Ump Man Do Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 So I am strictly talking prescription eye glasses, NOT sunglasses. How many people wear them while umpiring? What brand do you use? Does anyone wear bifocals or transitions on the field? I have bifocals that I wear when driving at night and watching TV. I think I am close to the point where I should wear them all of the time so looking for something to wear while umpiring. I saw an official on the sideline of one of the NFL games this weekend and it looked like he had Oakley Flaks on with clear lenses. That is what i am starting to look at. I would like to get straight vision glasses but feel i need bifocals for lineup card and conference tacking purposes. So just looking for any info from fellow umpires with experience wearing glasses. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umpstu Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 6 minutes ago, Ump Man Do said: So I am strictly talking prescription eye glasses, NOT sunglasses. How many people wear them while umpiring? What brand do you use? Does anyone wear bifocals or transitions on the field? I have bifocals that I wear when driving at night and watching TV. I think I am close to the point where I should wear them all of the time so looking for something to wear while umpiring. I saw an official on the sideline of one of the NFL games this weekend and it looked like he had Oakley Flaks on with clear lenses. That is what i am starting to look at. I would like to get straight vision glasses but feel i need bifocals for lineup card and conference tacking purposes. So just looking for any info from fellow umpires with experience wearing glasses. Thanks. I wear progressive transitional glasses on bases and behind the plate. Behind the plate Bolle's and Ray Bans. Smaller frames so I won't have issues when I take off my mask. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchAngel72 Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 I wear transitional bifocals during the day when I umpire I use single focal plane for distance lenses only either in my Oakley frames that are similar to what I wear during the day or the Flaks that I got with the golf lenses in them 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elares Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 I wear bifocals all day, every day. I had them made with the line between close view and far view because this reduces the area that is just fuzzy with the "progressive" (no-line) type bifocal lenses I also had them make the lower portion small and very low to maximize the distance view area. I don't need much lens area to see lineup cards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richvee Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 Some good advice here. I’ll add a little. I don’t think you’ll be able to get a bifocal in an Oakley Flak2.0. There are limitations on Rx lenses for that particular frame. There are other Oakley frames made for everyday wear that you can get a flat top bifocal in. Whatever you decide to purchase, if it’s going to be strictly for umpiring, make sure to tell the optician what you plan on using them for. As previously mentioned, the placement of that reading segment of the lens, ( be it bifocal or progressive) can be measured lower than a normal everyday pair of glasses. I wear progressive lenses all the time. I do not have a “baseball only “ pair, but my Flak2.0 with prizm field Lenses have a lower reading area. I’ll wear them on the plate occasionally, but if it’s not a super bright midday game I’m probably just wearing a pair Oakley everyday kind of fame with clear lenses, also progressive. I have no issue with the progressive behind the plate. If you’re going to get an everyday pair and use them behind the plate, keep the eye size of the frame small. (size of the lenses). Looks wise, my personal opinion is if you’re going to wear a everyday pair of frames for baseball, keep the style light, thin lens, thin rimmed or rimless bottom, and do all you can to use progressive lenses over bifocals. That bi focal is a “ bad look” at a plate meeting. Small, light, clear, thin, clean glasses behind the plate. They’re barely noticeable and greatly reduces the “blind umpire” impression you may get with a big, heavy, dark color frame. Transitions?? . A progressive Flak2.0 with transition lenses is not a bad way to go for a baseball only pair that can be worn for day or night games. Full time baseball glasses. Lot’s of personal preference involved in what will work for you. Oh… one more thing…. Anti reflective coating is highly recommended on every pair. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenBAZ Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 I wear progressive lenses for everything but umpiring and pickleball. I have single vision clear and sun lenses just for those activities. I also have a pair of single vision glasses that transition from clear to dark if I'm on the field when it gets dark. I hate managing two pairs during a game. My prescription is such that Oakleys are not an option, but I found a nice Ray Ban frame with a good wrap around. Also, I can read my scorecard just fine by flipping my glasses off. Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue32 Posted January 20 Report Share Posted January 20 I also wear progressives in my every day glasses, but for baseball I have a clear pair, and tinted pair, of the Oakley Flak 2.0's. I just have to pull them up when working the scorecard is all, but they work great, and are extremely durable. I think I am on year 5 with them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richvee Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 On 1/20/2023 at 2:05 PM, blue32 said: I also wear progressives in my every day glasses, but for baseball I have a clear pair, and tinted pair, of the Oakley Flak 2.0's. I just have to pull them up when working the scorecard is all, but they work great, and are extremely durable. I think I am on year 5 with them. That’s not a cheap setup. However, you get what you pay for. That’s the best money can buy, IMO. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ump Man Do Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 Thanks for all of the feedback. For those using the Oakley Flaks, did you get them directly from Oakley or through a typical eyeglass location? I am planning on going to an Oakley store on Wednesday. It is about an hour from where I live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL-Ump Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 I purchased mine from my eye doctor. I have the Flack 2.0's with a pair of clear lenses and a pair of transition lenses. I only use them behind the plate. The only issue I've had with them is fogging up. Nothing is as fun as exhaling on your way to a set position and your breath fogging up the lenses when you need to see out of them the most! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMSANS Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 I have worn multi-focal for my real life for many years. I usually switched to single prescription for the plate. I began to notice more negative feedback when I forgot to switch before going on the field. I then decided to go the Oakley route with a single prescription for my plate games. With guidance from @Richvee, I got the Oakleys. Now I wear my regular glasses (multi-focal, transitions) in the field and the tinted Oakleys behind the plate. Minimal negative feedback. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchAngel72 Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 On 1/23/2023 at 7:51 AM, Ump Man Do said: Thanks for all of the feedback. For those using the Oakley Flaks, did you get them directly from Oakley or through a typical eyeglass location? I am planning on going to an Oakley store on Wednesday. It is about an hour from where I live. The Eye Dr place I visit is attached to a Lenscrafters and they have the frames there however they have to have Oakley cut the lenses. The other Oakley brand frames I get they did cut those in house as I did not get the screen glare ( blue blocker) thing or the polarized lenses I do not think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richvee Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 2 hours ago, ArchAngel72 said: The Eye Dr place I visit is attached to a Lenscrafters and they have the frames there however they have to have Oakley cut the lenses. The other Oakley brand frames I get they did cut those in house as I did not get the screen glare ( blue blocker) thing or the polarized lenses I do not think. What can be made “ in house” depends on the lenses and frame choice. Some frames, like the Flak 2.0 cannot be cut in house. They go to “ Oakley Lab”. Oakley suns lenses are all made at central labs A little optical business info. Luxottica International basically owns the optical industry. They own LensCrafters,Target Optical, Macy’s Optical,Oakley, Ray Ban, Essilor lens( that includes Varilux) …..you get the idea. Luxottica has a multi million dollar lab in Atlanta. Along with other labs in Texas, Ohio, and China. Even when you buy your Oakleys from your private optical, he got the frame from Luxottica and the Rx lenses are manufactured at a Luxottica. Yes there’s Oakley and Ray Ban frames that can be made with generic lenses. But if you’re looking for OIakley Prizm suns, etc, they’re getting made by Luxottica. ( don’t ask me how they are not classified as a monopoly). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranklinT Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 On 1/23/2023 at 7:51 AM, Ump Man Do said: Thanks for all of the feedback. For those using the Oakley Flaks, did you get them directly from Oakley or through a typical eyeglass location? I am planning on going to an Oakley store on Wednesday. It is about an hour from where I live. Sport RX out of the San Diego area is quite good (they ship nationwide and have competitive lens/frame prices) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT_Blue Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 @Richvee the answer is money and very strong lobbyists! There is an episode of Adam Ruins Everything where he goes into this whole thing and how insane it is that you more or less will pay more for the same pair of glasses just because of the name laser cut on the side. https://youtu.be/CAeHuDcy_bY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue32 Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 I got mine from my eye doctor as well. I used my insurance benefits one year for the tinted, and again the next year for the clear, so it didn’t cost me very much out of pocket at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richvee Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 2 hours ago, BT_Blue said: @Richvee the answer is money and very strong lobbyists! There is an episode of Adam Ruins Everything where he goes into this whole thing and how insane it is that you more or less will pay more for the same pair of glasses just because of the name laser cut on the side. https://youtu.be/CAeHuDcy_bY Yes sir. And here’s two facts. 1. the quality on a lot of “ designer frames” is no better, if not worse, than basic brands( Oakley notwithstanding) 2. I am amazed every day at the prices people are willing to pay to have Coach, or Prada, or some other designer name or logo on the side of their frames. But that’s just me. To each their own. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BT_Blue Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 Some of the best and most effective sunglasses I ever wore were ones that I bought off the rotating display at gas stations and truck stops! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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