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Wind, flying dirt and debris can cause itchy, irritated eyes.
Cycling glasses can be worn to protect your eyes from these elements, can shield
you from ultraviolet radiation and the sun, and can increase contrast to help
you see pot holes, rocks, and other road conditions better. Lenses can be made
to change color with the lighting conditions to accommodate the time of day and
weather you ride in. They can even be fit with a prescription lens. Here is what
to look for:
Ultraviolet Protection:
Since cycling takes place outside, you need to make sure your
eyes are protected 100% from ultraviolet radiation. (See UV and its Effects on the Eyes for more
information on UV).
Frame Style:
Since riding takes place at a certain speed, and since flying
dirt and debris is common in this activity, the best type of frame
is going to be a wrapped around style. This will shield the eyes
from the wind, especially important for contact lens wearers, as
wind can cause the contacts to dry. Also, a wrap around style will
also better keep dirt and debris out of the eyes. To offer proper
ventilation for this style, the frame must have "air holes" at the
top of the frame to prevent fogging. An upper sweat bar can also
help control fogging. Also, a frame that has interchangeable
lenses will benefit those who ride in varying light conditions. (see
lens colors below)
Lens Color:
Since riding make take place at different times of the day, or
in various weather conditions, interchangeable lenses work the best.
They allow you to swap out lenses to correspond to the lighting
condition you are riding in. In bright sunlight, you can use a
dark sunglass lens. A gray lens will be the darkest, but a
brown or amber lens can help increase contrast so you can better
read the terrain (i.e. pot holes, rocks, mud, etc.) When
riding in low light or overcast days, a yellow or vermilion lens can
be used to block glare in this lighting condition. At night, a
clear lens can be used to shield wind and debris without
compromising vision. A photochromatic lens is also designed
for varying lighting conditions. This is a lens designed to change
color with the amount of light outside. Thus, in bright sunlight, it
will act as a true sunglass. However, in the early morning, late
afternoon, or on overcast days, the lens will lighten up so that
they still can be worn, but let more light through the lens so you
can see.
Prescription Lenses:
If you wear a prescription, make sure the frame you are choosing
can accommodate the lens. Many of the cycling glasses have an Rx
insert that can be fit behind the lens of the glass so you still get
the same benefits of the frame.
Recommended Style:
Rudy Project has polycarbonate lenses, wrap around styling,
air holes and interchangeable lenses, and some styles are available with a
prescription insert and photochromatic lenses, or Rudy Project now has
interchangeable direct in prescription lenses without using the traditional
insert. Bolle,
Smith, Hilco and Wiley-X make frames
with wrap around styling and interchangeable lenses and prescriptions are
available with some styles. For a shield design without an insert, try
Kaenon Polarized or Rudy
Project. Julbo also makes style with side shields for wind protection
or just extreme wraps and most are available with prescription.
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Look For
-100%
UVA/UVB protection
-Frame Style
-Lens Color
-Prescription Capability
Recommended Styles
-Adidas
-Bolle Action Sport
-Julbo
-Kaenon Polarized
-Rudy Project Action Sport
-Smith Sliders
-Wiley-X Interchangeables
-Zeal Interchangeables
Prescription Information
Biking Accessories
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are available with a
prescription lens. 
