Sunglasses are important for protecting your eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light and reducing glare so you are more comfortable in bright light. Lenses are available in many colors, and each enhances your daytime vision in different ways. Both gray and amber lenses are common, and work best in different types of light and for different outdoor activities.
Gray Lenses
Gray lenses filter bright to moderate light, and work well in generic sunglasses you can wear for most daily activities, including driving. Because they are neutral, gray lenses do not distort or vary color in any way and are the most comfortable to wear during extended periods of sun exposure. They are excellent for cutting glare when you are fishing, boating or otherwise spending time around water, and protect your eyes during many outdoor activities that don’t require enhanced depth perception, such as gardening, picnicking and watching outdoor sporting events.
Amber Lenses
Like gray lenses, amber lenses filter light and reduce glare, but amber lenses work best in low to moderate light. Amber lenses enhance contrast in flat light and enhance your depth perception. Improved depth perception makes amber lenses an excellent choice for hunting, target shooting, golfing, cycling, hiking and playing tennis. While gray lenses are good when watching outdoor sports, amber lenses are best when you are playing them. Amber lenses also do a good job of cutting glare; combined with their depth perception enhancement, that makes them a good choice for skiers and snowboarders.