These polarized fly fishing sunglasses add a new dimension of clarity to the sport.

One of the first questions you should ask yourself when looking for a pair of fishing sunglasses is: Do I need glass or plastic lenses?

Here are the differences:

• Optics. Glass lenses have superior optics to even the best plastic lenses. There is not a huge difference, more like the difference in a Helios vs. a Hydros rod, but if your fishing demands the utmost in clarity (like a saltwater guide spotting birds far away on the horizon or a spring creek angler spotting trout at 60 feet away), glass lenses will offer you a slight edge. The tolerances in making Orvis Tri-Spectrum glass lenses are tighter in regard to refractive power and prismatic imbalance, and because glass is a less flexible material it will hold these optical powers longer than plastic under extreme conditions. (Note that Orvis Zeiss Polycarbonate lenses are the very finest non-glass lenses you can find, and many people will not be able to tell the difference between glass lenses and Orvis polycarbonate lenses.)
• Scratch resistance. Although Orvis Zeiss polycarbonate lenses have superior coatings that give as much scratch resistance as any non-glass lens made, glass will still withstand abuse that would scratch a pair of plastic lenses. If you are the type who sometimes forgets to put your glasses in their case, or if you tend to fish in areas with a lot of blowing sand and dust, glass lenses will give you longer life out of your sunglasses.
• Weight. Although Orvis Tri-Spectrum glass lenses are only 2mm thick, some of the thinnest available, glass lenses are 30% heavier than polycarbonate lenses. If your nose or ears get tired and sore after a day of fishing with sunglasses, you should consider polycarbonate lenses.
• Prescription. Polycarbonate lenses are much more tolerant of extreme prescriptions because in some prescriptions glass lenses become intolerably heavy.
• Price. Orvis Zeiss Polycarbonate sunglasses are about 45% less expensive than glass lenses in the same frame.

In summary

If you are tough on your gear and demand the absolute cutting edge in vision, choose Orvis Tri-Spectrum sunglasses.

If your wear your sunglasses for many hours, fish under less demanding visual conditions, and want to save on cost, choose Orvis Zeiss polycarbonate lenses.

Picking the right lens color for the fishing you do is an intimidating process for many anglers.  We’ve tried to make it easy for you by only offering those lens colors that offer superior vision when looking into water.  All the colors in Orvis sunglasses have been optimized and tested specifically for removing glare from the water’s surface and for seeing objects below the water.  They are not colors developed for snowboarding or golf or biking, although our sunglass colors are also superb for everyday wear and driving.

Amber - great for most fly fishing conditions

When in doubt choose amber.  Amber offers the best combination of visible light transmission and contrast enhancement for a wide variety of conditions from saltwater flats fishing to shaded trout streams.  It sharpens the edges of visible objects by selectively tuning the visible spectrum with very little loss of resolution.

Rose - for very bright conditions

Rose offer some advantages under very bright conditions, such as flats fishing on sunny days and fishing wide open rivers in bright sunlight.  Rose blocks slightly more visible light than amber, so it allows your eyes to stay rested after a long day on the water.  But even more important, rose blocks more infrared (heat) rays, so it keeps your delicate corneas from drying up after a long day in the hot sun.  It is especially advantageous for people with dry eyes or contact lens wearers as it helps prevent eyes from drying out.  The contrast enhancement of rose is as good as amber and some anglers wear the rose color under all conditions.

Yellow - best for lower light conditions

Yellow lenses (available only in polycarbonate lenses) are best for early mornings, cloudy days, and evenings.  Glare at these times can be overwhelming, but standard rose and amber tints can block too much visible light, resulting in a slight decrease in resolution.  Yellow polarized lenses allow more visible light transmission and high contrast enhancement while still eliminating most glare.

Why doesn't Orvis offer gray polarized lenses?

We design our sunglasses for the demanding conditions that fly fishing dictates.  Although some anglers swear by gray lenses, both our experience and our scientific testing of lens tints shows that gray lenses offer no advantage other than visible light blocking at all parts of the spectrum and removing glare.  They do not add any contrast enhancement, which is so important in spotting fish, rocks, ledges, and logs below the water’s surface.

Why doesn't Orvis offer mirror lenses?

Mirror lenses offer absolutely no increase in visual acuity.  They merely add cost and are 100% cosmetic.

First, please choose single-vision or bifocal lenses. Then send us a copy of your order number (which you will receive upon completion of this order) and your prescription, which must include pupillary distance (PDs) measurement and be signed by your optometrist within the last 12 months. Send these forms to us in one of two easy ways:

• Fax it to us at 540-343-7053 or scan it and send it by e-mail to orderimages@orvis.com.
• You can also call in your order at 888-235-9763 and then send in your prescription forms via e-mail or fax.

Please allow three to four weeks for delivery.