For most people, polarized lenses are the best all-round choice for prescription sunglasses: they cut reflected glare from roads, water and car bonnets, which is what makes bright days tiring. Photochromic lenses win if you want one pair that works indoors and out, and tinted lenses are the simplest, most flexible option when you mainly want a darker view and a specific colour. The right answer depends on where you wear them most, so here is how the three compare.
The three lens types in one minute
- Tinted lenses have a fixed colour and darkness baked into the lens. Grey, brown, green or a gradient: what you see on the shelf is what you get, every day.
- Polarized lenses are tinted lenses with an extra filter that blocks horizontally reflected light. That is the glare bouncing off wet roads, lakes, snow and glass buildings.
- Photochromic lenses start almost clear and darken in response to UV light. Step outside and they tint; go back indoors and they clear again over a minute or two.
All three can be made in your prescription, including single vision, reading and progressive powers, and all three should come with UV filtering. Darkness alone says nothing about UV protection, so always treat tint and UV filtering as two separate things.
Polarized lenses: best for driving, water and bright days
Polarization is a filter, not a colour. A grey polarized lens looks like a normal grey lens until you stand in front of a lake or a wet motorway, where the mirror-like shine simply disappears. Many people find this noticeably more relaxing than a plain tint of the same darkness.
Choose polarized if you:
- Drive a lot in daylight, especially on bright or wet roads.
- Spend time by the sea, lakes, pools or on snow.
- Fish, cycle, golf or hike where reflected glare is the main annoyance.
Things to know: some LCD screens, petrol-pump displays and dashboard panels can look dark or patchy at certain angles through a polarized lens. Most people adapt quickly, but if you fly or rely on in-car screens all day, a plain tint may be the calmer choice.
Both of these frames are tagged polarized in our range: a bold cat-eye for everyday wear and a retro square acetate shape made for drivers.
Photochromic lenses: one pair for indoors and out
Photochromic lenses are the convenience option. You put them on in the morning as regular eyeglasses, they darken when you walk outside, and they clear again at your desk. For people who dislike swapping between two pairs, that alone is the deciding factor.
Choose photochromic if you:
- Move between inside and outside many times a day.
- Want a single prescription pair for walking, commuting and errands.
- Prefer frames that look like normal eyeglasses in photos and meetings.
Things to know: photochromic lenses react to UV light. Car windscreens block most UV, so behind the wheel they usually stay light or only reach a mild tint. They also darken more slowly in cold weather and take a little while to clear again when you come back indoors. On a beach at midday they rarely get as dark as a dedicated sunglass tint.
Tinted lenses: simple, predictable, and colour you choose
A plain tint is the classic sunglasses lens. It is always the same darkness, it works through any window, and it lets you pick a colour to suit the frame and your taste. Grey keeps colours true, brown adds warmth and contrast, green sits in between, and a gradient tint shades from dark at the top to lighter at the bottom so you can still read a phone or a menu.
Choose tinted if you:
- Want sunglasses that look and behave the same in every situation.
- Use screens, dashboards or pilot-style displays often.
- Care about a particular lens colour as part of the look.
Things to know: a tint reduces brightness but does nothing about reflected glare, which is where polarized lenses pull ahead on water and roads.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Tinted | Polarized | Photochromic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darkness | Fixed | Fixed | Changes with UV light |
| Reduces reflected glare | No | Yes | No (unless combined with polarization) |
| Works behind a car windscreen | Yes | Yes | Limited, stays light |
| Usable indoors | No | No | Yes, clears again |
| Screens and displays | Normal | Can look dark at some angles | Normal |
| Best for | Everyday style, screens | Driving, water, snow, sport | Indoor-outdoor days, one-pair living |
Which lens should you pick for your routine?
- Daily driver: polarized, in grey or brown. Reflections off the road and other cars are the glare that matters most.
- Beach and lake holidays: polarized again. Water is the strongest source of reflected glare you will meet.
- City walking, commuting and café days: photochromic, so you are not carrying two pairs, or a gradient tint if you like a fashion look.
- Office worker who steps out at lunch: photochromic.
- Pilots, boaters reading instruments, heavy screen users outdoors: a plain tint.
Frame shape matters as much as the lens. Larger sunglass frames give more coverage from side light, while smaller frames are lighter and sit better on narrow faces. Our face shape guide and frame size guide help you find the right fit before you choose lenses.
Adding your prescription
Every frame in our prescription sunglasses collection can be ordered with your single vision, reading or progressive prescription. Have your prescription to hand; our guide to reading a prescription explains SPH, CYL and AXIS if the abbreviations are new to you, and the pupillary distance guide shows how to measure PD at home. Lenses are made to order, and the 14-day fit and style guarantee applies if the frame is not right for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Can prescription sunglasses be both polarized and photochromic?
Some lens designs combine the two, so they darken outdoors and also cut reflected glare. They remain photochromic in behaviour, which means they stay lighter behind a windscreen. If driving is your main use, a standard polarized lens is the more predictable choice.
Do photochromic lenses work in the car?
Only partly. Windscreens filter most of the UV light that triggers the tint, so photochromic lenses usually stay light or reach only a mild shade while driving. For a proper sunglasses effect in the car, choose tinted or polarized lenses.
Which lens colour is best for prescription sunglasses?
Grey is the neutral choice that keeps colours natural, and it suits driving. Brown and amber add contrast, which many people like for outdoor sport and overcast days. Green is a classic middle ground. Pick the colour that you find most comfortable; it does not change the strength of your prescription.
Can I get progressive lenses in sunglasses?
Yes. Tinted, polarized and photochromic lenses are all available with progressive powers, which is useful if you want to read a map or a phone outdoors without swapping glasses. See our progressive lenses collection for frames that suit them.
Are darker lenses better?
Not necessarily. Darkness is about comfort in bright light, not protection. A medium tint with UV filtering and, if you need it, polarization is often more comfortable than a very dark lens, especially in mixed light.
Find your pair
Browse our polarized sunglasses for driving and water days, or the full prescription sunglasses collection if you are leaning towards photochromic or tinted lenses. Add your prescription in a few clicks with our lens selector.
