The mad scientists at Oakley strike again with Oakley True Digital: Edge Lens Technology! Created to accommodate higher prescriptions in wrap around sport sunglasses, we're here to inform you on the ins and outs of why Oakley came up with this solution, how it functions, and why it works so well.

Oakley True Digital: Edge Lens Technology

1. What Is Oakley True Digital?
2. What Makes It Different?
3. What Are The Benefits?

What Is Oakley True Digital?

For starters, keep in mind, "Oakley True Digital: Edge Lens Technology" refers to a type of technology placed in wrap around sports frames for enhanced vision of higher prescriptions, not the actual name of a frame. For instance, there are a few pair of Oakley sunglasses, such as the Oakley RPM Edge, Oakley Radar Edge, and Oakley Radarlock Edge. The term "edge" in these sport sunglasses refers to the shape of the lens, rather than the technology that we'll be talking about from here on out.

Now that we've hopefully cleared up some confusion there, let's get to talking about the latest and greatest in prescription abilities for sport sunglasses. Here's a bit about Oakley True Digital: Edge Technology.

Oakley True Digital Technology in a white and red Oakley Racing Jacket sunglasses

Oakley Racing Jacket

What Makes It Different?

Oakley edge lens technology is unique to Oakley and it is said to be sort of a hybrid improvement of what people call lenticular thinning. In other words, this concept is used to it help thin out the edges of the lens when you center a large prescription in sunglasses. However, the problem with lenticular thinning is that it causes a lot of distortion on the outside edges of the lens. Most companies are leaving the distortion there, which becomes disruptive to optimal sport performance and takes away from clear vision. This is where Oakley’s scientific expertise comes in.

Through the use of True Digital Technology, Oakley is adding result changes to lens thinning by “frosting” the edges. In other words, they are putting a groove design in the last 4-11 millimeters of the outside part of the lens in order to block out the distortion that others generally leave in place. Basically, this frosting technique tricks the brain and your eyes into thinking that the frame is a little bit bigger and the lenses are a little bit smaller. What that is doing is eliminating the distortion area, while still being able to center up a high prescription into a more wrapped around frame, implementing a much thinner lens.

Person wearing Oakley Racing Jacket Cycling Sunglasses on face at Sea Otter Classic

Oakley Racing Jackets. My go-to Cycling Sunglasses

What Are The Benefits?

Before Oakley came out with their Edge Lens Technology, most of their sport sunglasses went from a +2.0 prescription to a -3.0 in total power, and now it has been doubled, going from a +4.0 to a -6.0. So say you've had a -5.0 prescription and you always wanted some authentic Oakley Sunglasses or Flak Jackets, but your strong prescription wouldn't allow it. Well, it's your lucky day because now you can with the Oakley edge technology!

Oakley sunglasses - Black Oakley Racing Jacket, Prescription Sport Sunglasses

Oakley Racing Jacket (matte black ink)

So what about your peripheral vision? Although frosting the edges will block some peripheral vision, it's still going to give you a better peripheral vision experience than a non wrap around frame, which is what most people with a -5.0 have previously had to resort to. Plus, Oakley is guaranteeing that even with the highest prescription and the most amount of frost edges, which would be at most 11 millimeters, you’re still going to get at least 120° of peripheral vision, which is amazing.

Another thing to remember with the Edge technology is that it's available in five lens colors as of now, and all five lens colors are polarized. It comes in grey polarized, black iridium, gold iridium polarized, bronze polarized, and VR28 black iridium polarized, a personal optician favorite. Oakley Edge is available in progressive lenses as well as single vision lenses, and can be applied to all 8-base Oakley sport frames. So pretty much everything with Jacket at the end of it. Flak Jacket, Racing Jacket, Straight Jacket, Half Jacket, you name it, you got it.

Oakley sunglasses - black Oakley RPM Edge Prescription Sunglasses with brown lenses

Oakley RPM Edge

Oakley True Digital at SportRx

Thanks to Oakley, those who have been denied Oakley authentic lenses and cool wrap around frames can now reap the benefits of superior Oakley prescription sport sunglasses despite their high prescription needs. Here at SportRx we really like to push the limits and find new technology to solve problems, and this has been really good ammunition in our arsenal to use when needed. It sounds a little complicated, but the end result has been amazing. We’ve had really good luck with them and people love it.

Coming first hand from a SportRx customer, the Oakley Edge is the key to seeing clearly during your favorite sport activities. Feel free to take a look at this customer review for more knowledge from our sunglasses expert, Rob, and more first-hand insight on the awesomeness of these lenses.

All in all, we’ve been bettering the vision of those with higher prescription needs by implementing Oakley’s True Digital: Edge Technology into the amazing collection of Oakley sport sunglasses. If you have any further questions about the Edge Technology, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or shoot us a LiveChat. We’re here to help and we’d love to clear up any confusion you still have.