Does photochromic get as dark as real sunglasses in strong sun?

Close to it, but how dark it gets also depends on UV intensity at the time, so it darkens more at midday than in the late afternoon or on an overcast day.

Does the shop fit polarized with a prescription?

Not currently, polarized lenses at Manh Long Optical are non-prescription sunglasses only.

Is there a delay switching photochromic lenses from outdoors back indoors?

Yes, a delay of anywhere from tens of seconds to a minute or two depending on brand and outdoor temperature, it doesn't clear instantly.

What's the lowest-priced photochromic option at the shop?

Blick at index 1.56 for 350,000d, suited to a tight budget while still trying photochromic.

Can photochromic replace sunglasses for a beach trip or a long drive?

It covers general glare reduction from bright light, but for glare specifically off water or road surfaces, polarized still handles that better through its dedicated vertical filter, which photochromic doesn't have.

Home › Learn › Photochromic vs Polarized Lenses: Which Should You Choose?

LENSES

Photochromic vs Polarized Lenses: Which Should You Choose?

Written by Alvin · Manh Long Optical, 147A Le Duan, Cua Nam, Hanoi · Updated 11 September 2026

In short: Polarized is available only as non-prescription sunglasses here. Photochromic goes the other way: wearable indoors and outdoors, and available with a prescription, so many customers choose one pair for both work and sun. Manh Long Optical sells both, they differ by purpose, not by which one is better.

Polarized: non-prescription sunglasses only, in this shop.
Photochromic: from 350,000d, available with a prescription.
Plenty of customers buy both, and use each for its purpose.

What polarized is for

Polarized lenses carry a vertical filter that blocks horizontally reflected glare, the kind bouncing off wet tarmac, water, or a car bonnet. Riders and drivers out in strong midday sun, or people who go to the beach often, usually notice the difference clearly: the road surface looks less blown-out, and there's less flash-blindness from sunlight reflecting off another car's windscreen.

At Manh Long Optical, polarized lenses are currently non-prescription sunglasses only. Short-sighted customers who want polarized for driving need to wear contact lenses underneath, or choose photochromic instead, since we don't currently fit polarized with a prescription.

What photochromic is for

Photochromic lenses darken automatically in sunlight through a reaction to UV, then clear again in shade or indoors. Unlike polarized, this lens can carry a prescription, so one pair works as everyday glasses and doubles as sunglasses outdoors.

Photochromic prices at Manh Long Optical span a wide range by brand and index, from Blick at index 1.56 for 350,000d up to Essilor at index 1.67 for 7,980,000d. The three most popular brands here are Elements, Essilor and Zeiss, chosen by budget and by each person's prescription.

Brand	Index	Price	Sphere (SPH)
Blick	1.56	350,000d	0.00–5.00
Chemi	1.56	828,000d	0.00–5.00
Nikki	1.61	980,000d	0.00–6.50
Elements	1.56	1,180,000d	0.00–5.00
Elements	1.61	1,780,000d	0.00–10.00
Elements	1.67	2,480,000d	0.00–12.00
Essilor	1.56 Classic	2,080,000d	0.00–6.00
Zeiss	1.56	3,688,000d	0.00–4.00
Essilor	1.67	7,980,000d	0.00–10.00

Quick comparison

Criterion	Polarized	Photochromic
Available with a prescription	No, non-prescription sunglasses only here	Yes
Wearable indoors	No, fixed dark tint	Yes, clears back up
Cuts glare off road or water	Very effective, its distinct strength	Doesn't filter horizontal glare the way polarized does
Suitable as everyday glasses	Not suited	Yes, wearable all day
Price at Manh Long Optical	Standard sunglasses pricing	350,000d – 7,980,000d by brand and index

Which should you choose

If you're regularly on a motorbike or driving in the midday sun, or you go to the beach often, polarized is the more sensible answer, the horizontal glare filter is something photochromic can't do. If you need one pair of prescription glasses for all day, occasionally stepping into the sun, without carrying separate sunglasses, photochromic is far more convenient since it combines both jobs in one pair.

Plenty of customers buy both: a photochromic pair with their prescription for daily wear, and a separate non-prescription polarized pair for driving or the beach, used in place of ordinary fashion sunglasses.

Common questions

Does photochromic get as dark as real sunglasses in strong sun?: Close to it, but how dark it gets also depends on UV intensity at the time, so it darkens more at midday than in the late afternoon or on an overcast day.
Does the shop fit polarized with a prescription?: Not currently, polarized lenses at Manh Long Optical are non-prescription sunglasses only.
Is there a delay switching photochromic lenses from outdoors back indoors?: Yes, a delay of anywhere from tens of seconds to a minute or two depending on brand and outdoor temperature, it doesn't clear instantly.
What's the lowest-priced photochromic option at the shop?: Blick at index 1.56 for 350,000d, suited to a tight budget while still trying photochromic.
Can photochromic replace sunglasses for a beach trip or a long drive?: It covers general glare reduction from bright light, but for glare specifically off water or road surfaces, polarized still handles that better through its dedicated vertical filter, which photochromic doesn't have.

Sources

Transitions Optical — How Photochromic Lenses Work.. The manufacturer's explanation of how the photochromic molecule reacts to UV.
American Academy of Ophthalmology — The Sun, UV Light and Your Eyes.. Recommendations on UV protection for the eyes in sunlight.

A note on health: Information here is for reference; prices and policy can change by brand and over time. Prescription glasses correct vision; they don't reduce a prescription or cure short-sightedness.

Not sure which to pick?

Bring your old glasses or a recent prescription to Manh Long Optical, staff will ask about your daily routine before suggesting a specific option, rather than defaulting to one.

Manh Long Optical — 147A Le Duan, Cua Nam, Hanoi
Open daily 8:00 – 21:30
0777 986 999 · WhatsApp · Zalo · mlong.optical@gmail.com · Directions