prescription sunglasses

Sunlight has several health benefits, like boosting your bone health and immune system¹. Spending time outside during daylight hours can also reduce a child’s risk of developing myopia, a common vision issue among children.

But with these benefits come risks, as too much unprotected sun exposure can be dangerous. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage the skin and have serious effects on the eyes as well.

Short-term sun exposure can lead to temporary vision loss or blind spots, known as solar retinopathy². Consistent UV exposure over time has been linked to cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and skin cancer.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the eyelid region is one of the most susceptible areas for developing skin cancers. This can be avoided by wearing polarized prescription sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays³.

Different lenses have specific features — like lens color and material — that make them better suited for certain sports and activities. Make the most of your outdoor experience by customizing your performance lenses with the features that fit your lifestyle needs.

LensCrafters offers popular brands with their own unique lens benefits, including:

OAKLEY PRIZM™ LENSES

• Brighten vivid colors
• Define contrasts
• Highlight environmental features
• Enhance detail
• Reveal what the naked eye may not see

ORAY-BAN® CHROMANCE® LENSES

• Increase color intensity and recognition
• Enhance contrast
• Sharpen your visual field to optimize vision
• Improve visual acuity to see more clearly

Different lens tints can help improve your performance by giving you an extra edge during competition. The best color for your lenses depends on your preferred sport. Here are some different lens tint options and the activities they benefit most:

GRAY LENSES
Gray lenses are a great option for general use⁵. The neutral color of the lens allows you to see colors in their truest form as compared to other lens colors. Gray lenses are handy in bright and overcast conditions, which makes them a go-to for driving as well as outdoor activities and water sports⁶.

BROWN LENSES
Brown and amber lenses aren’t as effective at blocking bright sunlight as gray lenses, but they make up for it with their ability to increase color contrast and depth perception⁵. These lenses are great in any environment, and they especially excel when you’re on the water or putting green. Activities that benefit from brown and amber lenses include driving, biking, water sports and golf⁶.

GREEN LENSES
You get the best of both worlds with green lenses. They provide better color contrast than gray lenses, and better color accuracy than brown lenses. Green lenses can be worn in bright or cloudy conditions and are great for cycling, skiing, tennis, volleyball or just general use⁶.

BLUE LENSES
Besides being trendy, blue and violet lenses offer several benefits for your vision. The lenses can increase color contrast and enhance contours around objects. They also help reduce glare in snowy, foggy or misty conditions. You may want to consider blue or violet lenses for skiing, golfing and water sports⁵.

YELLOW LENSES
When gray and brown lenses are a little too dark for low-light environments, yellow lenses can save the day. While they’re not the preferred color for bright, sunny conditions, yellow lenses help brighten things up when your environment is hazy, cloudy or dim. Yellow lenses work best for activities like skiing, mountain biking, aviation, hunting, target shooting and gaming⁶.

RED LENSES
Red or pink lenses work best in low-light or low-visibility situations commonly experienced in snow sports⁵. They work by enhancing visual depth and differentiating between similar colors like the soft grays on ski slopes. Snow sports such as skiing and snowboarding can benefit from red or pink lenses, as can driving in low visibility conditions⁶.