Over the last year or so, I’ve noticed that objects in the distance have gotten blurrier. Yes, it’s finally happened – I no longer see at 20/20. So, a few weeks ago, I trekked to the eye doctor and got my first eye exam in ages.
It seems that staring at a computer screen all day isn’t so good for one’s eyes. I have no problems seeing things in front of my face, but driving at night has become more challenging with the glare from headlights and the layer of dirt/smudges on my windshield. But I sucked it up and dealt. It wasn’t that bad.
It turns out that I’m a bit nearsighted, so I opted for a pair of glasses. This past weekend, I picked them up. It wasn’t really a big deal – but then I put them on and felt like I was seeing in high def.
My new glasses have lenses that are made with Crizal technology. They have a full description of the manufacturing process on their website, but as it turns out, they have various coatings applied to actually reduce the glare of night driving. I mean, things are perfectly clear. The streaks and smudges on my windshield no longer bother me. The colors seem to have more depth and everything is sharper. Sure, my vision wasn’t 100% to begin with, but wow. Looking through these lenses makes me wonder why I waited so long to get my eyes checked.
The lenses are also anti-reflective, meaning no matter what angle someone is looking at me they can see my eyes, not their refection. And so far, they seem extremely resistant to scratches.
If you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses any time soon, check out Crizal lenses.
I’m nearsighted with astimatism – very high prescription, & no-line bifocals. I notice no difference at night or any other time with the Crizal lenses. They are just harder to take care of. Can the difference be in the prescription? Are Crizal lenses more beneficial to those with only minor vision problems?
I suppose that’s possible. My prescription is extremely minor, but I’m pretty sure it’s the lens not the prescription that cuts the glare. I notice the biggest difference with night driving, which I used to avoid because I couldn’t stand the glare from other car lights. These glasses reduce glare from other cars’ headlights & other bright lights and also seem to blur out the smudges and dirt on my windshield so I don’t notice them as much. Now, I have no problems driving at night.
As a quick experiment, I compared my glasses with my brothers’ (also a minor prescription but without crizal), and his glasses don’t cut the glare, which leads me to believe it’s the lens, not the prescription. That said, I don’t have much experience with other types of lenses, so maybe others do that?
How has the scratch resistance held up? I am considering getting Crizal lenses after having a lot of problems with the generic anti-reflective treatment on my current pair.
These are the worst lenses I’ve ever had. They look smudged CONTINUOUSLY. I wrote Crizal about this and they admitted that the “anti-reflective” surface unfortunately also means they “seem smudged”. I clean them all day long and they are still smudged.
I recommend you stay away from this false company. It is not true that things are clearer–give it time, you’ll be cleaning them all day long with water and lime. Crizal’s email:
“There is extra cleaning required with anti-reflective lenses, as the smudges and fingerprints will seem to be more prevalent than with a non-coated lens.”
To heck with this–how is this progress?
My worst buy. I am constantly cleaning them and I see no difference. These were purchased from Specsavers and every time I see the UK advert my blood boils.
I can only advise people not to buy this product. You will not get what you see in the advert
Karen – I haven’t had a problem with smudging and constant cleaning, but then I only need them when driving or reading subtitled movies. I still use the cloth that came with the glasses to clean – no water and lime for me.
CRIZAL CREATED A DUD in these “anti-reflective” lenses. Their are blogs of disappointment all over the internet.
Crizal lenses are so smudged it’s “like looking through an oil puddle”—so true.
$800 bucks for nothing.
But they said they would take them back, and take off the “anti-reflective” coating which was the biggest mistake the industry ever made.
I’ll update this post when i get them back without the coating.
Maria/Karen – I’m perfectly fine with you posting your criticisms on this site. However, I find it incredibly suspicious that you both have the *exact* IP address.
PS – I definitely did not pay $800 for my lenses. I paid around $250 with the frames. So, maybe we have different types?
Mine were great for a month and a half and then the coating started to peel. Optician replaced them today. I am now in the market for a true good lens. $$ is no object – I really need to see.
Anyone aware of a good lens?
I Strongly reccommend to anyone, GLASS. Most opticians will not do this, and those that do will warn against breakage, and weight. The only trouble I have found with my glass lenses is finding a suitable frame. There are limits to which types of frames you may choose. Also with glass if you wear bi-focals then they WILL be heavy. I have tried all types of lenses with scratch proof, glare proof, unbreakables, you name it. I have had two pair of glasses in 14yrs of wearing them that were glass. Not heavy enough to make a difference, Never broken or shattered and I step on them occassionally.. Never a scratch and guess what? I can clean them with a brillo pad if I choose. Guess what else? The lenses outlast both my bi-annual exams, AND the lenses! Just my 2 cents.
I’m disturbed. Went for new pair of glasses and I selected Crizal lenses after reading their brochure. I was charged $399.00 for the lenses and additional $125.00 to reduce glare and protect against scratching. Their brochure has all of these properties in the lenses when they are manufactured. So why should I have to pay an additional $125.00 at Eye to Eye Vision Center?
Well actually I like the Crizal….all you need to do is wash the lense first using water and some mild detergent soap like Joy. then dry the lense …THEN use the crizal cloth to remove and lingering drops or dust. I do it almost everyday and have no probelms with the lenses. I just got a new pair of Prodesign Denmark frames with Crizal lenses and really have not had a problem at all. Remember to clean em first though you don’t want that grease to get on the polishing cloth. Then you will just smear constantly.
I just recently realized my eyes weren’t as good as I thought they were. I too, have been sitting in front of computers too long and am now slightly nearsighted. I decided to get some glasses so I can read the road signs better and for in-office use. Since I have never had glasses before and wanted to get an all-in-one solution, I opted for the Transition lenses with a Crizal coating. I feel like I am now seeing things in HD as well. However, I don’t think it is the Crizal, but the fact that my vision is now better than 20/20. I do notice reduced glare from the Crizal. Also, mine do not seem to smudge that much. Maybe because I don’t touch the lenses. If you don’t touch them, they can’t smudge. So for all you complainers… stop touching your lenses. Also, I got flexon frames that bend and a magnetic polarized clip on and the total was $300.
I’ve had Crizal lenses for over a year. I do think there is less glare but 18 months of constant rainbow colors and smudges have convinced me to buy new glasses. I have progressive bifocals and with $85 for Crizal the glasses came to $525. I clean them with mild soap and water and a microfiber cloth in the morning. They look great. Then when I arrive at work they are smudged. Where do the smudges come from?!?!?!?!? Then it’s a constant struggle all day with the smudges! A waste of money!
I am not happy with Crizel no glare. I cannot get them clean. They were good for 3 months, then started to smuge. I do not recommend them.
I have crizal lenses and for me I just don’t see the difference in glare with or without. I still have trouble with night driving and the headlights coming toward me…especially those xenon lights. One thing I hate is anyone, including me, purposely or accidentally touching my glasses/lenses. I believe no matter how you try not to touch your lenses, it just can’t be helped…such as reaching for them in the morning when you wake. And, if you do any cooking, you know how grease splatters on your lenses. No matter what, lenses get dirty. Crizals are harder to clean and smudges and fingerprints are more noticable. Let people complaint and voice their opinion…every is entited to it.
I have new CRIZAL lenses w/ Scotchguard and although they do not reduce glare at all no one at my optometrist, Koch Asso. or at CRIZAL will do a thing to determine why. Four emails to CRIZAL via their website have resulted in not one response. My optomotrist office just tells me how effective the lenses are for everyone else. I can’t even find a mailing address for CRIZAL. Bottom line for me is – both organizations are “Take the Money & Run” operations. Very disappointed.
Same applies in the UK you cannot contact them to let them know what an appalling product it is.
I’ve been a Crizal user for the last 3-4 years and yes they are pricey. FWIW, my first pair were fine and lasted quite a bit before my script changed. My last pair were bought in 2009. In July 2010 they developed some weird streaking(not the usual crazing I’ve seen in the past) that I’ve never seen anywhere before in both lenses and throughout. This created a lot of glare and I was frankly disappointed my optometrist “couldn’t see it.” It took some coaxing but she came around as it was so obvious, I wondered if she just didn’t want to warranty them. They were recently replaced again for a scratch that I just couldn’t live with. They were still under warranty. I like how light they are, how the non-glare coating works, how clear they are and frankly living in a small town with limited resources I’m less inclined to go to a mall or an unknown optometrist. Overall, I’ve had non-glare coatings last as much as 4 years before crazing developed but I’m not quite so confident these $400+ Crizal lenses will go 2.
I’m an optician who has dispensed literally thousands of glasses. I recently compared a new pair of Crizal lenses with another brand of hydrophobic A/R lenses that cost about half as much in identical frames. After wearing them both for a month, I reached the conclusion that the only noticeable difference was the amount of marketing dollars that is spent on Crizal. From a vision or cleaning or scratch standpoint, it is a wash. And, to the original poster, the night vision difference between the two pair was almost undoubtably caused by the astigmatic correction in your pair. There is no eyeglass coating is better than no glasses for that.
23 July 11
I have had the newest Crizal coated lenses for about a month now and honestly notice absolutely no difference in the reduction of glare at all. I admit to not having driven at night yet but in looking at lights at night I see no difference. Using the computer, which I do sometimes for a couple of hours at a time, I again notice no diff. in glare reduction.
I Do notice that the lenses get dirtier more easily and they smudge quite a bit after cleaning with the supplied cloth.
Would I have future lenses treated? Not at all.
Okay, here we go folks: I just came back from an investigative trip driving at night with Crizal scotchguard lenses. I took my old glasses with me so as to make a fair comparison. I drove and frequently changed between glasses, then sat at a dark place and watched oncoming traffic, constantly changing between the old prescription and the Crizal. I can NOW say that I found absolutely NO difference between the two. (other than the fact that the new prescription allows me to see better.) I now believe that this is another example of: The Emerorer’s New Clothes. I STILL stay with my original post stating they are the most difficult lenses I have ever had keeping them clean and without smudges. I have to clean them several times a day rather than the old twice a week. Personally ( as posted above by someone) I do not care if people can see MY eyes better with the Crizal or not. Four family members have relied on my test and will, I am sure, not get their new lenses treated. Waste of money.