Reactolite lenses are glass, Transitions and Reactions are plastic and as a consequence, the Reactolites tend to be considerably heavier.
New materials and chemistry involved in the latest generations of the lenses have made significant progress in addressing the two fundamental criteria for selection :
- Older generations (and some current generations) retain a yellow or slightly jaundiced hue even when not exposed to ultra violet light (indoors for example). The latest generation Transitions are widely regarded to be the best available and almost completely clear in the absence of ultra violet.
- Most newer photochromatic lenses make a rapid transition from light to dark as they are exposed to ultra violet – the real test and the differentiation is the rate at which they regress from the darkest tint to clear. Again Transitions lenses are widely regarded as best in class in this regard.
Transitions lenses are a widely held trademark for a particular (newest) generation of materials and technology that are combined and sold under the “Transitions” brand. Other (but similar) names are not the same, and are generally regarded to be not as good, as they are from older generation photochromatic technology.
Finally – don’t expect your photochromatic lenses (no matter which brand or technology) to make much of a difference whilst driving, as the windscreen of a car is designed to absorb most of the UV before it enters the cabin – hence the lenses in your glasses have nothing to react with. If you need or would like tinted lenses while driving, you are better off getting two pairs of the same frame with prescription clear and prescription tinted lenses.
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