The Lite Range is Essilor's 'economy option' for single vision and varifocal (progressive) sun lenses which offers everything from traditional solid tints to more fashion-led gradients, bi-colour combinations and polarised lenses.
Many of these colours are available in different darkness levels too, allowing you to tailor both the appearance and functionality of your sunglasses.
While classic grey, brown and green lenses remain timeless for a reason, you might want something a little more individual. Something warmer. Cooler. Softer. More expressive. That’s where Lite Range sun lenses come in.
- Solid tint lenses
- Gradient tint lenses
- Bi-colour lenses
- Polarised lenses
In the sections below, you can discover each lens type and how to choose the right option for your sunglasses.
Lite Range solid tint colours
Solid tint lenses are the most traditional type of sunglass lens. The colour and darkness remain consistent across the entire surface of the lens, from top to bottom.
If you picture a classic pair of sunglasses with evenly dark lenses, that’s a solid tint.
Within the Lite Range, many solid tint colours are available in different Light Transmission Factors (LTF), typically ranging between 15% and 75%.
LTF refers to the amount of visible light that passes through the lens.
Lower LTF = darker lenses
Higher LTF = lighter lenses
For example, a 15% grey lens will appear much darker than a 75% grey lens.
Darker lenses are generally better for bright sunlight and glare reduction, while lighter tints can create a softer, more fashion-oriented appearance that may feel more comfortable for everyday wear.
If you'd like to learn more about how lens darkness works, you can read our guide about the five sunglasses lens categories.
Traditional Solid Tints
These are the classic sunglass colours you’ll probably recognise immediately:
- Grey
- Green
- Brown
- G-15
- Black
Traditional tints are timeless, versatile and easy to wear. Grey lenses tend to provide the most neutral colour perception, brown lenses often increase warmth and contrast, while green and G-15 lenses sit somewhere comfortably in the middle.
These colours pair particularly well with understated acetate frames and are usually the safest option if you want sunglasses that work with almost everything you wear.
Warm Solid Tints
Warm tints lean more expressive and characterful. Colours often include:
- Yellow
- Orange
- Filters
- Red-brown
These lenses can create a more vintage or fashion-led appearance while also subtly enhancing contrast and depth perception.
Amber and orange tones, in particular, can make landscapes feel richer and warmer, especially during overcast days or lower evening sunlight.
Warm tints tend to pair beautifully with tortoiseshell acetate, honey tones and crystal browns.
Cool Solid Tints
Cool tints feel slightly more contemporary and . These often include:
- Purple
- Pink
- Blue
- Rose
While they’re generally chosen more for aesthetics than performance, cool tints can dramatically change the personality of your frame and create a more modern-looking sunglass.
Lighter cool tints are especially popular if you want a softer sunglass look rather than very dark lenses.
Lite Range gradient tint colours
Gradient lenses transition from being darker at the top to lighter at the bottom.
This design helps shield your eyes from overhead sunlight while maintaining a clearer lower field of vision, making gradient lenses especially comfortable for everyday use, driving and city wear.
Compared to solid tints, gradient lenses often look visually softer. They allow people to see your eyes more clearly without compromising on visual comfort.
Within the Lite Range collection, gradient lenses are available in a variety of colours and Light Transmission Factors (LTF).
The percentage shown beneath each gradient option (image below) describes the darkness transition from top to bottom.
For example:
15–100% = dark tint at the top and clear at the bottom
75–100% = light tint at the top and clear at the bottom
Gradient lenses are often a great middle ground if you like the appearance of sunglasses but don’t always want the visual heaviness of very dark solid lenses.
They’re also particularly flattering in larger lens shapes, pilot-style frames and fashion-oriented sunglasses.
Lite Range bi-colour tint colours
Bi-colour lenses are similar to gradient lenses, but instead of transitioning between dark and light versions of the same colour, they transition between two entirely different colours.
For example, a lens might shift from green into caramel or rose into blue.
The effect can be subtle or dramatic depending on the colour pairing.
Bi-colour lenses tend to feel slightly more artistic, expressive and fashion-focused than traditional sunglass tints. They can completely change the personality of your frame and often create a more bespoke appearance.
These lenses are particularly effective when paired with crystal acetate frames, translucent colours or bold frame shapes where the lens itself becomes part of the design language.
If you’re looking for something less conventional, bi-colour lenses are where the Lite Range becomes especially interesting.
Lite Range polarised tint colours
Polarised lenses are designed to reduce intense reflected glare from flat, reflective surfaces such as, wet roads, open water or snow. This glare reduction can significantly improve visual comfort in bright conditions and reduce eye fatigue during long periods outdoors.
Polarised lenses are especially useful if you spend lots of time driving your car, fishing or spending long durations outdoors near water.
Within Essilor’s Lite Range, polarised lenses are available in three classic colours: Grey, Green or Brown
Unlike the standard tint collection, Lite Range polarised lenses are only available in 15% LTF. Lighter polarised versions are not currently offered within the range.
FAQ’s about Lite Range sun lens colours
Which Lite Range lens colour is the darkest?
The darkest lenses within the Lite Range are the 15% LTF options. This includes solid tint non-polarised grey, green, brown and G-15 lenses, along with all Lite Range polarised lenses which are also 15% LTF.
These darker lenses provide the strongest glare reduction and are best suited to bright sunlight conditions. They are also UV400 rated.
What does Light Transmission Factor (LTF) mean?
LTF refers to the percentage of visible light that passes through a lens. Lower percentages transmit lower amounts of visible light which create darker lenses. Conversely, higher percentages transmit higher amount of visible light which create lighter lenses.
Are lighter sunglass tints suitable for bright sunlight?
Lighter tints are generally less comfortable in very bright conditions. This is why tint darkness is only relevant towards visual comfort and not UV protection. (Lighter lenses don't provide any less UV protection as long as they are fully UV400 or UV40 rated.)
You may prefer lighter tints more for aesthetics, softer appearance and everyday comfort.
Which lens colour is best for driving?
Grey, green and brown are typically the most versatile driving lens colours. These colours provide the truest colour perception whilst helping to diminish glare. For maximum performance whilst driving, polarised lenses are particularly popular as they contain in-built filters (within the lenses) that block nearly all reflected glare.
What’s the difference between solid tint and gradient lenses?
Solid tint lenses remain the same colour and darkness throughout the entire lens. Whereas gradient lenses transition from darker at the top to lighter at the bottom.
Can I have my prescription in Lite Range colours?
Yes. Lite Range colours are available as both prescription and non-prescription sunglass lenses through Banton Frameworks. These can be single vision or varifocals (progressives) in a range of lens thicknesses.
Hopefully you found this article helpful. Please check out our other sunglasses blogs for more useful advice. Thanks for stopping by.