New ski goggle technology can make your vision better, which results in safer skiing. Similar to sunglasses, photochromic lenses are specially treated lenses that change tint with the light and weather. The lenses have been available for years, and manufacturers are steadily improving them using advanced technology.
History
In 1968, the Corning Glass Co. developed and sold the first glass photochromic lenses under the brand name Photogray. One drawback to early lenses was their ability to develop "memory." This memory resulted in an inability to change tint completely. American Optical introduced the first plastic photochromic lenses, Photolite, in 1983. Plastic provided the option to use photochromic lenses in sports goggles and protective eyewear. All photochromic lenses undergo a proprietary chemical process that allows them to change colors from nearly clear to a significantly darker shade.
UV Protection
Most ski goggles protect your eyes from the three types of ultraviolet rays -- UV A, B and C. Your goggles are key gear because they help prevent eyestrain from the UV rays you encounter during a sunny day on the ski slope. The darker the goggle lens, the more UV protection it affords.
Brands
Zeal, Julbo Revolution and Bolle are three manufacturers that make light-sensitive ski goggles. Zeal expects to release a new style of photochromic goggles that also incorporate GPS technology. These goggles will enable you to record how fast you are skiing. At the end of the ski day, you can download the data to your PC. Zeal also makes photochromic goggles with lenses that transition from yellow to rose tint.
Options
Advances in photochromic technology have resulted in goggles that do not respond to the full light spectrum but are specific to bright or low light. The newer lenses help provide better visualization of the terrain and contours in the snow during flat and bright light conditions. If you ski mostly in sunlight, photochromic lenses are also available with polarization to reduce glare and an anti-fog coating. Goggles with rounded lenses can also accommodate some eyeglasses.
References
- REI: How to Choose Ski and Snowboard Goggles
- "Ski": Six Great Goggles
- Zeal: Goggle Technology
- Corning: High-Index, Photochromic, and Sunglass Blanks
- Optical Heritage Museum: Whitney Web Page: American Optical History: Photolite Page
- Coloradobiz: Colorado Cool Stuff: Logik Skis, Sick Stickz and Slick Shades
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