Red sunglasses are eyewear that makes a statement! These sunglasses are bold and fashionable. They also have many pratical benefits.
Thinking about getting a pair of red sunglasses? I’m here to help! I’ll walk you through the different tints of red sunglasses and give you some popular options to try.
The Benefits of Seeing Red
Because of the tint of their lenses, red sunglasses offer many great benefits. This goes beyond the compliments that you might get from wearing cool shades!
The red tint of these sunglasses primarily filters out short-wavelength blue and green light. This affects everything from visual perception to hormone production and sleep cycles.
Enhanced Contrast
Red and rose tints are excellent at blocking blue light. This means that, when worn outdoors during daytime, they improve how you see greens and reds by sharpening contrast.
This makes a world of difference for skiers and snowboarders, especially when it comes to safely navigating the slopes. The tint helps you see the moguls (the mounds of snow that form along ungroomed ski slopes) and dips in the white snow.
Even if you’re not into winter sports, you’ll love how the red tint makes everything appear more vibrant.
Depth Perception
Red sunglasses can help drivers and cyclists see the road better. Through improved depth perception, you are able to see the changes in the texture and slope of the terrain. This is crucial for your safety, especially if you’re going at top speed.
Reduced Eye Strain
By filtering out specific light wavelengths and increasing contrast, red lenses can reduce eye strain.
Red Lenses for Migraine Management
There are specialized red sunglasses that are designed to help you manage migraines. These sunglasses are made with FL-41 lenses, which come in a rose or pinkish hue. FL stands for Fluorescent.
These lenses target specific light wavelengths (those in the 480-520 nanometer range) that are said to trigger or worsen migraine and light sensitivity (photophobia). Other than that, these lenses can also reduce eye strain caused by digital screens.
Simon Cowell famously wears migraine glasses. When he wore them on Britain’s Got Talent, he had to clarify that they’re more than fashion accessories. These glasses are medical necessities.
Take note that not all red sunglasses are migraine glasses. You need to get those with lenses that are specifically FL-41 lenses.
The Psychological Effect of Seeing Red
Using red-tinted sunglasses can also have positive psychological effects. A study titled “Looking Through ‘Rose-Tinted’ Glasses: The Influence of Tint on Visual Affective Processing” by Tim Schilling, Alexandra Sipatchin, Lewis Chuang, and Siegfried Wahl goes deeper into this. Some of the psychological effects include:
Mood-Boosting
Red is a warm shade, and seeing red can boost your mood. It can also make you feel energetic and more excited.
Confidence
Red is also the color of assertion. Seeing red is said to affect a person’s confidence level. If you need a boost of confidence, maybe try looking through red-tinted lenses.
Choosing Your Shade of Red
Trying to decide on a shade of red? When you’re choosing a shade, you’ll want to base your decision on your favorite activities and typical surroundings.
Light Rose and Pink Tints
Light rose or pink sunglasses are best for use in low to medium light. They’re perfect if you’re indoors or if the sky’s overcast. They aren’t as ideal for bright and sunny days.
You won’t be seeing much red as you look through these shades. But hey, they look good, and with the right frames, they may even make you look like a rockstar! Think Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler; he’s been spotted in aviator sunglasses with red frames.
Medium Vermillion and Rust
Rust and vermillion tints are some of the most common red sunglasses options. These sunglasses give you optimal light filtering for outdoor activities like hiking, golf, and fishing. You get a good balance of sun protection and color correction.
Deep Red and Ruby
If the sun’s out and intense and you need to see what’s ahead, it’s best to go for deep red and ruby tints. These tints give you good protection from the sun’s glare while providing you with optimum color contrast.
Technical Considerations: Mirror vs. Solid
When you set out to buy red sunglasses, you’ll see two main types of lens finishes: solid tint and red mirror.
Solid-tint red sunglasses are red throughout. Also, if they’re a lighter shade of red, people will be able to see your eyes.
Red mirror sunglasses have lenses that are treated with a reflective coating. The coating is a red mirror. The lenses, however, may be red or gray-tinted.
Popular Red Sunglasses
Oakley RADAR EV PATH OO9208
The Oakley Radar EV Path OO9208 is a favorite among athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. These are top-of-the-line performance sunglasses designed with Oakley’s proprietary Prizm™ technology lenses. These lenses hone in on specific light wavelengths, filtering out the rest as “noise.”
What you get are lenses made specifically for the challenges of your favorite sport or activity. Radar EV Path is made with Prizm Road and is best for cycling, running, and other high-performance outdoor sports.
Oakley OO9191 UNSTOPPABLE
The Oakley OO9191 UNSTOPPABLE will make you unstoppable in golf! (Of course, you need to get a lot of practice too…)
These Oakley sunglasses are made with the brand’s proprietary Prizm Dark Golf Lenses. Your view from these lenses is darker and high-contrast, giving you the edge on bright sunny days on the greens.
Smith Haywire
The Smith Haywire sunglasses are made with Smith Optics’ ChromaPop™ lenses, which are designed to block glare and enhance color perception. Haywire models with ChromaPop™ Rose Flash lenses are designed for the visual challenges of mountain biking and skiing. These lenses give you a “truer” red, even at low flat light.
Oliver Peoples OV1293ST G. PONTI-3
The Oliver Peoples OV1293ST G. Ponti-3 is a stylish pair of red sunglasses. These sunglasses are named after Gio Ponti, the famed architect who designed Milan’s Pirelli Tower and the Denver Art Museum. The sunglasses represent the balance of round and angular forms, which is a theme of Ponti’s work.
These Oliver Peoples red sunglasses come in Pink Wash Photochromic lenses, which darken when exposed to bright light conditions.
TL;DR
- Red sunglasses look great and are best at filtering blue and green light.
- Benefits from wearing these sunglasses include improved contrast, better depth perception, and reduced eye strain.
- The FL-41 lenses of red migraine glasses are specially designed to filter specific light wavelengths that can trigger migraines and photophobia.
- Wearing red sunglasses can also have psychological effects. They can boost your mood and make you feel more confident.
- The varying levels of red tint factor into how much contrast enhancement and sun glare protection you can get from these sunglasses.
- Choose the tint that suits your activity and location.
- Also consider if the lenses are solid red-tinted or just have a red reflective coating.
- Popular red sunglasses models include Oakley’s Radar EV Path and UNSTOPPABLE, Smith Haywire, and Oliver Peoples OV1293ST G. PONTI-3.
