Add some pop to your look with tinted glasses or tinted contact lenses

Summary in 30 seconds

We’ve all heard the term looking at the world through rose-tinted glasses, but what about blue, or brown, or gray? Tinted eyeglass lenses can block the sun or add a subtle glow to your face. Tinted contact lenses on the other hand can change the color of your eyes. Read on to find out what’s cool in colored lenses right now.

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• Tinted glasses lenses
• Tinted contact lenses
• Which tint should you choose?
• About those tinted contact lenses

Tinted glasses lenses

When choosing glasses one of the biggest decisions is picking out the color of your frame. Depending on the mood or message you’re trying to convey, you might opt for a classic tortoise shell, completely clear, or a bright purple that pops. But when it comes to tints, people seem to be a bit more timid, and for good reason. 

Before choosing a tint for your eyeglasses you should pay close attention to the tints in the frame. You should also note the types of tints that are available. If you want to take your tinted lenses to another level, we recommend transition lenses And if you’re used to wearing makeup, take note of the level of tint you might choose.

A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t look good in a color, don’t choose it for your tinted lens. Also worth noting, while pink can offer your complexion a rosy glow, on some complexions it can make your eyes look swollen. So if you’re determined to choose pink, choose a lighter shade than you might initially have thought.

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Tinted contact lenses

There are so many fun ways to play with your looks with contacts. And there are three main types of lenses:

Visibility tint: Some contact lenses have a slight blue tint. This won’t change the color of your eyes at all, but is rather there so you can find your lens in the case. Freshlook handling tint is ideal for those who have a hard time finding their contact lenses. In addition to a subtle tint, there’s also an inside out indicator so you know the correct way to put in your lenses.

Enhancement tint: Most people want to keep the unique color of their eyes, so they might choose a tinted lens that plays up their natural color. An enhancement tint is slightly darker than a visibility tint. The idea behind these is to enhance your eye color, so someone with hazel eyes might choose a sheer green or yellowish tint to play up the highlights in their eyes.

Blending tints: are a mix of an enhancement tint contact lens and an opaque tint. When holding the lens on your finger before applying, you can see the way the center of the lens is more sheer than the outer circle.

Opaque tints: are best for darker eyes since they provide the most coverage. Even the darkest brown eyes can be transformed with opaque tinted contact lenses.

Which tint should you choose?

Eye health site Ocular Prime had a great list of the different colored tints available for eyeglasses and lenses, and which color is most flattering.

Brown/Amber/Orange

These tints work well on sunglasses or as a hint of color to tint your everyday eyeglasses lenses.

We think these Amelia E. Bridgette retro chic frames would look absolutely amazing with a brown tint to add a vintage vibe.

Blue/Purple/Plum

It’s important to distinguish between blue-light lenses, which filter your eyes from the blue light emitted from screens, and blue tinted lenses. Blue lenses don’t have any serious purpose, but they do look incredibly cool.

Green

In ancient Rome, some of the emperors were said to grind emeralds and wear them as lenses over their eyes to protect their eyes from the sun. Green lenses are great for contrast, especially for outdoor sports including golf or baseball.

Gray

Gray tints are one of the coolest you can choose. Interestingly enough, the Ocular Prime website also reports that gray lenses are also recommended for dry eye patients who suffer from increased light sensitivity. And one more fascinating detail – gray lenses are said to be used for patients suffering from concussions.

Yellow

Yellow tints filter blue light, which helps when working at a computer or using a screen for many hours daily.

Red (Pink)

You’ve probably noticed that a lot of ski goggles have a pinkish or reddish tint. That’s because those colors can help in bright light and poor contrast situations.

About those tinted contact lenses

Unlike eyeglasses tints which usually serve a specific purpose, contact lens tints are mostly decorative. It’s up to you to decide if you want to go for emerald colored eyes or just a hint of a honey-colored tint instead.