Sky Optics Polarized Green Silver Sunglasses Lens Review
Sky Optics is a new brand out of Flight Sunglasses, and they have come out of the gate with a Tier 1 photochromic glass lens right out of the box. This is a bright-sun lens first, and if you like green lenses at all, it is one you should try for yourself. The Polarized Green Silver is essentially the Serengeti 555nm concept, rebuilt in a slightly warmer green hue that sits right between the 555nm and the 555nm Blue.
Check out the Polarized Green Silver on Sky Optics' Website. Use code "science30" for $30 off.
If you would like to know how green lenses work in general, click here.
Full Disclosure: Sky Optics loaned me this pair for testing. All opinions are my own.
In This Review
Lens Specs | Sky Optics Polar Green Silver |
Technology | Photochromic |
Lens Color | Green |
Mirror Color | Silver |
VLT | 11% to 14%, Category 3 |
ABBE | 58 |
Coatings | Anti-reflective, Scratch-resistant, UV, Infrared and Blue-light blocking |
Material | Glass |
Weight | Moderate |
Scratch Resistance | High |
Prescription Available | Yes |
1 |
If you read my Sky Optics Amber review, a lot of this will sound familiar, because the build is the same. The difference is the tint, and the tint is the whole story here.
The clarity is top-notch Japanese mineral glass, with the glass blanks coming from Corning. It is the same thin style of glass that Serengeti, Maui Jim, and Costa Del Mar use to keep the weight down, and it is chemically tempered for scratch and impact resistance.
The lenses are photochromic. In bright conditions, UV radiation is more intense, the lens molecules expand, and the lens darkens. In darker conditions the molecules shrink and separate, and the lens lightens. On the polarized version, that means 14% VLT when lightened and 11% when fully darkened, so this is a Category 3 lens the whole way through. That is a much narrower range than the Serengeti 555nm (8% to 21%). The Green Silver never gets as dark as the 555nm at full activation, but it also never gets as light. There is also a non-polarized version that runs 16% to 12%.
The range is a bit smaller than I would like for some situations, but behind a windshield it is still light enough. The windshield blocks most of the UV, so the lens sits near the lighter end of its range in the car and darkens once you step out. Most dark sunglasses are too dark behind a windshield, and while 14% is not a light lens, it is better than a fixed 11%. You can read more about that here.
The HEV blue-light blocking is built into the glass itself rather than coated on top, the same way the Serengeti lenses do it. The coatings are as good as you would expect at this level.
The silver mirror is subtle. More on that below, but the short version is that it hides your eyes without being too loud.
The titanium frames keep the overall package lighter than glass usually feels. If you have worn glass lenses in heavier acetate or metal frames, you will notice the difference. These are among the lightest sunglasses with glass lenses you can buy.
Is it eligible for prescription?
Yes, for the frames, but not in this glass lens yet. That may come in the near future. Flight Sunglasses does RX for/with a lot of top brands.
Also check out: Best Sunglasses Cases, Storage, and Travel Cases
How does the lens look?
The front has a silver mirror that is subtle and not completely solid. You can still see a hint of the green underneath depending on the angle and light, but it does a good job hiding the eyes. It is not a flashy, bold mirror like a lot of silver flash lenses.
I would like to see them add a no-mirror option, which would make it a bit more dressy.
The mirror is not encapsulated in the glass, so it is more prone to scratches than the non-mirrored lenses in the Sky Optics lineup, like the Amber Polarized. Treat it with a little more care and use a case.
The back has a blue shine from the anti-reflective coating. The tint on the back is green, and it is uniform across the whole lens with no color shift toward the edges.
Jumping ahead here because it is relevant to the next parts, this is the tint vs the two Serengeti green tints:
You can see the Green Silver is warmer than the 555nm but not as yellow/warm as the 555nm Blue (the 555nm with a blue mirror).
What does the view look like?
Green lenses are generally not contrast-enhancing lenses. They are relaxing lenses, used to cool bright light and keep the view more or less natural, mostly as an alternative to grey. Where green has an edge over grey is that it can use a dark tint and still feel bright, because our eyes are most sensitive to the green-yellow part of the spectrum.
This lens is a lot like the Serengeti 555nm and 555nm Blue, two of the exceptions to green lenses not being contrast-enhancers, and it sits right in between them. The 555nm Blue is a more yellow, warmer green than the regular 555nm, because the blue mirror reflects away some blue and pushes the tint toward yellow. The Sky Optics Green Silver lands right in the middle of the two in terms of warmth and feel. It is a warmish green, a little more yellow-green than the 555nm, a little less than the 555nm Blue.
Other than that, it is nearly the same specs and quality as the 555nm. Same use cases, same praise.
Greens are vibrant and bold. Reds are clear and defined, which is something a lot of green lenses miss, since a typical green tends to dull reds out. Blues are nice and soft, never flat. Contrast is high for a green lens, and there is nothing weird or unnatural in the view. Adaptation takes a few seconds. It is noticeably more saturated than a standard green like the Ray-Ban G15.
There is no special spectral tech here beyond removing some of the extra HEV blue light. Sky Optics just got the tint right.
Sunny Conditions
These photos are what I have used to show the view. 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 Sky Optics Amber Polarized for yourself? Check it out here. Use code "science30" for $30 off.
Here is my simulation of how the lens looks:
Cloudy Conditions
This is where green lenses struggle, and this one is no exception. When the light is flat, the green tint doesn't create enough contrast to make up for the gloomy feel. The photochromic does lighten up, but only to 14%, so it is still a dark lens on an overcast day.
Next to a brown lens, the difference is clear. The brown warms up the cool, blue-heavy overcast light and brings back some depth, while the green keeps things calm in a situation that doesn't need calming.
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Optimal and Suboptimal Viewing Conditions
I have been wearing this lens since May, so through spring, summer, and fall. It is best in full, bright sun, especially in green environments where you want the greens kept vivid, or in red and dry environments like desert conditions where the reds can be too much. The beach, summer road trips, vacations to sunny places, and anywhere the water has green highlights are all ideal.
Driving is also a strong use case. The view is calm and clear through a windshield, and the photochromic sitting at the lighter end of its range in the car helps, even if it is still on the darker side.
The suboptimal conditions are overcast, dusk, and low light. I haven't worn it through a winter yet, but green always performs poorly there. There are fewer greens to boost, and in winter I want more contrast and color, which this lens doesn't do much of compared to rose or brown.
This is a lens for people living in bright places who don't deal with much overcast. If you already like the Serengeti 555nm or 555nm Blue and want the Sky Optics frames, this is an easy call.
Sports
The lens is fine for sports, but not ideal. Green lenses don't add the contrast that most sports benefit from, so a brown or rose lens will usually do more for acuity and depth. For boating, casual golf, hiking, and relaxed outdoor time in bright sun, it's great.
Glass doesn't mix with impact risk. Avoid this lens for cycling, trail running, climbing, ball sports, or anything with a chance of something hitting your face.
The lens is also polarized. If you fly, mountain bike, or need to read a digital display reliably, polarization can get in the way. If polarized is a deal-breaker for what you do, skip this one, or look at the non-polarized version of the Green Silver.
Comparison to the same brand - Sky Optics
Sky Optics Amber Polarized
The Amber is Sky Optics' take on the Serengeti Drivers, with the same glass, the same photochromic behavior, and the same HEV filtering. It is a beautiful amber, similar to the Drivers but a bit more yellow rather than rose. The polarized version runs 19% to 12%. If you want more contrast, more color, and more versatility across conditions, the Amber is the better lens. It isn't as comfortable as the Green Silver in full sun, though, and that's where the Green Silver excels. The two make a great pair.
See here for the full Sky Optics Amber Polarized review.
Sky Optics Desert Blue
The Desert Blue is the amber lens with a blue mirror on the front, and it also comes in polarized (15% to 11%). The mirror pushes the tint more orange, raises the contrast, and makes it a bit darker. Pick the Desert Blue for the look and for the most intense view in the lineup. Pick the Green Silver if you want something calmer for long days in the sun.
Sky Optics Amber Gradient (non-polarized)
The Amber Gradient uses the same tint family as the Amber lens but without polarization and with a gradient from dark at the top to lighter at the bottom. VLT is 25-14%. The colors feel slightly more boosted, probably because more light is getting through, and the lack of polarization makes it a better fit if you need to read devices regularly or do anything where polarized lenses get in the way. Pick this if you want the aesthetic of a gradient, you are skipping polarization on purpose, or you want a lighter lens overall.
Sky Optics Polar Amber Flash Silver Mirror
The Desert Silver is the same as the Amber but with a silver mirror. Same view, just a bit darker, at 19% to 11%. Next to the Amber, this is an aesthetic difference only. Next to the Green Silver, it is the same brown-versus-green decision as the Amber, with the same mirror look.
Comparison to Brown Lenses of Different Brands
Serengeti 555nm and 555nm Blue
These are the most direct comparisons, and the lenses this one is clearly built around. All three are Tier 1, photochromic, polarized glass with HEV filtering, made for bright conditions. The regular 555nm is a slightly more grey-green and the most relaxing of the three. The 555nm Blue is the most yellow and vibrant, thanks to the blue mirror. The Sky Optics Green Silver lands between them in warmth, with a subtle silver mirror. The Serengetis have a wider photochromic range (8% to 21% on the 555nm and 8% to 25% on the 555nm Blue), so they get both lighter and darker than the Sky Optics. If you love the 555nm lenses but prefer the Sky Optics frames, or want something right in the middle of the two, the Green Silver is a great option.
Use code SGSCIENCE30 for 30% off at Serengeti.
See here for the full Serengeti 555nm review.
See here for the full Serengeti 555nm Blue review.
Maui Jim HT
The HT is a very different tool. It is a Category 2 green lens at 22% VLT, made for early mornings, bright overcast, and those times when you are only slightly squinting. It is a cooler low-light lens, while the Green Silver is a full-sun lens. The two cover each other's weak spots well. If you want a green lens for the conditions where the Green Silver feels too dark, the HT is the one. For full sun, the HT is too bright and the Green Silver wins easily.
See here for the full Maui Jim HT review.
Ray-Ban G15
The classic green lens, and the one most people know. Next to the Green Silver, the G15 is bluer, less colorful, and a lot more boring, and it only has an anti-reflective coating with no photochromic or HEV filtering. If you have worn G15 for years and liked it, the Green Silver is the upgrade.
See here for the full Ray-Ban G15 review.
Randolph AGX
The AGX is a lot more grey-blue and calm than the Green Silver. Going from the AGX to the Sky Optics feels like someone turned up the color saturation and contrast. The AGX has all the coatings, but a fixed VLT. Pick the AGX if you want the Randolph look or an even calmer view. Pick the Green Silver if you want more color in the same bright conditions.
See here for the full Randolph Engineering AGX review.
Conclusion - Sky Optics Polarized Green Silver Lens Review - Should you buy it?
The Sky Optics Polarized Green Silver is a Tier 1 photochromic glass lens. Polarized, HEV-filtering, proper Corning glass, a subtle silver mirror, and titanium frames that keep the weight down.
It shines in full, bright sun. Greens are bold, reds stay defined, blues are soft, and the view is calm for hours. It is also a solid driving lens. Overcast, low light, and winter are where it falls off, like almost every green lens.
Yes, buy it, especially if you live somewhere bright. You can't really do much better for a green lens.
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