LENS GUIDE
Yellow, orange or red lens: which should you choose, and when?
Choose by the clock, not the colour. Yellow is the day lens for screen work, orange takes over when the sun goes down, and red is for the last two hours before sleep. The red lens filters 99% of light between 400–550 nm, covering the whole 446 to 477 nm band where light's effect on melatonin is strongest.
BLUR-IT · · 5 min
Why does lens colour matter?
A lens's colour tells you which wavelengths it removes. A lens looks yellow because it removes the blue. It looks red because it removes both blue and green and only lets the red part of the spectrum through.
What decides which lens suits which hour is the body's sensitivity. The light that affects melatonin most sits between 446 and 477 nm, and the sensitivity carries on a little way into green. During the day you want that light. In the evening you want less of it. That is why there are three lenses instead of one.
| Lens | Filtration | Wavelength band | What you see | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow · Day | 95% | 400–500 nm | Mildest colour shift | Daytime on screens |
| Orange · Evening | 98% | 400–500 nm | Warm, colours visible | From sunset |
| Red · Night | 99% | 400–550 nm | Darker, everything red | The last two hours |
Yellow: for the day at the screen
The yellow lens filters 95% of light between 400 and 500 nm, but lets the most of the rest of the spectrum through and changes colours the least of the three. It is made for the working day, when you are at the screen and still want light around you. Daylight is not the enemy. In 2022, a group of 18 researchers recommended at least 250 lux of melanopic light during the day, which in practice means daylight or a very bright office.
We do not promise that the yellow lens reduces tired eyes. The largest review in the field, Cochrane 2023, found no such support for blue light lenses during screen work. What yellow does is simpler: the screen's cold blue cast turns warmer, and you wear the same frame from morning to evening.
Orange: from sunset
The orange lens filters 98% of light between 400 and 500 nm. It covers the blue band but lets more of the rest of the spectrum through than red, so you see colours well enough to cook, game or work a while longer.
It suits the hours when things are still happening. In Gothenburg the sun sets just before half past three in mid-December, so the orange lens can have a long evening to cover.
Red: the last two hours
The red lens filters 99% of light between 400–550 nm. It also takes in part of the green, where sensitivity still lingers. The world gets darker and red. That is the point: these are the hours for a series, a book or your phone on the sofa, not for editing photos.
The red glasses tell my mind it's time to slow down. They help me relax, switch off, and wake up ready for the next day.
Customer review
One reason to save red for the last hours is that it reduces how much you see. Never drive in the dark with a red or orange lens.
Do I need all three?
No. Start with the lens that covers the part of the day with the most screens and light. For most people that is the evening, and the red lens makes the biggest difference in filtration. People who work late at a screen and need to see colour often choose orange first.
All three lenses come in LOWLIGHT 03, 04 and 05, and you can mix frames and lenses in the same order. LOWLIGHT 02 comes with orange and red lenses. If you want to understand why the blue band is the one that matters, read Blue light and melatonin.
Frequently asked questions
Which lens is best for gaming in the evening?
Orange. It filters 98% between 400 and 500 nm but keeps enough colour and contrast for you to see the game. Switch to red when you put the controller down.
Can I drive with a red or orange lens?
Not in the dark. Tinted lenses reduce how much light reaches the eye. In daylight the yellow lens and LOWLIGHT ONE work, but never wear tinted glasses when driving in the dark.
Do they work with contact lenses?
Yes. LOWLIGHT is worn instead of regular glasses and works perfectly with contact lenses.
Why not just wear red all evening?
You can, but red reduces what you see the most and makes colours harder to tell apart. Orange covers the blue band and is easier to live with early in the evening.
Which lens does LOWLIGHT ONE have?
An amber day lens that filters 75–80% of blue light between 415–455 nm. It is made for screen work during the day, not for the evening.
Sources
- Brainard et al. (2001). Action spectrum for melatonin regulation in humans. Journal of Neuroscience
- Brown et al. (2022). Recommendations for daytime, evening, and nighttime indoor light exposure. PLOS Biology
- Singh et al. (2023). Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults. Cochrane
- Sunrise-sunset.org. Sunrise and sunset in Gothenburg 2026
LOWLIGHT 03, 04 and 05 come with yellow, orange and red lenses. Mix frames and lenses as you like.
Choose your lens