Mirror, mirror on the nose: mirrored sunglasses reflect part of the light and shimmer in silver, gold, blue or pink. Here you will find out what the mirror coating does, which colours exist, how to combine mirrored lenses with polarisation and your prescription, and how to avoid scratches.
Key points at a glance
- The mirror coating is a layer on the front of the lens. It reflects part of the light and mainly defines the look.
- For UV protection, look for UV400 and a CE or UKCA mark, not for a mirror coating. The filter category tells you how much light gets through.
- Mirrored lenses can be combined with polarisation, which reduces glare from reflections, and with your prescription.
- The mirror layer shows fingerprints and scratches. Rinse off sand with water before you wipe.
Mirrored sunglasses: what does the mirror coating do?
Mirrored sunglasses have a thin mirror layer on the front of the lenses. A metal oxide is applied to the glass in a vacuum coating system, which is also called surface finishing. The layer reflects part of the incoming light and mainly defines the look. On dark lenses the mirror effect is usually more noticeable.
The back of the lens on mirrored sunglasses is usually given an anti-reflective coating. It reduces reflections from light that hits the lens from behind.
These glasses go by many names: mirrored sunglasses, mirror lens sunglasses, mirrored shades or reflective sunglasses.
Mirror coating, tint and UV protection
Beneath the mirror layer is the tint, usually grey, brown or green. Together with the filter category it determines how much light passes through the lens. The mirror coating says nothing about UV protection: with any sunglasses, look for UV400 and a CE or UKCA mark.
Mirrored sunglasses colours: from grey to yellow
Mirror coatings come in many colours. How a shade looks depends on the type of coating and the light: blue mirrored lenses often shimmer purple, depending on how the light falls.
| Colour | Effect | Works well with |
|---|---|---|
| Silver and grey | understated, cool | almost any outfit and frame |
| Gold | warm, glamorous | metal frames and aviator shapes |
| Blue | sporty, fresh | casual and sporty looks |
| Green | calm, subtle | frames in black, gold or tortoiseshell |
| Pink, red, yellow | playful, eye-catching | colourful summer looks |
| Rainbow and gradient | very eye-catching | statement looks |
Grey mirrored sunglasses are the most understated choice, and gold and silver are the easiest to combine. If you like more colour, choose yellow mirrored sunglasses, pink mirrored lenses or a rainbow finish. Mirrored lenses with a colour gradient shift from one colour to another, for example from red to yellow. Do not confuse them with gradient lenses, which are dark at the top and light at the bottom. More in Gradient Glasses Frames and Gradient Lenses Explained.
Large mirrored sunglasses, aviator or round: which shape works?
As a rule of thumb, the more classic the frame, the bolder the lenses can be. On aviators, black or grey mirrored lenses are a real eye-catcher, round frames with mirrored lenses look retro, and large mirrored sunglasses quickly become a statement. Mirrored lenses are also common on sporty models, for example from Oakley. Whether mirrored sunglasses are in style is a matter of taste: they range from subtle to bold, so you can match them to your own style.
Mirrored and polarised: what you can combine
A mirror coating and polarisation are two different features. The mirror coating shapes the look. Polarised lenses reduce glare from reflections, for example on water or a wet road. You can combine both, and some mirrored models are also polarised. The product description tells you whether a lens is polarised, or you can test it with a screen. How the filter works and how the test works is explained in Polarised Lenses: How They Work and When They Help.
Mirrored sunglasses with prescription lenses
Mirrored lenses are also available with a prescription. What matters is the frame: flat to slightly curved frames such as the Wayfarer, aviators or round models take almost all prescriptions, including varifocals. On strongly curved sports frames the possible range is limited. With a single continuous lens in front of both eyes (mono lens, shield), prescription lenses cannot be fitted.
With prescription lenses you are not tied to the manufacturer’s lens colour: green-tinted sunglasses can become brown or blue-mirrored. When you put your lenses together in the shop, you can choose a mirror coating in addition to colour and tint level if you like. A custom tint usually differs slightly from the original colour. Everything about frames, lenses and ordering is in Prescription Lenses for Sunglasses: A Guide to Custom Lenses.
Buying mirrored sunglasses: what to look for
- UV400 and a CE or UKCA mark: Every pair of sunglasses needs both, regardless of the mirror coating.
- Filter category: Category 3 suits bright days, category 2 changeable weather. Category 4 is not suitable for road traffic.
- Colour and frame: The mirror colour should suit the frame and your outfits.
- Fit: Compare lens width, bridge and temple length with a pair that fits you well. The measurements are usually on the inside of the temple.
The current selection includes, among others, Ray-Ban (for example Wayfarer RB2140, Justin and Bill), Oakley (for example Holbrook, Radar EV Path and Eyejacket Redux), Prada, Miu Miu and Gucci. Product photos and descriptions show whether a model’s lenses are mirrored. Not every colour is always available.
Miu Miu MU A51S 5AK20P£247.36
Oakley RADAR EV PATH (OO9208 920847)£115.42
Oakley HSTN (OO9242 924207)£105.38
Oakley RADAR EV PATH (OO9208 920852)£113.72
Oakley RADAR EV PATH (OO9208 920873)£116.67
Ray-Ban RB3928 001/7I£113.41
Ray-Ban Rb3183 (RB3183 004/82)£111.75 P
Oakley HOLBROOK XL (OO9417 941707)£125.84 PCaring for mirrored lenses: avoiding scratches
Mirrored sunglasses show fingerprints and scratches particularly clearly. This is how to look after them:
- Rinse off sand first: Grains of sand have sharp edges and leave small scratches in the mirror layer when you wipe. Rinse sandy lenses with lukewarm water first.
- Then dry gently: A lens cloth removes sweat, grease, cream and water marks gently.
- Keep them in a case: Loose in a bag, or lying lens-side down, glasses scratch easily.
A scratch in the mirror layer usually stays visible. Prevention is therefore better than repair. If your lenses are damaged, an optician can advise you.
Frequently asked questions about mirrored sunglasses
What are mirrored sunglasses called?
Mirrored sunglasses, mirror lens sunglasses or mirrored shades. All of them mean sunglasses with a reflective mirror coating on the front of the lenses.
What is the point of mirrored sunglasses?
Mainly the look: the mirror layer reflects part of the light and gives the glasses their colour. For UV protection, UV400 and the CE or UKCA mark count. If you want to reduce glare from reflections, add polarised lenses. Whether mirrored lenses are worth it is a matter of taste.
What are the disadvantages of mirrored sunglasses?
The mirror layer shows fingerprints and scratches and needs careful cleaning. On dark mirrored lenses your eyes are hard to see from the outside, which not everyone likes. And it is a question of style: not every mirror colour suits every outfit.
Can you remove the mirror coating from sunglasses?
Not sensibly. The coating is part of the lens, and rubbing at it mainly causes scratches. If you do not like the mirror look, choose lenses without a mirror coating. An optician can advise you.
