tinted lens

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Lenses can be tinted through two primary methods: during the lens creation process or through surface application. In the former, a substance like metal oxide is incorporated into the lens material during manufacturing. Alternatively, tints can be applied directly onto the surface, offering a diverse range of colors and ensuring uniform darkness regardless of prescription strength. Advancements in modern technology have significantly enhanced the durability of surface-applied lens treatments.

 In addition to color, the intensity or "darkness" of a tint must be specified. Tint intensity is expressed as a percentage of the light it blocks. "Fashion" tints are usually in the 10-20% range. Sunglass tints should be at least 60% intensity to provide adequate protection. For most outdoor activities and daytime driving a 70-80% intensity works well. For sports like mountain climbing or snow skiing, 90% tints and above are recommended. 

Tints are also described using a "1 to 4" numbering system instead of percentages for darkness ratings. Number one is almost clear…number four is darkest. Sunglasses are usually produced in darkness number three. Darkness number four is too dark for most wearers, but can be an ideal choice for high-glare environments like mountain climbing.

A rose tint is cosmetically appealing, soothing to the eyes, and seems to provide a degree of relief when the wearer is working in brightly lit offices. A rose tint is often recommended for computer users to help reduce eyestrain and glare. 

 A yellow tint makes objects appear sharper against a blue or green background. Blue light bounces or scatters the most and can create a kind of glare known as "blue haze". Yellow tints are sometimes marketed as "blue blockers" because they are fairly opaque to blue light. Yellow tints are good for overcast, hazy or foggy conditions and are a favorite of shooters, skiers and pilots. Yellow is generally NOT a good choice for any activity that depends on accurate color perception. 

Brown and amber tints work well in variable light conditions and provide good contrast because they filter some blue light, although not as strongly as a yellow tint. Brown lenses are good general purpose lenses and work especially well for sports where judging distance is important like tennis and golf. 

Green tints filter some blue light and enhance contrast in low-light conditions. The human eye is most sensitive to green wavelengths of light so green tints offer the highest contrast and greatest visual acuity of any tint. 

Gray tints provides good protection from glare and keeps distortion of colors to a minimum. Grey is sometimes referred to as a "tru-color" tint. Grey is available in a wide range of densities and is an excellent choice for general use and driving. Grey is the most popular sunglass tint.  

This sunglass tint is sometimes called the "Ray-Ban" tint. It is essentially a combination of a grey and green tint that transmits 15% (blocks 85%) of the light. 

Purple is balanced color which provides natural color perception while shading the eye. Purple lenses can be a good choice for hunters. 

Blue can be a good choice for fashion tints in lighter shades. If the lenses are intended for outdoor use, remember that blue tints can increase glare. In this case, consider using a brown or grey lens combined with a blue mirror coating.