Flats glasses

[Nassau Frank]

Anybody know of the yellow/gold good optic lenses used to enhance flats viewing which can be ground to my prescription? Without a prescription, I couldn't see better than with my regular polarized sunglasses.

[Smcdermott]

Frank,

I think most of the premium manufacturers such as Action Optics and Maui Jim offer prescription lenses. I think only Action Optics offers the yellow out of those two. They aren't cheap though. Should be able to find a number for each on their websites.

Sean

[ChuckD]

especially with any kind of cloud cover. I believe their top of the line lenses are called photochromic and would come as prescription.

[jjonas]

I have a pair of prescription Action Optics Photochromatic Clearwater Copper. Spendy yes, but I was very impressed with how well I could see fish with them. Worth every $ I spent on them.

[Swalt]

Another vote for Action Optics. I also need bifocals and they can do that too. They only put the bifocal on the inside of each lense so that you still have the periferal(sp?) vision on the ouside lower part.

[widdoes]

I've got Action Optics, too, Frank. Great glasses, and they do a good job not distorting the prescription when they "bend" the lens into the frame. Breakwater frame and Clearwater Copper lens is muy bueno on the flats.
-Wild John

[Guy]

Here's the link to Action Optics rx glasses:

http://www.actionoptics.com/rxCollection/classicLensesPolar.php#

Last year at this time I purchased a pair of Action photchromic ambers. My understanding is they do not offer a true yellow rx, the closest is the photochromic amber. Are you referring to amber when you say yellow gold? My action ambers are very true optically to my prescription and do indeed enhance contrast over my brown lenses. Also, they are better in flatter light. I do find that during long hours of very bright conditions, I do have to swtich back to my browns for a couple hours to avoid eyestrain (I have astigmitism) during really bright days. I can't comment on the copper, as I have never worn them (my next pair!).

Guy

[Nassau Frank]

Yeah I guess I meant amber. I also say red when I mean merlot. Thanks for the information. I see 2 dealers in Ft Lauderdale & will go by when next there. My current glasses work well in bright light but I'd like to see the difference.

[Animal Chris]

Back in June I had Lasik performed (and I highly recommend to all that can go that route) and have been slowly replacing my coke bottle glasses with non 'script ones. Friday, I got a pair of Action Optics in yellow and they are great. The only time I have a problem seeing clearly is right at sun up and right at dusk. I did a little experimenting this weekend at those times and I think my problem is solved. Like posted before, they are not a true yellow, but they are still brighter than some of the other ambers, etc. I hope to get out in the next couple of weekends and try them out on the flats.

[dbutcher]

Anybody know of the yellow/gold good optic lenses used to enhance flats viewing which can be ground to my prescription? Without a prescription, I couldn't see better than with my regular polarized sunglasses.
Nassau Frank,
I --125-3 can't imagine that Action Optics couldn't handle that. Let me know if you need contact info
dbutcher

[Swalt]

Frank, you can find Action Optics online and see what they have to offer. Pick one and call them. They will help you out.

[Nassau Frank]

thanks. the web site is OK but I'd like to feel the frame variations, colour gradients etc and then get my script put in.

[capt ed]

I have a pair of Maui Jims. They too were pricey and I don't know if they come in the color you want, but they are great prescription lenses. My last pair of prescriptions were Costa Del Mars and these are much better.

[Squidly]

I second the MAui Jims. I have apair of rose tinted volcanos and they are great.

[wishmeluck]

Last month I fly to Kansas for a business trip and heard the “See For Free” Plan” 12 months of no payment and interest. So I took the opportunity to undergo the Lasik exam since I heard about the clinic and I personally know the surgeon of my2020 (http://www.my2020.com) who is Dr. Wiles. Anyway the procedure was excellent I was very nervous at first but my surgeon assist me well and discuss to me everything about the outcome or what to expect after. It was great trip though imagine I went there just for business and then my astigmatism that I suffered for almost 10 years come into an end. Right now I still suffer little starbursts at night time but it’s normal though (I still can drive).

[BN2FSH]

all of the glaases mentioned are good products. Howver, for half the price and the same quality you can buy a pair of Habers. Check them out at habervision Use code FISHEYE

[El Bishop]

I have some Ocean Waves with greenish lenses -- how do you think that color rates against a copper or yellow lens on the flats?

[BN2FSH]

El Bishop, I am not sure if you directed the question at me, but in my experience rose/copper or brown lenses are best for flats fishing because they offer the greatest contrast. Amber are better for the cloudy days because they let more light in. My understanding is that green lenses let you see colors as they really are while copper or amber provide more contrast which is what you want to see fish better.

You might want to look here for a better technical explantion than I can offer: http://www.habervision.com/Technology.aspx

[NMB]

i have both action optics bifocal in amber and copper. the amber is quite dark and frankly is of no more help in low light conditions than the copper. guideline and flyfishingeyewear are far less expensive and they, along with haber have many more lens color and frame choices than action optics.

[dbutcher]

My guide last week in the Bahamas had a pair of Ocean Waves for low light. Not sure if that is what you are looking for. They were impressive and doggone expensive with Rx.

[sweet+salt]

I am wading in kind of late on this continuing though important thread. If you draw a 'color wheel' with the primary colors; red, yellow and blue at one third intervals. note that orange, between the red and yellow, is opposite blue. The number one lenses color choice for flats with bright bottoms is naturally going to be reddish copper or 'vermillion' as this is the closest lens tint to being anti-blue. The concept is to filter out the blue spectrum to maximize contrast and enhance visual acuity. In lower light intensity or over a grassy bottom which absorbs more light (or on a trout stream) a more amber tint of a higher light transmission value would be a great second pair of shades to have in your kit. Mirrored coatings should probably be avoided as they are going to reflect rather than transmit a good percentage of full spectrum light reducing the data your eyes receive, though in super saturated tropical conditions this might not always be critical. Anti-reflectivity and hydrophobic coatings can be a positive though. A long-billed fishing hat - my signature - shields the face and glasses from a lot of the direct sunlight allowing you to focus on the light dimly reflected off of the elusive pale blue gray shapes we search so intently for. Cloudy days suck and, though I don't own a pair, I would like to try a pale yellowish amber pair to obtain lots of light transmission but some contrast too. Of course, pale tints can not be fully polarized as the "Venetian blind" effect won't block the reflected glare completely if the blinds are too translucent. Even at 50% polarization I suspect they would be helpful: does any one have any experience with such a lens?

A final note: ground glass lenses are fare superior to optical plastic and polycarbonate is barely optical grade material. Rather than argue this point with opticians who don't like glass, I ask why Nikon, Cannon, Leica, etc. use super high grade optical glass only when light weight is always advantageous in photographic equipment? The answer is quality. If your prescription can handle the bit of extra weight of glass, not only will you see more and better but will not suffer the vision dulling little scratches that accumulate on plastic lenses when you wipe the salty spray from your shades with your shirt tails.

[BN2FSH]

I asked the "technical guy" at HaberVision to respond to the last post. This is his reply (sorry it took so long for me to post it):

I agree with about half of what was written here and that's the problem.

Anytime or anything you write about lens colors and how they perform
will generate some serious debate. I do know the following based on my
own knowledge and research which I think you'll find interesting:

1. If you think blocking blue light is the answer then "BlueBlockers'
are for you. These were all the rage several years ago. The only problem
is that these lenses were not "soothing" to wear. As a matter of fact
they made things quite dreary. Imagine sitting in a boat where the water
and the sky were both grey and you have the BlueBlocker effect. My
experience is that you want to mitigate the effects of blue light
without eliminating it. Copper Rose reduces blue light transmission
without eliminating it.

2. Some mirror coatings reflect visible light and some do not. The newer
flash coatings are enhanced versions of antireflective coatings.

3. If the author is truly looking for a lens that will highlight Pale
Blue/gray shapes then yellow would be the worst lens color as it is the
most effective at attenuating blue.

4. You can get polarized lenses around 25-30% visible light
transmission. I don't know how light you could make a polarized lens but
30% transmission is not a very dark lens.

5. Yes, glass is the very best optical material. HaberLite is better
than polycarbonate but its optical properties fall just short of glass.
I will say this, I believe the new HaberLite lenses are so good that the
differences are very difficult for the human eye to perceive. In the
lab, yes, in practice, no. Glass can break, HaberLite cannot. The
consumer decides on which quality he would like to compromise.

[Tarpon41]

If my script was not as aggressive 4 and astig and so thick I would use glass...plastic is a pain to keep clean without scratch issues. never could wear contacts and scared to have then lazered...

[BN2FSH]

I had the laser surgery about 8 years ago, and it was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. My eyes were very bad and I had astigmatism so it was a tough decision. I ended up with 20/20 in one eye and 20/25 in the other. I can now see without any correction (like the alarm clock at night or the stars). I still wear contacts and that gets me 20/15 and corrects the astigmatism but I can get by without them. I guess the surgery now is much better than when I had it. There are risks but I am totally happy with my decision.

BTW, I still wear "plastic" sunglasses for some activities like bike riding but I do like glass a whole lot better.