Sunglass Lens Colour Guide

What Colour Lenses Are Best for Sunglasses? 

If you’ve shopped for shades recently, you’ve likely seen the wide variety of lens colours and tinted sunglasses available. While the colour of your sunglass lenses is ultimately your choice, some lens colours are better for certain weather conditions or activities like outdoor sports or lounging by the pool.  

Read on to learn about lens colours and tinted sunglasses and which may be the best for you. 

Amber or Brown 

These lens tints work well on both sunny and cloudy days. They enhance contrast by making the details of your environment more vivid and distinct, especially against blue and green backgrounds. There is a touch of red in amber and brown lenses, which can boost your depth perception.  

Blue 

Blue-tinted sunglass lenses can make colours pop. This shade enhances colour perception and sharpens the contours of objects, helping you see them more clearly. Blue lens tint can also be a good choice for misty and foggy conditions.  

Green 

If you’re looking for a lens colour for daily wear, consider green. Green-tinted sunglasses brighten shadows without distorting colours and improve contrast in low-light conditions. 

Grey 

Grey lenses are another good option for general wear because they work well on sunny and cloudy days. Along with providing accurate colour perception, this tint helps shield your eyes against bright light, offering some anti-fatigue benefits and enhancing your visual comfort. 

Red or Pink 

Red and pink lenses are ideal for various weather conditions. These colours can enhance your depth perception and ability to see detail, making objects appear more defined. Red or pink tints can also improve visibility and eye comfort when driving or during outdoor activities like skiing and cycling.  

Yellow 

You can wear yellow lenses outdoors and inside. This shade works especially well in low-light environments like haze or fog. It can also make it easier to see objects around you and improve your depth perception. Yellow lenses may also increase your visual comfort when using a computer or gaming.  

Does the Colour of Sunglass Lenses Matter? 

The colour of your lenses might matter if you’re choosing sunglasses for a particular activity. Before you select a lens colour, it’s important to remember that the most critical reason to wear sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Exposure to UV rays over time can increase your risk of developing associated eye health and vision problems. 

For maximum protection, look for a tag or label on the sunglasses that says 100% UVA-UVB lens protection or UV 400. UV 400 means the lenses provide 100% UVA-UVB protection. Keep in mind that darker lens colours or dark-tinted sunglasses do not automatically provide proper UV protection.  

Along with protecting your eyes from UV rays, your sunglasses should also enhance your visual comfort when outdoors. Some lens colours do this better than others. If possible, try on shades with your preferred lens colour in outdoor or lighting conditions where you plan to wear them. This will help determine if the lens colour meets your needs.   

Benefits of Lens Colours and Tint 

There are several ways that lens colours and tinted sunglasses can improve your visual experience. Some lens tints can: 

• Enhance contrast

• Increase depth perception 

• Improve visual comfort

• Heighten colour perception  

• Boost sports performance 

Lens tints may also be chosen to express your personal style or for other aesthetic purposes. 

Best Lens Colours for Sports 

Sunglasses not only help protect your eyes but may also help you perform better in sports. Here’s a guide to the best lens colours for some popular sporting activities: 

• Amber and brown – Golf, baseball, fishing, boating, target shooting, car racing, and field sports (like football) 

• Blue – Golf, outdoor leisure (like going to the beach), fishing, boating, and skiing  

• Green – Golf, tennis, skiing, field sports, outdoor leisure activities, mountain biking, cycling, fishing, and boating 

• Grey – Cycling, car racing, golf, fishing, boating, mountain biking, field sports, skiing, and tennis 

• Red or pink – Skiing, cycling, and car racing 

• Yellow – Car racing, tennis, skiing, target shooting, mountain biking, and playing video games 

We have a wide variety of sunglasses and lens colours that are fashionable and functional so you’re sure to find your perfect pair. Plus, all of our sunglasses and reading sunglasses come with 100% UVA-UVB lens protection and a scratch-resistant lens coating.  

SOURCES: 

1. Why different lens colors in sunglasses? All About Vision. June 2023.* 
2. What are the best sunglasses for UV protection? All About Vision. February 2020.* 
3. What are blue lens glasses for? Eyebuydirect. July 2021.* 
4. Sunglass lens color guide. FramesDirect. June 2023.* 
5. UV and sunglasses: How to protect your eyes. All About Vision. March 2019.* 

The sources listed here have been provided for informational purposes only. The citation of a particular source does not constitute an endorsement or approval of EssilorLuxottica products, services, or opinions by such source.

*Like Foster Grant, Eyebuydirect, FramesDirect, All About Vision and AAV Media, LLC are affiliates of EssilorLuxottica.