Several years ago, I made a special request to a sunglasses brand: give me a set of shades that lets me read the text on my GPS clearly, without impairing my long-range vision. The company enthusiastically provided a set of prototype progressive “readers” with strict instructions that under no circumstances was I to tell anyone about them. As it turns out, the sunglasses worked great, and they were my secret go-to for many years. Now Lens & Frame is offering a lens that promises to offer the same benefits, and after testing the lenses for a couple of months, I can finally share my stoke. They aren’t cheap, but then again, it’s hard to put a price on clear vision, on or off the trail.
Lens & Frame EVinfinity lens specs
- “Reader” lenses for use outdoors without compromising long-range vision
- Price: From $335
- Buy from Lens & Frame Co.
EVinfinity lenses are exclusive to Lens & Frame, and they’re designed specifically for outdoor use. Lens & Frame offers three different EV (extended vision) reader lenses that offer a wider field of intermediate vision than progressives; a larger “sweet spot” as the brand calls it. Each set is custom-made based on your desired magnification strength and pupillary distance.
Prior to receiving my sample Lens & Frame sunglasses, I had never visited an eye doctor. At some point several years ago, I was in a dollar store and put on a set of gawdy reading glasses as a joke, and it was a revelation. These make my iPhone screen look so much clearer! I experimented until I found the right level of assistance, and I’ve been buying (and losing, and breaking) cheap dollar-store reading glasses ever since.
Because they’re essentially fancy reading glasses, you don’t need a prescription for Lens & Frame EV lenses. The website has an online tool that calculates your pupillary distance (PD, i.e., the distance between the centers of your pupils), and you can choose whatever magnification level you like. Based on the online vision check, my pupillary distance was calculated to be 59.5mm, so I ordered two pairs of EV glasses based on this measurement. And then I panicked and scheduled an appointment with an eye doctor to confirm.
According to my Optometrist, I have near-perfect long-distance vision, and he confirmed that a set of 1.5-strength readers is exactly what I need to read text on a screen or puzzle over tiny bearings and 2.5mm hex screws. He says my PD is 60mm, nearly spot-on with what Lens & Frame calculated.
Lens & Frame offers a number of frame choices, including familiar name brands like Ombraz. I’ve owned a few pairs of Ombraz glasses over the years, and I like the look. I also like the armless design that makes them easier to pack, harder to lose, and more comfortable to wear, so I ordered a pair of EVinfinity sunglasses and also a pair of EV6 clear glasses with Ombraz Leggero frames.
On the trail
Before I jump into how well the Lens & Frame EVinfinity lenses perform, a little backstory. Back when I was prepping for my first bikepacking race, a friend mentioned some stick-on readers that could help me read the route on my GPS unit. I picked up a pair for myself and stuck them to a favorite pair of sunglasses, but I couldn’t get used to wearing them. These essentially turn your sunglasses into bifocals, and as I learned, a lot of people struggle to use them comfortably. That nameless eyewear brand I mentioned in the intro? I also had them make a set of bifocal readers for comparison, and they were similarly tough to use. For me, progressive readers are definitely the way to go.
EVinfinity claims their lenses are a step up from progressive readers thanks to a larger “sweet spot.” It’s hard to judge exactly where the sweet spot trails off, but I can confirm that the lenses look very natural and transition smoothly from looking down at my watch or GPS computer and back out to the trail or down the road. The lenses perform just as well for running, where looking at a tiny (bouncing) watch screen surely strains even the most keen of vision.
After nearly three months of heavy outdoor use, the lenses remain generally scratch-free. I’m babying these a bit more than I did my last pair of sunglasses, one because they’re much more expensive and two because I plan to have these for a long, long time. Honestly, I would be screwed for riding without them, especially if I forgot to pack my reading glasses and I needed to use my phone or GPS to navigate home.
In the office
I also ordered a pair of EV6 clear lenses for working at the computer, and chose the same Ombraz frame for easier comparison. Lens & Frame says the EV6 lenses are designed for “focused computer work” with a wider field of reader-like magnification. For whatever reason, I have had a hard time getting used to these lenses. Regular reading glasses seem to work better for me, perhaps because I’m (sadly) so focused on the monitor and rarely look at anything else in my environment while working.
The third EV lens from Lens & Frame is called EV20, and that lens appears to be optimized for things like sitting in a boardroom or watching TV indoors.
Ombraz Leggero frames
I reviewed a regular pair of Ombaz Leggero sunglasses in 2021, but it’s worth recapping what I think makes them great. The unique armless design uses an adjustable cord to hold the lenses in place, and the system works a lot better than you might think. I don’t have to worry about bending or breaking hinged arms, and that also allows them to pack flatter in a pocket or bag. The included pouch has a lens rag for wiping the inevitable sweat and smudges.
There are drawbacks to this design, namely that you generally need two hands to put the Leggero sunglasses on or to take them off. And things can get complicated when helmet straps are involved. Not only that, the armless look certainly isn’t for everyone.
Bottom line
If you need reading glasses to read text messages on your smartphone or struggle to focus on GPS route info while riding, a set of EVinfinity lenses from Lens & Frame just might help.
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