Choosing the right sunglasses can be quite the chore. Quality, durability, brand and everything aside, there’s no point if you don’t find wearing them comfortable, isn’t it? A lot of people tend to not wear sunglasses because the world seems ‘dull’ or ‘lifeless’, because of the lens tint. Consequently, there are some who stay away from brightly colored tints because everything seems too cartoonish. It can be difficult finding out the lens tint that seems the most natural to your eyes, so we’re going to tell you about all the lens tint colors and why you should pick either one.
Contrary to popular belief, lens tints aren’t just for cosmetic purposes. A lot of people prefer certain colors because of the properties associated with them. Lens tints tend to alter contrasts, colors and brightness in general, so it’s a very subjective matter. You’ll notice that athletes and sports people prefer different types of tints, and players from different sports usually wear different tints as well, so you definitely know that it’s not just cosmetic. Here’s the lens tint colors, their applications, uses and why you might want to consider them.
Grey Tinted Lenses
Let’s begin with the most common tint of them all, grey. Light or dark, grey tinted lenses are preferred the world over simply because they don’t change colors and block a certain amount of glare. Since they’re the most true to life, armies around the world have preferred grey tinted lenses since decades. They offer good performance in pretty much all lighting conditions, and are especially good for outdoor activities and sports, plus driving.
Blue Tinted Lenses
Known to be therapeutic, blue lenses tend to soothe your eyes. Research has shown that a percentage of epileptic patients have lesser seizures while wearing certain shades of blue tinted lenses. Apart from the fact that blue also looks pretty snazzy, the tint also helps you see contours clearly. They’re great for spectating sports and playing something more relaxed such as golf. You can also go for them in foggy or snowy conditions
Yellow Tinted Lenses
It may look funky, but yellow tinted lenses are actually great in a couple of situations. Since they block blue light, they help you focus on objects better and are especially good in low light conditions such as fog, mist and haze. The ability to focus on objects comes at a cost though, you might notice some color distortion. Pick up yellow tinted lenses if you’re looking to indulge in activities such as hiking, trekking, mountain climbing, biking, shooting and tennis.
Brown/Amber Tinted Lenses
Brown and Amber lenses have similar properties, and are perhaps the second most popular lens tint colors all around the world. People usually go for these shades instead of grey because of the enhanced contrasts, but have to deal with distorted colors. They also block out blue light, and are great in both bright light as well as fog, mist and haze. This property also makes them desirable for sportspeople who are usually surrounded by grass, like golf players or lawn tennis players.
Red/Pink Tinted Lenses
Red and Pink tinted lenses, although usually associated with glasses for womens, have a variety of benefits for the outdoorsy type. They enhance contrast and visual depth, plus reduce eyestrain. These color lens tints have also been known to provide better road visibility, and are thus great for cyclists and racers. Furthermore, they work well in pretty much all weather conditions, so that’s a win-win!
Green Tinted Lenses
Although considered one of the slightly outlandish colors, green is actually the most soothing of them all. Apart from grey ones, green tinted lenses are universally compatible, and great for all weather conditions. Since they let you see all colors properly and dim glare, you can use them for pretty much any sport or outdoor activity without risking any performance loss due to vision. If you’re looking for something for daily use, then green tinted lenses would actually be a faultless choice.
All other colors are pretty much variations of the ones described above, and offer similar benefits depending on which color they’re closest to. For example, violet is close to red and pink, and has similar characteristics. Then of course, you have fashion tints, which are simply for cosmetic purposes. Think of any color and you should be able to get a tinted lens, but just remember that not all colors are suitable for all purposes, so you should consider talking to an expert before grabbing something unconventional.
Finally, we have mirror coated lenses, which are basically lenses with a completely reflective coating on the outside. It completely reflects light and looks like a mirror, hence the name. It may be great to stop people making eye contact with you, but mainly finds use in sports played in bright conditions. Since it reflects all light, there’s less eyestrain. Plus, since the coating is only on the outside, you can choose any other color mentioned above and have it as a ‘base’ color. Double benefit! We hope all your questions about lens tint colors and their functions are cleared, and if they aren’t, feel free to let us know.
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