Tinted Lenses for Glare:A Quick guide for Optometrists

Tinted Lenses for Glare: A Student’s Guide to Helping Your Future Patients

As an optometry student, you’ve probably encountered patients who complain about being sensitive to light or struggling with glare. This isn’t just about people needing sunglasses on a bright day – it’s a real problem that affects millions of people worldwide and can seriously impact their quality of life.

Let’s break down everything you need to know about using tinted lenses to help these patients.

What Is Glare and Who Gets It?

Glare is basically when bright light makes it hard to see clearly or comfortably. Think of it like trying to read your phone screen in direct sunlight – everything becomes washed out and hard to make out.

While glare affects everyone sometimes, it’s particularly problematic for:

• Low vision patients (those with 20/40 vision or worse in their better eye)
• People with various eye diseases
• Patients dealing with dry eyes from too much screen time

Common Conditions That Cause Glare Problems

Here’s a quick rundown of conditions you’ll see that often come with glare complaints:

Front of the eye:

• Dry eye disease
• Corneal scarring
• Cataracts

Middle of the eye:

• Iris problems
• Inflammation (uveitis, iritis)

Back of the eye:

• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Retinal dystrophies
• Glaucoma

Beyond the eye:

• Migraines
• Traumatic brain injuries

How Do Tinted Lenses Work?

Think of tinted lenses like filters on your camera or Instagram – they block out certain colors of light while letting others through. By filtering out the specific wavelengths that bother a patient, tinted lenses can significantly reduce glare and improve comfort.

Night driving glasses(amazon)

The key is matching the right color and darkness to the patient’s specific problem.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Recommending Tints

Step 1: Get the Basics Right

Before you even think about tints, make sure you:

• Have the most accurate prescription possible
• Treat any dry eye or surface problems first
• Confirm the patient will actually benefit from tints (chronic conditions usually respond better than acute ones)

Step 2: Stock Up on Trial Materials

You’ll want to have these common tint colors available to show patients:

• Amber/Yellow – Great for contrast problems
• FL-41 (Plum) – Perfect for migraines and brain injuries
• Orange – Another good contrast enhancer
• Grey/Grey-Green – Good all-around option

Have them in different darkness levels (called VLT – Visible Light Transmission). Lower VLT = darker tint.

Migraine tinted glasses(amazon)

Step 3: Test in Real Conditions

This is crucial! If your patient has problems with computer glare, test the tints while they’re looking at a computer. If they struggle outdoors, have them try the tints by a sunny window or step outside briefly.

Step 4: Let the Patient Choose

Start by showing them two different colors at about 50% darkness. Use the “1 or 2” method just like you do with refraction. Once they pick a color they like, then adjust the darkness up or down based on their needs.

Pro tip: Indoor glare usually needs lighter tints, outdoor glare needs darker ones.

Color Matching Made Simple

Here’s your cheat sheet for which colors work best for different conditions:

Amber/Yellow/Orange:

• Macular degeneration
• Glaucoma
• Retinal scarring
• Anyone complaining about poor contrast

Red:

• Cone dystrophies
• Color vision problems

Plum/FL-41:

• Migraines
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Light sensitivity headaches

Grey/Grey-Green:

• General glare complaints
• When you want to maintain natural color vision

Ways Patients Can Wear Tints

Don’t think it’s just about prescription glasses! There are lots of options:

1. Fitover glasses – Cheap and easy for trials
2. Clip-on tints – Convenient and removable
3. Prescription tinted glasses – Best for full-time wear
4. Tinted contact lenses – For patients who prefer contacts
5. Transitions lenses – Great for people who go in and out frequently 6. Screen filters – Simple acetate sheets for computer screens

Where to Get Tints for Your Patients

As a future optometrist, you’ll want to know your options:

For Office Trials:

• NoIR – Affordable fitovers in many colors and darkness levels
• Low vision device companies (like Eschenbach) – Professional fitting sets
• Cocoons – Popular fitover brand

For Prescription Orders:

• Specialty optical labs (like Chadwick Optical) – Can make custom tints
• Transitions – Now offers 8 different colors including amber and plum
• Thera-specs – Specializes in FL-41 tints for migraines

For Contact Lens Wearers:

• BioMed – Custom tinted contacts (replaced yearly)
• ALTIUS – Daily disposable tinted contacts in amber and grey-green

Common Student Mistakes to Avoid

1. Skipping the refraction check – Always optimize their prescription first
2. Not treating dry eye – Fix surface problems before evaluating tints
3. Testing in the wrong environment – Match your testing to their complaint
4. Giving up too quickly – Patients might not respond to the “textbook” color for their condition
5. Only offering one option – Give patients choices in both color and darkness

Real-World Tips for Success

Start Simple: Begin with the most common colors (amber, grey, FL-41) and build your inventory from there.

Listen to Your Patients: Their subjective response matters more than what the textbook says they “should” like.

Think Lifestyle: A retired person might love dark fitovers, while a working professional might prefer subtle prescription tints.

Follow Up: Check back in a few weeks to see how the tints are working in real life.

The Bottom Line

Tinted lenses might seem like a small thing, but they can make a huge difference in your patients’ daily lives. A person with macular degeneration who can suddenly read again with amber tints, or a migraine sufferer who can work on a computer with FL-41 lenses – these are the moments that make optometry rewarding.

As you start seeing patients, remember that glare complaints are often real and treatable. Don’t dismiss them as “just being sensitive to light.” With the right approach and the right tints, you can help these patients see and feel better.

The key is being systematic, patient-focused, and willing to try different options until you find what works. Your future patients will thank you for taking the time to get it right!

Remember: As you gain experience, you’ll develop your own preferences and techniques. The most important thing is to start with a solid foundation and always put your patient’s comfort and function first.