Sunglasses Lens Basics: How to Choose the Right Lenses

If you ask someone wearing custom sunglasses what matters most, the answers often vary. Some people focus on comfort—how the temples sit or how gently the bridge rests on the nose. Others are passionate about style, eager to customize their sunglasses to reflect their personal brand. As diverse as our preferences may be, there’s one point that stands above the rest: the lens.

Why Lens Material Is the Heart of Custom Eyewear

Your eyes experience the world directly through sunglass lens material. Whether you’re outdoors for adventure or seeking a stylish look, the lens determines optical clarity, blocks glare with polarized sunglasses, and optimizes light transmittance for brilliant, comfortable vision. For anyone exploring eyewear customization, selecting the right lens is where thoughtful design begins.

Types of Sunglass Lens Materials

After over a decade in eyewear, I’ve learned the material you choose is crucial:

Acrylic lenses are affordable, but less durable—best for blue light blocking when cost matters.

Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight and tough, ideal for active lifestyles, offering excellent impact resistance.

Triacetate Cellulose (TAC) lenses filter glare remarkably well in polarized sunglasses.

CR-39 lenses are sought after for optical clarity, used in premium and prescription custom sunglasses.

Nylon lenses are beloved for their flexibility and strength, perfect for rimless frames.

Each sunglass lens material brings unique benefits suited to different uses.

Lens Colors, Finishes, and Coatings for Custom Sunglasses

Customization gets exciting with lens colors and finishes. Through injection molding, color is built into the lens itself, resulting in uniform tone from classic grey to bold green. Dyeing allows for gradient and dual-tone effects, while advanced coating methods add refined tints and extra protection. And don’t forget extra lens coatings—scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, oil-resistant, and blue light blocking lenses add value for modern buyers.

How to Choose the Best Lenses for Your Brand or Customers

When customizing sunglasses for yourself, clients, or your brand, consider these essentials:

• Match the custom sunglasses materials to your target market’s style, lifestyle, and needs.

  
  

• Weigh the cost and identify which lens types fit your brand positioning.

  
  

• Insist on strong optical clarity and comfort.

  
  

• For active customers, tough polycarbonate lenses or flexible nylon lenses win every time.

  
  

• For fashion-forward or prescription eyewear, CR-39 lenses shine.

  
  

• Use polarized sunglasses for glare-free vision outdoors.

  
  

• Add lens coatings that increase durability and enhance protection.

Conclusion: Growing Together With Janeycheers Eyewear

Choosing the right lens material for custom sunglasses is a journey of discovery and care—for your vision, for your look, and for your everyday comfort. At Janeycheers Eyewear, our goal is to empower you with knowledge, so that we grow as a community of eyewear lovers and creators.

Whether you’re a sunglasses wholesaler, a brand builder, or someone ready for a new style, understanding the subtle science and art of lens selection is key. Let’s share, customize, and see the world more clearly—together.