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Sunglasses Lens Colour Guide: Differences and How to Choose the Right One
Published on October 15th, 2024
Updated on December 16th, 2024
Sunglasses lens colour is a broad spectrum that includes brown, grey, green, blue, pink, yellow and amber lenses. The colour of sunglasses lenses does not always have an impact on a person’s vision, nor does sunglass lens colour affect UV protection. Different colour lenses may help improve comfort levels with bright light entering the eye, and may improve contrast, but this can be subjective. UV protection is its own coating or filter that blocks UV rays from the sun, and is not determined by lens colour. The best lens colours for sunglasses is largely down to personal preference. At Oscar Wylee, our lens colours are separated across three main categories; mirror tints, fashion tints and sunglasses tints. At Oscar Wylee, our mirror tints can be pink, blue, silver, yellow and orange colours. Our fashion lens colours include yellow, blue, red and pink. Our Oscar Wylee sunglasses tints come in grey, brown, and green colours. For more information on sunglasses lens colours and how to choose the right one, keep reading below.
What are the Different Colours of Sunglasses Lens?
The different colours of sunglasses lenses can include brown, grey, green, blue, pink, yellow and amber. At Oscar Wylee, our different sunglasses lens colours are categorised into mirror tints, fashion tints and sunglasses tints. The different colours of Oscar Wylee lenses are listed below.
- Mirror tints: Mirror tints refer to lenses that have a reflective coating on the outside that resembles a mirror. At Oscar Wylee, our mirror tints can be pink, blue, silver, and orange colours.
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Fashion tints:
Fashion tints refer to lens colours that do not help or enhance
vision, and are for purely aesthetic or fashion purposes. At Oscar
Wylee, our fashion tints are called lolly tints and include yellow,
blue, red and pink.
- Sunglasses tints: Sunglasses tints are a type of lens colour put on sunglasses. At Oscar Wylee, our sunglasses tints come in grey, brown, and green colours.
What is the Importance of Sunglasses Lens Colour?
The colour of sunglasses or glasses lenses can have some importance in terms of improving contrast as well as vision comfort on bright days, but not in protecting the eyes from the sun and its UV rays. Generally tints or colours, when compared to a clear lens, can help to reduce the brightness of light entering the eye. Some people may find a tint on their lenses helps with the subjective comfort in their vision, especially in brighter situations. If sunglasses have been coated with UV400 protection or polarisation, in addition to a coloured lens, then the lenses will be beneficial to eye health as they will help protect the eyes from UV rays.
How Do Different Sunglass Lens Colours Affect Vision?
Different sunglasses lens colours can affect vision in regards to improved contrast and comfort levels. For example, browner lenses can have improved contrast in certain conditions such as discerning shades of green while playing golf or markings on a road. Other lens features that affect vision are the prescription, as well as lens coatings and filters such as polarisation. Prescription lenses refer to lenses that have a plus or minus powers over the lens to help correct refractive errors. Refractive errors include myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
How do Tints Affect Sunglasses Lens Performance?
Whether tints affect sunglasses lens performance is dependent on what tints they are. For example, a brown tint lens may affect how sunglasses lenses perform. A brown tint may help with contrast, and be beneficial when golfing or driving. Lenses with coatings, such as polarisation for example, will also change how sunglasses work and perform. Sunglasses with polarisation will be more effective in cutting glare than those without.
Should Sunglasses Lens Colour Be Different for Different Weather Conditions?
Generally speaking, lenses do not have to be different colours for differing weather conditions. Lens colours that are for fashion or aesthetic purposes, such as Oscar Wylee’s Lolly tints, will not make a difference to vision or eye protection in differing weather conditions. Mirror tints, including pink, blue, silver, and orange colours, may also not make any difference in weather conditions, although some may help improve contrast and glare depending on the retailer. Sunglasses tints, which include brown, grey and green, may help in different weather conditions, however, most of the benefits of wearing sunglasses lie in the coatings or filters applied to the lens such as polarisation or UV400 protection. Polarisation refers to a type of filter applied to a lens that cuts out glare. At Oscar Wylee, we offer polarised lenses in grey, brown and green colours. UV400 protection is a type of lens filter or coating that protects the eyes from UV rays emitted from the sun, up to 400 nanometres.
What is the Best Sunglasses Lens Colour for Driving?
The best sunglasses lens colour for driving in the daytime is typically grey or brown, with polarisation and UV400 protection. Grey and brown lens colours are good to have when driving as they are simple and neutral in colouring, and will not distort important colours whilst driving such as red or yellow lights. No-colour or clear lenses are the best to wear when driving at night or in dim light conditions as darker lenses may affect how well a person can see and may be dangerous.
How to Choose the Right Sunglasses Lens Colour for Your Needs?
The best way to choose the right sunglasses lens colour for your needs is to talk to your optometrist or eyewear retailer. Whilst the colour of your sunglasses lens may not make much difference to overall eye health or vision, it is still important to discuss lens options with your eye care team. At Oscar Wylee, you can visit our knowledgeable retail team in-store to discuss lens options including colour, coatings and filters.
What Colour Lenses are Best for Specific Outdoor Activities?
There are certain colour lenses that people may choose to use for certain specific outdoor activities such as shooting or driving. Those who pursue shooting as a sport may use amber or yellow shooting glasses. Some shooting glasses with yellow or amber lenses may be designed enhance contrast, allowing people to see clearer. Grey or brown lenses may be chosen for outdoor activities such as driving, as they are a neutral colour and won’t obscure important colours that people will need to see.
Which Sunglasses Lens Colour is Best for Sports?
There is no set lens colour that is best for playing sports, with sports sunglasses coming in a range of tints and colours including yellow, amber, blue and green. Some who engage with shooting or cycling as a sport may gravitate more towards amber coloured frames, where those who engage in snow sports may choose blue or yellow lenses. At Oscar Wylee, our sports sunglasses come with different coloured lenses including mirrored tints, blue and green colours and red and orange colours.
What Colour Sunglasses Lens is Best for Bright Sun?
The colour of sunglasses lenses that are best for bright sun are generally brown, grey and green, with polarisation also a good idea. Brown, grey and grey are good colours for bright days as they darken the lens. Polarisation is a type of coating of filter applied to the lens to darken them, and cut glare. Polarisation is good for bright sun as it helps to cut some light on horizontal wavelength, cutting glare. Polarised lenses are good for driving, boating, or skiing, as these surfaces can produce high levels of glare on bright, sunny days.
Can Polarised Lenses Come in Any Colour for Sunglasses?
The colours that polarised lenses will come in for sunglasses are dependent on the individual retailers. At Oscar Wylee, our polarised lenses can come in grey, brown, and green colours.
Do I Need a Prescription for Coloured Sunglasses Lenses?
No, you do not need a prescription for coloured sunglasses lenses. Prescription glasses refer to glasses with a power applied to a lens to help correct refractive errors such as hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism. Coloured lenses do not help correct vision issues and will not require a prescription. However, it is important to consult with retail staff or your optometrist regarding what coloured sunglasses lenses will meet your eye care and fashion needs.