Tinted Glasses 101: The Ins and Out on How They Work & What’s The Right Color For You

Vint & York eyewear stylist here, your one and only source into the latest fashion trends spotted on NYC zooming screens. More than ever, this season is all about fashion meets function. And no pair of glasses offers that to a greater extent than tinted specs. Are you curious to find all there is to know about them?

Whether you are more of a bold hues kind of gal or neutral tinted lenses are closer to your signature style, a pair of stylish frames with colored lenses will not only compliment any of your outfits but also bring comfort and protection during this novel season.

Find out all there is to know about these must-have statement shades and add a pair of tinted glasses to your eyewear wardrobe!

1. What Are Tinted Glasses Really Like?

Tinted glasses are a well-established fashion trend. Not only regarded as the stylish addition to your summer outfits, but also ready to protect your eyes against UV radiation and grant a high-contrast vision experience.

How exactly do they do that? Since most of the natural light comes packed with a lot of blue light wavelengths ( yes, natural light too! ), we need to make sure we have the right kind of lens that will protect us both indoors and outdoors.

This is where tinted lenses come on the scene. With a radiation filter that brings blue light to an optimal level, this type of lens makes objects appear in higher contrast and natural hues.

Not only do they improve contrast and enhance depth perception, but they prove to be a great optical device for boosting indoor mood, alleviating stress and helping with productivity.

Yes, you heard right! Tinted glasses are no longer outside only eyewear, with more and more people adopting the practice of wearing them indoors. Clearly , we are here for it, as we welcome any successful attempt to mix fashion with healthy habits.

Up next: more on health perks and how wellbeing is the new ‘IT’ factor of a stylish look

2. What Are Tinted Glasses Used For?

Tinted sunglass lenses are usually used to filter the adverse effects of sunlight, increase contrasts, enhance certain colors and offer an overall better vision. This way, they hold the unique power of not only improving how you see, but also how you feel.

Seen by most as fashion statement specs, tinted glasses have more to offer than a pretty sight. If you didn’t already know, their colored lenses not only hype your street fashion but also your overall health as they offer great protection against UV radiation. By protecting your eyesight from harmful wavelength, this type of eyewear boosts your general mood and improves your wellbeing.

Specific tints can help people who suffer from photophobia or light sensitivity. Different hues intensities will help with migraines or increased tension. Choosing the right pair of colored glasses will help with sensitivity to digital screen light, as well as increased sunlight exposure.

Discover all there is to know about tint intensity and how each type of hue offers special health benefits, more in this piece.

2.1 Tint Intensity

Tint intensity is related to the percentage of the light that a particular pair of glasses blocks. Depending on their chromatic, tinted glasses go from lightly tinted (20%), medium (50%) and dark (80%).

Tinted lenses can be customized with lighter or darker intensities according to personal preference. Usually, for fashion-related reasons, the lighter tints are definitely among the hottest picks. At the opposite spectrum are the darker densities. Although they offer more protection, the pastel hues are still winning the majority vote.

Don’t haste when selecting your favorite tint. If you are choosing a pair of glasses for health reasons, you should consult your optician to determine what tint intensity is best suited for you.

Scroll down to find why tinted lenses differ from classic sunnies and why clip-ons could be a great choice if you want to alternate your vision filters!

3. How Do Tinted Glasses Work?

Multiple studies have shown that color is connected to how we feel. So tinted sunglass lenses not only filter the harmful effects of sunlight, but they also stimulate specific biological responses closely related to boosting your mood, performance, and wellbeing.

ZEISS has created BioChrom, a generation of lenses that takes vision to the next level. BioChrom lenses provide a new way of approaching eyewear, by combining extensive research in vision and neurosciences with the well-established powers of the color spectrum.

Colors are more than visual information. They evoke strong emotional and psychological reactions and particular colors elicit specific physiological responses. To figure out what these responses are, ZEISS has turned to demonstrate the colors’ effects in scientific studies under clearly defined, controlled conditions . Stick around and check out all available tints and what is special about each one of them.

4. Tinted Glasses VS Other Lens Options

Each lens features its strengths and comes to our aid when needed. Let’s see what makes tints unique to other more known types of lens we regularly use:

4.1 Tinted Glasses VS Sunglasses

Sunglasses are more than just a stylish accessory that completes an outfit. They are vital in protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun as they are specially designed for outside wear.

According to the World Health Organization, around 3,2 million people go blind yearly due to (potentially avoidable) overexposure to UV radiation. In this regard, sunglasses are extremely useful. However, sunglasses are not recommended for inside use .

We can’t say the same about tinted glasses that can be comfortably used for reading and using electronics and are perfectly safe indoors, without fearing you might harm your vision if wearing them inside.

Check out the WanderLust sunglasses collection HERE!

Discover all the Visionary shades HERE!

Style your look with some Little Pleasures styles HERE!

4.2 Tinted Glasses vs Polarized Lenses

Tinted glasses and polarized sunglasses are very different, yet each type offers unique benefits. Since they’re different in terms of what they can do, the best approach would be to use them interchangeably depending on your activities.

Polarized lenses have a special filter that significantly reduces glare . This makes them the best option for outside activities where you’re constantly met by rays of the sun. Polarized glasses are ideal when you need to see clearly, like when you’re driving, jogging or going for a hike.

Too bad that they won’t be of much help when looking at a computer screen. Most electronic screens already use anti-glare coating, so wearing polarized glasses will make it particularly hard to spot certain fine details.

To be able to surf the web without missing any important deets, colored glasses come to aid. While tinted glasses do block some of the sun’s brightness, they won’t do much to fight off glare. But if you just want to block visible light, tinted glasses are your friend. Not to mention, you can wear your tints inside and make use of them to your advantage.

Discover more stylish polarized sunnies HERE!

4.3. Tinted Glasses vs Transition Lenses

Tinted lenses are permanently tinted. They don’t change depending on whether you are inside or outside.

On the other side, glasses with photochromic lenses, more widely known as transition lenses, darken in the sun and lighten when you go back inside . That is why, the main benefit of transit lenses lies in their convenience: you can use these glasses under most circumstances, both indoors and outdoors.

Just like tinted sunglasses, they also offer continuous UV protection. One of the shortcomings of transition lenses is that they may take longer to work in cold conditions.

Find many fancy styles that come with photochromic lenses HERE!

5. Choosing the Right Color: What Will Each Color Tint Do for You

When looking to purchase a new pair of tinted sunglasses, you need to find the color and the tint intensity that works best for you. Here we’ll take a deep dive into the specifics for each color:

5.1 Red Tinted Glasses

Who hasn’t heard the popular idiom “seeing life through rose-colored glasses” that translate into positive views on life and perceiving life through a filter of unshakeable optimism?

Now, you can be the living embodiment of this metaphor and opt for your own pair of (literally!) rose-colored shades.

When it comes to red tints, the most sought after option is the 20% in intensity light rose. Rose tints will alleviate your light sensitivity and migraines and will prove to be the perfect partner for when you want to cozy up in bed with a book. Pair those flattering specs with a glass of rosé and your color matching skills will be through the roof!

Red tinted, high-intensity glasses will pump up your mind and your body for a challenging situation , enhance your strengths, and improve your performance . Also, they deliver a sense of excitement and increase emotional response. They are great to wear when you’re playing sports and you need that extra boost of energy and motivation.

Try on all the red hues HERE!

5.2 Yellow Tinted Glasses

Yellow tinted lenses tend to strengthen attention and focus , improve response time, and increase the speed of reading.

They’re also a great choice if you’re spending long periods of time in front of a computer, either working or killing time, making the experience of being in front of an electronic device less harmful for your vision. The blue light blocking filter will surely keep that eye strain and tiredness as far away as possible!

Amber tints (50% intensity of yellow) are popular not only for indoor/office use. Snow skiers, boaters and pilots often opt for this shade, which makes the surroundings appear warmer while also providing additional sharpness and contrast to their field of vision.

Find the yellow tints that best suit your style HERE!

5.3 Blue Tinted Glasses

If feeling blue is something that we usually dread and try to keep those moods off, these blue glasses are as far away from will give become your personal refresh button

They will awaken your mind and your body after a calm situation, they will revitalize and help you recover after intense activity. If you’re using blue tints inside you’ll most likely feel less tired and more energized. Wearing them will improve your color perception and will enhance contours, which makes them great in misty or foggy weather conditions.

Buy your favorite blue clip-ons HERE!

5.4 Green Tinted Glasses

Green tinted sunglasses lenses will relax your mind and body when you have to face a stressful situation.

They are also known to reduce stress and enhance creativity. In-office environments, people sensitive to white light endure increased headache intensity. Meanwhile, studies show that green light reduces pain intensity.

See-through nature’s specs with these green tints HERE!

6. The BioChrom Studies: Purpose and Results

Put your science cap on and find some highlights on ZEISS studies. The specific neurological, physiological, and psychological effects of the four ZEISS BioChrom lens tints were investigated using various measuring methods, from EEG, eye tracking, skin conductance to heart rate measurements.

Studies based on all four BioChrom tints – blue, green, yellow, and red – were meant to prove the psychological responses associated with each color.

6.1 BioChrom Blue Tint: Refresh

Blue light is associated with an activating effect, so the study set on to discover if BioChrom blue-tinted lens lenses promote alertness and wakefulness. After a period of rest, participants were given a test measuring alertness and reaction time, and sure enough, the ability to concentrate improved for participants wearing the blue-tinted lenses.

6.2 BioChrom Green Tint: Relax

The color green is perceived as calming and relaxing and is also associated with increased creativity. Participants wearing ZEISS BioChrom green-tinted lens lenses did better on stressful tasks. Studies have also demonstrated that migraine patients handle green light best, perceiving it as the least painful. The test results prove once more that green relaxes the body and the mind.

6.3 BioChrom Yellow Tint: Focus

Generally, yellow is associated with attentiveness, joy, and concentration. The purpose of the study was to assess the concentration and focus of participants wearing BioChrom yellow lenses and the results were staggering. Not only had wearing the yellow-tinted glasses increased the attention span of the participants, neuroanalysis showed participants who were wearing the tinted glasses were on average 80% less distracted when completing a task – a higher level of attention.

6.4 BioChrom Red Tint: Boost

Red is a color that elicits strong emotions. The test set out to investigate the physiological reaction to emotional events. The participant was exposed to pleasant, neutral and unpleasant images, and while wearing red-tinted high-intensity lenses a general increase in emotional arousal and higher levels of emotional regulation were observed. Tests also proved red is the color that is best-suited in challenging situations that require a great deal of motivation and action.

The overall results are clear: tinted sunglass lenses are a technology that can enhance your mood and emotions, your brain activity as well as your physiological performance.

Say what?! Let’s tackle all possible benefits you can experience by going colorful specs this season:

7. What Are the Actual Benefits of Tinted Glasses?

Tinted glasses are not only a chic choice for eyewear. They have a wide variety of benefits. For enhanced results, you should choose the lenses that best fit your lifestyle, needs, and preferences. Here are the main advantages of wearing tinted glasses:

7.1 They Are Perfect for Indoor Use

Whether it’s the sharp fluorescent light, the glare coming from computer screens, or even the bounced light shining through a window, indoor lights can get really uncomfortable. If you have sensitive eyes, these specs will totally shield your eyes away from the direct rays of the sun piercing indoors.

If you’re thinking that a pair of regular shades will do the proper protecting, well…not quite! Wearing regular sunglasses inside can actually prove detrimental to your eyes because that could actually worsen your light sensitivity. So, tinted glasses are the perfect trade-off for indoor use. They block certain types of “bad light” (such as blue and other artificial light) and act as a shield protecting your eyes from the wavelengths of light that can be perceived as painful.

7.2 They Help People Suffering from Light Sensitivity

People who suffer from serious medical problems, such as chronic sensitivity to light, caused by migraines or traumatic brain injuries, will find comfort in knowing that tinted glasses were very successful among potential remedies for photophobia and photosensitivity.

Clinical research conducted by doctors Kathleen Degre and K. C. Brennan has proved that FL-41 glasses – rose-tinted glasses – provide significant relief for chronic photophobia, offering extensive protection against fluorescent and other types of artificial lighting, consequently reducing migraines and headaches, as well as dizziness, eye pain, and even seizures.

7.3 They Are Equally Great for Outdoor Use

Tinted lenses offer complete UV protection , so you can confidently wear your tinted glasses outside, where there’s lots of natural light.

7.4 They Offer Athletes and Sports Enthusiasts Competitive Advantages

One important benefit of tinted glasses is that they enhance contrast sensitivity, which is particularly important for athletes , offering an extra edge of better vision. For example, when it comes to golf, tinted lenses can enhance the contrast between light and dark patterns of the grass on greens, enabling the player to up their game. Similar principles apply to other sports as well, such as softball, baseball, or cycling.

7.5 Tinted Glasses Have Mood-Boosting Properties

Specific colors, green in particular, are proven to have a calming, generally positive effect on both body and mind. This effect extends to tinted sunglasses. Because wearing them might help enhance and boost your mood, these shades might help you deal with depression and anxiety.

7.6 They Can Help You Be More Focused on Work

Research showed that seeing the color yellow, people tend to be more focused, especially under challenging conditions. Yellow-tinted eyeglass lenses also have a positive effect on a person’s attention level and ability to concentrate, hence people using them manage to stay focused while completing a task.

7.7 They Are Great for Reading

Placing a colored filter over a text can improve reading speed and reading ability. Some people find it easier to focus on a text (and they can do so for longer periods of time) if they have a colored background as opposed to a plain white background.

Tinted glasses are widely used as a remedy for dyslexia, a learning disorder that involves reading difficulties. However, prescribing vision therapy and colored lenses in the fight with learning disabilities is still controversial due to the insufficiency of evidence.

7.8 They Reduce Visual Stress

Visual stress is a condition that may cause reading difficulties, headaches and visual problems from exposure to patterns in text. Tinted lenses help people who suffer from visual stress by removing any glare the person might receive from the page and by reducing fatigue when reading. The color of the glasses that works best is dependent on each individual.

7.9 They Are Great for Computer Use

If your job (or lifestyle) implies long periods of time spent in front of a computer screen, it’s common to experience eye strain, blurred vision, red eyes, and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome. One way to filter the potentially harmful glare associated with electronic devices is to use a pair of tinted glasses.

Your best bet is to opt for yellow or amber tints which will help you focus better. But also make sure to use the blue light filter on your electronic device, which will significantly decrease the amount of blue light displayed on your screen, enhancing the level of protection even further. Tinted glasses, while helpful, may not be enough.

7.10 They Are a Remedy Against Eye Floaters

Eye flashes and floaters are fairly common and, generally, they aren’t a threat to your vision or eyesight. Wearing tinted lenses minimizes the amount of light that enters our eyes, hence the floaters are much fainter and easier to ignore.

So, while wearing tinted glasses won’t make your floaters go away entirely, it will make them a lot more manageable and less annoying. Glasses for floaters usually have a darker tint which reduces glare and protects their vision from bright light conditions.

7.11 They Can Be Worn While Driving

Not all tinted lenses are suitable for driving. A general recommendation would be to use the low-intensity tinted lenses (20%) . Lenses with light transmission less than 75% are entirely inadequate for night driving. Moreover, studies have proven that yellow lens glasses don’t improve drivers’ night vision (as opposed to popular belief) so for your own safety, make sure you use glasses that don’t impair your vision in any way.

8. Are There Any Side Effects of Wearing Tinted Glasses?

There are no known side effects of using tinted glasses indoors. Quite the opposite, the benefits associated with them make wearing tints well worth it.

However, some people might require an adjustment period. The very premise of tinted glasses is that they block certain wavelengths of light, hence contrast is heightened and images appear sharper and even brighter. While for most people this is easy to adjust to, others might take a few days.

Wearing tinted lenses that are too dark inside for excessively long periods of time may also prove detrimental in the long run, as your eyes might begin to adapt to a darker view.

It’s important to note that tinted glasses (except for the low-intensity ones) are not suitable for driving. Although it’s a popular belief that blue-blocking lenses (such as yellow tints) will improve driving performance at night by blocking the glare from the headlights, studies show that yellow lenses actually impair visual performance when driving at night.

9. Can I Get My Prescription Glasses Tinted?

Yes, you can get your prescription glasses tinted with your color of choice.

For that, you should seek assistance from our eyewear specialists or from your optician. Bear in mind that you might have to get new lenses instead of applying dye to your current corrective glasses.

10. Are Tinted Glasses in Style?

Wearing sunglasses is no longer just about protecting your eyes from the glare of the sun. They are a fashion statement – one that can make or break an outfit. Tinted shades are gaining more and more popularity and people are starting to recognize their benefits – both medical and fashion related. And nothing makes people adopt a trend faster than seeing their favorite celebrity embracing it.

When it comes to tinted glasses, famous people from all areas of entertainment are seen rocking this unique type of eyewear, introducing us to a new fashionable pair of tinted sunglasses every year.

What do Robert Downey Junior, Johnny Depp, Elton John, Bono, Tim Burton, and Patricia Arquette all have in common? All mentioned (and many others) have proudly stepped on red carpets completing their already flawless outfits with the perfect pair of tints. Rose, purple, grey, yellow or blue, from the Oscars to the Golden Globes, year after year tinted shades make an appearance.

This type of eye-catching eyewear proves to be extremely helpful in the world of the rich and famous. At award shows (especially when they have to focus and read speeches) these glasses offer them a certain level of protection from the blinding lights and the constant flashes.

Plus, no look completed by a pair of tinted sunglasses will ever go unnoticed, as this accessory adds a note of extravagance that will take any outfit to the next level.

11. How Much Do Tinted Glasses Cost and How to Order?

The good thing about tinted sunglasses (in addition to all the other great things we already mentioned) is that they will surely meet your visual needs, as well as your budget expectations.

Prices vary depending on which frame you pick for them. Choose the magnetic clip-on tinted lenses that will take your regular glasses to the next level.

To help you find the perfect pair, we’ve launched a collection ofBioChrom tinted glasses.

Order yours HERE!

You can opt for a frame inspired by the dynamic styles of Wall Streeters , which will easily transform from sunglasses to eyeglasses by removing the clip-on. You can add a BioChrom clip-on in the tint of your choice and you can enjoy all the advantages of tinted sunglasses for $249.

If a vintage-inspired look is more up your alley, the Charleston , a round frame in gunmetal silver, will make you feel like a real rockstar. Customize your eyeglasses with the BioChrom clip-ons and filter all the negativity with the hue of choice.

Gain a new perspective through mood-boosting tinted glasses. Order yours online.

If you want to add Biochrom lenses to any other frame, rest assured, we’ve got your back. All you need to do is give us a call and we will make a custom order to fit any frame with these revolutionary tinted lenses. Your ideal frame with tinted lenses is now closer than ever.

While tinted glasses are unquestionably cool and useful, you must make sure you choose a pair that is right for you. You have to find out what color works for you and how will it help you achieve your personal goals. And when you do, Vint & York will be here to help you find your dream pair of tinted sunglasses.