Island Optics Grey 12 Sunglasses Lens Review
- Sunglass Science
- Aug 11
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 3
Sometimes you just want a lens that gets the job done, without missing any details, at a fair price. Grey lenses do not have as much to discuss as other tints, as they keep the view neutral, but what matters most for greys are the materials and coatings, which are often left out. The Island Optics Grey 12 has everything you would want included in a sunglass lens, and gives it to you for a price that is hard to match for similar quality.
Check out the Grey 12 lens here.
If you want to know more about how grey lenses work, click here.
In This Review
Lens Specs | Island Optics Grey 12 |
Technology | N/A |
Lens Color | Grey |
Mirror Color | N/A |
VLT | 12% |
ABBE | 40 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, Oleophobic, Hydrophobic, UV |
Material | Polycarbonate |
Weight | Light |
Scratch Resistance | Moderate |
Prescription Available | Yes |
3 |
Island Optics uses polycarbonate for the non-glass models.
The coatings are present, but they are more understated compared to other brands. The anti-reflective coating is less noticeable on the inside of the lens, and the water and oil-resistant coating is effective, though not as intensely as some others. This is a minor point, as the key aspect of these coatings is that they are present and work.
All Island Optics lenses are polarized.
There are very few competitor brands that offer lenses with anti-coating, hydrophobic, oleophobic, and anti-scratch coatings at this price point, as standard options.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, Island Optics makes prescription lenses with all their coatings at a very competitive price, under $300. Arguably the best value prescription sunglass lenses you can buy.
How does the lens look?
The front looks like a standard grey tint, with no mirror.
The back doesn't have much of a shine from the anti-reflective coating, but it's there. The tint is as plain grey as you can imagine, with no leaning towards green or blue like some other grey lenses might.
What does the view look like?
Grey lenses generally keep the view neutral, turning down the light level without altering colors. The more colorful and bright the scene is, the better a grey lens works.
Color-tinted lenses work by manipulating the light and enhancing the view. Grey lenses harness the light. The more color and brightness available, the more a grey lens will work to remove excess light and glare and let the colors stand out for themselves.
The lens has VLT (visible light transmission) of 12%, which is comfortable in full sun without being too dark, but will not be ideal in cloudy conditions, where a grey lens already struggles but with a relatively dark lens it might be better to go without anything. This lens is designed for bright sun.
The polarization on the lens works excellently.
Sunny Conditions
Keep in mind that photos will never look as good as the real view looking through the sunglasses with your own eyes.
Interested in experiencing the Grey 12 lens for yourself? Check it out here.
Cloudy Conditions
Gray lenses aren't the best choice for overcast or mixed lighting. Since they dim the light without enhancing colors, they can make the environment feel flat and lifeless. A brown or rose lens will perform better in cloudy conditions.
Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
Grey lenses excel in bright, sunny conditions, providing consistent comfort over extended periods. Unlike other tints, grey lenses preserve true-to-life color perception, reducing the need for your brain to "recalibrate" how objects appear. This natural alignment with our color memory minimizes eye fatigue, making grey lenses feel more natural, even after hours of wear.
Color memory refers to our brain's ability to remember how objects are supposed to look and automatically adjust for them. Since grey lenses maintain accurate color perception, they prevent dissonance in how we see familiar objects, like the sky or greenery. Other tints, like amber or green, can make colors look warmer or cooler than usual, which can be disorienting over time. This is one of the key reasons grey lenses feel so “right” during prolonged use.
The Grey 12 lens works well in full sun but struggles a bit in cloudy or mixed-light conditions. Grey lenses reduce brightness without enhancing contrast or color, which can make overcast days feel flat and lifeless. For driving, this can be a drawback since weather conditions often change on the road. Warmer tints or contrast-enhancing lenses (like copper, brown, or rose) keep you more alert by improving depth perception and clarity in variable lighting. However, if you live in a hot, sunny climate where clear skies are the norm, the Grey 12 can be a reliable all-day driving lens.
Beaches, deserts, and other sun-drenched environments are where the Grey 12 lens truly shines. It’s a no-fuss option for all-day wear. Unlike high-contrast or intensely polarized lenses, which can feel "too strong," grey lenses strike a balance between protection and natural vision. For vacationers and beachgoers, they offer dependable comfort without the visual fatigue that other tints can cause.
If your world is mostly sun-soaked, the Grey 12 could be the only lens you’ll ever need.
Sports
In full sun, grey lenses are fine for sports but not the best choice. Since grey lenses are neutral, they don’t evoke feelings of energy or warmth. When playing sports, you want a lens that makes everything feel vibrant and dynamic. For this, a brown or rose lens is a better option. Brown and rose lenses also provide a lot more color enhancement and contrast which are advantageous for sports.
Grey lenses shine in water sports and fishing. Their true color clarity and glare reduction (especially when polarized) make it easier to spot fish beneath the water's surface. The natural color balance also reduces eye strain during long hours on reflective water, keeping your vision sharp and your eyes comfortable.
Comparison to the same brand - Island Optics
Island Optics Blue Flash Mirror
The Island Optics Blue Flash Mirror lens is the Brown 12 lens with blue mirror added. The mirror reflects away even more blue light and a result the tint is more red, so red in fact that it comes close to the same tint as Costa Del Mar Green Mirror lens. This means the warmth and color enhancement will be dialed up even more. I would argue this makes the Blue Flash more functional, and great for sports like sight fishing, but the Brown 12 is better for a nicer view and for everyday use.
The Grey 12 will be more natural and more comfortable in full sun, with lower contrast.
Island Optics Brown 12
The Brown 12 is an excellent brown lens that is very similar in tint to the Serengeti Drivers lens. It is pleasant, colorful, works well in full sun and mixed conditions. It is currently my favorite lens from Island Optics.
Island Optics Red Sunset Mirror
Both the Grey 12 and the Red Sunset Mirror are fairly standard grey lenses. The Red Sunset is just slightly warmer, but it is nearly impossible to tell the difference, even swapping the lenses back and forth.
Island Optics Green Flash Mirror
The Island Optics Green Flash Mirror lens is a rose lens, similar in tint to Maui Jim Rose. Reds and blues will be more prominent with the green mirror, but greens will be relatively diminished. The view may be more or less enjoyable depending on the setting, similar to how rose and brown lenses always have certain conditions they thrive in. The Brown 12 will be more versatile.
Comparison to Grey Lenses of Different Brands
Oakley Prizm Black Polarized
A pleasant grey lens with a black mirror, the tint has a faint rose hue to it that does create a bit of color boosing (cannot make out the rose in the photo below). As a non-glass option, this is a great lens if you want a grey lens for sports. No coatings added, except on prescription lenses, so I would recommend only getting this in a wrap frame.
See here for the full Oakley Prizm Black review.
Maui Jim Neutral Grey
The Maui Jim Neutral Grey lens is arguably the best grey lens money can buy. It comes with all coatings, like anti-reflective, anti-scratch, water and oil repellant, and in SuperThin Glass with superior optics. It comes in non-glass as well, if impact resistance or lighter weight is needed. The view is spectacular (for a grey lens) and the clarity and color boosting are industry leading.
See here for the full Maui Jim Neutral Grey review.
Costa Del Mar 580 Grey
Similar to the Maui Jim Neutral Grey, the Costa Grey has all coatings and comes in glass or polycarbonate, but has some differences. The silver-mirrored version of the lens has an encapsulated mirror that makes it even more scratch-resistant. The 580 technology does a great job of making the view pleasurable but its main focus is comfort in bright light, which it does as well as any other lens.
See here for the full Costa 580 Grey review.
Conclusion - Island Optics Grey 12 Lens Review - Should you buy it?
If you want a lens that simply does its job without fuss, the Island Optics Grey 12 is an excellent choice. It delivers everything a premium grey lens should: clear optics, full coatings, solid scratch resistance, and comfortable all-day wear, at a price point that’s hard to beat.
For everyday use in consistently sunny conditions, it’s a dependable, comfortable, and great-value option. You can certainly find higher clarity in top-tier glass lenses or more vibrant views in contrast tints, but for the cost, versatility, and performance, the Grey 12 stands out as one of the best-value grey lenses on the market today.
