I Am A Believer In Linegear!

[chimera]

I'm seriously interested in reading more about this subject. How do other brands (RayBan, Maui Jim etc) compare to Oakley and the after market lenses? 99.9% of people out there don't wear Oakley, and most optometrists sell many other brands - if Oakley optics are so much better why do optical professionals not point this out to customers spending hundreds of dollars on glasses? I don't mean Sunglass Hut and other stores that don't do testing and optical correction, they obviously have a vested interest in selling the most expensive glasses they can. I'm talking about the medical professionals who's job it is to protect and correct their patient's vision - I've been to many over the years, and never had one recommend Oakley over another brand due to possible long term damage of using less perfect optics.

Like I said, this interests me having worn corrective lenses for 30 years (although switched to contacts in the last 10 purely so I could wear "normal" sunglasses and not have to switch between a clear pair and tinted pair of correctives all the time).

 

[kronin323]

I'm seriously interested in reading more about this subject. How do other brands (RayBan, Maui Jim etc) compare to Oakley and the after market lenses? 99.9% of people out there don't wear Oakley, and most optometrists sell many other brands - if Oakley optics are so much better why do optical professionals not point this out to customers spending hundreds of dollars on glasses? I don't mean Sunglass Hut and other stores that don't do testing and optical correction, they obviously have a vested interest in selling the most expensive glasses they can. I'm talking about the medical professionals who's job it is to protect and correct their patient's vision - I've been to many over the years, and never had one recommend Oakley over another brand due to possible long term damage of using less perfect optics.

Like I said, this interests me having worn corrective lenses for 30 years (although switched to contacts in the last 10 purely so I could wear "normal" sunglasses and not have to switch between a clear pair and tinted pair of correctives all the time).

I'm certainly no expert but coincidentally earlier today I was digging around the web (I've had a pair of Ray Ban Aviators sitting in a drawer for the past 25 years and was thinking of selling them on ebay to recoup a smidgen of my recent Oakley investment costs, trying to see what they were worth) and stumbled across some reading about different lens materials:

Glass typically provides the best optics (and is likely those medical professionals' lens of choice) and the best scratch resistance but they're heavy and can shatter with impact.

Plastic lenses are lighter and shatter-resistant but more prone to scratching. They are typically made from acrylic, polycarbonate, CR-39, or polyurethane (BTW Oaks are polycarbonate, if there's any question..). CR-39 is the most common plastic lens variety with low weight and high scratch resistance, but polycarbonate is the lightest and practically shatterproof.

So basically by going with polycarbonate instead of glass, you're trading optical quality for less weight and better impact protection. Oakley's lenses try to get those advantages over glass without giving up optical quality.

There's also some new lens material (released in 2001) called SR-91, a proprietary material from Kaenon Polarized, which was the first non-polycarbonate material to pass the high-mass impact test (ANSI Z.87.1) while also scoring the highest marks for lens clarity. Dunno which brand(s) use it.

So anyway, I can't speak about how specific brands optics compare to each other but this info on lens materials is interesting and relevant, I think.

 

[borgs]

I got my Linegear order last Friday. So order was placed on Feb 9 evening, package was in my mailbox on Feb 21. Order was for temple screws, temple washers, orbital gaskets, and a screwdriver (I figured that since the temple screws were made by them, the t6 screwdriver would be an exact match and minimize future stripping). I haven't tried the screws on yet because the one I'm currently using seems to have miraculously cooperated with the screwdriver. I took a photo of the screws in case anyone might find it useful.

Does anyone know what that weird blue goo is on the Oakley screw?

Top = Linegear temple screw
Bottom = Oakley temple screw

 

[kronin323]

Usually blue "goo" on screw threads is some sort of thread lock material (so once it's screwed in, it stays screwed in). I'm unaware of Oakley using thread lock, though, but I could be wrong.

 

[reginacarmelitas]

The experts in this forum have spoken -- it's Oakley OEM lenses for me or nothing.

 

[Linegear Japan]

I wrote this while I was still new to aftermarket and Factory lens knowledge. Since this time, I have researched optics and what Oakley and aftermarkets lens makers are using, and how it Affects vision. After learning and experimenting using Optical Equipment, I realized how horrible the optics are specifically with LineGear lenses, and also Exovista, Walleva, and VL. Oakley uses Prism Based lenses which all the other aftermarket lenses are not. This affects how your eyes see objects, and also how those objects move through the field of vision. On all the aftermarket lens websites, they claim prism but they are not. The color coatings and mirror finishes on the aftermarket lenses are additionally adding to the issues. Just cause someone charges higher prices and markets well, doesn't mean they have a really good product. LineGear has a bunch of sought after colors, which people do want, but at what sacrifice. Aftermarket lenses , as Jim Jannard said, detracts from the value you have in your oakleys. So you have a cool color lens, that takes away value, and optically is horrible, on your pair of X-Metals. Not sure I see the point. I am providing examples of no lens, Line Gear lens, and an Oakley lens. Theses examples were shot using a Stellar Projector, which magnifies the image and show you what your eyes have to correct in order to see correctly. In the case of Linegear, your eyes are unconsciously correcting the blurring. Alot of LineGear users, including myself, have headaches develope. This is all in part to adding stress to your eyes. This overtime can cause damage to your eyes. Here are the examples:
View attachment 32909
View attachment 32910
View attachment 2864

Can this be independently verified? Thank you.

 

[Linegear Japan]

Sorry a bit long, for your information:

◆LINEGEAR makes and sells custom-made lenses for Oakley X-metal series.


◆LINEGEAR uses the lenses which meet the standards of the Household Goods Quality Labeling Act by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

With the cooperation of Lens-Ya Jinbocho Shop, which is the only lens specialty shop in Japan, all products use the high function, high grade lenses made in Japan.

All the lenses including polarizing lenses are made of polycarbonate which is not breakable with the shock.


[Function]


・Original lenses/Unpolarizing

8-curve 2mm thickness spherical lens

UVA, UVB (ultraviolet wavelength) 100% cut

partly with prism-adjustment function


・Polarizing lenses

8-curve 1.5mm thickness spherical lens

UVA, UVB (ultraviolet wavelength) 100% cut


[Processing] Because it is the non-prescription spherical lens,

the vision should not be influenced by PD (pupillary distance),

but the PD is set at 63mm which is the average length. After processed by the edging machine, the lenses are hand-adjusted to precisely fit the frames.


[About the distortion]Because it is the 2mm-thick 8-curve lens, it is possible that the vision might be

slightly distorted toward the edge of the frame. Although the lenses are processed to produce as little distortion as possible, with the individual difference in sensitiveness, some people might experience certain discomfort. Please contact our shop in such cases for proper support.

More info: Product description - LINEGEAR

 

[reginacarmelitas]

I'm certainly no expert but coincidentally earlier today I was digging around the web (I've had a pair of Ray Ban Aviators sitting in a drawer for the past 25 years and was thinking of selling them on ebay to recoup a smidgen of my recent Oakley investment costs, trying to see what they were worth) and stumbled across some reading about different lens materials:

Glass typically provides the best optics (and is likely those medical professionals' lens of choice) and the best scratch resistance but they're heavy and can shatter with impact.

Plastic lenses are lighter and shatter-resistant but more prone to scratching. They are typically made from acrylic, polycarbonate, CR-39, or polyurethane (BTW Oaks are polycarbonate, if there's any question..). CR-39 is the most common plastic lens variety with low weight and high scratch resistance, but polycarbonate is the lightest and practically shatterproof.

So basically by going with polycarbonate instead of glass, you're trading optical quality for less weight and better impact protection. Oakley's lenses try to get those advantages over glass without giving up optical quality.

There's also some new lens material (released in 2001) called SR-91, a proprietary material from Kaenon Polarized, which was the first non-polycarbonate material to pass the high-mass impact test (ANSI Z.87.1) while also scoring the highest marks for lens clarity. Dunno which brand(s) use it.

So anyway, I can't speak about how specific brands optics compare to each other but this info on lens materials is interesting and relevant, I think.

Thanks for the info. I wish there were aftermarket lenses that utilize the latest in optics like you mentioned.

 

[ucdavis4PT0gpa]

One also starts to wonder if and when Lux - which owns practically every eyewear related biz in the world creating a global monopoly- might start messing with the Oakley lens quality.

 

[Linegear Japan]

ucdavis: I think the trends is going that way - monopoly. But Japan is a different story. Japan never admit, but it is a socialism society with capitalism business. People here with a cleaning career like street cleaner, lake, or bus driver, or farmers (not to talk about middle class and the elite who have a good life, work Monday Friday, spend weekend spending money supporting local businesses) they all dress well to work, drive a nice small car, farmer own at least two cars; one for daily life one for transporting goods to market as well as tractors and stuff. The government have no choice but to spread wealth, example of this country political system, Prime Minister can not stay longer more than one year (ok, not even term, exception is the Abe clan which stay technically 3 terms as of now) unless they do a good job for the majority.

So back to topic, it is unlikely any Japanese specialty shop sell themselves to the world tycoon. We know for sure the Lens ya, and Zero, they want to live daily life supporting those in need of the lenses, we Linegear synergy with them buying their special lenses plus our rubbers and supporting X-Metal owners. When you are here, you understand the words like never before: respect, deep meaning, humility, head bowing like handshake in the US,.... Guys come visit here and drink Yamazaki together .

In short, in Japan, people $hare for others to survive, rather than go alone very right to the top, they help a group to go together. (Japan after 1945 indeed)