I thought these
new ones were
different, somehow. I believe now they're
plastic lenses, and are much more
reactive and
clearer when it's dark.
The biggest problem with the old ones, besides the permanent circle problem, what that if you were wearing them during any sort of flash photography, they would become orange in the picture. You'd be permanetly labeled a geek.
(and yes, I did have them throughout high school. I was a geek. Mind you when I got to college and bought new glasses, I didn't get photogray lenses.)