What colors do sunglass lenses come in?


From Cyan, Green, Gray, Red, or Yellow to Two-Tone Shades — No Matter the Color, There Are Countless Options When Choosing Sunglasses. But What Do Sunglasses Actually Look Like?
In summary, there are two methods: using colored materials or dyeing clear lenses in a temperature-controlled dye bath. Read on to learn more.
Prescription Sunglasses for Sports, Recreation, or Fashion Accessories
Sunglasses designed for sports such as skiing and cycling often feature functional colors, special shapes, and non-standard sizes, as well as special features like contrast sensitivity on snow. In the fashion world, there are virtually no limits when it comes to tinting, including stripes and even two or three colors per lens. We specialize in industrial production of prescription sunglasses. About 20 different colors are standardly offered at the factory. Customers, including premium brands, also consult on individual colors available.
How is the color of sunglasses determined in this case? A device called a spectrophotometer can be used to identify the color of a specific sample like existing sunglasses or possibly fabric or similar material. The color is then reproduced with absolute accuracy. Additionally, sunglass designers describe colors verbally or refer to Pantone colors, for example. Whatever color customers prefer, the shop can create the appropriate blend.
The exact method of applying dye to lenses depends on the intended use of the finished glasses and the frame. This determines which materials are used (see info box) and thus the dyeing process.
Dyeing Clear Lenses with Dye
In this method, the lenses have been processed into a semi-finished state. Experts start by mixing a specific dye measured to the millimeter in powder form and then dissolving it in the dye bath.
These heated dye baths (about 90°C) contain a wide range of dyes. The lenses are immersed for a defined time depending on the desired color and intensity. This method also allows applying stripes or multiple colors to each lens—depending on which surface is dipped and how deep. Then the lenses are rinsed briefly, sometimes placed in a hard coating bath, and then finished as described above, for example, with mirror coatings. Needless to say, engraving and quality control are also important steps here.
Furthermore, depending on the final color, this method can also be used to apply a second gradient color to pre-manufactured colored lenses through material mixing. Self-tinting lenses can be tinted slightly beforehand or given a gradient tint transitioning from color to clear, combining the advantages of chromaticity with continuous protection from sunlight and glare, as offered by the shop.
Sunglasses with Separate Vision Correction Functions — Available for Prescription Lenses at the Shop
The dyeing operation for prescription lenses, i.e., corrective lenses, is described here—the lenses are also dyed in a dye bath. After the lenses are ground into their final round shape with exact individual visual correction, they are sent to the dyeing workshop. Different dyes are mixed on-site. This means nothing prevents an individually customized pair of progressive lenses from being manufactured into sunglasses with the desired color. This method is also used to dye base lenses before coating.
The dyeing process is manual, with instinct and long experience playing an indispensable role. Each prescription lens is unique, and dyeing times differ accordingly. The dye results must be exactly the same for the right and left lenses and are always checked under daylight. Even stripes are dyed and checked by hand. Based on this, special shades and stripes can also be applied to individually prescribed sunglasses. Interestingly, the dyeing workshop tends to be staffed mostly by women—because color vision deficiencies and color blindness are inherited via the Y chromosome, affecting mostly men.
Who Needs Prescription Sunglasses?
In fact, anyone wearing regular corrective lenses and not using photochromic lenses needs prescription sunglasses. Applications vary significantly. Anti-glare protection is especially relevant for driving safety and indispensable during hiking, water sports, and other outdoor activities. Whenever there is glaring sunlight, sunglasses help the wearer feel more comfortable. And why shouldn’t people who wear glasses have a fashionable pair of sunglasses with special color-changing or reflective effects? Read everything you need to know about prescription sunglasses. An eye care professional can advise on which tinted lenses best suit each situation.
A Special Case: Photochromic and Smart Sunglasses
Photochromic lenses are special because they are initially clear and only darken when exposed to UV radiation. They contain photochromic molecules that change shape when activated by UV radiation. In other words, they are not dyed but have special material properties. This method is used for both photochromic lenses and smart lenses, which start with a base color and then darken depending on the intensity of UV exposure.