Clear & Prescription Tinted Lenses Made to Your Specification
Custom Prescription Tinted Lenses Made in Our Onsite Optical Laboratory
Whether you're looking for clear everyday lenses, custom prescription tinted lenses or non-prescription coloured lenses, we can manufacture lenses to suit your vision, lifestyle and personal style. At Ilkeston Factory Specs, our onsite optical laboratory produces high-quality replacement lenses, bespoke tints and sunglass lenses for customers throughout Ilkeston, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and across the UK. From subtle cosmetic tints to dark sunglasses or react-to-light lenses, every pair is made to your requirements for excellent comfort, protection and visual performance.
✔ Clear & prescription lenses available
✔ Photochromic lenses that automatically darken in sunlight and return to clear indoors.
✔ Same day service available
✔ UK-wide postal service
👉 Visit our Ilkeston store or send your glasses to us
Clear vs Tinted Lenses – What’s the Difference?
Clear Lenses
Ideal for everyday use with no tint or colour
✔ Best for indoor and general wear
✔ Available with anti-glare and blue light coatings
Tinted Lenses
Lenses with added colour for comfort, protection, or style
✔ Reduce glare and brightness
✔ Improve visual comfort outdoors
✔ Add a unique look to your glasses
Choose Your Lens Tint
We offer a wide range of custom tint options:
Solid Tints
Full colour lenses (Grey, Brown, Green)
Gradient Tints
Darker at the top, lighter at the bottom
Two-Colour Tints
Blend one colour into another
Fashion Tints
Bold colours including:
-
Red
-
Yellow
-
Blue
-
Pink
-
Black
-
Grey
-
Brown
-
Green
Which Lens Is Right for Me?
Lens Type | Best For |
|---|---|
Non-Prescription Tints | Fashion sunglasses |
Prescription Sunglasses | Permanent sun protection with vision correction |
Photochromic Lenses | One pair for indoors and outdoors |
Polarised Lenses | Driving, fishing, holidays |
Tinted Lenses | Comfort in bright light and fashion |
Clear Lenses | Everyday indoor and outdoor wear |
Tint Strength Guide
-
Light tints (Grade 1–2) → indoor / cosmetic use
-
Medium tints (Grade 3) → everyday comfort
-
Dark tints (75–85%) → sunglasses
👉 All tinted lenses include UV protection
Lens Types Available
Prescription Lenses
Single vision or varifocal lenses tailored to your prescription
Non-Prescription (Plano) Lenses
Clear or tinted lenses without vision correction
Darken in sunlight, clear indoors
Reduce glare from roads, water, and reflective surfaces
Why Choose Ilkeston Factory Specs?
Unlike many online retailers, every pair of lenses is manufactured or fitted in our onsite optical laboratory by experienced technicians. We carefully inspect every lens before fitting it into your chosen frames, ensuring excellent optical quality, accurate tinting and a comfortable fit. Whether you visit us in Ilkeston or use our UK postal service, you'll receive the same professional level of workmanship and customer care.
Tinted and clear prescription &
non-prescription lenses available in-store and online UK-wide
Polarised & photochromic prescription lenses available in-store
Why Choose Tinted Lenses?
-
migraines
-
bright offices
-
light sensitivity
-
outdoor work
-
sport
-
driving
-
fashion
Tinted lenses are about much more than sunglasses. Whether you wear prescription or non-prescription glasses, custom tinted lenses can improve visual comfort, reduce glare and add a stylish personal touch. At Ilkeston Factory Specs in-store, we create bespoke tinted lenses to suit your lifestyle, vision needs and personal preferences.
Reduce Glare and Brightness
Tinted lenses help reduce glare from bright sunlight and reflective surfaces, making outdoor activities more comfortable. They can also minimise eye strain caused by excessive brightness, whether you're walking, driving or spending time outside.
Help with Light Sensitivity
If you're sensitive to bright light (photophobia), lightly or moderately tinted lenses may make everyday environments more comfortable. Many people choose custom tints for use in bright offices, shopping centres or outdoors where standard clear lenses may not provide enough comfort.
Improve Comfort for Migraines
Some people who experience migraines find that specific lens tints can reduce discomfort caused by bright light or glare. While tinted lenses are not a medical treatment, choosing the right tint may improve visual comfort during everyday activities. If you have a medical eye condition, we recommend following the advice of your eye care professional.
Ideal for Outdoor Work
If you work outdoors, tinted lenses can make it easier to see comfortably in changing light conditions. Landscapers, builders, delivery drivers and other outdoor workers often benefit from reduced glare and improved visual comfort throughout the day.
Perfect for Driving
The right lens tint can make driving more comfortable by reducing glare from sunlight and reflective road surfaces. Grey, brown and green tints are particularly popular because they reduce brightness while maintaining good colour recognition. Gradient and polarised lenses are also excellent options for many drivers.
Great for Sports and Outdoor Activities
Whether you enjoy cycling, walking, golf, fishing or other outdoor sports, tinted lenses can improve visual comfort and reduce glare. Polarised lenses are especially effective for activities near water or on reflective surfaces, helping you see more clearly in bright conditions.
Express Your Personal Style
Tinted lenses aren't just practical—they're also a fashion statement. Choose from classic grey, brown and green tints or create something unique with blue, pink, yellow, red or custom two-tone combinations. Whether you prefer a subtle gradient or a bold fashion tint, every pair is made to your specifications.
Available for Prescription and Non-Prescription Glasses
We can fit custom tinted lenses into both prescription and non-prescription glasses, including many existing frames. Whether you're replacing scratched lenses, converting everyday glasses into sunglasses or creating a completely bespoke look, our on-site optical laboratory can produce high-quality lenses tailored to your needs.
Looking for custom tinted lenses?
Visit Ilkeston Factory Specs for expert advice, professional fitting and bespoke lens tinting, with same-day service available on many lens types.
Expert Lens Tinting in Our Onsite Optical Laboratory
We have many years of experience professionally tinting thousands of glasses lenses, so you can use our lens & sunglass lens tinting service with confidence. Many lens tints can be applied to your lenses the same day at our onsite optical laboratory or returned in the post within a day or two. Whether you need complete sunglasses or need your own frames reglazed with tinted lenses, our attention to detail is assured.
-
every lens individually checked
-
custom tints in-store & online
-
experienced technicians
-
quality control
Same Day Lens Service Available
Many lenses can be made in-store within 1 hour, depending on your requirements.
For specialised lenses, turnaround is typically a few days.
👉 Need lenses fast? Visit us today
Choose from our clear or full sunglasses depth tints or half depth tint options including UV protection. Graduated tints/ dark top to lighter at the bottom available.
Available in-store & online - Tints shown are an approximation and can vary slightly from pictured below.
Full Red/Half
Full Black/Half
Full Green/Half
Full Yellow/Half
Full Blue/Half
Full Pink/Half
Full Grey/Half
Full Brown/Half
Use Your Own Frames
Already have frames you love? Want to keep and make use of designer frames, vintage frames, frames with sentimental value, discontinued frames you can't buy replace or simply expensive frames?
We can:
-
Convert glasses into sunglasses
👉 Keep your frames and upgrade your lenses
Bespoke Lens Tinting – Made for You
Every tint we offer is customised to your preference.
You can choose:
-
Colour
-
Depth (light to dark)
-
Gradient or solid finish
-
Two-colour blends
👉 No two pairs are the same
How We Match Your Lens Tint
Tint percentages are measured as an amount of absorption. The scale starts at 20% absorption which is a very pale tint colour, going up by 5% increments, reaching 85% absorption which is a full sunglasses tint shade. Lens tints between 75% and 85% absorption are commonly used for sunglasses.
To ensure an even, consistent finish, every lens is thoroughly cleaned and prepared before tinting. Any grease or surface contamination is removed using specialist preparation solutions before the lenses are immersed in carefully controlled tint baths. Our tint solutions are regularly monitored and replaced to maintain colour accuracy and consistency, ensuring every pair of lenses meets our quality standards. UV protection is added either before or after the tinting process. This offers ultra violet protection through the lenses to protect your eyes. Once the lenses are suitably tinted they are checked by our experienced optical technicians in our inspection process to ensure optical accuracy, even tinting and UV suitability.
Related Services
Not sure what you need?
Lens Services in Ilkeston, Nottingham & Derby
We regularly provide custom tinted lenses for customers visiting from Nottingham, Derby, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Beeston, Heanor, Ripley, Eastwood, Mansfield, Leicester and throughout the East Midlands. Our UK postal lens replacement service also allows customers nationwide to benefit from our bespoke tinting expertise.
Visit our Ilkeston store for expert lens fitting and tinting.
FAQs
Can I add tint to my prescription lenses?
Yes—most prescription lenses can be tinted.
Are tinted lenses just for sunglasses?
No—lighter tints can be used indoors and for style.
Do tinted lenses include UV protection?
Yes—all our tinted lenses include UV protection.
Can I use my own frames?
Yes—we can fit new lenses into your existing frames.
Can all prescription lenses be tinted?
Most prescription lenses can be tinted, including single vision and many varifocal lenses. However, some specialist lens materials, coatings or lens designs may have limitations. If you're unsure, simply bring your glasses into our Ilkeston store or contact us, and we'll advise whether your existing prescription lenses or new lenses are suitable for tinting.
Which tint colour is best for driving?
Grey, brown and green are generally the best tint colours for driving because they reduce brightness while maintaining good colour recognition. Grey provides the most natural colour perception, brown enhances contrast in varying light conditions, and green offers good contrast while reducing glare. Very dark or fashion-coloured tints may not be suitable for driving in low-light conditions.
Are gradient lenses suitable for driving?
Yes. Gradient lenses can be an excellent choice for driving because the darker upper section reduces glare from the sun while the lighter lower section allows you to see your dashboard more clearly. They are popular for everyday driving and outdoor use, provided the tint meets UK legal requirements.
Can you tint varifocals?
Yes. Most varifocal lenses can be tinted in a wide range of colours and densities. Whether you choose a solid tint, gradient tint or prescription sunglasses, we can tint many varifocal lenses to suit your prescription and lifestyle.
What's the darkest legal tint?
For road use in the UK, the darkest commonly recommended tint for sunglasses is around 85% (Category 3), which provides excellent protection from bright sunlight while remaining suitable for everyday outdoor use. Category 4 lenses are darker and are generally not suitable for driving because they reduce light transmission too much.
Can I choose any colour?
Yes. We offer a wide range of bespoke lens colours, including grey, brown, green, blue, yellow, pink, red and many other fashion tints. You can also choose the depth of the tint, whether you prefer a solid or gradient finish, and even request two-colour blends for a unique look.
Do tinted lenses fade?
Modern professionally tinted lenses are designed to retain their colour for many years with normal use. While all lenses can show signs of wear over time, high-quality lens tints should not noticeably fade if they are properly cared for and cleaned.
Can scratched lenses be replaced?
Yes. If your lenses are scratched but your frames are still in good condition, we can replace them with new clear, prescription or tinted lenses. This is often a more cost-effective alternative to buying a completely new pair of glasses.
Are polarised lenses better?
Polarised lenses are ideal if you want to reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as wet roads, water and snow. They improve visual comfort and clarity, making them popular for driving, fishing, boating and outdoor activities. However, standard tinted lenses may be perfectly suitable if glare reduction is not your main priority.
Can I post my glasses?
Yes. If you can't visit our Ilkeston store, you can safely post your glasses to us. We'll fit your new clear, prescription or tinted lenses with online colour options and return them securely by post once they're complete. Our postal reglazing service is available throughout the UK.
How long does it take?
Many clear and tinted lenses can be produced on the same day or within around one hour using our on-site optical laboratory, depending on your prescription and lens type. More specialised lenses, such as certain varifocals or bespoke lens designs, usually take a few working days.
Get Your Custom Lenses Today
Whether you need clear replacement lenses, prescription tinted lenses, fashion coloured lenses, polarised sunglasses or photochromic lenses, our onsite optical laboratory manufactures every pair to your chosen specification. Visit our Ilkeston store or use our UK postal lens replacement service for expert advice, precision lens fitting and fast turnaround.
No appointment needed – walk in today