Safety Glasses Lens Colors & Tints
Safety glasses come in clear, gray, amber and other tints. The color changes how much light reaches your eyes and how well you see details, but it doesn’t change the impact protection. Pick the tint for the light you’re working in, and make sure the lens carries the right marking first.
- Construction
- General Industry
- Outdoor Work
Check the marking first
- Look for Z87 or Z87+ on the frame and lens. This shows the glasses meet ANSI/ISEA Z87.1. Z87+ means they passed the high-impact test, which is what most jobsites expect. See Eye & Face Protection.
- A tint doesn’t make glasses safe by itself. Ordinary sunglasses and fashion glasses are not safety glasses unless they carry the marking.
- Prescription wearers need prescription safety glasses or protective eyewear that fits over their own glasses. See Prescription Safety Glasses.
Common tints and what they do
| Lens | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Clear | Indoor work and most all-around use | Glare in bright sun |
| Gray (smoke) | Bright sun. Cuts brightness evenly without changing colors much | Too dark indoors, in shade or at dusk |
| Amber or yellow | Low light, fog or haze. Can boost contrast | Changes how colors look, which can matter for wiring or paint |
| Mirrored | Very bright sun and glare, such as on snow, water or bare concrete | Hard to see in shade or inside |
| Indoor/outdoor (light mirror or light gray) | Moving between inside and outside | Not strong enough for very bright days |
| Photochromic (adapts to light) | Changing light | They darken more slowly in cold weather and don’t darken much in a vehicle behind glass |
| Blue-light filtering | Marketed for screens | Evidence of a safety benefit is limited; don’t pick these for hazard protection |
UV protection
Look for lenses that block close to 100% of UV (often labeled “UV400”). Sun can damage the eyes over time, even on cloudy days. Clear lenses can also block UV, so check the label. See Sun Protection.
Welding and cutting need special lenses
Welding, cutting, brazing and laser work give off intense light and radiation. Tinted safety glasses are not enough. Use a welding helmet, goggles or a filter lens with the correct shade number for the process and amperage, and wear safety glasses under it. See Welding Helmets, the welding shade table in Eye & Face Protection, and Welding & Cutting.
Using tinted lenses safely
- Switch to clear lenses when you go inside, into a trench, a tunnel, a vault or any dim area.
- Keep a spare pair of clear glasses in your truck or tool bag.
- Don’t drive in glasses that are too dark for conditions, and don’t wear dark lenses at night.
- Check color-dependent work (wire colors, safety signs, paint matching) with clear lenses.
- Clean lenses and replace scratched ones, which scatter light and reduce vision. See PPE Inspection & Care.
Picking a tint
- The frame and lens are marked Z87 or Z87+
- The tint suits the light where you work most
- You have clear lenses for dim or indoor work
- The lenses block UV for outdoor work
- Welding or cutting? You have the right shade filter, not just tinted glasses
Standards & references
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