Polarized, tinted or mirrored: which lens do you need?
Each word describes something different, and one pair can have more than one.
Polarized lenses
A polarized lens has a filter that blocks glare, the harsh light that bounces off water, snow and wet roads. Your view looks calmer and clearer. One thing to watch: some phone and car screens can look dim or patchy through a polarized lens.
Tinted lenses
A tint is the colour of the lens. It lowers the amount of light that reaches your eyes, but it does not block glare the way a polarized filter does.
- Grey keeps colours close to natural.
- Brown and amber add warmth and contrast.
- Green sits between the two.
- Gradient lenses are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom.
Mirrored lenses
A mirrored lens has a thin reflective coating on the outside. It bounces away some of the light, which helps in very bright places, and it hides your eyes. The coating can show scratches, so clean it with a soft cloth.
A note on UV
Polarized, tinted and mirrored do not describe UV protection. A dark lens does not always block UV, so check the label on the pair you choose.
Which one do you need?
- Driving: polarized grey or brown lenses.
- Water and snow: polarized lenses, with a mirror for the brightest days.
- Every day: a tint or a gradient you like the look of.
- Both indoors and outdoors: Transitions lenses, which darken outdoors and clear indoors.
Now that you know the words, shop all eyewear.