Don’t waste money on Oakley replacement lenses until you read this guide!
Original Oakley replacement lenses or aftermarket lenses? This is the age-old question for anyone trying to replace their Oakley lenses. But which lenses are better? And which are the better value?
The answer may not be as straightforward as you think. Keep reading as we compare the best Oakley replacement lenses, including aftermarket options! Plus, how to replace your Oakley lenses and more.
Table of Contents
What to look for when buying replacement lenses for your Oakleys?
Today you can buy authentic Oakley replacement lenses directly from Oakley’s website or stores. But this is also usually the most expensive option.
If you’re looking to save, you’ll want to look at aftermarket replacement lenses. But first, you need to know exactly what to look for when buying aftermarket lenses because not all lenses are the same!
The essential components of aftermarket lenses are:
- Material – Authentic Oakley lenses and high-quality aftermarket lenses are made of polycarbonate material that is impact resistant and provides UV protection.
- Light Transmission – This number lets you know how much light your lenses will allow. The lower the number, the darker your lens tint will be.
- Color & Coating – You’ll want to pay attention to the colors available and coatings offered by lens manufacturers. Many aftermarket suppliers offer mirror or Polarized coatings that are comparable to Oakley Iridium and HDPolarized.
What to avoid when buying aftermarket lenses?
When buying aftermarket lenses, you want to avoid the cheapest options out there.
You can find several replacement lenses available through sites like Alibaba, but many are sourced from cheap factories. Unfortunately, these factories often use non-polycarbonate plastics that can easily shatter and harm your eyes.
They also won’t offer the same UV protection either. While Oakley Plutonite lenses block 100% of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, cheaper plastic won’t. Many cheap sunglasses lenses only offer tint and do little to block UV rays.
Now that you know what to look for when buying lenses, let’s compare the best Oakley replacement lenses. Plus, how much each supplier is charging, so you can save before you buy!
The Best Oakley Replacement Lenses
1. Oakley and Oakley Vault Stores
Likely your first stop to replace your Oakley lenses will have you asking – Why don’t I go to Oakley? After all, they make the sunglasses, and they should be willing to fix them, right? Maybe.
For a lot of sunglasses, Oakley carries replacement lenses. But this isn’t always the case. For the complete list, head over to their website here.
In the past, almost every frame had replacement lenses available. But in recent years, Oakley appears to be making replacement lenses for only specific frames. Many are sports and activity-focused, like the Kato or M Frame.
And just because you don’t see your pair listed on the website, you’re not out of luck. You may want to try calling customer service.
It’s not uncommon for Oakley customer service reps to be aware of additional inventories of parts available specifically for older or discontinued models.
Lenses typically cost between $50-$100 from Oakley but sometimes fall outside that range. If Oakley doesn’t sell lenses for your frame or you’re looking to save, you’ll want to check out aftermarket lens manufacturers. But It’s also important to note that Oakley Prizm lenses are only available from Oakley as they are a proprietary lens technology.
Keep reading as we review some of the biggest aftermarket lens suppliers below and compare them head-to-head!
2. Revant Optics
Starting in 2010, Revant surged onto the market via eBay and other marketplaces, selling lenses directly to consumers. Today their lenses cost $24.99 a pair, a fraction of the price of original Oakley lenses.
And since 2017, Revant has been producing all of its lenses in the USA. They’ve also begun offering a lot of colors and models not available through Oakley.
We had the opportunity to review a pair of Elite lenses a few years ago and were impressed with their quality and how they compared to original lenses. You can check out the complete write-up here: Oakley Revant Frogskins Lens Review.
3. Seek Optics
A US-based lens provider, Seek Optics, has burst onto the scene with 100% UV protection and impact-resistant lenses.
Currently, they offer a variety of lenses for Oakley frames, including Holbrook, Flak 2.0, Gascan, Jawbreaker, and more!
Most lenses start at $22.99 but increase to $29.99 based on color and polarization. Also, keep an eye on our deals and steals section, where they’ve been known to post their latest sales.
Overall, we found Seek Optics to be a fantastic option for the price point. And be sure to read our complete Seek Optics review for more!
4. Galaxy Lenses
Based in the United States, Galaxy Lenses specializes in aftermarket replacement Oakley lenses and Rubber Kits. They also currently offer replacement parts for over 100 models of Oakleys, one of the largest selections of aftermarket suppliers.
Plus, all Galaxy lenses are impact-resistant and rated to meet ANZI Z80.3. And with Rubber kits priced around $10 and lenses ranging from $10-$30, they are competitive price-wise!
5. Lens Direct
Lens Direct is new to the world of Oakley replacement lenses but not to eyewear. This family-owned glasses company has been around for over 30 years. Now, they’re taking on replacement lenses, offering options for Oakley, Ray-Ban, and Maui Jim.
Starting at $21 for non-polarized lenses, lens direct offers polarized options for $33 and $45 for polarized non-reflective (mirrored) lenses.
One of the biggest differentiators for Lens Direct is they offer an “Elite Installation” service, where you can mail them your frames and have them sent back with the new lenses. While we don’t think this is worth the $20 they charge, if you’re worried about damaging your lenses during the swap, it could be a good idea.
6. Linegear Japan
If you’re looking for X-Metals and rarer Oakley lenses, your only option is an aftermarket supplier. That’s because Oakley has discontinued most of these pairs and their replacement parts.
Lucky for you, Linegear Japan has you covered.
Covering many Oakleys, including the Juliet, X-Squared, Romeo, Penny, and more, they provide high-quality lenses and parts such as rubber earsocks and nose pads.
With a quick search on our site, you can find plenty of resources on Linegear. As a Forum Sponsor here on OakleyForum.com, you can even message them directly and see their top deals! Plus, check out our full Linegear Review here.
6. Walleva Lenses
One of the most prominent aftermarket lenses, Walleva sells replacement lenses for a wide range of sunglasses. And they sell other accessory parts too.
You’ll find most of their inventory through eBay, with a selection of lens colors and models for about $15-$35 a pair.
Member Ventruck had the opportunity to review these lenses and was particularly impressed by their ability to match the tint of original Oakley lenses. You can read the full write-up here: Walleva Mr.Shield Lens Review.
7. Fuse Lenses
Fuse lenses is another well-established brand that has expanded its product line in the last few years. And now they sell replacement lenses for almost every Oakley frame.
With one of the widest catalogs of lenses, they continue to offer them for around $30 per pair. They even offer color-enhancing lenses that are Fuse’s version of Oakley’s Prizm lenses, retailing for $65.
Member ajirbl reviewed these lenses for his Oakley X-Metal XX Sunglasses and found the clarity and quality to be the same as the original manufacturer’s lenses. But he did point out that you should determine the correct base curve (only applicable for certain Oakleys – specifically X-Metals).
Check out his full Fuse Oakley Replacement Lens Review for more information.
8. The Sunglass Fix
A newcomer to the field in 2022, The Sunglass Fix has been around since 2006 but just came onto our radar in the Oakley world over the last year.
An Australian company, The Sunglass Fix, sells replacement lenses for an endless amount of brands (Ray-Ban, Revo, Maui Jim, and Arnette, to name a few), including Oakley. But that variety also extends to frames. Today they offer replacement lenses for 390+ Oakley sunglasses, including rare and discounted frames like X-metals.
On the quality side, The Sunglass Fix produces lenses made of impact-resistant Polyamide, similar to Polycarbonate/Plutonite lenses.
For pricing, lenses range from $33.99 per pair to $49.99 per pair, based on polarization and other options offered.
Overall, we’re impressed by The Sunglass Fix, and you can read our full SunglassFix.com review here.
9. OakleyForum.com Exchange Areas / other Aftermarket exchanges
A last honorable mention on your journey for replacement lenses is purchasing original/aftermarket lenses second-hand.
A quick search of Oakley Forum’s Sunglasses Exchange shows hundreds of replacement lens listings! And other sites like eBay can be great options as well.
The key in these transactions is pictures and quality. One person’s “good condition” is another person’s scratched. So be sure to carefully review detailed photos before purchasing, regardless of where you’re buying from.
10. DIY / Cutting Custom Lenses
Now that we’ve covered your options to buy replacement lenses, it’s time to add one last-minute twist. Have you ever thought of cutting your own?
While not for the faint of heart, you can make your own lenses. Head to our guide on How to Cut Oakley Lenses to see if you have what it takes.
Oakley vs. Aftermarket Lenses – Full Comparison
Now that we’ve reviewed the best aftermarket lenses, it’s time to compare them!
First, if you’re comparing authentic Oakley lenses against aftermarket lenses, it will come down to preference. There are plenty of high-quality aftermarket lenses on the market today. And as we discussed above, many are very affordable. But if you’re a purist willing to pay, Oakley lenses are the original and authentic choice.
Check out the quick reference table below that compares all of the replacement lens options we reviewed:
| Oakley and Oakley Vault | Revant Optics | Seek Optics | Galaxy Lenses | Lens Direct | Fuse Lenses | The Sunglass Fix | Linegear Japan | Walleva Lenses | Oakley Forum Exchange | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original or Aftermarket? | Original | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Aftermarket | Both |
| Coatings Available | Iridium, Polarized, Prizm | Mirrored, Polarized, Elite Polarized | Mirrored, Polarized | Mirrored, Polarized | Mirrored, Polarized and Standard | Polarized, Anti-Reflective | Mirrored, Polarized, Anti-Reflective, Polyamide (Nylon) | Mirrored, Polarized, NXT | Polarized, Mirrored, Mr.Shield | Prizm, Polarized, Standard, Iridium |
| Selection of Lenses (1-5) | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 (Great for X-Metals) | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Prescription Lenses | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Discontinued Oakleys | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Prices | $40-$120 | $35-$55 | $22-$45 | $12-$25 | $21-$45 | $20-$50 | $33-$50 | $60-$130 | $10-$40 | $10+ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Buy Prizm Replacement Lenses?
Yes, you can buy Oakley Prizm replacement lenses directly from Oakley. But, unfortunately, since Prizm technology is proprietary to Oakley, you won’t find it at any aftermarket suppliers.
And while some aftermarket suppliers have their own version of contrast-enhancing lenses, they typically differ from the patented Prizm lenses.
Are Replacement Oakley Prescription Lenses Available?
Yes, you can buy replacement prescription lenses for Oakley eyeglasses and sunglasses through your local eye doctor or by contacting Oakley directly. However, depending on the age of the frame, Oakley may or may not be able to make your new prescription lenses.
See our complete guide for more information on the Oakley Prescription Ordering Process.
How Can I Tell What Model Oakleys I Own?
If you’re having trouble figuring out the name of your Oakleys, we’ve got you covered. You can post in our “What Model Oakleys Are These?” thread with pictures of your frame, so members can help identify them.
For the most accurate response, include a picture of the inside of the temples. There you’ll find the model number as outlined in the image below.
How Do I Change the Lenses in My Oakleys?
For most Oakleys, you can change lenses by simply popping out the old lenses and inserting the new ones. This method will work on friction-fit frames.
But to identify what type of frame you own and for exact instructions, check out our complete guide to changing Oakley lenses.
Looking for More?
Have a question about Oakley replacement lenses? Or want to know more about a specific brand? Then, join the largest online Oakley community and let us know in the thread below!
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