I started wearing tinted glasses for low vision when I was a teenager to help with light sensitivity following a recommendation from my low vision specialist, and use them more than any other type of assistive technology for low vision— the only time I take them off is to wash my face or go to sleep! Updated in 2026, here is how wearing prescription non-polarized tinted glasses for low vision has helped me manage light sensitivity and my own experiences wearing tinted glasses, along with resources that others can use to find the right tinted lenses for their needs.
Non-polarized tinted glasses for low vision vs sunglasses
Non-polarized tinted glasses for low vision and/or light sensitivity are designed to reduce glare, improve contrast sensitivity, and manage light sensitivity (also known as photophobia or photosensitivity). They maintain a consistent color tint across all lighting environments, darkening the overall light entering the eyes. They do not change colors based on lighting, and do not distort LCD screens since they do not have polarization.
Polarized sunglasses are designed to reduce glare in outdoor environments and can provide additional sun protection; they can also help with managing light sensitivity and/or improving contrast sensitivity. They provide more glare protection compared to non-polarized tinted glasses in outdoor environments, but may distort the appearance of LCD screens or be too dark for navigating indoor environments.
I own both non-polarized prescription tinted glasses and polarized sunglasses, and switch to wearing sunglasses when I am in the car or spending a lot of time outside. I also typically wear sunglasses in places with lots of bright lights where I am not using my phone/iPad, such as sporting events or band performances. I am always wearing some form of tinted glasses, and do not own a non-tinted pair of prescription glasses. My sunglasses tint color is the same as my non-polarized glasses pair; my current pairs both have brown lenses.
Selecting lens tint colors
Non-polarized tinted lenses come in a variety of colors and intensities, many of which are specifically designed for specific conditions or sensory needs. While tint colors are typically not listed as part of an eyeglasses prescription, I strongly recommend meeting with a low vision specialist, optometrist, or optician to discuss appropriate tint color options and darkness level (VLT %). Depending on the tint selected, individuals may be able to order tinted glasses from a mainstream optician (e.g. LensCrafters or doctor’s office), or they may need to order specialty tints from a low vision specialty optician (e.g. Chadwick Optical).
Over the years, I have had the following tint colors for my own glasses:
- Brown
- Gray
- Gray-green
- Warm gray
- Plum
- Amber
Other examples of non-polarized lens tint colors can include:
- Red
- Pink
- Orange
- Yellow
- Green
- Blue
- Purple
- Black
My goal in dividing the list of tint colors into two parts was not to indicate that these other tint colors are not helpful— they are just optimized for other types of eye conditions or neurological conditions that I do not have! I have low vision as the result of both an eye condition and brain condition, and light sensitivity/glare/contrast deficiencies play a profound role in how I use my vision. Working with a low vision specialist has helped a lot with identifying what tint color(s) work for me. Another resource for researching tinted glasses is an online tint library for low vision (which is listed on Chadwick Optical’s website and several other websites), but this is not a replacement for an in-person assessment.
About my tinted lenses for low vision
For many years, I wore Level 2 gray tinted lenses, which did not impact my color vision and partially obscured my eyes in photos or videos. These were purchased from LensCrafters, who tinted the lenses on-site and could adjust the color to be more/less intense. Depending on my prescription and the lenses used, there have been some years where my tint has appeared to be purplish-gray/warm gray or gray-green more than a pure gray or brown color. The tint color would typically be matched to either a sample lens or another pair of my glasses.
After meeting with my low vision specialist in 2025, I fell in love with a Level 3 brown tint, which makes other colors appear slightly warmer and makes it more challenging (but not impossible) for people to see my eyes. My specific tint is labeled as “Designs for Vision Brown 3” and was recommended by the low vision specialist after I tried out over a dozen different tint colors and levels— these were ordered as part of my new glasses from Chadwick Optical (my bifocal prescription was too high for a mainstream optician). My brown lenses are visible in the photo on my website’s “About” page and in the comparison photo with my gray tinted lenses above.
I have another pair of prescription tinted glasses with plum lenses, which are also a Level 3 tint with a higher VLT percentage. These are specifically designed for photophobia/photosensitivity, and I often wear them while I am around screens or in very bright indoor environments. I find it more difficult to see colors like purple when I am wearing these lenses, but I find them helpful on days where I have especially high levels of visual fatigue or when I am spending a lot of time around fluorescent lights. This isn’t to say that my other glasses are not helpful for this, but there are some environments where I get more benefit from the purple lenses. I have shared comparison photos with the plum tint and brown tint lenses next to each other, as well as cropped, unfiltered/unretouched photos showing me wearing both pairs of glasses outside.
Pairing frames with tinted lenses
Some individuals wear tinted lenses as clip-ons, slip-behind, or wrap around glasses that can be added on top of existing glasses as needed. Since my non-polarized tinted lenses are worn at all times and are a part of my glasses, I wanted to ensure that the tint color would complement the colors of my eyeglass frames so they would not clash. I recommend trying frames that have a similar color or accent color to the tinted lenses, such as finding brown or brown-containing frames for brown tinted lenses. Both of my glasses use the same purple confetti frames that complement the tint colors well.
Related links
Introducing tinted glasses: My own experiences in middle/high school
When I was in middle school, I started experiencing an increased sensitivity to bright lights, especially the fluorescent lights in my classrooms and the glare from the reflective desks/floor. I would come home from school almost crying due to eye pain, and started looking for ways to help minimize the bright lights I would encounter at school. At first, I tried to layer non-prescription sunglasses over my regular prescription glasses during afternoon classes, but it hurt my ears to wear multiple pairs of glasses. After mentioning the light sensitivity to my ophthalmologist, they recommended that I try adding a non-polarized tint to my existing prescription glasses to help with reducing glare.
Wearing tinted glasses made an immediate difference in my light sensitivity, but I was admittedly nervous for my glasses to “stand out” compared to everyone else’s; at this point, I frequently masked my low vision at school around peers because I knew that teachers found it challenging to accommodate my access needs. I started out with a lighter tint at first (shown in the first image) and then got a darker color a few months later once I realized that no one had noticed that my glasses looked different and that I benefitted from having the tinted lenses.
I found a few photos that show me wearing tinted glasses over the years, though it is hard to compare the tint colors or intensities because all of these photos were taken in different lighting conditions. In the image below, the first pair of glasses shown are a Level 1 gray tint that looks almost unnoticeable in this photo taken indoors at a school dance. The second pair of glasses is a darker Level 1 gray tint taken outdoors during the day, and the third photo is a Level 1 brown tint taken outside at night during a football game. All glasses were tinted at a local LensCrafters.
When I switched to a darker tint, a few students noticed that I was no longer wearing two pairs of glasses at once anymore, or that I was putting my head down less often in class because the lights were less painful. Sometimes, students or teachers would ask me if I was wearing prescription sunglasses or color-changing lenses that were malfunctioning, and I would respond by telling them that these were non-polarized tinted lenses that always stay the same color.
Here are more photos that show me wearing darker Level 2 tinted glasses over the years, though again it is hard to compare the tint colors or intensities because all of these photos were taken in different lighting conditions over the years. In the image below, the first pair of glasses shown are a Level 2 gray tint taken indoors. The second pair of glasses is another Level 2 gray tint with purple undertones taken indoors at a museum, and the third photo is a Level 2 brown tint taken indoors. All glasses were tinted at a local LensCrafters.
I wish I started wearing tinted glasses sooner than I did, because they have helped me a lot with managing light sensitivity and photophobia. Even though I was worried about standing out by having different glasses, the truth is that I was already “standing out” by being physically uncomfortable around bright lights and struggling with glare— tinted lenses help me focus on more interesting things than straining my eyes or wondering if other people can tell I am sensitive to light.
Did I need a stronger tint level over time?
Some people have asked me if I needed to increase the tint level in my glasses over time because wearing tinted glasses made me more light sensitive, or if my eyes constantly wanted a darker tint. I have noticed that my light sensitivity has increased over time and that bright lights make it much harder for me to focus my eyes or use my vision. I am also spending more time in places where I don’t necessarily have control over lighting (e.g. classrooms, stores, offices). Wearing the darker tinted lenses makes it easier for me to manage the light sensitivity associated with both my changing eye condition and brain condition, especially as I spend more time in bright environments than before.
Tinted glasses for low vision and ID photos
When I get ID photos taken, I am allowed to keep my glasses on as they are considered medically necessary, something I often have to remind staff members who ask me to remove my sunglasses before taking photos— I let them know that these are not sunglasses and that they are prescription non-polarized tinted glasses that I wear at all times. I am wearing my glasses for my school ID and government-issued IDs. I also have “permission to wear tinted prescription glasses” listed as part of my disability accommodations for testing.
The only ID photo where I am not wearing any glasses is for my US passport, since my glasses could not comply with the visibility requirements or the ban on tinted lenses. Whenever I use my passport card, I am often asked to briefly remove my glasses to confirm my identity, but rarely remove them from my face completely.
Related links
- How I Respond To Questions/Comments About My Glasses
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- Modifying Assignments To Remove Flashing Lights
Wearing tinted glasses to manage visual fatigue and light sensitivity
When I wrote the first version of this post on how tinted glasses help my light sensitivity in 2018, I focused on how wearing tinted glasses had made a tremendous difference for me in managing eye strain and photophobia in several different ways. While all of the reasons I documented are still accurate, here is a more specific list of how wearing tinted glasses helps me manage visual fatigue and light sensitivity, especially at school:
- White screens and backgrounds can contribute to glare or eye strain when I use them for long periods of time. Wearing tinted glasses reduces the intensity of white and other bright colors, which can reduce the effects of glare.
- Harsh white overhead lights are another source of glare and eye strain, especially when they are reflected from desks, floors, whiteboards, and other surfaces. Since I can’t control the lighting in these environments, wearing tinted glasses helps to reduce the overall brightness of the environment.
- Device screens (especially computer screens and mobile devices) can be uncomfortable to look at due to glare, bright colors, sharp white colors, or other settings that can make viewing uncomfortable. Wearing tinted glasses makes it easier for me to look at screens as it reduces the white point, and can also make it easier for me to read comfortably.
- All of these factors help reduce overall fatigue and pain levels since there is less light entering my eyes.
While tinted glasses are great, they are not a perfect cure or stand-alone solution for managing light sensitivity. Other strategies like using environmental accommodations, reducing glare, adjusting lighting, and enabling accessibility settings to manage glare or color modes (e.g. dark mode, high contrast mode) should also be considered as well.
Related links
- Environmental Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Reduce Glare In The Classroom For Low Vision Students
- Smartphone Accessibility Settings For Photosensitivity
- iPhone Accessibility Settings For Occipital Stroke
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- High Contrast and Low Vision
More resources on wearing tinted glasses with low vision
- Want to learn more about my prescription glasses in general? Read Veronica’s Four Eyes: All About My Glasses For Low Vision
- Tinted glasses are different than blue light glasses that are used specifically for screens. Learn more about reducing blue light in Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology
- Interested in learning more about lighting? Read Lighting And Low Vision
- To browse more posts on photophobia and photosensitivity, check out Migraine And Light Sensitivity Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes
Published June 27, 2018. Updated January 2026