One pair for everywhere: your guide to light-reactive lenses

What Are Light-Reactive Lenses?

Light-reactive lenses darken automatically when outdoors before turning clear again indoors.

You may see these lenses listed with a few different names, including:

• Light-reactive lenses

• Light-responsive lenses

• Transition lenses

• Photochromatic lenses

We will use these terms interchangeably throughout this article.

How Do Light-Reactive Lenses Work?

Light-reactive lenses are smart—automatically adjusting their tint based on where you are. But how exactly do these lenses work? It’s all driven by exposure to UV light.

Molecules of silver compounds are embedded in the lens of your light-reactive glasses. When these molecules are exposed to UV rays, specifically UVA and UVB rays, they start to change shape to absorb light.

When you’re indoors, where there is low UV exposure, these molecules remain clear. When you move into areas with high UV rays, like outdoors, the molecules are triggered and darken your lenses to absorb the UV light. When you head back inside, the molecules again become transparent.

The Pros and Cons of Light-Reactive Lenses

If you’re considering switching to photochromatic lenses, it’s a good idea to think about the pros and cons of this lens type.

Pros of Light-Reactive Lenses

• Convenience: These lenses allow wearers to use one pair of glasses for all occasions, whether inside or out, eliminating the need to manage multiple pairs of glasses.

• UV protection: Did you know your eyes are exposed to UV rays indoors via things such as fluorescent lights? Light-reactive lenses provide UV protection inside and outside.

• Savings: Wearers can save money with the convenience of having a pair of prescription glasses that tint outdoors and stay clear indoors, minimizing the need for prescription sunglasses in addition to prescription glasses for use inside.

Cons of Light-Reactive Lenses

• Adjustment speed: While the speed at which light-reactive lenses fade from clear to tinted and back again has certainly improved over the years, some lenses may take longer than others.

• Use impacts: Some lenses may experience slower adjustment times in cold weather or when used inside cars. Cold temperatures and built-in UV protection in some auto glass can slow the molecular reaction time in photochromatic lenses.

• Cost: If you only wear prescription glasses and not prescription sunglasses as well, you may feel the price for these lenses is higher than you’re used to paying for your eyewear.

Your VSP^® network eye doctor can always discuss the pros and cons of light-reactive lenses with you and help address any concerns you have.

This article previously appeared on VSP®, Delta Dental of Tennessee’s DeltaVision® partner.