyes. To encourage you to get protected, we are offering:


25% off prescription lenses

for select styles of Rec-Specs sports goggles (Maxx, Morpheus and Slam Series only). Must order by phone or online chat and mention code SEPTPROMO. ( 888-223-2669) . Limited to standard polycarbonate lenses (not free form or trivex). Transitions and polarized lenses are not available. Tints or other coatings are available as an add on.  Available only for prescriptions +3 to -4.00 with up to 2.00 cylinder. Cannot combine with other discounts/promotion codes. Ask customer service via phone for other restrictions/details. Valid for the month of September only.

Rec-Specs Helmet Specs 3 Availability

The answer is sort of. Technically, Rec-Specs is no longer selling the Helmet Specs 3 in the US. We at A Sight for Sport Eyes got special permission to still sell these in the US. As of today, we are still waiting for the shipment for the 50 and 53 eyesizes but expect to have them within 2 weeks. The 56 size is available. We have ordered 100 of these to last us through the football season but they are going fast and once the 100 go, we probably won't get another shipment until spring. So hurry up and get your order in now for these. This is the only style that Rec-Specs sells now that works with a football helmet. If you call Rec-Specs, they may tell you that the Maxx 21 is the style they are pushing instead to work with a helmet. But in our experience, it doesn't. For our local customers, we always have them bring there helmets in with them when purchasing football goggles to make sure we can test comfort with the helmet. The Maxx 21 has thick sides and we haven't been successful in store using this style with a helmet. It puts too much pressure on the side of the head and kids usually say it hurts. Thus, they end up getting the Helmet Specs 3 because of the more comfortable fit. The Helmet Specs 3 also comes with the skull cap that prevents the strap from sliding down the head when you take the helmet on and off. The Maxx 21 doesn't have this. We sell the Maxx 21 so we aren't trying to dissuade you from purchasing this model. This is a great model for other sports such as soccer, baseball, etc. They just don't work for a football helmet. If you have any questions, as always, please call us at 888-223-2669 or email us at admin@sporteyes.biz!

Understanding Lens options

Here is a transcript of a chat we had with a customer today that may help you better understand all the lens material and technology we offer on our site:
shannen: Hi, How can I help you today?
Visitor: Hi - I have a few questions. I am confused about the presciption lens options. I wonder if you could help me understand the order form and my options
shannen: sure. What are you confused about?
Visitor: I know that I want to order my sons sports goggles - Morpheus III in a transitions brown or amber polycarbonate leans. I would like to do some upgrades but it is hard to determine what combinations there are and how to order them
Visitor: First- I see options for colors Anber #1, Amber #2, AMber #3, etc. Does this apply to any polycarb lens including trivex or NXT or free form?
shannen: Don't want to add tints. These are already included in the transitions lenses. They apply to all lens materials but no need if you are doing transitions. You'd want to pick Transitions Brown (amber not available in Transitions).
Visitor: Are photochromic lenses also already tinted - do tey act like sunglasses that get darker?
shannen: They will be clear indoors and at night and tinted outdoors in the sun
Visitor: I am interested in either transitions or photochromic then, don't really know the difference. I want to get the goggles with a clear accuity all around the lens, like a free form technology or hoya - what am I looking at in terms of transistions versus photochromic then, and with these options which will allow for antiglare best
shannen: Transitions is the name brand for the photochromic lens we use so they are one in the same.
shannen: So the least distortion in the lens would be Trivex material.
shannen: So you'd want Trivex Transitions Brown
Visitor: How does free form come into play then?
shannen: As far as free form, that is just the manufacturing process of how the lenses are made.
shannen: Traditional lenses just come premade with the power in them and then they are cut to shape.
Visitor: the trivex leses?
Visitor: What is then the difference between NXt and free from and trixex?
shannen: Free form lenses start with no prescription and a computer generates a map of the prescription on to the lens. This results in better overall viewing area. With traditional lenses, the prescription is only accurate dead center of the lens and then the power changes throughout the lens. with free form lenses, you get a wider area that has the dead on prescription.
shannen: The Trivex is the lens material. NXT is a brand name for a specific Trivex lens.
shannen: I know it is a little confusing.
shannen: If you want the Free Form technology, I would go with the NXT Photochromic Brown.
shannen: If you don't want the Free Form technology, go with the Trivex Transitions Brown.
Visitor: Ok- its becoming clearer- can I get this with antiglare?
shannen: yes
shannen: Any of those options you can get the AR coating.
Visitor: Is this likely to scratch? the last ar coating he had got scratched up a lot
Visitor: Is there an antiglare technology where they set it into the lens, or is that going to cause me more problems
shannen: If you get a higher end coating, they hold up better but do scratch if not taken care of well. We sell a medium end coating and we do offer the high end ones. .They are $100 but don't think we have them on the site. Only in store but no reason why we can't add it. The problem with AR in a sports environment is that they have to be kept clean which is hard to do with dust, etc. Otherwise, they make glare worse.
Visitor: Yes- thats whats happening. What is polarization?
shannen: glare filter for horizontal glare, mostly effective on water or other high glare surfaces. Only available as a sunglass only so won't go clear.
shannen: I have to step out for a second. Be right back.
Visitor: ok
shannen: ok I'm back
Visitor: I see on your site that it the prescriptions read "tints included in polarized and photo lenses" and then several tints are listed including the ambers and different browns for $25 extra Does this apply to me if I were to order teh NXT photochromic lenses?
Visitor: Also, I see an option NXT polarized photochromic brown (50%-90%) - so these will look like sunglasses all the time?
shannen: No, the tint is already included on the photochromic lenses so you don't want to add a tint to it or it won't change to clear for indoor/night use.
Visitor: Oh Ok
shannen: The photo polarized lenses means that the lightest they get is 50% of the light coming through so they will always be like a sunglass
Visitor: HEre's another one...What is the difference between the free form trivex transitions and the nxt photochromic?
shannen: Nothing really. The NXT is just a brand name of a trivex material.
shannen: Transitions is another brand for a photochromic lens.
Visitor: So they do use the free form technology?
shannen: Yes, NXT only uses the Free form technology.
Visitor: ok - you have helped so much so quickly- I think I understand now that I want the NXT photochromic brown goggles and that they do not come in an amber (right?) and that if I were to get and antiglare I would need to get the coating and cant do the a polarized and photochromic/transitions lens thta starts clear ?
shannen: No amber in photochromic. There is two things on the glare. An anti-glare coating like you have on the regular glasses is designed for clear lenses to let more light in. Basically, on an uncoated lens, about 9% of the light is reflected off the lens in the form of glare. The Anti-reflective coating allows 99% of the light through that lens minimizing that reflective glare.
shannen: Polarized is completely different. Polarization is not a coating. It is a filter that is sandwiched between the lenses. It only works on a dark lens so it will not be clear. It specifically targets horizontal glare off reflective surfaces, not off the lens like the AR coating does. So it is used by fisherman often as it lets you see straight through the water.
Visitor: I am looking to block the glare form the sun and artifical lights on the field - this has been a big problem with glasses he wears
shannen: Ok glare from the sun would be a polarized lens but it wouldn't be clear at night or indoors. You'd need a separate pair if he plays at night or indoors. Glare from artificial lights would be helped by the Anti-reflective coating as that is light that is bouncing of the glasses. It can also be helped with a slight yellow or brown tint but only a level 1 tint as it helps to filter the blue light emitted from the stadium lighting.