Finding the right prescription eyewear for flying involves more than choosing a frame. Lens tint, prescription type, instrument visibility, and headset compatibility all play a role in finding eyewear that works for your vision and the way you fly.
Method Seven offers purpose built aviation eyewear with prescription lens options developed in collaboration with ZEISS, along with non-prescription solutions for pilots who prefer to keep their existing glasses. This guide explains the differences between our lenses, prescription types, and frames to help you find the right combination.
FLT Rx vs. Lucid Rx; Which Lens Is Right for You?
Both FLT Rx and Lucid Rx use premium ZEISS prescription lens technology, but they're designed for different lighting conditions. Both are non-polarized, provide full UV protection, and feature anti-reflective coatings and lightweight, shatter resistant polymer construction.
FLT Rx Prescription Sunglasses Engineered for Aviation
FLT Rx is our new prescription sunglass lens, developed through a collaboration between Method Seven and ZEISS specifically for pilots.
With 25% visible light transmission (VLT), FLT Rx allows approximately one quarter of visible light to pass through the lens. Its neutral gray viewing tint, Sapphire blue flash mirror, and Method Seven notch filtering technology are designed to reduce glare and enhance contrast while preserving visibility of electronic flight instruments.
Unlike polarized sunglasses, FLT Rx avoids the display interference and unwanted windscreen effects that polarization can cause in aircraft.
FLT Rx also features ZEISS DuraVision Sapphire anti-reflective coating and CleanGuard technology, making the lenses more resistant to smudges and easier to clean. Advanced ZEISS coatings are designed for improved scratch resistance, durability, and long term optical performance.
Best suited for: Pilots who need prescription sunglasses for bright daytime flying and want glare reduction without compromising instrument visibility.
Explore our FLT Rx prescription aviation sunglasses here.
Lucid Rx Clear Prescription Lenses for Low Light and Everyday Use
Prescription sunglasses are only part of the equation for pilots who rely on corrective lenses. Flying at dawn, dusk, or after dark still requires vision correction, even when sunglasses aren't needed.
Lucid Rx features premium ZEISS clear, untinted prescription lenses, making it a practical choice for nighttime flying, low-light conditions, indoor environments, and everyday wear.
Lucid Rx incorporates ZEISS DuraVision Gold UV anti-reflective coating technology and CleanGuard, helping minimize distracting reflections while making fingerprints, oils, and smudges easier to remove. The lenses also provide full UV protection without a sunglass tint.
Best suited for: Pilots who need prescription eyewear for nighttime or low light flying, as well as those who want the comfort and fit of Method Seven frames for everyday use.
Explore our Lucid Rx clear prescription eyewear here.
Do You Need Both?
For many pilots, the answer may be yes. FLT Rx provides tinted prescription protection for bright daytime flying, while Lucid Rx provides the vision correction needed when lighting conditions change.
Choosing both allows pilots to enjoy the same purpose built frame design and headset compatibility across a wider range of flying conditions.
Understanding Your Prescription Options
Once you've selected your lens type, the next step is choosing the prescription configuration that best meets your vision needs. Method Seven offers single vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses, each designed to correct vision differently.
Single Vision
Single vision lenses have one prescription throughout the entire lens. They can correct distance vision, near vision, or another specific viewing distance, depending on your prescription.
For pilots who primarily need correction to see distant objects, single vision distance lenses may be sufficient. Pilots who need reading correction but have good distance vision may prefer a different solution.
Single vision lenses do not combine multiple prescriptions, so they won't provide separate distance and reading corrections in the same lens.
Bifocal
Bifocal lenses combine two prescriptions in one lens, typically with distance correction in the upper portion and reading correction in a lower segment.
The two viewing zones are separated by a visible line. This allows pilots to look through the distance portion when scanning outside the aircraft and use the reading segment for charts, checklists, and other nearby materials.
Bifocals can be a good choice for pilots who want separate distance and near corrections without the gradual transitions found in progressive lenses.
Standard bifocal segment heights
Method Seven bifocals are manufactured with standard segment heights based on the selected frame. Segment height determines the vertical placement of the reading portion of the lens.
| Frame |
Default segment height |
| Ascent |
18 mm |
| Aviatrix |
16 mm |
| Interceptor |
20 mm |
| Patriot |
18 mm |
| Evolution |
20 mm |
Pilots who prefer a customized segment height can request a measurement kit to help determine the appropriate placement.
Progressive
Progressive lenses provide multiple viewing distances within a single lens, transitioning gradually from distance correction at the top through intermediate vision in the middle to near vision at the bottom.
Unlike bifocals, progressives have no visible dividing line between prescription zones.
The intermediate portion can be particularly useful for pilots who need to view instrument panels, avionics, and other objects positioned between typical reading and distance ranges.
However, progressive lenses have narrower usable viewing areas at some distances and require accurate fitting measurements. The best configuration depends on the pilot's prescription, aircraft, instrument layout, and individual preferences.
Progressive orders require a measurement kit to establish the appropriate fitting height and other measurements before the lenses are manufactured.
Choosing Your Method Seven Aviation Frame
Lens selection is only part of finding the right prescription eyewear. Frame shape, fit, and compatibility with headsets or flight helmets are equally important.
Method Seven offers several aviation frame designs, each with distinct features:
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✈ Ascent: Our flagship aviator frame, offering a modern interpretation of a timeless design. Its lightweight titanium construction and thin temples make it a versatile choice for pilots.
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✈ Aviatrix: A titanium aviator designed for women and those with smaller faces, with a comfortable, proportionate fit and tangle-free nose pads.
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✈ Patriot: Featuring a wraparound design with expansive peripheral coverage and a slightly wider fit. Its lightweight titanium construction and ultra thin temples are designed for use with aviation headsets and flight helmets.
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✈ Interceptor: Our best selling exceptionally thin, flexible TR90 frame with rubberized nose pads to help prevent slippage. Available in black and the translucent orange 1Moment Edition.
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✈ Evolution: Available in matte black or tortoise, with flex hinges and rubberized temple tips for added comfort. Unlike our other aviation frames, Evolution is not designed for use under over ear aviation headsets, but it's a great option for pilots who use in-ear audio or want Method Seven lenses for everyday wear outside the aircraft.
Frame availability and prescription options may vary, so be sure to review the available combinations when ordering.
Additional Options for Pilots
Not every pilot needs a custom pair of prescription sunglasses. Method Seven also offers a limited selection of ready made bifocal readers and FLT18 clip-ons for those who prefer a simpler solution.
FLT24 Rx Bifocal Readers (aka Cheaters)
For pilots who have good distance vision but need magnification for reading sectionals, checklists, or instruments, Method Seven still offers a limited selection of our classic ready made, lined bifocal readers featuring our previous FLT24 Rx lenses.
These bifocal readers, commonly called cheaters, have an unmagnified distance viewing area and a magnified reading segment in the lower portion of the lens. They don't require a prescription or custom measurements.
As this limited stock is manufactured by our previous optical lab rather than ZEISS, these readers are only available while supplies last in select magnifications from +1.00 to +2.75.
Interested in bifocal readers manufactured by ZEISS? Contact our customer service team for assistance with available options.
The Aviator Clip-On FLT18
For pilots who prefer to continue wearing their existing prescription glasses, our Aviator Clip-Ons provide aviation sunglass protection and notch filtering without requiring a new prescription.
Featuring the FLT18 polymer lens with 18% visible light transmission, these convenient flip up clip-ons are non-polarized, provide full UV protection, and are designed to reduce glare without interfering with electronic flight instruments.
Simply attach them to your prescription glasses during bright daytime flying and flip them up them if conditions change.
Explore our FLT18 Aviator Clip-Ons here.
Ordering Your Method Seven Prescription Eyewear
We've streamlined our online prescription ordering process to make selecting your eyewear easier.
Each frame and prescription lens combination now has one dedicated product page, with single vision, bifocal, and progressive options available in one place. Simply select your preferred frame and lens combination, choose your prescription type, and review the updated price.
Have your prescription ready? Upload it directly during the ordering process. If you don't have it handy, select the option to email it later, and you'll receive a reminder.
Once you've made your selections, add your eyewear to your cart and complete checkout. Customers requiring additional fitting measurements will receive instructions and a measurement kit when applicable.
Our ZEISS prescription lenses are supported by applicable ZEISS warranty and remake policies, alongside Method Seven's own customer care and product protection.
Questions? We're Here to Help.
Whether you're choosing between FLT Rx and Lucid Rx, deciding on a prescription type, comparing frame styles, or looking for bifocal readers, our team can help you find the right eyewear for your flying needs.
Contact us at customerservice@methodseven.com or call 831-600-7455, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific Time.
