Transition Lenses: Won't Clear?

[John-Mark Stensvaag]

I'm new to transition lenses. Like the concept. Not sure the execution
is ideal. The lenses remain noticeably darkened in indoor settings (even
after sticking them in a dark drawer for 30 minutes), giving me that
mafia look, although I specified at Sears Opticial that I wanted the
option in which the indoor setting was virtually clear (the other
options were darker).

1. Is there some kind of maturation period, after which the lenses will
darken/undarken more quickly and (especially) return to virtually clear
status more readily?

2. Are there any tricks to "driving" the lenses one way or the other
more quickly? For example, will heat (as with a hair or hand dryer)
drive them toward the clear end of the spectrum?

Thanks!

Racoon Eyes

[Specs31]

"coon" eyes :-)

NO do not use a hair dryer!!.. thats the one thing that will damage the
chemical that makes it "transitional".

Transitional lens come in two types, the transtion III's and x-tra active,
sounds like , even though you requested the III's (lighter version) you ended
up getting a pair of xtra -actives.

Take them back and request the III's.. or if they are like the majority of
opticals the have demo lens setting out to show the customer. compare your lens
to the demo's :-)

The III's indoor are almost un-noticable in hue.

Good luck and keep fighting (maybe they will give you a real black eye)
then you can own all the glasses you ever wanted for FREE!! :-)

Jeff

[Carl Seutter]

Your header info indicates you're in Iowa. Did youi have a
particularly cold spell after getting your Transitions lenses? Your
complaint sounds like someone from Alaska or Canada during Late fall
or early spring.

Under normal temperatures (40 to 80 F) the lenses lose half their
darkness within the first two minutes indoors and fade out from there
in a gradual curve over ten to thirty minutes. Don't put them in a
drawer; for some reason, spiro-indoline (etc.) based dyes need some
residual light to relax into the clear position. Cold weather, meaning
under +20F, can delay the lightening due to the lower temps. I've seen
lenses that were out in -50F weather take a couple of hours to lighten
due to the dye molecules being frozen. Warming them up under tepid
water speeds up the process in such situations.

The choice you specified at Sears Optical indicates you recieved the
Trans III, rather than the Trans Xtra active. (the Xtra active will
always have about 15% absorption, kinda like a year old pair of PGX
lenses.)

There is no known maturation period for any plastic photochromic lens.
They work at full performance right out of the box unlike PGX glass
lenses that need a break in period of a couple of weeks for maximum
performance.

If you are in a cold climate, you may speed up the change by thawing
the lenses with tepid water. I know of no way to speed up the process
for people in warmer climates.

Carl

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[Barry Santini]

My experience with transitions III is that they CAN and DO vary with
performance of individual lenses. I am not sure what factors influence this,
whether it is the fabricator(s) or the user or both. BUT, I have seen:
Transitions III that won't lighten all the way after a few months (5-7)
Transitions III that won't darken fully during the same period.

Check what Jeff says first, that they may be Xtractive. The compare them
at your dispenser (Sears ?) with their Trans II sample during a cycling.
Let us know what you find.
Barry Santini
ABOM