dear LJ brain trust (glasses)

[cellio]

I'm looking for an eyeglasses solution for bright sunny days. Currently I use clip-on sunglasses when driving and squint the rest of the time, but there's got to be a better way. Here are some parameters:

I don't carry a purse, briefcase, backpack, etc with me all the time, so carrying around an extra pair of glasses is challenging. That said, I'm willing to accept breakage in cheap plastic sunglasses stuffed into a back pocket (or on a belt, or something like that) as a recurring cost. (But not for prescription glasses; that's way too expensive.)

Clip-ons are kind of uncomfortable for routine use.

I'm interested in knowing about tint/polarization/??? options for a sole pair of glasses, if there are any that also work well indoors and at night. 20 or 30 years ago there was a fad called, I think, "photo-gray" -- lenses that automatically darkened or lightened based on light levels. Whatever happened to that approach? (My ideal, I-think-ficticious, pair of glasses involves a little knob for that. :-) )

What other options are there?

Comments

Photogray

[(Anonymous)]

There's a wonderful optometrist on Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill, a Dr. Fred Smith. I highly recommend him. For years, he gave me photograys, which I loved.

(I think "gray" is the American color and "grey the one used for parrot -- I hate that!)

The problem with photograys is they don't darken in cars. You could keep clip-ons in the car. I went with two pair of glasses, one kept in the car. When I walk or run, I either take the car or walk by the car, so it works for me.

Dr. Smith is a trip and a half, and I've never met the Doc he's working with, but if Dr. Smith is willing to work with him, he must be good. Dr. Smith will talk a lot, but he's something between a magician and profiler -- the patter is to distract you and let him see your real reactions to the things he does. He will also design your glasses for specific needs of your lifestyle.

I was forced to go to a "glasses in about an hour" type of place when a pair of glasses broke. I didn't have backups. Biggest mistake I ever made. Dr. Smith does it right.

No, I don't get kickbacks.

Re: Photogray

[grouchyoldcoot.livejournal.com]

I *think* Smith is fully retired now, but I've transferred over to his partner, Dr. Ross. I do like him a lot, and he seems quite competent.