Exchange Rates
Interchangeable lenses are helping athletes pick up the pace
by Joanne Schell

Lenses need to be easy to remove and easy to replace if athletes are going to use them in competition. Shown: Sequel by Smith Optics

Athletes in all outdoor sports need eyewear that can change as quickly as the weather. Years ago, this was not an option. But today, frames for athletes are more than an accessory--they have become a necessity as well as a performance-enhancing piece of equipment.

There are a host of frames available with interchangeable lens choices, allowing competitors to prepare for any circumstance, from challenging the blinding sun on a marathon run to braving the wind and rain on a bike tour. Even prescription wearers can take advantage of this feature, either with inserts or the purchase of several different colored prescription lenses.

"The most popular colors are clear, yellow, red, and smoke," says Jim Albright, vice president of In-spex, a Lancaster, Pa., dispensary that focuses on prescription sports eyewear. "But if you get prescriptions in four colors, it gets expensive."

CLIP AND SAVE

To solve that problem, some athletes are purchasing clip-in prescription frames. This is a practical solution for the contact lens wearer as well.

"If you are a cyclist and the wind dries out your contact lenses, or a triathlete who loses a contact in the water, having the clip in your back pocket is a great fail-safe," says Albright.

The clip insert is also a great alternative for heavier prescriptions that run the chance of becoming distorted in a wrap-style sport frame.

	Many times competitors only need two or three lenses--a dark lens for day, a medium lens for dusk, and a clear or yellow lens for night. Shown here: Nike Skylon by Marchon

"If someone has a -4.00 or lower prescription, I can fit them in everything," says Bret Hunter, owner of Eye Tech Sports Optical, a dispensary based in Lakewood, Colo. "Once you get into higher prescriptions, the lens will get too thick for the frame."

Other athletes are asking for photochromic lenses to reduce the number of lenses needed. "Photochromics are used with protective goggles for indoor sports such as basketball or for day and night use," says Nicole Chriqui of athleticoptics.com, a Chatsworth, Calif.-based operation. Most outdoor athletes still need a regular sunlens, she adds.

Another way to reduce cost for the patient is by selling only two or three lenses. "I've had customers come in and want 10 lenses," says Hunter. "Later that year they'll come back and say they've only used two."

The usual recommendation from Hunter is a dark, a medium, and a light lens. The athlete, however, determines the specifics.

Some athletes look for sport-specific lenses. "The more competitive the athletes are, the more specific their needs," says Chriqui. "The generic athlete needs more guidance in selecting frames."

SAFE AND SOUND

Another suggestion Chriqui offers is selling frames that have cases to store extra lenses. Losing expensive lenses is a big problem--one that can sometimes deter athletes from purchasing them in the first place.

Offering lenses that have a replacement guarantee is also a good selling point, says Hunter. "Some people are afraid to invest in prescription lenses because they are afraid the eyewear will get beat up," he adds. "If it's only $20 to replace the lens, it's a whole different ball game."

Clear lenses are best for night-time sports or indoor activities that require eye protection. Shown: Half-Jacket by Oakley	Often athletes view their frames as a piece of equipment--not just an accessory. Shown: Parole by Bollé
Professional competitors, such as triathlete Craig Walton, may be hard on their eyewear. Offering frames with a replacement guarantee can create good peace of mind. Shown: Rudy Project style Ekynox SX	Frames with interchangeable lenses vary, from the highly technical to the fashionable. Shown: Sirius Titanium model 8510 by Lindberg Optical