Sunglasses Lens Colour Guide: Differences and How to Choose the Right One

Published on April 2nd, 2026

Sunglasses lens colour is a broad spectrum that includes brown, grey, green, blue, pink, yellow, and amber lenses. The colour of sunglass lenses does not always have an impact on a person's vision, nor does sunglass lens colour affect UV protection. Different colour lenses may help improve comfort levels with bright light entering the eye, and may improve contrast, but this can be subjective. UV protection is its own coating or filter that blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun, and is not determined by lens colour. The best lens colours for sunglasses are largely down to personal preference. At Oscar Wylee, our lens colours are separated across three main categories: mirror tints, fashion tints and sunglasses tints. At Oscar Wylee, our mirror tints can be pink, blue, silver, yellow, and orange. Our fashion lens colours include yellow, blue, red and pink. Our Oscar Wylee sunglasses tints come in grey, brown, and green colours. For more information on sunglasses lens colours and how to choose the right one, keep reading below.

What are the Different Colours of Sunglasses Lenses?

The different colours of sunglasses lenses can include brown, grey, green, blue, pink, yellow, and amber. At Oscar Wylee, our different sunglasses lens colours are categorized into mirror tints, fashion tints and sunglasses tints. The different colours of Oscar Wylee lenses are listed below.

Mirror tints: Mirror tints refer to lenses that have a reflective coating on the outside that resembles a mirror. At Oscar Wylee, our mirror tints can be pink, blue, silver, and orange.
Fashion tints: Fashion tints refer to lens colours that do not help or enhance vision, and are for purely aesthetic or fashion purposes. At Oscar Wylee, our fashion tints are called lolly tints and include yellow, blue, red, and pink.
Sunglasses tints: Sunglasses tints are a type of lens colour put on sunglasses. At Oscar Wylee, our sunglasses tints come in grey, brown, and green colours.

Three sunglasses, one with a mirror tint, one with a fashion tint, and one with a sunglass tint.

What is the Importance of Sunglasses Lens Colour?

The colour of sunglasses or glasses lenses can have some importance in terms of improving contrast as well as vision comfort on bright days, but not in protecting the eyes from the sun and its UV rays. Generally, tints or colours, when compared to a clear lens, can help to reduce the brightness of light entering the eye. Some people may find that a tint on their lenses helps with the subjective comfort in their vision, especially in brighter situations. If sunglasses have been coated with UV400 protection or polarization, in addition to a coloured lens, then the lenses can help support long-term eye health as they will help protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation. Alternatively, you may like to try out Transition Lenses (Photochromic Glasses) for your optical glasses to have both vision correction and sun protection in one pair.

How Do Different Sunglass Lens Colours Affect Vision?

Different sunglasses lens colours can affect vision in terms of improved contrast and comfort levels. For example, brown-tinted lenses can provide improved contrast in certain conditions, such as discerning shades of green while playing golf or markings on a road. Other lens features that affect vision are the prescription, as well as lens coatings and filters, such as polarization. Prescription lenses refer to lenses that have a plus or minus power over the lens to help correct refractive errors. Refractive errors include myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

How do Tints Affect Sunglasses Lens Performance?

Whether tints affect sunglasses' lens performance is dependent on what tints they are. For example, a brown-tinted lens may affect how sunglass lenses perform. A brown tint may help with contrast and be beneficial when golfing or driving. Lenses with coatings, such as polarization, for example, will also change how sunglasses work and perform. Sunglasses with polarization will be more effective in cutting glare than those without.

Should Sunglasses Lens Colour Be Different for Different Weather Conditions?

Generally speaking, lenses do not have to be different colours for differing weather conditions. Lens colours that are for fashion or aesthetic purposes, such as Oscar Wylee's Lolly tints, will not make a difference to vision or eye protection in differing weather conditions. Mirror tints, including pink, blue, silver, and orange colours, may also not make any difference in weather conditions, although some may help improve contrast and glare depending on the retailer. Sunglasses tints, which include brown, grey, and green, may help in different weather conditions; however, most of the benefits of wearing sunglasses lie in the coatings or filters applied to the lens, such as polarization or UV400 protection. Polarization refers to a type of filter applied to a lens that cuts out glare. At Oscar Wylee, we offer polarized lenses in grey, brown, and green colours. UV400 protection is a type of lens filter among the various lens coatings Oscar Wylee offers, and protects the eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays emitted from the sun, up to 400 nanometres.

What is the Best Sunglasses Lens Colour for Driving?

The best sunglasses lens colour for driving in the daytime is typically grey or brown, with polarization and UV400 protection. Grey and brown lens colours are good to have when driving as they are simple and neutral in colouring, and will not distort important colours whilst driving, such as red or yellow lights. Clear lenses are the best to wear when driving at night or in dim light conditions, as darker lenses may affect how well a person can see and may be dangerous. It is important to note that fashion or 'lolly' tints may interfere with the recognition of traffic signals and are not recommended for driving. Read more about the types of lenses available in the article 8 Different Types of Lenses for Glasses.

How to Choose the Right Sunglasses Lens Colour for Your Needs?

The best way to choose the right sunglasses lens colour for your needs is to talk to your optometrist or optician. While the colour of your sunglasses lens may not make much difference to overall eye health or vision, it is still important to discuss lens options with your eye care team. At Oscar Wylee, you can visit our knowledgeable in-store team to discuss lens options, including colour, coatings and filters.

What Colour Lenses are Best for Specific Outdoor Activities?

There are certain coloured lenses that people may choose to use for certain specific outdoor activities, such as shooting or driving. Those who pursue shooting as a sport may use amber or yellow shooting glasses. Some shooting glasses with yellow or amber lenses may be designed to enhance contrast, allowing people to see more clearly. Grey or brown lenses may be chosen for outdoor activities such as driving, as they are a neutral colour and won't obscure important colours that people will need to see.

Which Sunglasses Lens Colour is Best for Sports?

There is no set lens colour that is best for playing sports, with sports sunglasses coming in a range of tints and colours, including yellow, amber, blue, and green. Some who engage with shooting or cycling as a sport may gravitate more towards amber-coloured frames, while those who engage in snow sports may choose blue or yellow lenses. At Oscar Wylee, our sports sunglasses come with different coloured lenses, including mirrored tints, blue and green colours, and red and orange colours.

Oscar Wylee Active Collection sports sunglasses with different lens colours.

What Colour Sunglasses Lens is Best for Bright Sun?

The colour of sunglasses lenses that are best for bright sun are generally brown, grey, and green, with polarization also a good idea. Brown, grey, and green are good colours for bright days as they darken the lens. Polarization is a type of coating or filter applied to the lens to darken them and cut glare. Polarization is good for bright sun as it helps to cut some light on the horizontal wavelength, cutting glare. Polarized lenses are good for driving, boating, or skiing, as these surfaces can produce high levels of glare on bright, sunny days.

Can Polarized Lenses Come in Any Colour for Sunglasses?

The colours that polarized lenses will come in for sunglasses are dependent on the individual retailers. At Oscar Wylee, our polarized lenses can come in grey, brown, and green colours.

Do I Need a Prescription for Coloured Sunglasses Lenses?

No, you do not need a prescription for coloured sunglasses lenses. Prescription eyewear refers to glasses with corrective power applied to a lens to help correct refractive errors such as hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism. Coloured lenses do not help correct vision issues and will not require a prescription. However, it is important to consult with our in-store team or your optometrist regarding what coloured sunglasses lenses will meet your eye care and fashion needs.

The information in this guide is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for a professional eye examination. Visual needs vary by individual; please consult with an optometrist to determine the best lens options for your specific eye health and vision requirements.

Read Sunglasses Lens Colour Guide: Differences and How to Choose the Right One in other Oscar Wylee regions and their languages.