Everything you need to know about 0-4 photochromic lenses
Anti-fog, anti-glare, water-repellent… To help improve your visibility, sunglasses benefit from a range of different coatings. One type of lens is particularly popular with practitioners of outdoor sports: the photochromic lens.
What advantages does it offer? Which model should you choose for your outdoor sport? We answer all your questions here.
What exactly are photochromic lenses?
Traditional sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes and filter out UV light from the sun. The protection index ranges from category 0 – for comfort only – to category 4 for very bright sunlight (high-altitude mountains, glaciers).
For improved vision, sunglasses are available that can automatically adapt to the ambient light conditions. When exposure to sunlight is strong, the lenses become tinted and darken. When light levels decrease, they gradually return to their original transparent appearance. This evolving technology is known as “photochromic”.
Photochromic lenses for your sport: what are the benefits?
When practicing an outdoor sport, ambient light levels can vary frequently, and sometimes suddenly. If you want to go from areas of shade to sun without having to stop and change your frames, choosing photochromic lenses is a must!
But beware: changes in light aren’t the only challenges your eyes have to face. It’s also essential to protect yourself against other outdoor elements such as rain, wind and fog, etc. To enjoy the best possible visibility, opt for high-quality sports sunglasses with a wide range of features.
At Julbo, we are pioneers in photochromic technology. Our teams develop high-performance, smart lenses capable of instantly adapting to variations in light. The result of many years of research, our REACTIV photochromic technology multiplies the benefits to increase your performance tenfold, regardless of your playground.
We’ve recently further improved our REACTIV lenses to offer a wider level of protection. Now ranging from category 0 to 4, they offer the highest photochromic range available and can respond to every situation. From dawn to dusk, your visibility will always be optimal!
For your visual comfort, our photochromic lenses give the following unique benefits:
- Unrivalled reactivity
Thanks to our SHR (Super High Reactiv) process, they react to variations in light in just a few seconds. Giving constant visibility even in cloudy weather, you can stay focused on your sport and clearly see the terrain you’re moving through. This technology therefore reduces the risk of falls.
- Must-have coatings
Water-repellent, oil-repellent, polarizing, anti-glare and anti-fog: our photochromic lenses are treated with a range of different coatings to suit each sport. Whatever the weather (snow, fog, rain or bright sunshine), they offer ultra-accurate all-terrain vision. So that nothing will stop you!
- Protection against 100% of UVA, B and C rays
Offering levels of protection from category 0 to category 4 (the highest available), REACTIV technology protects your eyes even in exceptionally bright sunlight such as deserts and snow-covered peaks. A real performance asset!
- Outstanding toughness
Thanks to our NTS (Non Temperature Sensitive) process, our lenses do their job regardless of the temperature. And as the photochromic treatment is present throughout the body of the lens, it’s also unaffected by scratches.
To guarantee their performance, our photochromic lenses have been tested in extreme conditions by the French explorer Vincent Colliard. After making his winter crossing in Norway, he reported: “At the beginning of the expedition we traveled for more than 20 hours in the dark, and at the end for almost 20 hours in daylight. I wore the goggles regardless of the temperature, from -38°C to 1°C on the warmest days. I’ll definitely be taking these goggles with me on future expeditions!”
Our Julbo photochromic lenses are currently the best on the market and are fitted in our sunglasses, goggles and helmets. Skiing, trail running, climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and even water-based activities: they can adapt to every outdoor sport... and even to your eyesight!
Photochromic lenses - FAQ
Got any final questions about our photochromic lenses? Here are our answers:
- How do I clean photochromic lenses?
All of our photochromic lenses can be cleaned with soap and warm water. Once rinsed, dry them gently with a soft cloth. To guarantee the conformity of your lenses and avoid damaging them, do not use chemical products or solvents.
- Can photochromic lenses be corrected to my eyesight?
Whether you’re near-sighted, far-sighted, or have astigmatism or age-related far-sightedness, our photochromic lenses can be corrected to your eyesight. They’re available to everyone, regardless of the corrective power required.
- How can I tell if the photochromic technology in my lenses is working?
Depending on the manufacturer, photochromic technology will take different amounts of time to be activated. In Julbo products, it reacts in just 20 to 30 seconds when the light conditions change. To check they’re working properly, cover one of the lenses with your hand. Stand in sunlight and wait a few seconds. You should see a difference between the activated lens (which will be darker) and the non-activated lens.
> Also see: Prescription sunglasses: which solution for your sport?