What are Oakley Prizm Lenses? | FramesDirect.com (2024)

Oakley Prizm lenses are performance sunglass lenses designed specifically for sports like baseball, fishing, golf, skiing, and biking. Dark lenses alone can make it harder to see, so instead of only filtering UV rays, Oakley's Prizm lenses boost certain wavelengths of color vision for improved contrast and detail. The result is fine-tuned vision and richer color.

Oakley has been at the forefront of innovative eyewear design since 1984. Not happy with the available options for sports-specific sunglasses, Oakley set out on a 15-year research and development project to create the groundbreaking Prizm lens. Using hyperspectral imaging, Oakley examined spectral peaks in every possible light and weather condition, across the terrains we love to tackle. Snow, ice, water, dirt, and pavement—no surface was ignored. After examining the data collected by the hyperspectral cameras, Oakley’s team got down to business creating Prizm lenses tailored to specific situations, including fishing, cycling, baseball, and golf—and the result beats our wildest dreams.

Oakley Prizm sunglasses are built not only to perform in demanding environments but to improve your vision in any light condition. While you could use the same pair of sunglasses across the board, these sunglasses give you the opportunity to boost your performance with better vision. Pick out the minute details and make split-second decisions no matter the sport. Create the perfect pair of sunglasses by adding on the features that matter most to you: polarized lenses, mirror coatings, and a prescription.

Prizm lenses are different from your everyday contrast, or tinted, sunglasses lenses

In addition to shading your eyes from the sun and blocking UV rays, Oakley’s Prizms target individual wavelengths of color and refine them. They enhance the world around you to provide better visual acuity—filtering out the bad light that washes out or hinders vision, and amping up the good light to improve contrast and decrease eye fatigue. Light transmission percentages based on common conditions—overcast, sunny, or extra-bright light—help provide even better vision. Better yet, some Oakley models allow you to switch up your shades with interchangeable Prizm lenses ultra-specialized for different conditions.

Oakley Prizm Lenses FAQs

What Are Oakley Prizm Lenses Made Of?

A specially chosen dye is mixed with plutonite—Oakley's patented polycarbonate material—then sent through an extruder to molecularly bond the materials. Then, the lens material is injection-molded to create the lenses. The lenses include a smudge-proof coating and anti-fog and scratch-resistance treatments.

Oakley Prizm vs. Polarized Lenses?

Prizm lenses and polarized lenses are two different technologies that are sometimes combined into one lens or sometimes offered independently. For example, some Oakley Prizm lenses, like Prizm Field Lenses, are polarized to block glare from reflected light, but this doesn't apply to every pair of Prizm lenses. So, Prizm lenses don't mean polarized—it's an entirely different lens technology. Whereas polarized lenses block glare from reflected light, Prizm lenses amplify what you're seeing. That being said, most polarized and all Prizm lenses offer 100% UV protection from the sun's rays, keeping your eyes safe from strain and burn while out of doors.

Do Prizm lenses protect your eyes?

Yes! Prizm lenses offer 100% protection from the sun's UV rays in all weather conditions. Don any Oakley frames with prescription or plano (non-prescription) Prizm lenses and enjoy crystal clear views while keeping your eyes safe from strain and damage caused by the sun.

What other options are available for Prizm lenses?

Oakley sunglasses with Prizm lenses come with a variety of options to best suit your sport of choice. Want mirrored lenses to shun more sunlight? Reach for a style with iridium lenses—the special metal oxide coating reduces glare, light transmission, and reflection for a better visual experience in high-light environments. You can select the lens with the appropriate Visible Light Transmission (VTL) for the conditions you expect to encounter. Oakley Prizm sunglasses are also available in prescription lenses.

Are Oakley Prizm Lenses Reflective?

Prizm lenses reduce reflection and are available in a mirrored coating. If you’re looking for lenses that will reduce the kind of reflection that interferes with your vision, while offering a mirrored coating that others can see their reflection in, then Prizm lenses are your best choice.

How Do I Replace Prizm Lenses in Sunglasses?

The method to replace Prizm lenses differs depending on the frames you have. The first step is, of course, to order a set of replacement lenses from an authorized dealer like FramesDirect.com. Next, if you have frames designed for easy lens swapping like the Flak 2.0, simply pinch the nose piece and pull the old lenses away to remove, and then pinch the nose piece again and press the new lenses in to lock the new lenses into place. For more traditional frames, use your thumbs to gently push the old lens from the back to the front, until the lens pops out. Be careful not to damage the frame in this process. Once your old lenses are removed, line up the new lenses, one at a time, and gently press them into place with your thumbs from back to front. They should snap into place. If you have questions about this process, reach out to our staff with questions and concerns.

Oakley Prizm Lenses by Activity

Now that we’ve covered the basics of how Prizm lenses work, let’s see how to choose which ones will be best for you.

If you’re looking for everyday, all-purpose sunglasses, Oakley has you covered with the Prizm Daily lens. Daily is ideal for everyday use, driving, or running. This all-around lens provides more contrast, produces more vibrant colors, and offers UV protection. Prizm Daily goes where you do—find it in an everyday frame that suits your personal style.

Before you grab just any pair of Oakleys for your hobbies, though, make sure the Prizm lens you’re reaching for is the perfect one for your sport of choice. After all, Oakley didn’t put all that work into developing the Prizm lens for a one-lens-fits-all endgame.

Oakley Prizm Golf Sunglasses

Make your way to the course in lenses made to improve contrast so you can read the green better. Oakley Prizm golf lenses make it easier to gauge distance, grass conditions, and ball speed. Many prefer Prizm Dark Golf for extra-bright conditions, while others are happy with the light transmission of the Prizm Golf lenses.

Oakley Prizm Baseball Sunglasses

Days on the diamond just got easier on your eyes: Prizm Field enhances contrast to make the baseball stand out against the blue sky or green grass. Choose between lenses tailored for infield or outfield for the ideal contrast to spot every pop fly. Oakley Radar EV Pitch sunglasses are ready for fly balls and batting practice.

Oakley Prizm Mountain Biking Sunglasses

Mountain bikers are in and out of the shade, heading over roots and gravel, and need to keep an eye out for subtle transitions in dirt conditions. Prizm Trail lenses are built to take on these challenges. This lens enhances reds and browns so you can quickly spot hazards on the trail. Get out there and shred in Oakley Flight Jacket Prizm Trail sunglasses.

Oakley Prizm Running & Road Biking Sunglasses

Take to the road—on foot, on a bike, or even behind the wheel–in Oakley’s Prizm lenses engineered to enhance your vision on the go. This lens enhances vision in both bright light and shadows, so you can spot changes in the texture of the road surfaces. Behind the windshield, they help cut glare from road signs and other car mirrors. They're also fantastic for running, but these sunglasses really excel when used for cycling. Get more clarity in the fast-paced world of road biking by wearing Oakley Flak 2.0 XL sunglasses in Prizm Road lenses.

Oakley Prizm Fishing Sunglasses: Deep Water & Shallow Water

Oakley has created the perfect, polarized lenses for watersports with its targeted Deep and Shallow Water Prizm lenses. The Deep Water Polarized lenses filter out specific shades of blue and boost greens and reds so you can see what’s going on under the surface of the water, while the Shallow Water Polarized lenses use Prizm technology to enhance your experience and help you spot more fish streamside. Prizm Deep Water lenses have you ready to peer into the depths or choose Prizm Shallow Water so you can catch every flash under the surface.

Oakley Prizm Ski & Snowboard Sunglasses

If you ski or ride, grab the Oakley goggles made for the slopes—Prizm Snow lenses increase contrast and bring out even the most subtle details in the snow’s contours. on extra bright days or when it’s overcast with Prizm lenses available in sapphire, jade, rose, pink, or black to manage every possible light condition while shredding. Go mid-range with Prizm Sapphire, or get a pair on either end of the spectrum so you’re always prepared.

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