Island Optics Green Flash Mirror Glass Sunglasses Lens Review
- Sunglass Science
- Nov 11
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 17
Island Optics is one of my top recommendations for those seeking affordable, high-quality lenses. They offer polycarbonate polarized lenses with all coatings priced between $100 and $150. Combined with sturdy and practical frames, they present an attractive option, especially since the next tier typically costs about $100 more.
They have now added to their catalog by introducing glass lenses priced at $198. Excluding any sales or discounts, these are arguably the best-priced glass lenses available on the market. Currently, they offer a grey lens with a blue mirror and a brown lens with a green mirror. This review focuses on the Green Flash Mirror lens in glass.
Check out the Green Mirror Glass lens from Island Optics here.
If you want to know more about how brown lenses work, click here.
Disclaimer: Island Optics provided the sunglasses for review. All opinions are my own, and I received no money to make this review.
In This Review
Comparison to the same brand lenses - Island Optics
Lens Specs | Island Optics Green Mirror Glass |
Lens Color | Brown |
Mirror Color | Green |
VLT | 10.5% |
ABBE | 56 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV |
Material | Glass |
Weight | Moderate |
Scratch Resistance | High |
Prescription Available | No |
2 |
The main reasons to prefer glass lenses over other materials, such as polycarbonate (which IO uses for their other lenses), are the added clarity and scratch resistance. Without any major impacts, glass lenses should last significantly longer than other materials, provide a better view, and be a better value for your money.
The clarity offered by Island Optics's glass lenses is outstanding, typical of a well-made glass lens.
The lenses are heavier than the polycarbonate lenses Island Optics uses in their other lenses, but it isn't heavy per se, especially since most of the frames are well-balanced and sturdy.
Island Optics includes all the essential coatings in its lenses. Both water and oil bead off the surface with ease, and the anti-reflective coating works as efficiently as any other I've encountered.
The mirrors are not encapsulated in the glass layers, which is normal, though less scratch-resistant than if they were (still very scratch-resistant relative to non-glass).
All of Island Optics' lenses are polarized.
Is it eligible for prescription?
The glass lenses do not come in prescription. Island Optics does offer prescription in polycarbonate, fully coated and polarized.
Also check out: Best Sunglasses Cases, Storage, and Travel Cases
How does the lens look?
The front has a brilliant, deep green mirror that is solid from almost any angle you see it at.
The back has a green shine from the anti-reflective coating. The tint is reddish brown.
What does the view look like?
Island Optics built this lens for the water, specifically bright, long-exposure days on a boat or by the beach. It is meant for very bright days and delivers comfort and clarity when standard 15% VLT lenses might be too bright.
They are competing with Costa, Bajio, and Smith, among others. These brands all have somewhat similar ideas of how their tints should work for their intended activities, and I find this lens similar to the Costa and Bajio Green Mirror lenses.
The Island Optics Green Flash Glass lens is not exactly the same as the Costa 580 Green Mirror, but it's pretty close, and we will compare them directly below.
This means the lens is designed to be worn in full sun, provide a lot of contrast, and still be comfortable. A brown lens with a VLT of 10.5% is very dark. Most brown lenses are not as dark as this and are therefore more versatile. This is designed for functional use on the water in bright sun, and it does just that.
The tint is redder than a lot of brown lenses. That is a preference thing, not necessarily good or bad. It makes greens and reds hotter and impacts blues more, so the sky is not as blue as with other lenses. It does make seeing through water and spotting fish easier.
It takes my eyes a few minutes to adjust to the heavier red cast, but it does calm down and become a warm feeling contrast lens.
Adding warmth to sunglass lenses enhances the vibrancy and richness of the environment. Blue light, with its cooler tone, often overshadows other colors, reducing clarity. Brown lenses filter more blue light than green or red lenses, offering a warmer and more colorful view. This warmth improves visual clarity and boosts alertness, energy, and happiness. The glass green mirror lens, with a red-brown tint, enhances reds while keeping greens bright and pleasant.
A "sunset effect" is one of the most notable visual experiences with the Glass Green Mirror. Colors are enriched to create a warm, golden ambiance reminiscent of a sunset’s glow. This effect is most apparent when facing away from the sun, adding to the overall viewing experience.
This lens is designed for contrast enhancement and color enhancement in bright, full-sun environments where glare reduction and eye comfort are essential. Its ability to balance protection, comfort, and vibrant color makes it good for inshore fishing and boating enthusiasts. While it can perform reasonably well in overcast conditions, it’s not optimized for low-light scenarios. Instead, it thrives in bright, sunlit environments.
Sunny Conditions
Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes.
Here is my simulation of how the lens looks:
Cloudy Conditions
The Glass Green Mirror lens is pretty versatile, especially when the weather is cloudy or mixed. It really shines in low-contrast lighting, like on bright overcast days, because it boosts brightness and color. Unlike grey or green lenses that can feel a bit too dark in these situations, this lens adds some warmth and vibrancy, making things look a lot more enjoyable.
That said, since it’s a darker lens, it’s not the best choice for cooler, dimly lit places compared to some of the other brown lenses out there. While it still does a decent job, it’s not perfect for cloudy days. The reddish tint and darker shade can make it less effective in overcast conditions, where other brown lenses might really shine.
What’s interesting is that the Glass Green Mirror lens (and the Costa Green Mirror) has a unique spot among brown-tinted lenses. It’s actually one of the top picks for full-sun situations, where you might not normally think of brown lenses. But, it’s not the greatest for overcast days, which is usually where brown lenses do well. This mix of strengths and weaknesses makes it a solid choice for anyone looking for a lens that can adapt to different lighting conditions.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
The Glass Green Mirror lens is best for bright conditions when contrast and color should be enhanced. That means driving, inshore fishing, and fast-paced activities. Or just if you want to feel more energized in an already very colorful place.
If I lived in a very bright place that had fewer overcast days, this lens could be my main brown lens. This lens was designed around contrast in high sun environments, and that is the best way to think of it.
The lens performs well in full sun but not necessarily in overcast conditions unless it is still fairly bright. It performs adequately in winter, where the redder brown does a good job of boosting color where there is little.
Sports
Because of the exceptional performance in bright light, the Green Mirror is an excellent choice for sports, where warmer colors and added contrast is an advantage. It will also work well enough in overcast for sports, at least better than grey or green lenses.
It is best to not wear glass lenses for sports, as they are not as impact-resistant as other materials. Whether or not fishing and boating are impact-risk sports depends on the individual.
Comparison to the same brand - Island Optics
Island Optics Glass Blue Mirror
The other glass option introduced by IO, alongside the green mirror, the Glass Blue Mirror is a grey lens with a solid blue mirror that has a strong amber effect. It also has a very low VLT and features less color changes that create a much more "comfortable" or "natural" view than the Glass Green Mirror.
Island Optics Blue Flash Mirror
The Blue Flash lens from Island Optics is a poly lens that is very close to the same tint as the Glass Green Mirror. It is lighter weight, more impact-resistant, less scratch-resistant, and slightly less red. The most important differences are the lens material and mirror colors.
Island Optics Brown 12
For a brown option that is more aesthetically pleasing and less intense than the two other brown based lenses above, the Brown 12 is a comfortable and versatile lens that works well in many conditions without being too hot. I would like them to make a version of this lens in glass as well.
Comparison to the Brown Lenses of Different Brands
Costa Del Mar 580 Green Mirror
The Costa 580 Green Mirror is very similar to the Glass Green Mirror from Island Optics. Both are dark, red-brown, fully coated glass with a green mirror. The Costa is slightly "calmer" if you put them side to side.
See the full Costa 580 Green Mirror review here.
Maui Jim HCL Bronze
One of the best brown lenses in the world, the colors are vivid, the clarity is off the charts, and the view is stunning with the HCL Bronze. This is the lens that can best compete with the Glass Green Mirror, as it performs well in full sun, with more natural colors, and is much better in mixed and overcast conditions. The lens is more yellow-brown, which means reds are calmer and greens are more highlighted. I find people who like the Maui Jim do not enjoy the Glass Green Mirror, and vice versa. Some people just enjoy the redder lens more.
See here for the full Maui Jim HCL Bronze review.
Serengeti Drivers
This is one of the lenses that can easily compare to the versatility of the IO lens, and the view is much nicer as well. The colors are even more vivid, the clarity is off the charts, and the view is stunning. This lens is photochromic, so it gets much lighter than the Costa but never gets quite as dark. The Drivers lens is better in mixed or overcast conditions, but the IO is more comfortable in full sun. The Serengeti is more of a Rose/Brown than a red-brown. Keep in mind, as mentioned above, that the IO is a comfort-first, beauty-second lens, and the Drivers is the other way around. It really just depends on what the purpose of the lens is. I would want the Drivers in the car, but the IO on a bright sunny day by the beach.
See here for the full Serengeti Drivers review.
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Conclusion - Island Optics Green Mirror Glass Lens Review -Â Should you buy it?
The Island Optics Green Mirror Glass lens is made for people who spend a lot of time in bright sun, especially near the water. The red-brown tint gives everything a warm, high-contrast look, and the glass adds excellent clarity and scratch resistance. The green mirror looks great, and all the coatings work like they should, keeping the view clean and crisp.
It’s definitely more of a full-sun lens than an everyday one. On cloudy days, it can feel a bit dark or intense compared to lenses like Maui Jim’s HCL Bronze or Serengeti’s Drivers, which handle mixed light better. But when the sun is strong, this lens really shines as it is clear, comfortable, and easy on the eyes.
For $198, it’s a standout deal for a glass lens. You’re getting the kind of quality you usually only find in lenses that cost a lot more. If you want something tough, clear, and made for sunny days on the water, the Green Mirror Glass lens from Island Optics is a great pick.
