Sunglasses with colored lenses are more than just a fashion statement. Different lens colors (aka tints) offer unique benefits that can enhance your visual experience.
Some tints can boost the colors you see, making them pop with vibrancy, while others can reduce glare, block light, and even improve your visual acuity.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of each lens color. You’ll discover why brown lenses are ideal for cloudy days, why green lenses are the secret weapon of sports enthusiasts, and why yellow lenses are perfect for your early morning commute.
After reading, you’ll know which color lenses are best for your unique needs!
UV Protection Is the Top Priority
First things first, let’s get one thing straight: UV protection matters more than lens color. The colorless, UV-absorbing coating applied to sunglasses’ lenses protects your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays—not the color of the lenses.
A quality pair of sunglasses should have a label reading 100% UV protection, regardless of the color of the lenses.
This isn’t to say lens color has no impact—it certainly does! Lens color matters when it comes to factors like glare, color accuracy, and visual sharpness.
Which Color Sunglasses Is Best?
This is a common question people have when looking to buy a new pair of shades, but there really is no “best” answer. Rather, every color lens has its own unique properties, specifically designed to enhance and improve your vision in certain environments and activities.
Wearing the right lens color in the right setting can significantly enhance your visual experience, while wearing the wrong lens color in the wrong setting can hinder your vision.
To ensure you make the right choice, it’s crucial to understand the purpose and benefits of each color lens before making your next purchase. By doing so, you can make an informed decision that will enhance your vision and help you perform at your best.
Green Lens Sunglasses
A green lens helps improve contrast by blocking out blue light, making it ideal for activities like golf and tennis, as well as everyday wear. This tint also helps reduce glare and eye strain in bright sunlight.
Choose green lenses for:
- Precision sports, such as tennis, baseball, and golf
- Driving in bright conditions
- Everyday wear
Brown Lens Sunglasses
Brown or amber lenses are the perfect choice for cloudy days, providing a brighter and clearer view in lower-light conditions. These tints also feature red hues that block blue light and improve depth perception, making them ideal for activities like golf and baseball, where you need to see small objects at a distance.
Brown and amber lenses are also useful for heightening contrast against green landscapes and blue skies.
Choose amber or brown lenses for:
- Precision sports, such as tennis, baseball, and golf
- Driving in lower-light conditions
- Water sports
- Cycling
Gray Lens Sunglasses
Gray is arguably the best all-around lens tint, as it allows your eyes to perceive colors accurately in both bright and low-light conditions. This neutral color also reduces glare, especially on the water.
Choose gray lenses for:
- Outdoor sports, such as running, cycling, or golf
- Water sports
- Driving in bright and lower-light conditions
- Everyday wear
Red Lens Sunglasses
Red or rose lenses effectively block blue light, which increases contrast and improves visibility. They also help increase your field depth and enhance detail, making them a good choice for sports like skiing and cycling.
Choose red or rose lenses for:
- Snow sports
- Cycling
- Digital screen use (i.e. “blue light blocking glasses”)
- Driving in lower-light conditions
Yellow Lens Sunglasses
Yellow or orange tints are ideal for hazy, foggy, or low-light conditions, as they increase contrast and make objects appear sharper, both indoors and outdoors. They also block out blue light.
It’s important to note, however, that these tints can distort colors, so it’s crucial to consider your specific needs and the environment you’ll be in before making a choice.
Choose yellow or orange lenses for:
- Snow activities
- Indoor ball sports
- Digital screen use (i.e. “blue light blocking glasses”)
- Driving in fog
Note: Yellow-tinted lenses may not be suitable for color-deficient drivers, as they have the potential to distort traffic light colors or make them difficult to discern.[*]
Blue Lens Sunglasses
Aside from looking very fashion-forward, blue and purple lenses enhance color perception and help you see contours around objects more clearly. These tints also cut down on glare and promote increased visual clarity.
Choose blue or purple lenses for:
- Precision sports, such as tennis, baseball, and golf
- Driving in misty or foggy conditions
- Snow activities
- Water activities
Other Questions You May Have About Colored Sunglasses
Now that we’ve covered the benefits of each color, let’s answer some other common questions about lens tints.
Can Colored Lenses Hurt Your Eyes?
Colored sunglasses lenses do not hurt your eyes. In fact, they can help protect your eyes from high-energy visible (HEV) light, also known as blue light.
However, it’s important to make sure that the lenses you choose are of good quality and provide 100% UV protection, otherwise your eyes will be vulnerable to damage from the sun’s UV rays.
Do Colored Lenses Affect Mood?
There is some evidence to suggest that colored lenses in sunglasses can have a slight effect on mood. Different color tints can impact the way light enters the eye and the way we perceive colors, which can, in turn, affect our emotions and mood.
For example, yellow and orange tints may help increase feelings of happiness and optimism, while blue and green tints may have a calming effect.
However, keep in mind that these effects are relatively minor and that the primary function of colored lenses in sunglasses is to protect your eyes and help you see better.
Are Darker Sunglasses Better for Your Eyes?
Darker sunglasses are not necessarily better for your eyes. The effectiveness of sunglasses in protecting your eyes from UV rays and HEV light depends on the quality of the lenses and the UV protection they provide, not the darkness of the lenses.
For instance, a pair of lightly-tinted lenses with 100% UV protection will provide more protection than a pair of very dark lenses without any UV protection.
What About Polarization?
Colored sunglasses do not need to be polarized, but polarized lenses can offer additional benefits. Polarized lenses reduce glare by blocking reflected light, which can be particularly useful when you’re outside on a bright and sunny day. This reduction in glare can make it easier to see and reduce eye strain.
Polarized lenses are especially helpful for:
- Driving in bright conditions
- Water activities
- Snow activities
- Outdoor sports and activities
Explore Colored Sunglasses at Privé Revaux
Colored lenses can enhance your vision and protect your eyes in different environments and during activities. Whether you’re looking for improved contrast, reduced glare, or enhanced depth perception, there’s a lens color that’s right for you.
At Privé Revaux, you’ll find a wide selection of high-quality, affordable colored sunglasses to suit your needs and budget. Shop our sunglasses now and get ready to see the world in a new light!