The difference between lens colours for sunglasses

Sunglasses are more than just a fun fashion statement. The colour of lenses you choose can mean different things for your vision. Your eyes and the delicate skin around them are especially vulnerable to sun damage from UVA and UVB rays . Although some contact lenses are equipped with embedded UV filters , and the lenses in our prescription eyeglasses come with a protective UV coating, it’s important to up your protection factor and make sunglasses a regular accessory. And, yes, even on cloudy days!

It’s a common misconception that the darker the lens, the more protected you are. Instead, make sure the sunglasses you choose have UV filters. You may wish to consider polarised sunglasses, which, in addition to reducing brightness, also reduce glare by blocking or limiting reflected light.

We’ve simplified the benefits of several different lens colours, and hopefully just made your shopping a teeny tiny bit easier. It may be difficult to choose just one, but we don’t think you should!

Black

This lens colour is great for all sort of purposes and all types of lighting conditions, meaning you can wear them according to your wants and needs. It's the darkest tint available and tends to keep all colours true while providing great protection.

Black lens colour

Blue

This lens colour is ideal for reducing general brightness. It improves colour perception, helps with seeing contours, and is great at reducing glare. This means blue lenses are perfect for spectators at events, for example. Blue is also quite fashionable and works best in foggy or snowy weather conditions.

Blue lens colour

Brown

This colour is the most common lens colour for sunglasses and is very effective under all light conditions. They tend to work especially well when it's sunny or partly cloudy. They enhance contrast, improve depth perception, and are the perfect choice for driving or hiking.

Brown lens colour

Red, orange and burgundy

These lens colours improve visual depth and reduces eye strain. They offer the greatest amount of contrast and is perfect for driving and winter sports. They are less effective in fog and haze but work perfectly in all other weather conditions.

Red lens colour

Yellow

This lens colour provides great clarity in low-light conditions, such as haze or fog. Yellow may cause some other colours to be distorted but also combats eye strain with its capacity to filter out blue light from screens. Yellow lenses are a great choice for skiing, mountain biking, hunting, or outdoor sports.

Yellow lens colour

Gold

Excellent for depth perception and low-light conditions, gold is somewhere between yellow and brown in terms of effectiveness. This means it works well in all sorts of weather conditions, and it's a great choice for driving or hiking.

Gold lens colour

Green

This lens colour reduces brightness and is great for all outdoor activities. From sunny to cloudy, it performs well in all kinds of lighting conditions, brightening shadows and offering great contrast. It also tends to transmit other colours quite evenly. So, when in doubt, pop on some shades with green lenses! They will never disappoint you.

Green lens colour

Grey

This lens colour is great for all sort of purposes--especially reducing glare and improving colour perception-- and all types of lighting conditions. This means you can wear them according to any of your wants and needs. It's a little lighter than black but has a similar effect in keeping all colours true and providing great protection.

Grey lens colour

Pink and Rose Gold

This lens colour improves visual depth and reduces eye strain. Shades with pink lenses are a pleasure to wear as they're very comfortable for the eyes. Pink lenses are less effective in fog and haze but work perfectly in all other weather conditions. Pink lenses are ideal while driving as they provide excellent road visibility.

Pink lens colour

Purple

Ideal for reducing general brightness, purple is somewhere between blue and pink lenses. It's a unique colour with a two-fold practical and aesthetic quality: it reduces glare and makes a fashion statement for the wearer.

Purple lens colour

Silver

This lens colour reduces glare and improves colour perception. To a certain extent, silver works similar to grey and black: it's great for all sorts of purposes and all types of lighting conditions. This means you can wear them according to your every want and need. It's a little lighter than grey and black, and it tends to keep all colours true and provide great protection.

Silver lens colour