Cycling sunglasses
How to choose prescription sunglasses for cycling
A frame that stays put under your helmet, and lenses for the sun, in your prescription.
Prescription sunglasses for cycling
A frame that fits, and lenses for the sun
Prescription sunglasses for cycling come down to two choices: a frame that fits and stays put, and lenses chosen for the light you ride in. With your prescription in the lens, you do not have to choose between seeing well and being comfortable in the sun.
Mission is Torga's own range of sports eyewear: wraparound frames made for running, cycling and the outdoors, in the latest trends and styles, with lenses made in our lab in Cape Town. See the Mission range.
Or bring your own cycling frame, and we will make and fit prescription lenses to suit your visual comfort and sporting style. Bring your own frame.
The frame
Four things to look for in a cycling frame
Fit, grip, protection and weight decide how a pair of cycling sunglasses feels when you ride.
- How the frame fitsFit matters in any glasses, and most of all in cycling glasses. They need to sit securely on your face and fit beneath your helmet. Frames with straight-back temples generally fit well with a helmet, and are easy to take off and put back on when you need to.
- Grip, not slipGrips on both the temples and the nose help to stop your glasses slipping. Rubber grips counter the slippery effect of sweat and keep the lenses in alignment, which is very important when your prescription is in them.
- ProtectionWraparound frames give you a wider view at the sides, as well as good coverage. That coverage helps against wind and flying debris, which matters most when you ride off-road.
- WeightA lightweight frame is one you hardly notice, and light lenses add to that. 1.53 Strong & Lite, for example, is ultra strong and very light.
Prescription in a wraparound frame
Getting your prescription into a wraparound frame
The challenge
Why a wrap frame needs a different lens
A wraparound frame holds the lens at a steep angle in front of your eye. A regular lens at that angle bends the light unevenly and blurs the view, especially away from the centre.
The lens
High-Curve
Our High-Curve lens is calculated for the curve of the frame and how it sits on your face. That reduces the blur and gives a wide field of view. It is made as single vision or as a multifocal.
Prescription lenses for cyclingLow to moderate prescriptions
High-Curve suits low to moderate prescriptions in a wrap frame. The more a frame wraps around your face, the less prescription it can carry comfortably.
Strong prescriptions
Strong prescriptions go into the flatter models of frame. Our lab advises on what a frame can take.
For sports frames from other brands, our lab assesses the frame before your lenses are ordered.
Lenses for the sun
Tinted, polarised and light-reactive lenses
Every Torga sun lens is UV treated, and you can have your prescription in any of them. There are three kinds to choose from.
Polarised
A filter in the lens blocks the glare that bounces off the road and off water.
Light-reactive
Photochromic lenses are clear at an early start and darker as the sun comes up.
Choosing a colour
Our lab tints lenses in grey, green, brown, rose, yellow and blue, from light to very dark, and our NuPolar polarised lenses come in grey, brown, copper and green, among others. Which colour suits depends on the light you ride in.
| Colour | What it is good for |
|---|---|
| Grey | The natural tint: true colours, for general use and outdoor sport |
| Brown and amber | More contrast and depth perception: good anywhere you need to judge distance, and on overcast or hazy days |
| Copper | High contrast that brings out reds and greens and improves depth perception. Good for changing light |
| Green | Good colour perception and contrast, in bright and overcast conditions |
You can add a mirror coating in silver, blue, red, gold or pink for a fashion finish. A mirror reflects some of the light away before it reaches your eye, so it adds to a tint.
For glare
Polarised lenses on the bike
Sunlight bouncing off a wet road or water reaches your eye as harsh glare. A polarised lens has a filter that blocks it, which makes for more comfortable vision in bright light. Polar T comes in grey and brown, and NuPolar in more colours. Which polarised lenses a frame takes depends on its curve, and not every frame suits them.
For changing light
Lenses that darken in the sun
Photochromic lenses react to the sun's UV light: clear at an early start, darker as the sun comes up, and clear again when you come back inside. Flexi-Tint is made in our own lab, and we also offer Transitions. They take a little time to darken and to clear, they go less dark in hot weather, and they are not polarised, so they do not block glare. NuPolar Infinite Grey is a polarised lens that also darkens, from light grey to dark grey.
Cyclists: polarised lenses can make water on the road harder to see in some conditions. Think about where you ride before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about cycling sunglasses
Can I get my prescription in cycling sunglasses?
Yes. Tinted, polarised and light-reactive lenses can all be made in your prescription. Wraparound sports frames can take it too, but the more a frame wraps around your face, the less prescription it can carry comfortably, and strong prescriptions go into the flatter models.
Will cycling sunglasses fit under my helmet?
They need to, so fit under the helmet is one of the first things to look for. Frames with straight-back temples generally fit well with a helmet, and are easy to take off and put back on.
Should I choose polarised lenses for cycling?
Polarised lenses block the glare that bounces off the road and off water, and cyclists, runners and anglers use them for that. In some conditions they can make water on the road harder to see, which matters to cyclists, so think about where you ride before you decide.
Do lenses that darken in the sun work on a bike?
They react to the sun's UV light, so they darken as the sun comes up and clear again when you come back inside. They take a little time to darken and to clear, and they go less dark in hot weather. An ordinary photochromic lens is not polarised, so it does not block glare.
Can I use my own cycling frame?
In most cases, yes. We can make and fit prescription lenses to suit your visual comfort and sporting style. Your practice checks the frame first, because an older frame can be weakened and new lenses put pressure on it. For sports frames from other brands, our lab assesses the frame before your lenses are ordered. Bring your own frame.
Do the lenses block UV?
Yes. Every Torga sun lens is UV treated, whether it is tinted, polarised or light-reactive.
Choosing your sunglasses
Start with how you ride
Cycling sunglasses with your prescription
Tell your optometrist how and where you ride, and they will help you choose a frame and lenses for your prescription.
Book an eye test