Transitions® Generation 8 lenses are currently available in seven different colours including;
- Grey
- Brown
- Graphite green
- Sapphire
- Amethyst
- Amber
- Emerald
The era of Transitions® lenses being available in just one single colour is long gone. Nowadays, you can select from a variety of shades that not only match your fashion preferences but also offer various advantages.
Check out the previews and descriptions of each colour below
Grey
Grey Transitions® lenses are adaptable, suitable for various lighting scenarios, ranging from sunny to overcast. Their balanced hue guarantees accurate colour recognition, rendering them an excellent choice for driving, outdoor adventures, or pursuits by the water. Additionally, they complement any frame hue, boosting fashion without causing a visual clash.
The primary advantage of grey lenses lies in their capacity to alleviate eye fatigue and the need to squint, providing relief for the eyes on bright days or during shifts in weather conditions, due to their feature of reducing eye strain.
Grey Transitions® are a conventional colour selection.
Graphite Green
Graphite Green Transitions® lenses are adaptable, cutting down on glare and boosting clarity across all lighting situations. They lessen eye fatigue on sunny days, akin to the effect of grey lenses.
In terms of appearance, they blend nicely with a range of frame designs, especially those in black, crystal, or tortoise shell.
These lenses are ideal for athletic activities, improving sight and making shadows appear brighter, which is why they’re popular among tennis players and golfers for their enhanced visibility. Their flexibility also makes them suitable for daily wear.
Graphite Green Transitions® lenses are a common colour choice.
Brown
Brown Transitions® lenses are perfect for sunny conditions because they efficiently reduce glare. They are great for daily use or for individuals who are especially sensitive to light, as they provide little distortion in colour while improving the difference between light and dark.
In terms of fashion, brown lenses are a classic choice, matching with numerous frame colours such as brown, green, and tortoise shell designs, all with a touch of refined style.
Brown Transitions® lenses are a popular colour choice.
Sapphire
Sapphire Transitions® lenses offer outstanding visual contrast in dim lighting, enriching colour perception and depth. The blue photochromic lenses excel in misty conditions, though they may not perform as well under intense sunlight exposure.
Aesthetically, blue lenses pair exceptionally well with neutral acetates such as crystal, grey or black and have fashionable ‘Hollywood’ sort of look to them.
Sapphire Transitions® are an upgraded colour option.
Amethyst
Amethyst Transitions® lenses offer a vivid and lively shade of purple. They resemble the Sapphire variety in colour, making them perfect for individuals who enjoy a splash of colour and want to make a statement. These purple photochromic lenses enhance the clarity of vision and the way colours are seen, while also giving them a distinctive appearance.
These lenses complement each other particularly well with neutral materials like crystal, grey, or black.
Amethyst Transitions® lenses represent an advanced choice in colour.
Amber
Amber Transitions® lenses offer a soft, golden tint that boosts the perception of depth and the difference between light and dark areas in dim settings. They are a great option for those who frequently drive, particularly at night, as they can enhance the ability to see clearly.
Amber lenses are less heavy than those of brown Transitions® but complement well with black, tortoise shell, Havana, or simple crystal acetate shades.
Amber Transitions® represent an improved choice in lens colours.
Emerald
Emerald Transitions® lenses boast a bright green colour that improves clarity and the ability to see depth. They are ideal for those who appreciate nature and participate in activities outside.
The emerald photochromic lenses stand out more in green compared to the Graphite Green version, which blends nicely with black, crystal, or tortoise shell acetate shades.
Emerald Transitions® offer a superior colour choice.
What are Transition lenses?
Transition® lenses are a trademarked term for photochromic lenses, which are a kind of eyeglass lens that darken when exposed to UV light. This implies they self-adjust and modify to varying light situations, offering the best vision, visual ease, and eye safety.
How do Transition lenses work?
Transitions® feature a photochromic layer that includes tiny molecules of chloride and silver halide inside the lens. When worn in dim environments or indoors, these molecules stay clear and unaffected, making the lens look transparent. However, when they come into contact with the sun’s UV rays, they undergo a reaction, leading to the lens darkening. This adjustment offers improved visual ease in bright sunlight and safeguards against damaging UV rays.
Just a quick note, sunlight can be both seen and unseen to your eyes and can be damaging to your vision.
Visible light is what makes it difficult for you to see, causing you to squint or shade your eyes. This is why sunglasses absorb visible light, to make your visibility more comfortable.
Invisible light is much more dangerous as it cannot be detected. If you leave your skin or eyes unprotected, UV (ultraviolet) can cause long term damage such as macular degeneration or even cataracts.
This is the reason why sun lenses or specifically Transitions® offer UV400 defense against unseen electromagnetic waves that span from 10 to 400 nanometers. These represent the highest harmful wavelengths of UV light that could otherwise harm your eyes.
What is best colour for transition lenses?
The most preferred shades of Transitions® lenses are usually brown, grey, or (emerald) green. These common hues are created to improve visibility and the perception of depth, simplifying the recognition of items under bright light. This feature renders them perfect for engaging in activities outside where lighting conditions vary.
Are transition glasses also blue light?
No, Transitions® lenses do not shield you from the intense blue light known as high energy visible blue light (HEV). Nonetheless, this protective layer can easily be applied to your lenses if you wish to gain extra defence against digital screens and displays.
Is there a downside to Transition lenses?
Transition lenses are incredibly adaptable, but they also come with some downsides.
When you’re driving, the car’s windshield blocks or reflects a significant amount of the sun’s UV rays. This can lessen the darkening effect of Transition lenses, which depend on UV light to adjust their tint. As a result, your lenses might appear more see-through, leading to a less comfortable visual experience than standard tinted sunglasses.
Cloudy weather affects Transition lenses similarly because of the lower UV light levels. This makes it harder for them to darken in bright conditions, reducing their light-absorbing capabilities. You might notice that your Transition lenses take longer to darken on rainy or cloudy days, even when the sun is shining brightly.
Transition Gen 8 lenses lack polarisation. If you’re often outdoors, particularly near bodies of water, this feature might be a deal-breaker for you. However, there’s no need to worry, as Transition lenses do offer a polarised lens option for those who prefer it.
How dark are grey transition lenses?
At their lowest point, the Generation 8 Transition lenses typically absorb about 70% of visible light. This implies that only a third of the visible light makes it through the lenses, with the remaining two-thirds being absorbed by them.
To put this into perspective, category 3 tinted sun lenses absorb between 43% and 80% of visible light, placing the most heavily darkened Transition lenses squarely in the category of ‘recreational use’.
However, it’s important to note that the level of absorption by Transition lenses can range from 0% to an average of 70%, depending on how bright the sunlight is.
Is it better to get prescription sunglasses or transition lenses?
This depends on your lifestyle, optical preferences and budget.
Prescription sunglasses offer an excellent and tailored choice for use in sunny conditions. They not only correct your vision with your prescription but also shield your eyes from the sun while ensuring clear, comfortable vision. Regardless of the intensity of the light, they stay dark unlike Transition lenses. Features such as polarisation, varying levels of tint darkness, and extra coatings make prescription sunglasses a unique solution for those who need vision correction in bright environments.
On the other hand, Transition lenses serve as a dual-purpose solution, functioning as both eyeglasses and sunglasses. This eliminates the need to purchase two separate sets of frames and lenses, which can be cost-effective but may result in a slight delay in adapting to sunlight. (Transitions may take a few minutes to fully adjust to the brightness of the sun, depending on the amount of UV exposure in your environment.)
If you prefer having specific frames for different activities, it’s advisable to have one pair of prescription glasses and a separate pair of prescription sunglasses.
However, if you value the convenience and ease of having just one frame, Transition lenses are certainly worth exploring. The technology has improved to the extent that they can quickly and efficiently adjust to various outdoor conditions, providing you with clear vision without the need to switch between two different sets of glasses.
Do I need sunglasses if I have transition lenses?
You might not always need sunglasses if you’re already equipped with Transition lenses. These lenses are made to adjust and darken in strong sunlight, offering protection against UV rays for your eyes. However, there are a few things to think about when considering buying an extra pair of sunglasses to go with your Transition lenses.
To start, the level of darkness your Transition lenses offer might not be sufficient for harsh sunlight, particularly if your eyes are sensitive. In such situations, having a backup pair of sunglasses could be useful, no matter how bright the day is.
Moreover, Transition lenses don’t darken as much when you’re behind the wheel of a car. If you’re often driving in bright sunlight, wearing sunglasses can help lessen the glare and make your vision more comfortable.
Furthermore, if you’re often out doing activities like water sports, skiing, or beach activities, polarised sunglasses might be a better choice. They offer better glare reduction and clarity than Transition lenses.
In the end, whether you need an extra pair of sunglasses with your Transition lenses comes down to personal choice. It’s always a good idea to talk to your eye doctor for tailored advice that suits your individual needs and way of life.