What is the Difference between Polarized, Transition & Photochromic Lenses?

Posted on September 6, 2020By admin

If you want to protect your eyes from harsh sunlight, it’s important to understand the differences among polarized lenses, Transitions®, and photochromic lenses. Optical Lens Labs offers polarized sunglasses lenses and photochromic everyday lenses — both prescription and non-prescription — that can be fitted into a wide variety of frames.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized sunglasses are permanently dark, regardless of weather conditions. They’re a great choice when you’re looking for sunglasses to help reduce the sun’s glare from a wide range of surfaces including snow, reflections off water, white sandy beaches, and light-colored pavement.

Are you looking for prescription sunglasses? Learn about prescription lens types that you can pair with polarized lenses.

Instead, if what you need is non-prescription lenses for general sun protection — or you wear contact lenses — simply choose your favorite frame then select “No Prescription” and “Polarized” from the frame’s online order form. Take a peek at Optical Lens Lab’s sunglasses ordering options.

Polarized lenses alone don’t protect you from UV rays. However, Optical Lens Labs offers lens materials that can be polarized that do offer 100% inherent UV protection. Learn which lens materials to order with polarized sunglasses for UV protection.

Ready to look at frames to outfit with polarized lenses? Start with the ModzSunz Collection, perfect for sunglasses!

Photochromic Lenses

Photochromic lenses, also called “light-adaptive” and “light-intelligent”, change their darkness depending on the ambient light. The lenses darken when moving into bright sunlight. They’re nearly transparent in the dark or near dark — indoors or outdoors on overcast days.

While photochromics don’t fully replace sunglasses, they do offer convenience and versatility for people who move inside and out often throughout the day.

To order photochromic lenses, choose any frame from our wide selection then select “Photochromic” from the “Everyday Lenses” order form prompts.