Colored sunglasses lenses exist to help filter light away from your eyes, not just to make a fashion statement. However, depending on the color of the lens, they do so in different ways.
Some eyewear tints make the colors you see look more vivid. Other tint colors aid in color distortion, glare reduction, light blocking, and even visual acuity improvement. However, not all colored glasses are appropriate for all situations.
The truth is that each colored lens offers distinct advantages. The proper lens tint should improve your depth perception and reduce eye fatigue while not impairing your ability to see well.
UV protection is more important than lens color.
To begin with, the tint of your sunglasses’ lenses does not indicate how much UV-blocking protection they will provide. This is because lenses that offer enough protection are covered with a colorless UV-absorbing coating, preferably in addition to the colorful tint you select.
In other words, when it comes to protecting your eyes from dangerous ultraviolet rays, what’s on the UV label is more important than the color. And, regardless of the tint of the lenses, the label on every high-quality pair of sunglasses should say 100% UV protection.
When looking for protection against high-energy visible light (HEV) or blue-light spectra, the color of your lenses does matter. Because HEV light can cause retinal damage, understanding your colored lens alternatives and associated benefits is critical.
Differences among color lenses in sunglasses
When selecting colored lenses, consider your lifestyle, such as your everyday work and recreational activities, as well as how you intend to use your sunglasses. Each color is designed to enhance and improve vision in certain contexts and activities.
At the same time, some colors might actually cause eyesight problems if worn incorrectly. Understanding the function and benefits of each color can assist you in making the best choice when it comes time to make your next purchase.
- Green
A greenish lens improves contrast by filtering out blue light. In brighter sunshine, this also helps to reduce glare and eye strain. This color works well in sunglasses used for golf or tennis as well as for regular use.
- Gray
This neutral tint decreases glare, especially when on the water, making it ideal for fishing sunglasses, and it’s also a fantastic color to shield from strong light. Gray-tinted lenses provide anti-fatigue advantages on both overcast and sunny days, making them ideal for all-purpose use, such as driving.
- Purple or blue
Blue or purple-tinted sunglasses lenses offer remarkable color perception. They also improve your ability to perceive outlines around things while protecting you from shiny surfaces, particularly snow. Blue-lens sunglasses are also useful in foggy or misty conditions. Furthermore, they complement practically any skin tone.
- Rose or red
Red and rose-colored sunglasses help increase driving vision while lowering eye strain by blocking blue light. Furthermore, they serve to increase depth of field and enhance detail, which is why sunglasses with red or rose-colored lenses are ideal for wearing during numerous athletic activities, such as skiing.
- Gold, yellow, or orange
Light-colored lenses, such as yellow, orange, and gold, perform well in moderate- to low-light environments. They have good depth perception and may be used for both outdoor and indoor sports sunglasses. They also improve item visibility, make the environment appear brighter, and block out blue light. However, yellow, orange, or gold sunglasses lenses may cause color distortion.
- Brown or amber
This glare-reducing tint helps to brighten cloudy days. These performance sunglasses also have red colors that serve to increase depth perception while blocking blue light. Consider wearing these while playing golf or baseball, where you need to see little objects from a distance. Amber lenses can provide eye relief in bright sunlight and increase contrast against green surroundings and blue skies.
Before purchasing sunglasses with colored lenses, attempt to assess the various lens colors under lighting circumstances comparable to what you are used to. Some frames for sporty sunglasses even have lenses that can be switched out, so you can change the color to suit different sports and conditions.
