Choosing sunglasses comes with a lot of options, including different colors and types of lenses. Should you get sunglasses with gray, brown, black, blue, or another lens color? What do the different lens colors mean, and how do you know which option is right for you?
How to Pick Your Sunglass Lens Color
Choosing a lens color for your sunglasses is easy when you match up your lifestyle and favorite activities with the features and benefits each lens color provides.
Use the sunglass lens color guide below to learn more about the different lens tints available and discover what sunglass lens colors can elevate your sports performance, enhance your leisure activities, or complement your savvy fashion sense.
Polarized Sunglasses
Whether you love being on the water or in the snow, polarized lenses may be for you. These lenses reduce sun glare and reflection while increasing visual comfort. If you plan to spend time on the water or in the snow, polarized lenses can help you see your best.
Benefits of polarized sunglasses include:
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Reduced sun glare
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Reduced glare from water, windows, the sun, and more
Polarized lenses are ideal for those who participate in snow activities, live in snowy areas, or enjoy outside activities like golfing, skiing, and fishing.
Gray/Black Lenses for Sunglasses
Gray/smoke tint sunglass lenses are a very popular lens tint because they are suitable on both cloudy and sunny days. They are a perfect choice for outdoor activities, including cycling and active sports. For nature lovers, gray lenses have the added benefit of allowing the color of objects to be seen in their purest form.
The benefits of gray sunglass lenses include:
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True color perception
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Dark enough tint to provide overall protection
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Great performance for variable weather, including sunny or overcast days
Gray lenses are ideal for those who are looking for an all-purpose sunglass lens that they can wear in any weather.
Brown/Amber Lenses for Sunglasses
Brown or amber sunglass lenses improve contrast, making them ideal for driving and activities where distance needs to be judged. You’ll benefit from your brown or amber sunglass lenses in sunny conditions, as this color of lens comforts your eyes and provides heightened contrast against green landscapes and blue skies. Think of putting on this pair when you’re on the putting green or sailing on the deep blue.
Benefits of brown sunglasses lenses include:
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Enhanced color contrast
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Increased eye comfort when outside
Brown sunglass lenses are perfect for to wear when driving, racing, golfing, and fishing. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, consider brown lenses for your sunglasses.
Green Lenses for Sunglasses
Green sunglass lenses can do what gray and brown lenses can do, but better! Sunglasses with green lenses provide better contrast than gray lenses, transmit color accuracy better than brown lenses, and are ideal for both sunny and low-light environments. Perfect for water or field sports such as cycling or skiing, green lenses protect and comfort your eyes on foggy, cloudy, or bright days.
Benefits of green sunglass lenses include:
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Even color transmission
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Good lens for general use
Green lenses are ideal for those who want general-use sunglasses with enhanced color accuracy. Green lenses work well in varied environments.
Yellow Lenses for Sunglasses
Yellow lens tints can be spotted on outdoor enthusiasts who may find themselves having to focus their eyes on moving objects in low-light, hazy conditions. Yellow lenses are sometimes preferred by pilots and gamers for improved contrast.
Benefits of yellow lenses include:
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Good performance for skiing, mountain biking, hunting, aviation, baseball, and tennis
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Greater contrast at dawn or dusk and in fog, haze, and other low-light conditions
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Improved clarity and comfort when performing certain activities
Yellow sunglass lenses are ideal for those who need to see well in low-light conditions.
Blue Lenses for Sunglasses
Blue or purple lenses are both fashion-savvy and practical for UV protection. While the blue tint enhances the contours around objects and improves color perception, it also can have a calming effect on the eyes. Blue lenses can help reduce glare during snowy conditions while participating in water sports or while enjoying sunny leisure activities.
Whether you’re out hitting the links on the golf course or enjoying a weekend on the snowy slopes, blue sunglass lenses offer you several fashion and leisure benefits.
Benefits of blue lenses include:
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Reduced glare
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Better perception of contours
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Improved color perception
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Fashion and cosmetic appeal
Blue sunglass lenses are ideal for those who want to marry eye protection with fashion, while also seeing clearly and comfortably.
Red Lenses for Sunglasses
Red or pink lens sunglasses provide wearers with comfort and help the eyes adjust to contrast. Winter sports fans hitting the slopes are often spotted sporting rosy-tinted lenses. Great for increasing depth of field and vision, rose-tinted lenses provide enhanced driving visibility as well.
Benefits of red sunglass lenses include:
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Enhanced visual depth
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Good road visibility
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Increased eye comfort
Red sunglass lenses are ideal for those who are looking for high visual performance and comfort. They are good in most weather conditions, especially snow, making them great if you enjoy skiing the slopes or participating in other snow activities.
Mirrored Lenses for Sunglasses
For a high fashion look in multiple colors, try a mirror coating. Mirror coatings provide an ultra-sleek look and reflect light for a dramatic effect. These coatings help reduce the light that passes through the lens, reducing glare. What a stylish way to reduce glare while spending time outdoors!
Benefits of mirrored sunglass lenses include:
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Reduced glare
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An ultra-sleek look
Mirrored sunglass lenses are ideal for those who want to reduce glare while sporting sunglasses that are high-fashion and sleek.
Whether you’re buying men’s sunglasses, women’s sunglasses, or sunglasses for kids, you’ll want to make sure they provide 100% UVA/UVB protection so you can ensure you not only look great, but that your eyes are also protected from UV rays.
This article previously appeared on VSP®, Delta Dental of Tennessee’s DeltaVision® partner.