50 Shades of Sunshine: How to Replace Lenses in Existing Frames

You know it’s going to be a good day when the sun’s so bright that you have to wear shades. A good pair of sunglasses is more than just a stylish accessory, but they also have a host of benefits for your eyes. Your sunnies are a must-have item when doing sports, enjoying on the beach or preparing for your first hiking experience. They protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays, cut down on glare, prevent problems with your eyes and contribute to better vision.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Ray-Ban addict, Oakley enthusiast or Maui Jim fanatic, we all share the same level of panic when our lenses scratch or break. And even if there are no visible scratches, your sunglass lenses can not resist all the wear and tear they suffer on a daily basis. Experts recommend changing your lenses every two years so they can perform their best in protecting your eyes from the elements. And instead of buying a new pair of expensive sunglasses, you can take advantage of the “have frames need lenses” situation, and save some money by replacing the glasses lenses only.

Can I Replace the Lenses in My Sunglasses?

You can still enjoy your favourite shades and even give them a new stylish look by choosing replacement sunglass lenses. Buying lenses today is easier than ever. All you need to do is find a specialised store from where you can order lenses for glasses from the comfort of your home. The first step is to identify the model of your sunglasses and lenses. The sunglasses specification is usually printed on the left temple. The first four numbers next to the brand name are the model number. For example, a Ray-Ban frame will have RB#### number on the arm.

Searching by just the model number can result in displaying a few models along with their photos. To double-check your lenses, you need to find the two numbers usually written before the small square ( □ ) on your sunglasses arm. With these two parameters, you can easily find your replacement lenses. If you can’t find your lenses, you can always have them custom-made.

How Do I Choose the Right Sunglasses Lens?

There’s a wide range of replacement lenses available on the market. When you already have frames need lenses, premium quality lenses can make your sunglasses look as good as new. The biggest dilemma is choosing between polarized and non-polarized lenses. They both offer 100% protectin against harmful UV rays.

Polarized lenses are specifically designed to reduce glare and ensure you can see clearly even in direct sun. They are strong, lightweight and durable, ideal for everyday use, when driving, fishing, biking or walking around. You can opt for high-quality lenses that feature Japanese polarization film with a 99.9% efficacy rating, which makes them one of the best anti-glare lenses available.

Non-polarized lenses don’t filter light in this way, so the glare is much more noticeable. You can choose this type of lenses if you use your favourite sunglasses for skiing, flying or operating heavy machinery. Premium quality noo-polarized lenses are safe, durable, lightweight with crystal clear HD performance. The best lenses of this type are made from a unique, flexible polymer that has unbelievable optical clarity. Make sure the lenses you choose are coated with a protective layer that resists scratching and repels water and sweat.

What Colour Lenses Are Best for Sunglasses?

Sunglasses are most widely used for outdoor activities, especially sports. And tinted lenses are the mainstream. The colour you choose should match your lifestyle and complement your fashion sense. Finding your favourite tint shouldn’t be hard, since replacement lenses are available in more than twenty colours.

Grey replacement lenses are suitable for nearly all outdoor sports in bright light conditions. They are also recommended for all day, general use in bright conditions. Black gradient and flash silver mirror are very popular lens tints because they are suitable for both cloudy and sunny days. If you’re wearing your sunglasses during baseball and golf, green lenses might help you perform better.

In detail, yellow and orange replacement lenses can heighten contrast in overcast and hazy conditions and filter out blue light. Due to this capability, these lenses can bring extra assistance during cycling, handball, snowmobiling, skiing and tennis. Dark amber, copper and brown lenses also provide valuable help for people who like baseball, fishing, golf, hunting and water sports.

Rose or red replacement lenses are slightly different, as they create contrast in partly cloudy and sunny conditions, and thus they help in fishing, cycling, hunting, shooting etc. A light blue mirror is a vibrant tint that delivers extraordinary colour enhancement and crisp optics. Both fashionable and practical for UV protection, they can also have a calming effect on the eyes. You can wear blue lenses to reduce glare during snow while enjoying water sports or sunny leisure activities.