garcon magnifique Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Thought I'd split this out from the M3 thread. Having just had an eye test I now have a new prescription. Good news is my sight has only deteriorated slightly, so I still use specs just for driving, tv, watching live sport etc. Don't wear any for day to day or reading. I've got a pair of specs with clear lenses on order for tv and driving at night. What I need is another pair for driving in daylight and other outdoors stuff that I actually want to see at distance. I understand the advantages of polarised lenses for cutting out glare and reflection, definitely an advantage for driving in certain conditions. I did wonder whether that might also make it more difficult to see wet/damp patches on the road. And although new digital dash and info displays seem to be ok, polarised lenses render HUD invisible. Bearing in mind I do most of my driving in the UK rather than California, are polarised lenses actually worthwhile? Transitions Drivewear look very sexy but so does a head up display. Which led me to wonder, as polarised lenses and HUD appear to be mutually exclusive, which is actually the better safety device in our weather and on our busy roads? P.S. I have reached the conclusion that the biggest problem with the internet is that there is far too much information on EVERYTHING and most of it is wrong. (So here's to adding more. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 P.P.S. Am I over obsessing again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I have polarised lenses, can't say I really notice any difference to normal lenses other than looking at the 'check out our amazing polarised lenses' display in the shops. Mine are Maui Jim so hardly cheap ones either, probably won't bother with polarised next time. Most displays are fine with polarised lenses these days too, not many you can't see, only really older stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Yeah, from reading (far too much ), it seems the only problem on newer cars is with HUD. Which makes sense cos it's fundamentally a reflection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I have had polarising prescription sunglasses for years. I never had any problems with the HUD on my E60. I only have a problem with the shiny visor on my race helmet. It's slightly shaded and I think has a polarising filter of its own, so the two interfere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-bmw Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 HMMM, that would be a bit worrying..................... Mr P on the start line drops his visor & becomes blind!!!!!!! That would make the first corner a bit of a worry! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Two polarising filters will clash, a lot of LCD screens use polarising filters on the screen, our taxi computers in the car use them as they are fairly old tech, it's normally the orientation of the filters that makes them clash. If you rotate one of them the screen normally becomes visible again at about 45 degrees, obviously you can't rotate glasses inside a helmet, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 That's where he's been going wrong by trying to rotate the car around the glasses rather than the other way around. Anyway, back on topic - when do you get the new car? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I have had polarising prescription sunglasses for years. I never had any problems with the HUD on my E60.According to the internetz that means your shades can't have been very good at polarising. According to the internetz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 HMMM, that would be a bit worrying..................... Mr P on the start line drops his visor & becomes blind!!!!!!! That would make the first corner a bit of a worry! I did check before I wore them on track… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Dare I be the first to suggest that on some opening laps *not* being able to see what's going on might be a bonus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) I've tried that in heavy rain. Trust me, no matter how scary lap 1 is, not being able to see is even scarier Edited January 29, 2016 by patently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-bmw Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Except for everyone around you, that is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) I'm sure you'll all be hugely relieved to know that after a tiresome... sorry, tireless amount of (subsequently ignored) reading on the internet and another visit to the opticians, I have solved the specs conundrum by ordering a pair with Transitions XTRActive lenses. These go from almost clear (legal for driving at night) to about 50% tint in the car (reacting to visible light) and then on to about 80% tint outdoors - which is as dark as most sunnies and darker than any previous photochromic lens. Seemed to be the best all round solution given how rarely we actually see the sun in the UK. (And actually quite cheap for my simple prescription. ) Edited January 29, 2016 by garcon magnifique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 XTR's are very dark, they're designed for Californian sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 But they only go very dark when you're outside in the sun, which is fine. I expect on average that'll happen about twice a year in the UK... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Well, maybe up your end of the country, had to break the sunnies out yesterday due to the sunshine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP Posted January 30, 2016 Report Share Posted January 30, 2016 I have "normal" transition lens - they are a grey tint. When it is cloudy but a reasonable day you look up to the sky and it looks like it is quite a dark and threatening sky. Mention this to the people you are with and they look at you strangely - you then look without your glasses and realise the tint is making the sky look worse! (this happens quite often to me!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 So @garcon magnifique how are the XTR's? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Very happy with them. Just enough tint in the car ... given that on the few occasions we do see the sun here in the grim north it's usually weak and low in the sky. Full tint in bright sunshine out of the car, which is ace until you go inside and realise these lenses never lighten/darken anywhere near as fast as they do in the adverts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 garcon - the only problem I have with my polarised Oakleys I wear for driving is it makes it hard to read my phone sometimes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 These aren't polarised. Texting and driving was something I refused to compromise on. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Sounds like these glasses could polarise opinion. (I'll get my own coat) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Genius. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted April 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Would ye look at the size of that man's heed!!! (I can quote that, and pretty much the whole piece, without playing the clip.... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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