Tinted glasses lenses have become one of the most popular trends of the summer. With dark colors, light colors, and a rainbow of colors in between, colored lenses are a great way to add a stylish touch to your sunglasses. However, did you know each color tint performs a specific job?

While many sunglasses already come with 100% UVA-UVB protection, certain tinted lenses can help reduce glare from reflective surfaces, help you see more comfortably in bright sunlight, and help you look good doing it.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about tinted glasses, lens colors, and which may be best for your needs.

Tinted sunglasses come in a range of colors. From blue to green to charcoal gray, there are tons of options that match your style preferences and vision needs.

Before we break down the different lens colors and what they can do for your eyes, it’s important to understand the different kinds of tinted sunglasses available. The two most popular kinds are polarized lenses and mirrored sunglasses.

Let’s break down the difference below.

Polarized lenses are a special kind of sunglass lens that filter horizontal glare from certain reflective surfaces, increasing comfort and enhancing contrast in bright light. For example, light can bounce off the surface of water, vehicles on the road, buildings, reflective signs, or even pavement, making it difficult to see clearly and could make your eyes feel uncomfortable.

Light can bounce in all directions including vertically, horizontally and diagonally. The light that typically causes the most discomfort is horizontal light that bounces off these surfaces. This is where polarized sunglasses can help. Polarized sunglasses use a special coating to help filter the horizontal light, reducing glare and enhancing contrast so you can see clearly and comfortably.

Mirrored sunglasses have become a trendy sunglasses style, not just for the bold statement they make but also because they help protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun and offer maximum protection for your eyes. They use a fully reflective coating to give them the envied mirrored look, and some mirrored lenses double as polarized lenses for increased clarity.

Both mirrored and polarized lenses come in a variety of colored lenses. Depending on your color preferences and what you want your sunglasses to do, you may want to consider a different lens color. Below are the most popular glasses colors, what they do, and tips for finding the best lenscolor for you!

If you have a mellow style and prefer your glasses to match with neutrals, gray shades might be your best bet. But they’re more than just a fashion-forward lens. Gray tinted lenses are popular because they’re excellent for all weather conditions.

If it’s cloudy or rainy, gray polarized lenses can help enhance contrast and reduce glare from wet roads. If it’s bright and sunny, gray lenses help keep your eyes comfortable from the glare. They also display accurate colors outside, so you’ll have true color perception while wearing gray shades.

What can you do in these shades? The answer is anything! But gray shades are perfect for everyday use, sports, outdoor activities and more.

Amber shades are popular sunglasses lenses for maintaining your distance and depth perception. These glasses contain a warm, reddish hue that helps support your vision while also reducing glare and enhancing contrast in polarized styles.

Amber or brown lenses are excellent for bright, sunny days. However, if you’re looking for glasses that will function properly on rainy and cloudy days as well, these shades likely aren’t your best bet. For low light conditions and rainy days, stick to gray shades.

If you’re driving, racing, golfing, or fishing, an amber lens is a great option.

Green sunglasses are one of the trendiest colors available as far as polarized, and mirrored sunglasses are concerned. As a bonus, they’re similar to amber styles and gray shades but can be used in low light and bright light conditions. So, whether it’s rainy, cloudy, sunny, or in between, you can rock a pair of green shades all day.

Green lenses are also great for maintaining color accuracy and enhancing contrast. They do this by reducing glare and brightening shadows. Wear these glasses for general use, on cloudy or sunny days, and to enjoy the accurate colors of your surroundings.

Known for enhancing contrast and supporting depth perception and field of vision,pinkandred lensesare another popular lens color to wear this year. They help reduce glare in polarized styles and are especially effective at keeping the eyes comfortable during bright conditions.

Yellow lenses provide a more powerful level of contrast than other tints and are more efficient for seeing in low light conditions. Sports lovers are known for using yellow tinted lenses for focusing on moving objects. These lenses are excellent for enhancing contrast and reducing glare in low light conditions, but they can still help in brighter conditions, too.

Whether you’re spending time outdoors, navigating low light or hazy conditions, or just wearing yellow tints for the sunny color, these glasses are an excellent option.

Blue shades are another popular color lens tint. Blue tinted sunglasses are great for adding a pop of color to your outfit, offering 100% UV protection and enhancing contrast. Another benefit of blue lenses is that they maintain color perception instead of distorting it.

Polarized styles of blue lenses are also great for reducing contrast during snowy conditions, from the surface of water or out in the bright sun. Enjoy these fashion-forward, blue tints all year long.

An important part of choosing the best lens tint for you is choosing one based on your preferences. What colors do you like the best? What colors match your clothing and style? Take this into consideration when choosing a lens color!

Another factor to consider is what activities you do most often while wearing sunglasses. If you’re in low light conditions, hazy fog, or cloudy weather when you wear sunglasses, a yellow, green, or gray tint might be best for you. If you use sunglasses in brighter conditions, a gray, blue, or red lens might be best.

It’s also important to consider whether you want to use a polarized sunglasses lens, a mirrored sunglasses lens, or one that functions as both. Polarized lenses help reduce glare and enhance contrast, while mirrored lenses are a fashion statement and offer UV protection while keeping your eyes comfortable.

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to lens colors, so if you’re looking to spice up your wardrobe, add a pop of color, or help enhance eye comfort and contrast during the summer, knowing the differences in lens tints can help you find the best pair of sunglasses for you.

No matter what your preferences are, there’s a pair of sunglasses for everyone at Foster Grant. Shop all sunglasses styles now.