What’s the deal with yellow tinted glasses?

Updated OCT 25, 20233 min read

yellow tinted glasses


Summary in 30 seconds

Aside from looking really cool, do amber or yellow tinted glasses eyeglasses actually help your vision in any way? The short answer is yes, but it really depends on what you hope to gain from wearing them. Read on for fun facts and information about yellow tinted lenses.

You once had to search for specialty sunglasses or eyeglasses to get a yellow tint on your glasses. We’re really excited to let you know that GlassesUSA.com now offers yellow lenses when selecting your lens option. Simply find the frame you love and then head over to choose a color tint. You’ll notice that many frames now come with the option of choosing a yellow tint. How cool is that?

Why yellow tinted lenses?

Yellow tinted glasses have gained popularity for their unique visual appeal and potential benefits. The tinted lenses offer a warm, golden hue that can enhance contrast and depth perception in certain lighting conditions. This makes them particularly useful for activities like driving or playing sports. Additionally, yellow tinted glasses are believed to reduce eye strain and fatigue by filtering out blue light, which is emitted by electronic devices and artificial lighting. 

If you take a closer look at your blue light blocking glasses, you’ll notice that many lenses have the slightest yellow tint. That’s because as opposites on the color wheel, yellow can actually absorb blue light while still allowing other light to filter through. There are even some opthamologists who refer to yellow tinted glasses as sleep glasses, since their blue light blocking abilities should allow for better sleep overall (then again, so would avoiding screens past your bedtime!)

Some people also find that the yellow tint has a calming effect on the eyes, making them a preferred choice for those who spend extended periods in front of screens. Whether you’re aiming for a trendy fashion statement or seeking practical advantages, yellow tinted glasses have become an intriguing choice for many individuals.


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Embrace the golden glow: Yellow tinted glasses lenses in fashion

Enhancing digital comfort: Exploring the benefits of yellow tinted glasses

Exploring other uses for yellow tinted glasses

Embrace the golden glow: Yellow tinted glasses lenses in fashion

Yellow tinted sunglasses lenses have made a stylish comeback in the fashion world, adding a touch of vintage charm and a warm golden glow to any ensemble. Whether you’re a trendsetter or a celebrity enthusiast, these lenses offer a unique twist to eyewear fashion, effortlessly elevating your style. Let’s delve into the world of yellow tinted glasses and explore their association with celebrities, suitable frame styles, and the ideal skin and eye colors for sporting this fashionable accessory.

yellow tinted glasses lenses

Celebrities with Yellow Tinted Glasses:

Yellow tinted glasses lenses have been embraced by numerous celebrities, creating a captivating and iconic look. Stars like Rihanna, Gigi Hadid, and Harry Styles have been spotted donning yellow-tinted lenses on various occasions, showcasing their fashion-forward approach and love for vintage-inspired accessories. These influential figures have helped popularize the trend, making yellow-tinted glasses a must-have for fashion enthusiasts.

Frame Styles for Yellow Tinted Glasses: 

When it comes to frame styles, yellow tinted lenses can be paired with a range of designs to suit different fashion preferences. Retro-inspired frames, such as oversized glasses, round glasses or aviator glasses shapes, complement the vintage aesthetic of yellow-tinted lenses perfectly. Additionally, translucent frames or tortoiseshell glasses patterns can enhance the warm and inviting nature of the yellow tint, creating an eye-catching accessory that effortlessly stands out.

Ideal Skin and Eye Colors for Yellow Tinted Glasses:

While yellow tinted glasses lenses can be worn by anyone, certain skin and eye colors can enhance the overall impact of this fashionable eyewear choice. Warm-toned complexions, such as olive, golden, or caramel skin, tend to harmonize beautifully with the golden hues of yellow-tinted lenses. Similarly, eye colors such as hazel, brown, or green can create a stunning contrast that draws attention to both the eyes and the lenses, resulting in a captivating and stylish look.

Enhancing digital comfort: Exploring the benefits of yellow tinted glasses

Yellow tinted eyeglasses for digital use are popular due to their potential benefits in reducing eye strain caused by blue light emitted by electronic devices. These yellow tinted eyeglasses filter out blue light, alleviating discomfort and promoting more comfortable screen viewing. They can enhance contrast and visual clarity, making them a popular choice for prolonged digital screen use.

benefits of yellow tinted glasses

Yellow tinted glasses for computer use

I wrote an article about blue light-blocking glasses. In the course of researching the article and interviewing doctors, I found out that staring at your various screens for hours a day can cause digital eye strain. That means that repeat exposure to digital screens can cause symptoms like headaches, dry eyes or blurred vision when moderation isn’t practiced. Being mindful of how many hours a day you spend in front of a screen is a good start. You might also want to consider a pair of blue light blocking glasses.

On the most basic level, on the color wheel yellow is the opposite of blue. That’s the extremely simplified explanation. But yellow tinted computer glasses can help filter harmful blue light. They can also alleviate some of the worst symptoms of digital eye strain.

In case you’re wondering just how serious a problem digital eye strain is, according to The Vision Council, about 80% of American adults report using digital devices for more than two hours per day, and 59% report experiencing symptoms of digital eye strain. And the symptoms can be pretty intense.

  • 32.4% report experiencing eye strain
  • 27.9% report experiencing blurred vision
  • 27.7% report experiencing headaches
  • 27.2% report experiencing dry eyes
yellow tinted computer glasses

Are yellow tinted prescription glasses the same thing as blue light blocking glasses?

Yellow tinted prescription eyeglasses and blue light blocking glasses aren’t the same thing, though there can be some overlap. Yellow tinted prescription glasses refer to eyeglasses with a yellow tint applied to the lenses, which can enhance contrast and reduce glare in certain lighting conditions. These glasses are typically used for specific purposes such as driving or sports.

On the other hand, blue light blocking glasses are designed to filter out or block a portion of the blue light emitted by electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and computer screens. Blue light blocking glasses aim to reduce eye strain and potentially improve sleep quality by minimizing exposure to blue light, which can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

While some yellow tinted prescription glasses may offer some level of blue light blocking, not all yellow tinted glasses provide significant blue light protection. If your goal is specifically to block blue light, it is recommended to look for glasses that are specifically labeled as blue light blocking or have specialized coatings to effectively filter out blue light.

Tips to help with digital strain

In addition to investing in a good pair of yellow tinted computer glasses, here are some other tips to help with digital strain

Don’t use your devices before bedtime

Blue light exposure can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Try not to use your screens in the hours leading up to bedtime.

Take breaks from your devices

Follow the 20-20-20 rule to reduce your risk of digital eye strain symptoms. The rule? Every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to look 20 feet away. If you’re not sure how far to look, find something across the room or outside your window and focus on that for a bit.

Get blue-light filtering lenses

Don’t just go by color. Make sure that the yellow lenses you choose are computer glasses specifically designed to ease digital eye strain and block harmful blue light.

yellow tinted lenses

Exploring other uses for yellow tinted glasses

What about yellow tinted glasses for driving at night?

By now you’ve probably seen the endless ads promising better night vision if you wear amber glasses. Well, you should know that the FTC debunked that claim back in the ‘90s. And as reported in JAMA Ophthalmology, yellow tinted glasses did not help at all in spotting pedestrians at night either.

Yellow tinted glasses for specific sports

While yellow tinted glasses don’t improve vision in any way when driving, they are a favorite for some. As reported on the Zeiss website, “target shooters frequently wear yellow lenses so that they can see contrasts in the target range more clearly under rainy or foggy conditions.” Prescription shooting glasses can therefore be considered in this case.

yellow tinted glasses

Yellow tinted glasses make you happy

You know how sunshine makes you smile? So do yellow lenses. That same Zeiss article said that since yellow lenses brighten the appearance of things, they might just make you happier as well.

Glasses we love with yellow lenses

yellow tinted lenses

These Isabel Marant are more of a statement frame with bright canary yellow lenses.

yellow tinted sunglasses

Or a sporty look with these Oakley frames

And don’t feel that you have to limit your picks to glasses that already have yellow or amber lenses. We have recently added the option of choosing yellow as the tint color when selecting your next pair of glasses. So what are you waiting for? Have fun choosing your next pair of yellow-tinted glasses!

Published September 13, 2022|Updated October 25, 2023

blog author
Rachel Weingarten

Rachel Weingarten is an award-winning author of 3 non-fiction books. She’s also a beauty historian and former celebrity makeup artist. Rachel is a long-time columnist for Parade and writes most often for outlets including Millie, The Girlfriend, The Costco Connection, and many more. She’s widely quoted about trends and culture in outlets including the Daily Beast, CNN, Forbes, Glamour Magazine, Teen Vogue, and others.