Sunglasses lens color can seem like a purely aesthetic choice, but it also plays a vital role in your vision. Coatings and colors are designed to react to different environmental conditions to protect your eyes and enhance how you see. Understanding your options will help you choose the right lenses for your favorite pairs and activities.

Your Guide to Sunglasses Lens Color

How Colors & Coatings Protect

Opticians engineer lens colors and coatings to serve many purposes. Polarized and mirror-coated lenses are two of the most recognizable options designed to reduce glare and prevent eye fatigue. Other lens colors, like gray, can enhance color under certain weather conditions. Green will minimize glare and brighten shadows. Pink shades may improve depth perception, while blue lenses help you see contours better.

The overall goal is to properly defend against damaging UV rays and optimize your vision in different environments and conditions.

When to Wear Certain Colors

Sunny Days

Polarized and mirror-coated lenses are excellent choices on sunny days because they improve visibility and reduce UV damage. Green reduces sun glare and enhances shadows during noon sun, while copper lenses are great for dimming medium light in the evening. Consider pink or rose options in the early morning of a sunny day and remember that it’s wise to wear sunglasses anytime you go outside, so your eyes are protected.

Sports

The right lenses will ensure the sun doesn’t impact your performance during sports. Gray lenses are an all-purpose solution for preventing glare off the water. Green lenses can help with the contrast against a green field during baseball and other field sports. In contrast, yellow lenses can help you focus in low-light conditions like hiking through the woods or participating in an archery tournament. Golfers love blue lenses because they help focus on the contours of a fairway better, and winter sports enthusiasts choose pink lenses to reduce the glare from snow.

Inclement Weather

Brown lenses are popular for overcast weather when the sun is still out but not shining brightly. Using green or blue options during foggy or cloudy conditions will improve visibility, while rose lenses can improve your vision during heavy snows.

An optician is your best resource when shopping for sunglasses, and residents of High Point, NC, rely on Optics Eyewear. This practice has helped customers for over 50 years and carries a large selection of vision care products. They’ll perform a comprehensive eye exam to ensure you find the right product for your needs, and you can begin exploring eyewear on their website. Call (336) 884-5677 to schedule an appointment and connect on Facebook for news and updates.