NoIR sunglasses

[son_of_flubber]

NoIR is a privately held company based in Michigan. I have no financial interest in the company.

I've not seen NoIR brand sunglasses mentioned in soaring circles. They have some interesting low-cost high-function options for lenses and frames. They has some interesting Infrared blocking lens technology that I've not seen elsewhere.

The Infrared (IR) blocking is suppose to reduce eye fatigue. I figure the black instrument panel on my glider absorbs visible light, heats up and re-radiates IR into my eyes. Theory is that IR makes your eyes tired. I don't know the science on this, but you can count on the placebo effect to work..

You can mix and match frames and filters depending on your preference.

It's hard to evaluate over the internet so they allow you to order multiple combinations and return your rejects for refund.

I ordered two pairs of this wraparound frame with different filters
http://www.noir-medical.com/styles/adult_34.html

This wrap-around style comes with an insert for prescription lenses. When they get scratched I can swap the prescription lenses to a new pair of sunglasses. The sunglasses filter protects the prescription lens from scratches.

I ordered two different lenses to evaluate.

Filter #21 -- 32% transmission Medium Gray
This blocks 68% of visible light similar to the 70% blocking favored by pilots.
This lens does not block IR.
http://www.noir-medical.com/filters/21.html

The web page shows the package price for the lens in frame. The actual prices are lower because they are offering a discount for phone orders while they are ramping up their online ordering.

Filter #02 -- 18% transmission Medium Grey-Green + IR blocking
http://www.noir-medical.com/filters/02.html
This blocks 82% of visible light similar to the 80% blocking favored by some pilots. It might be a little dark, but the IR blocking is appealing. They don't offer a 30% transmission IR blocking lens.

Some pilots use 10% transmission lenses so maybe this will work for me.

Here is the page show the full range of filters. Scroll down to see the IR options.
http://www.noir-medical.com/filters/index.html

[John Galloway[_1_]]

At 15:57 27 February 2013, son_of_flubber wrote:
>NoIR is a privately held company based in Michigan. I have
no financial
>in=
>terest in the company.
>
>I've not seen NoIR brand sunglasses mentioned in soaring
circles. They
>hav=
>e some interesting low-cost high-function options for lenses
and frames.
>T=
>hey has some interesting Infrared blocking lens technology
that I've not
>se=
>en elsewhere.
>
>The Infrared (IR) blocking is suppose to reduce eye fatigue. I
figure the
>=
>black instrument panel on my glider absorbs visible light,
heats up and
>re-=
>radiates IR into my eyes. Theory is that IR makes your eyes
tired. I
>don'=
>t know the science on this, but you can count on the placebo
effect to
>work=
>.. =20
>
>You can mix and match frames and filters depending on your
preference.
>
>It's hard to evaluate over the internet so they allow you to
order
>multiple=
> combinations and return your rejects for refund.
>
>I ordered two pairs of this wraparound frame with different
filters
>http://www.noir-medical.com/styles/adult_34.html
>
>This wrap-around style comes with an insert for prescription
lenses. When
>=
>they get scratched I can swap the prescription lenses to a new
pair of
>sung=
>lasses. The sunglasses filter protects the prescription lens
from
>scratche=
>s.
>
>I ordered two different lenses to evaluate.
>
>Filter #21 -- 32% transmission Medium Gray=20
>This blocks 68% of visible light similar to the 70% blocking
favored by
>pil=
>ots.
>This lens does not block IR.
>http://www.noir-medical.com/filters/21.html
>
>The web page shows the package price for the lens in frame.
The actual
>pri=
>ces are lower because they are offering a discount for phone
orders while
>t=
>hey are ramping up their online ordering.
>
>Filter #02 -- 18% transmission Medium Grey-Green + IR
blocking
>http://www.noir-medical.com/filters/02.html
>This blocks 82% of visible light similar to the 80% blocking
favored by
>som=
>e pilots. It might be a little dark, but the IR blocking is
appealing.
>Th=
>ey don't offer a 30% transmission IR blocking lens.
>
>Some pilots use 10% transmission lenses so maybe this will
work for me.
>
>Here is the page show the full range of filters. Scroll down to
see the
>IR=
> options. =20
>http://www.noir-medical.com/filters/index.html
>
>
I was attracted to NoIR lenses a few years ago as my eyes were
getting dry and irritated in long flights. I have the flip-ups but I
wouldn't advise that version. The lens colour seems fine but I
can't confirm whether they reduced eye irritation in flight
because the lens shape is very tall and the nose distance
between them is very small so that I couldn't wear them. Also
the spring is quite strong and the lenses cracked at the screws
that hold them to the clips.

I am sure the fixed lens wrap around ones will be fine.

John Galloway

[Matt Herron Jr.]

Not sure if IR causes any damage to any tissue in the eye. UV will cause cataracts, but the canopy filters out most of that. They don't mention any AR coatings (like Maui Jim) which are very effective at increasing contrast..

Unfortunately I need readers to see the instruments, and prefer polarized lenses to see other gliders (I know many don't like polarized, but I do...). SunCloud brand seems to do the trick with high quality, a good stock selection and a reasonable price at $30-$85 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=suncloud+readers

Matt

[son_of_flubber]

On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 3:27:19 PM UTC-5, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:

> Unfortunately I need readers to see the instruments, and prefer polarized lenses to see other gliders

NoIR offers polarized filters and you can put bifocal prescription lenses in some of their frames behind the filter. I'm going to try those plastic stick-on reader lenses so that I get the close vision in just the right spot.

[Matt Herron Jr.]

let us know how those work. Never tried them.

[mike]

On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 9:12:05 PM UTC-7, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:
> let us know how those work. Never tried them.

Stick on lenses have worked great for me.

Mike

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:27:35 PM UTC-6, mike wrote:
> On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 9:12:05 PM UTC-7, Matt Herron Jr. wrote:
>
> > let us know how those work. Never tried them.
>
>
>
> Stick on lenses have worked great for me.
>
>
>
> Mike

Stick-on lenses have NOT worked for me. They are optically inferior and don't stay in place (edges coming up). Do yourself the favor of buying glass lenses fit by an optician that are measured to your face shape and your eye specs.

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

On 2/28/2013 6:34 AM, wrote:
> On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:27:35 PM UTC-6, mike wrote:
>> On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 9:12:05 PM UTC-7, Matt Herron Jr.
>> wrote:
>>
>>> let us know how those work. Never tried them.
>> Stick on lenses have worked great for me.
>> Mike
>
> Stick-on lenses have NOT worked for me. They are optically inferior
> and don't stay in place (edges coming up). Do yourself the favor of
> buying glass lenses fit by an optician that are measured to your face
> shape and your eye specs.

I had some minor success with them, but now I use "sunreaders"
(sunglasses with a magnifying section at the bottom of each lens that
makes it look like you have bifocals. That section can be selected over
a 1 to 3 diopter range. I prefer the sunreaders with no or low tint on
the bottom (so it's easy to read the PDA). Prices range from $10 to
$50+, with the one $10 $20 ones working fine for me.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

[Jeff Casto]

At 22:57 28 February 2013, Eric Greenwell wrote:
>On 2/28/2013 6:34 AM, wrote:
>> On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:27:35 PM UTC-6, mike wrote:
>>> On Wednesday, February 27, 2013 9:12:05 PM UTC-7, Matt Herron Jr.
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> let us know how those work. Never tried them.
>>> Stick on lenses have worked great for me.
>>> Mike
>>
>> Stick-on lenses have NOT worked for me. They are optically inferior
>> and don't stay in place (edges coming up). Do yourself the favor of
>> buying glass lenses fit by an optician that are measured to your face
>> shape and your eye specs.
>
>I had some minor success with them, but now I use "sunreaders"
>(sunglasses with a magnifying section at the bottom of each lens that
>makes it look like you have bifocals. That section can be selected over
>a 1 to 3 diopter range. I prefer the sunreaders with no or low tint on
>the bottom (so it's easy to read the PDA). Prices range from $10 to
>$50+, with the one $10 $20 ones working fine for me.
>
>--
>Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
>email me)
>

I tried the stick-ons but couldn't get them in the right place, and they
peeled after a few weeks.

Jeff