Oakley Prizm: what is it?

Quick answer: Oakley Prizm™ are performance sunglass lenses that, instead of simply darkening the image, boost selected wavelengths of light for better contrast, colour and detail perception. There are dedicated versions for sports such as cycling, skiing, fishing, golf and everyday use.

Enhancing colours and contrast

Oakley Prizm lenses are performance sunglass lenses designed specifically for sports such as baseball, fishing, golf, skiing and cycling. Dark lenses on their own can make it harder to see, so instead of only filtering UV rays, Oakley's Prizm lenses enhance certain wavelengths of colour vision for improved contrast and detail.
Prizm™ technology is designed to boost contrast and colour, letting you see more detail.
Oakley uses a proprietary blend of lens tints to achieve colour optimisation. Prizm™ plays with the perception of colours, which visually translates into more intense, vivid colours. As for contrast, these lenses make it possible to enhance depth perception. You will be able to better perceive objects and details in your surroundings — seeing detail that would be invisible to the naked eye!

Oakley Prizm polarized

Oakley also offers a combination of two technologies that complement each other perfectly: Oakley Prizm™ and Oakley polarized.
Prizm™ intensifies colours, while polarization simultaneously reduces glare, resulting in the most vivid colours you have ever seen.
Not all Prizm lenses are polarized, however, because polarization is not always useful or necessary. It is an advantage, for example, to reduce reflections on water, which lets you see better below the surface.

On the other hand, according to Oakley, glare from reflection can be a useful indicator in some situations. In golf, for example, the glare of reflection helps you follow the ball's trajectory better. On the road, reflections can help you spot wet, slippery surfaces or icy patches.
Oakley Prizm™ lenses are dedicated to sport.
Oakley has developed different Prizm™ lenses dedicated to different sports. It is the demands of each sport and its environment that determine which colour wavelengths should be optimised.

Prizm™ Road: how you see

The contrast boost of these lenses helps you spot stones and potholes for greater safety. Cyclists will appreciate it! example with this Oakley Jaw Breaker pair with Prizm Road lenses

Prizm™ Trail: how you see

These Prizm™ lenses increase the levels of green so you can better see the lines of the trail and highlight tree roots. They are ideal for anyone who enjoys mountain biking in the forest, whatever the lighting conditions.
You can choose these lenses after picking the Oakley sunglasses you like, here: Oakley with Prizm Trail lenses.

Prizm™ Golf: how you see

To predict the ball's speed and movement accurately, these Golf Prizm™ lenses boost contrast so you can better read the condition of the turf. It is easier to distinguish the transitions between the fairway, the fringe and the rough.
These lenses are available to order on our website here: sunglasses with Oakley Prizm™ Golf lenses.

Prizm™ Deep Water polarized: how you see

The Prizm™ Deep Water polarized lenses help you see below the surface of the water, filtering the shades of blue that would stop you seeing deep into open water. These lenses enhance the perception of green and red, as well as bright whites, for a clear view of fish.
For example, this pair — Oakley Split Shot with polarized Deep Water lenses
See all the sunglasses with Prizm™ Deep Water polarized lenses.

Prizm™ Shallow Water polarized: how you see

The Prizm™ Shallow Water polarized lenses reduce glare, making it easier to distinguish fish and flies on the surface. With these glasses, the green and copper shades are enhanced so fish shadows can be recognised better. As you can tell, these lenses are perfect for anglers!
Here is an example of Oakley Holbrook glasses with Prizm™ Shallow Water polarized lenses.
For example, this pair — Oakley Split Shot with polarized Deep Water lenses

Frequently asked questions about Oakley Prizm lenses

What are Oakley Prizm lenses made of?

A specially selected dye is mixed with Plutonite — Oakley's patented polycarbonate material — and then sent through an extruder to molecularly bond the materials. The lens material is then injection-moulded to create the lenses. The lenses include a coating that does not soil easily and resists scratches.

Oakley Prizm or Polarized?

Prizm lenses and polarized lenses are two different technologies that are sometimes combined in one lens and sometimes offered independently.
For example, some Oakley Prizm lenses, such as the Prizm Field lenses, are polarized to block glare from reflected light, but this is not the case for every pair of Prizm lenses. So Prizm lenses do not mean polarized — it is a completely different lens technology. While polarized lenses block glare from reflected light, Prizm lenses enhance what you see.
Most polarized lenses and all Prizm lenses offer 100% protection from the sun's ultraviolet rays, protecting your eyes from strain and sunburn while you are outdoors.

Do Prizm lenses protect your eyes?

Yes! Prizm lenses offer 100% protection from the sun's UV rays in all weather conditions.
Wear any Oakley frame with Prizm lenses and enjoy crystal-clear vision while protecting your eyes from the strain and damage caused by the sun.

See all Oakley with Prizm lenses

At Eye-Shop you will find the entire collection of Oakley sunglasses with Prizm lenses — Holbrook, Frogskins, Sutro, Radar EV, Jawbreaker, Flak 2.0, Encoder — as well as the new Oakley 2026 models (Sphaera Strike, HSTN SQ, Neoforma, Highland, Permian, Stunt Wing, Stunt Devil, Velo Kato). 100% authentic Oakley from the official EssilorLuxottica distributor, with a 2-year manufacturer warranty and interest-free instalments up to 12.