Of all the new form factors for AI, smart glasses seem to hold the most potential. Many individuals already use some type of eyewear daily, be it prescription glasses, blue light filtering glasses, or sunglasses. Integrating smart capabilities and AI into a product that is such a significant part of our lives appears to be a winning strategy. There’s just one catch — individuals with prescription glasses, who stand to gain the most from having AI integrated into their eyewear, are typically overlooked.
In my opinion, Meta produces the finest smart glasses available, and they are primed for the mainstream market. Thus, I decided to take action. I invested over $500 in third-party prescription lenses for my Oakley Meta HSTN and Vanguard. Here’s my experience customizing Oakley Meta smart glasses with unsupported prescription lenses.
I have been wearing prescription Oakley eyewear and sunglasses for five years, and I was thrilled when Meta revealed it was introducing its smart glasses in Oakley frames. Unfortunately, the Oakley Meta HSTN doesn’t officially accommodate my prescription, and the Oakley Meta Vanguard is unavailable with prescription lenses.
I wasn’t willing to give up, so I sought out third-party companies ready to craft prescription lenses for Oakley Meta glasses. After extensive research, I placed my initial order with Lensology, a U.K.-based lens manufacturer that offers a “click and fit” service for Meta glasses. I specified a unique lens configuration due to my prescription needs, and the color complemented my Meta HSTN frames in the “Warm Gray” hue.
The ordering procedure with Lensology was straightforward, and the company manages all import fees, so there are no surprise bills upon delivery. However, the wait time was somewhat prolonged. It took about two weeks for Lensology to produce my lenses since the configuration I selected was non-stock. Additionally, the U.S. FDA conducted a random inspection of my lenses during the import phase, which caused further delays.
I was informed that this was Lensology’s inaugural FDA spot check (what good fortune!), and the company’s customer service was attentive and efficient. In truth, the delay was beyond Lensology’s control, and my lenses eventually arrived around a month after placing my order, despite the hiccup. To make amends, Lensology sent another pair of lenses at no extra charge, which cleared customs immediately, confirming that this was merely an isolated incident.
Next, I looked for a means to use prescription lenses with the Oakley Meta Vanguard and discovered SVED Optical. This company specializes in creating prescription inserts for various types of sports eyewear and goggles, and they indeed have an option for the Vanguard.
The experience of ordering from SVED was outstanding for several reasons. The company is located in the U.S., which simplifies the process for domestic customers. The Vanguard inserts were also considerably more affordable, priced at only $164 (even lower with an email discount). They fit behind the built-in Oakley Prizm sunglass lenses of the Vanguard, making them more cost-effective.
SVED delivered my Oakley Meta Vanguard inserts 12 days after I submitted my order. That turnaround is competitive enough to match official Meta/Oakley processing times, should they offer Vanguard prescription lenses.
I usually try to purchase directly from LensCrafters, the EssilorLuxottica-owned business that partners with Meta for smart glasses, whenever feasible. Although it costs more, the return policy and warranties are excellent. I appreciate the ability to walk into a store and resolve my situation promptly, which I lacked with Lensology or SVED. To their credit, both brands accept mail-in returns within 30 days.
When each order arrived, I had no complaints regarding the quality or installation process. Inserting the SVED inserts into the Meta Vanguard is so straightforward that anyone can manage it. You simply detach the stock Vanguard nose piece and slide the SVED inserts into position. The prescription lenses come attached to a new nose piece, securing them to the Vanguard frame.
I had reservations about the added weight and how my prescription Vanguard setup would feel on my face. Surely, the lenses would clank and scratch against the stock sunglass lenses, right? Throughout daily use and even during a 5K run, I was happy to notice that none of these concerns were significant issues.
The procedure was a bit more complicated for the Meta HSTN glasses because you need to physically take out the stock lenses and insert the prescription ones in their place. The thicker the prescription lenses, the more challenging the process becomes. However, Lensology has excellent instructional content on YouTube, including a test fit from their factory that ensures the lenses work in HSTN frames.
If you have any experience in changing out prescription lenses, the process is quite simple. Even those without prior experience will catch on quickly. The key is to apply firm pressure — it may seem like the glasses might break, but this is an essential step in the process.
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