Oakley’s latest True Digital prescription eyewear technology improves peripheral vision for safer riding in the peloton.
Cioni benefits from lenses
Sports eyewear with prescription lenses has been a huge boon for both pro and amateur riders, but anyone who has used them will be aware of the blurring and distortion that occurs in the periphery of wraparound lenses. This can have a serious effect on performance, particularly when riding in a large bunch of bikers, when the lack of clarity makes it hard to judge distances, potentially leading to crashes.
Team Sky’s eyewear partner Oakley have come up with a clever solution to this problem. First introduced at the tail-end of last year, Oakley True Digital™ uses Dual Peripheral Technology™ to minimise distortion in the periphery of wraparound lenses. What this translates to is technology that enables lenses to be tailor-made for each specific frame, enabling any cyclist to benefit due to the level of visual clarity that is delivered.
Oakley describe True Digital technology as “a game changer”. According to Oakley’s UK training manager, James Hunt, “True Digital technology adjusts the prescription to correct distortion found at the edge of curved lenses. This opens up the entire field of view, which is essential in sports, but often missing from traditional prescription lenses. Combined with Oakley’s exclusive Plutonite lens material, True Digital offers unparalleled protection, clarity, performance and comfort.”
In the central view, the technology provides a wide field of crisp, clear vision. Thanks to the Dual Peripheral Technology that clarity is maintained in the mid and far periphery. In the mid-periphery, the technology offers balanced binocular vision for better recognition of larger images, while vision in the far periphery is optimised by the minimisation of astigmatism and power error, providing the wearer with better motion detection. In short, the wearer benefits from crisp acuity and fluidity of vision across the entire contour of their high-wrap lenses.
Race tested
Veteran Team Sky pro Dario Cioni is one of two riders on the squad who have benefited from the new technology. “These are the best prescription lenses I have used on a bike by far,” says the Anglo-Italian rider. “You put them on and you forget you are wearing prescription lenses. It is amazing how good they are and especially when it comes to your peripheral vision.
“Usually, with normal prescription glasses, when you look to one side what you can see is very distorted and it makes it hard to judge distances. When you are in the middle of the bunch you do not want to make this type of mistake as it could result in a crash!”
All True Digital lenses also feature Oakley Hydrophobic coating, a technology that maintains a smudge-resistant barrier while preventing water from leaving streaks and sheens. Beyond the standard features, riders can choose from a wide range of Oakley signature lens colors, and added options include Oakley Iridium® lens coatings that balance light transmission.
