Photochromic Lenses
One lens. Indoors and out.
Photochromic lenses darken in UV light and clear back up indoors, so the same pair covers the bay, the parking lot, and the ride home. No swapping lenses, no second pair in the truck.
Why it matters
UV triggers the change, not a switch you flip.
Photochromic lenses darken when they pick up UV light and clear back up when that UV drops off, walking into the shop, getting into a shaded bay, the end of a shift. There is no button, no swap, no second pair riding in the truck for later.
Watch it happen
Real lenses, real transition.
These are unedited transition clips from two frames in the Heat Wave Easy Rider Photochromic Z87+ line, not a mockup. Same lens, going from clear to dark as UV hits it.
Vise Easy Rider
Clear to dark in seconds under direct UV.
Quatro Easy Rider
Same lens tech, different frame shape.
How it works
The lens reacts to the light, not a switch.
Photochromic lenses use light-reactive molecules baked into the lens material. UV exposure changes their structure and darkens the lens; away from UV, they revert and the lens clears.
UV exposure darkens the lens.
Step outside into direct sun and the lens tints down within seconds, no separate sunglasses required.
Lower UV clears it back up.
Walk into the bay, the shop, or the truck cab and the lens fades back toward clear on its own.
Some frames add Z87+ impact rating.
Heat Wave's Easy Rider Photochromic line pairs the adaptive lens with a frame rated to ANSI Z87+.
Where it shines
Made for long days in the light.
Shop the lens
Photochromic picks.
Frames with a photochromic lens, pulled straight from the collection.
Heat Wave MXG-250 Moto Goggle - Icon Billboard White - Photochromic Lens
Heat Wave Visual $120.00 USD
Heat Wave Performance Vise SUPER Photochromic Z87+
Heat Wave Visual $100.00 USD
Heat Wave Performance Rayth Easy Rider Photochromic Z87+
Heat Wave Visual $100.00 USD
Heat Wave Performance Lazer Face Easy Rider Photochromic Z87+
Heat Wave Visual $120.00 USDQuick answers
Photochromic, answered.
Is photochromic the same as polarized?
No. Photochromic changes how dark the lens is based on UV light. Polarized changes how the lens handles glare off flat, reflective surfaces like water, roads, or hoods. Some frames combine both, others carry just one.
Does it darken behind a windshield?
Not much. Car windshields and most windows block a lot of the UV that triggers the reaction, so photochromic lenses stay closer to clear while driving than they do outdoors in direct sun.
How fast does it change?
Darkening happens within seconds of stepping into direct UV. Clearing back up indoors takes a bit longer, since the lens is reverting on its own rather than snapping back.
Is CHAOSRXOptics an authorized dealer?
Yes. We sell genuine eyewear from trusted brands, including Heat Wave Visual.
Photochromic
One lens for the whole shift.
Shop frames that go clear indoors and dark in the sun, no second pair required.