Do you encounter confusion in trying to decipher the meanings of sunglasses lenses’ tints? Are smoke-tinted or amber-tinted lenses best for driving? Do mirrored lenses provide the same optical experience as their un-mirrored counterparts? Find these answers and more in our guide of Sunlasses Lenses Tints Meanings and Uses.
Amber – a brownish-red tint that enhances contrast, enabling a wearer to make out shapes more clearly because it blocks out the color spectrum’s blue, or “hazy,’ end. Amber and orange tints provide a brighter view on cloudy, hazy, or foggy days. This tint is ideal for driving.
Amber Mirrored – a brownish-red tint with a mirror, or reflective, coating or treatment. See “amber.”
Brown – a brown tint enhances the light quality of a wearer’s surroundings, while giving the wearer added depth perception in low light conditions.
Clear – describes an untinted lens intended for low-light, indoor use or nighttime.
Clear Mirrored – describes an untinted lens with a flash mirror coating that is a one-way mirror. With clear mirrored lenses, a wearer may see out, while his or her eyes are hidden. These are suitable for bright and low-light conditions.
Driving Mirrored – a lens with a copper-color tint and flash mirror coating, together intended to sooth the eyes.
Flash Mirrored – a smoked lens with a partial mirror coating.
Gradient – a lens tinted from the top down, so that the top of the lens is darkest. This variety is optimal for driving, as a wearer gains sun protection but has an unobstructed view of the dashboard and instrument panels.
Gray or Green – a green-hued lens which offers the least amount of color distortion. These are ideal for all purpose use and clear days.
Light blue – a soft blue tint which increases visibility and enhances vision. This tint is appropriate overcast days, nighttime and all low light conditions.
Polarized – lenses designed to filter out the components of light that cause glare. Polarized lenses are ideal for driving and outdoor sports. These are also ideal for activities in or around water, where glare can be powerful.
Polarized Smoke – a 1.1mm polarized smoke lens. These eliminate glare and enhance contrast, which improves visual acuity.
Purple Mirrored – a lens with a purple mirror coating which functions to enhance colors.
Revo Mirrored – a lens featuring a multi-layered titanium, which provides a rainbow hue. Revo mirrored lenses offer 7 to 13 layers of titanium dioxide and silica applied to shatterproof polycarbonate (plastic). They are scratch resistant and offer total ultraviolet protection. G-Tech lenses provide comparable protection.
Rose – a red-colored tint that provides the best lowlight image resolution and enhances contrast, enabling a wearer to see objects and shapes clearly because it blocks out the color spectrum’s blue, or “hazy,” end. These are optimal for driving.
Rose Mirrored – rose lens with partial mirror coating. See “rose.”
Smoked – a dark tinted lens meant for daytime wear. Smoked lenses decrease sunlight without distorting colors.
Super Dark- a lens that provides additional sun blockage for bright sunny days.
Smoke Mirrored – a dark tinted lens with a mirror, or reflective, coating or treatment. See “smoked.”
Transitional – a lens which can be worn outdoors and indoors, as it is designed to automatically adjust its tint to suit the amount of light in an environment.
Yellow – a lens optimal for overcast weather, as it increases visibility and depth perception.