Oakley Prizm Lenses - The Complete Guide (2024)

Learn what Oakley PRIZM lenses are, how they’re different and whether you need them in your sunglasses!

What is Oakley Prizm? What are the benefits?

Oakley Prizm™is an Oakley lens technology designed to enhance color and contrast, allowing you to see more details. Oakley released the Prizm lens in 2015, initially targeting sport-specific markets but later designed them for everyday life too!

The primary benefits of Prizm technology are:

  1. Enhanced Color – Realistic color spectrum compared to standard lenses
  2. Increased Contrast – Increased detail perception and contrast differences in high-light environments
  3. Optimized Clarity and more detail – Fine-tuned lens tints to perfectly contrast natural environments found in specific sports and activities

Now let’s dig into these lenses a bit more.

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How does Oakley Prizm work?

According to Oakley, Prizm technology was developed over 15 years before hitting the market. During this time, they studied how the human eye perceives light in natural conditions.

Eventually, they leveraged hyper-spectral imaging, a method used by satellites that helps analyze light in real-world environments. This hyperspectral camera allows engineers to see the patterns and wavelengths of the spectral light peaks that exist in natural conditions and environments.

Oakley focused on isolating these conditions and corresponding spectrum peaks to specific environments, then recreating the hues with lens dyes specifically tailored to match.

These absorption peaks represent the colors commonly found in various environments, such as white in snow conditions and brown or green on trails.

By focusing on these peaks, Oakley can tune lens colors to help to boost the “good” light and filter out the “bad” light. For example, in snow conditions, Oakley highlights specific blue and orange hues to highlight the natural terrain.

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What is the difference between Oakley Prizm and Iridium?

Iridium is the coating used by Oakley to give lenses a “mirrored” appearance. On the other hand, Prizm is a new lens technology that provides a completely different experience.

The best part?

You can have both! In our guide below, you’ll notice lenses that feature both technologies, offering enhanced contrast with a mirrored finish that hides your eyes.

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Prizm Sport vs. Prizm Everyday? What’s the difference?

Prizm Sport is focused on sport-specific lenses to enhance performance on the field, while Prizm Everyday lenses are built for life off the field. But both lenses offer enhanced contrast, color, and detail compared to traditional lenses!

Prizm Sport lenses are engineered to enhance color vividness and increase contrast for specific sports. For example, Prizm Road is designed to highlight and enhance the contrast of the road you are cycling on. With enhanced contrast, athletes can better see cracks, divots, and other obstacles in their environments.

Prizm Everyday lenses are engineered to enhance color and detail in your everyday activities like walking and driving. For example, the Prizm Daily Polarized is designed to highlight your environment and increase detail, so you can better see the world around you.

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Are Oakley Prizm Lenses Polarized?

Yes, Oakley Prizm Polarized lenses are available, but not all are! When buying Prizm lenses, the model name will include “Polarized” if the lens features Polarization.

If you look at the lens listing at the bottom of our guide, you’ll notice that many sport-specific pairs don’t offer Polarized lenses. This is because the performance of Prizm technology, specifically contrast and depth perception, is degraded by Polarized filtering.

But, this doesn’t mean your eyes aren’t protected. Prizm lenses still offer 100% UVA and UVB protection to stop harmful rays!

Related: What Does the Oakley Warranty Actually Cover? The Definitive Guide

Find out which lens is right for you in our Prizm vs. Polarized lenses guide.

Now let’s find out which Prizm lens is right for you.

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What’s sports are Prizm lenses designed for?

Baseball

Prizm Field: Accentuates the blue of the sky to enhance the contrast of a fly ball and better gauge ball speed. This is the best Oakley Prizm baseball lens today. Learn more in our Oakley Prizm Field review.

Prizm Baseball Infield: Gives an infielder the ability to see the greens and reds, which allow the ball to stand out more against the grass and dirt. Unfortunately, this lens is now discontinued, but you may still find it in some stores.

Prizm Baseball Outfield: Enhances the sky colors to better contrast fly balls in the outfield. Unfortunately, this lens is now discontinued, but you may still find it in some stores.

Cycling / Running

Prizm Road: Enhances vision in both bright light and shadows, helping riders spot changes in the texture of road surfaces. This lens Improves vision in both bright light and shadows. As a result, traffic lights become more vibrant, and white and yellow lines are more clearly differentiated. And blues and greens are enhanced for a more pleasant ride. See how this lens works in our Oakley Prizm Road review.

Prizm Trail: Perfect for trail running, hiking, and mountain biking because it enhances the colors on the trails and the light conditions under and out of shadows. You will be able to see and react faster to the creases and patches of sand, roots, rocks, and other obstacles that are crucial to avoid. This lens enhances reds and browns and vividly represents plants and foliage colors. See how they compare in our Prizm Road vs. Trail review.

Fishing and Shooting

Prizm Shallow Water Polarized: Helps keep white colors bright so you can spot the flash of fish on the surface or in shallow water. This lens boosts green and copper hues that define hiding spots. And it maintains bright whites so you can easily spot the fish and flies on the surfaces of the water. Plus, it helps define the shadows of the fish.

Prizm Deep Water Polarized: Filter out the shades of blue that overwhelm your vision on open water. These deep water lenses filter out specific shades of blue that crowd your vision on the open water so you can see below the surface in deep water conditions. In addition, this lens strengthens red and green colors to give you a better view of the activity below the surface. See how these lenses work in our Prizm Shallow Water vs. Deep Water review.

Prizm Maritime: Built with open water operations in mind, this Standard Issue lens enhances contrast on the open water to highlight objects, hazards, and other boats. Plus, it reduces glare so you can see farther into the distance. See how they work in our Oakley Prizm Maritime Open Water review.

Prizm TR22: This Prizm shooting lens tunes light to maximize contrast so you can see targets, contours, and details. TR22 is best suited for brighter light conditions, with 22% light transmission. Plus, this lens still offers complete UV protection.

Gaming

Prizm Gaming: Designed for enhanced color contrast, sharper vision, and harmful blue light filtering when staring at screens. This lens specifically focuses on protecting your eyes during e-gaming and similar activities. You can read our full review of Prizm Gaming Lenses here.

Related: Oakley Sunglasses Size Guide | Know Before You Buy

Golf

Prizm Golf: Improves contrast for better separation of color and gives you more depth cues to gauge distance and grass conditions.

Prizm Dark Golf: A Darker version of the Golf lens with a rose base color for more defined details in brighter conditions

Read more in our complete Oakley Prizm Golf Review here.

Are Prizm lenses available for Oakley Goggles?

Yes, Oakley specifically designed Prizm Snow for winter conditions and Prizm MX for dirt conditions. These lenses are available across Oakley’s lineup of snow, and motocross goggles, including Youth, Standard, and Low Bridge fits.

Prizm Snow lenses are designed to enhance contrast and allow you to see the sticks, bumps, and terrain shifts in snow that other goggles won’t catch. These lenses also boost optics in low-light environments such as dawn/dusk snow.

Read more in our complete Oakley Prizm Snow Lens guide.

Prizm MX lenses are designed to give you the edge in motocross by spotting the dips and dives of the terrain ahead of the competition. Optimized for dirt conditions, this lens enhances contrast so you can see subtle changes in terrain with the finest details highlighted.

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Are Prescription Prizm lenses available?

Yes, you can buy Oakley Prizm prescription lenses directly through Oakley’s website or at your optometrist.

To buy, you’ll need a valid prescription with a base curve. Plus, we’d recommend knowing what sport or activity you’ll mainly use your prescription sunglasses for to narrow the search.

Check out our complete guide to Oakley prescription glasses for more information.

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Oakley Prizm Lens Chart

See below for the Prizm Lens Guide broken out by Sunglasses and Goggles.

Oakley Prizm Lens Chart and Listing

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Lens ColorSport / ActivityLight TransmissionPolarized AvailableIridium Available
24KCycling, Mountain Bike, Training11%YesNo
BlackAll Sports11%YesYes
BronzeEveryday17%NoNo
Brown GradientEveryday14%NoNo
Daily PolarizedEveryday, Changing Conditions14%YesNo
Dark GolfGolf22%NoNo
Deep Water PolarizedFishing, Boating12%YesNo
FieldBaseball, Football, Cricket, Training20%NoNo
GamingE-Sports / Gaming91%NoNo
GolfGolf30%NoNo
GreyEveryday17%YesNo
Grey GradientEveryday15%NoNo
IndigoEveryday19%NoNo
JadeEveryday13%YesNo
Low LightEveryday, Low Light75%NoNo
MaritimeBoating14%YesNo
RoadCycling, Driving, Running, Training20%NoNo
Road BlackCycling, Driving, Running, Training11%NoNo
Road JadeCycling, Driving, Running, Training15%NoNo
Rose GoldEveryday13%YesNo
RubyEveryday17%YesNo
SapphireEveryday12%YesYes
Shallow Water PolarizedFishing, Hiking, Training15%YesNo
TrailMountain Biking, Running, Hiking, Training36%NoNo
Trail TorchMountain Biking, Running, Hiking, Training35%NoNo
Shooting TR22Shooting22%NoNo
Shooting TR45Shooting45%NoNo
TungstenEveryday14%YesYes
VioletEveryday14%NoNo

Oakley Prizm Goggles Lens Chart and Listing

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Lens ColorConditionsLight TransmissionPolarized AvailableIridium Available
MX Black IridiumBright Light5.50%NoYes
MX BronzeOvercast40%NoNo
MX Jade IridiumPartly Cloudy34%NoYes
MX Low LightLow Light76%NoNo
MX SapphirePartly Cloudly33%NoNo
MX Torch IridiumPartly Cloudy40%NoNo
MX Trail TorchPartly Cloudy35%NoYes
Snow BlackBright Sun5.50%NoYes
Snow ClearSnow & Overcast64%NoNo
Snow Dark GreyBright Sun11%NoNo
Snow GarnetSun & Clouds19%NoNo
Snow Hi Pink IridiumSnow & Overcast46%NoYes
Snow Jade IridiumSun & Clouds13%NoYes
Snow PersimmonSnow & Overcast39%NoNo
Snow RoseSnow & Overcast26%NoNo
Snow Rose Gold IridiumSun & Clouds13%NoYes
Snow Sage Gold IridiumSun & Clouds14%NoYes
Snow Sapphire IridiumSun & Clouds13%NoYes
Snow Torch IridiumSun & Clouds17%NoYes
Related: Fuse Lenses Review | Oakley Replacement Lenses

The Best Oakley Prizm Sunglasses

Today, there are over 230 Oakley Prizm sunglasses available featuring Prizm and Prizm Polarized lenses.

We’ve highlighted some of our favorite Prizm eyewear and linked our reviews of them so you can choose the best frame:

  • Clifden
  • Contrail
  • Diecutter
  • Encoder
  • EVZero Blades
  • Flak 2.0
  • Flight Jacket
  • Frogskins (Including Lite and Mix)
  • Gascan
  • Holbrook (Including Metal, Mix, and XL)
  • Jawbreaker
  • Ojector
  • Parlay
  • Radar EV Path
  • Savitar
  • Split Shot
  • Sutro
  • Sylas

Our Review – Are PrizmLensesWorth It?

Short answer – Yes. Longer answer – a bigger yes! Since their creation, we’ve tried a lot of Prizm lenses, and now with their introduction as the standard Oakley lens, it’s only increased.

Without adoubt, versatility is at the heart of Prizm technology, which is why it’s become the standard Oakley lens. The first thing you’ll notice when you slip on apair of sunglasses featuring Oakley Prizm lenses is just how much more vivid the world around you becomes.

Prizm’s innovative design manipulates light to enhance the colors you see, ensuring that every hue you encounter on your journey is amplified beyond belief. Earthy greens become velvety carpets, bright blues transform into crystalline waterways, and fiery reds metamorphose into radiant sunsets.

But the magic of Prizm lenses doesn’t stop at boosting color alone. As you find yourself navigating differing light scenarios, the ingenious design elements of these lenses comes out.Prizm lenses can fine-tune vision for specific environments, significantly enhancing contrast and visibility. For instance, Prizm Snow Rose lenses for snowy environments heighten contrasts, spotlight details that would usually be missed in snowy terrain.

Where to Buy Prizm Lenses?

You can buy Oakley Prizm lenses directly from Oakley and authorized retailers. And unfortunately, since Oakley owns Prizm, you won’t find any aftermarket lens manufacturers offering this technology.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t save.

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You can save 30-50% off new Prizm lenses and sunglasses during Oakley seasonal sales. These sales typically are every other month or so. Check out our Oakley sales calendar to find out when the next sale is.

And if you don’t want to wait for a sale, you can save by buying through aftermarket sites like our Oakley Forum Exchange, where you can buy, sell and trade with other members.

Want More?

Still looking for more information on Oakley Lenses? Check out our complete guide to Oakley Lenses and Tints.

So will you be getting a pair of Prizm sunglasses or goggles? Or do you already have a pair? Join the largest online Oakley community and let us know in the comments below!

Oakley Prizm Lenses - The Complete Guide (11)

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Oakley Prizm Lenses - The Complete Guide (2024)

FAQs

Which is better, Prizm or polarized? ›

Whereas polarized lenses block glare from reflected light, Prizm lenses amplify what you're seeing. That being said, most polarized and all Prizm lenses offer 100% UV protection from the sun's rays, keeping your eyes safe from strain and burn while out of doors. Do Prizm lenses protect your eyes? Yes!

What is special about Oakley Prizm lenses? ›

PRIZM™ is Oakley's proprietary lens technology that fine-tunes vision for specific environments. PRIZM lenses emphasize colors where the eye is most sensitive to detail, which in turn enhances performance, safety, and your overall experience.

Which Oakley lens is right for me? ›

Oakley Sunglasses Lens Tint & Colors Guide
TintDescriptionConditions
Gold IridiumExcellent all-purpose contrast-enhancing lens for sunny conditions. Features an Iridium® coating to reduce glare.Extremely bright light
GreyExcellent all-purpose lens offering truer color perception in sunny conditionsMedium to bright light
86 more rows

What is the difference between Prizm GREY and Prizm tungsten? ›

Prizm™ Black Polarized is a grey base lens that gives colors more natural appearance and Prizm™ Tungsten Polarized is a bronze base lens that gives a warmer appearance to colors both make the environment appear more vibrant.

What color prizm is worth the most? ›

What Are the Most Sought-After Panini Prizm Cards? All collectors want to own special Prizm cards like “Black”, or “Gold”, parallels. These are rare, and there is a high demand for them. Limited edition cards, especially autographed Prizms of popular players, are also very sought-after.

What Oakley lenses are best for driving? ›

We recommend PRIZM polarized lenses for driving because the polarized filter will cut glare bouncing off car bumpers and windshields, making it easier for you to focus on the road ahead. Dive deeper into the world's leading lens technology in our Oakley PRIZM Guide.

Which is best Ray Ban or Oakley? ›

If you're seeking sunglasses for rigorous outdoor activities or need specialized lenses, Oakley might be the better choice. For those who prefer a classic look and a wide variety of frame options, Ray-Ban could be the way to go.

Do prizm lenses reduce glare? ›

Prizm ™ Shallow water lenses are polarized to reduce glare, making it easier to distinguish sparkling fish and flies on the surface. With these glasses, it is the green and copper tints that will be amplified to better identify the shadows of the fish.

Which Oakley lenses hide your eyes? ›

Oakley's Iridium lenses have a more reflective surface – almost mirror-like in some cases. These might be the lens of choice if you're looking to hide your eyes, but there are some things to consider such as frame shape or the colour of the tint that can effect this as explained in the video.

What are Prizm GREY lenses good for? ›

Aesthetically neutral, but with maximum contrast and clarity, Prizm Gray and Prizm Gray Polarized is the preferred lens while in garrison, maintaining a low-profile appearance, or any clandestine operation. More importantly, Prizm Gray is authorized lens for wear in any uniform both Military and Law Enforcement.

Are all prizm lenses Iridium? ›

Some of our most popular lens colors are now available in Prizm. We chose our top sellers, including rich hues of Iridium® such as Black, Tungsten, Ruby, Sapphire, Jade and 24K. Customers who prefer a non-mirrored look can choose Prizm Grey or Prizm Bronze, which do not have Iridium coating.

Is polarized or prizm better for baseball? ›

Also consider there's not much causing glare on your typical field anyway. Dirt, other players, and grass all have very little glare if any at all, so a polarized lens won't help. Many baseball-specific lenses like Oakley's PRIZM Field are also not polarized. This lack of glare is why.

Is polarized better for your eyes? ›

Polarized lenses will not protect your eyes from UV damage more than standard 100% UV lenses. However, they can give you clearer, more accurate vision and alleviate some eye strain. If you find yourself squinting a lot, even when you're wearing sunglasses, consider investing in polarized sunglasses.

Is prizm polarized good for fishing? ›

On the other hand, polarized lenses are suitable for water sports such as fishing. This is why PRIZM Deep Water and Shallow Water are polarized.

Are Oakley Prizm black polarized? ›

PRIZM Black is available in polarized and non-polarized and both options are available in prescription at SportRx! You may be asking yourself what is the best option for you and that all depends on the conditions you will be using your sunglasses in. The main benefit of a polarized lens is that it cuts glare.

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