Oakley Ice Iridium vs. Blue Iridium Lenses – What’s the difference?

Don’t be fooled – Oakley Ice Iridium and Blue Iridium are VERY different lenses. We’ll break down the differences so you can buy the right one.

This is one of the most commonly mixed-up pair of lenses Oakley offers. While on the surface you might think people are just calling them different names. It is true that Ice iridium and Blue Iridium from Oakley are indeed two distinct lenses. And the truth is – They are very different. We’ll go over each lens, and the differences here so you can buy the right one.

Oakley Ice Iridium Overview

Oakley Ice Iridium is definitely the more common of the two lenses. If you’re looking at pairs sold in the mid-late 2000s, chances are these are the lenses in them. When you think of Blue, and we mean primary blue, you’re thinking of Ice Iridium.

This lens has a Grey base tint designed for bright light conditions allowing a 10% light transmission for your sunglasses.

Oakley Juliet with Ice Iridium Lens — Juliet with Ice Iridium Lens

Oakley Blue Iridium Overview

Oakley Blue Iridium is an older lens, it used to be popular in the X-Metal range, but is more difficult to find in current sunglasses. The tricky part of Blue Iridium is there are actually two variations created by Oakley.

The first is a Grey base tint which allows 20% light transmission. The second has an Amber base tint and a 16% light transmission. Both lenses were designed to increase contrast in medium to bright light conditions.

Oakley Ice vs. Blue Iridium – What’s the difference?

Now the burning question – which is better? Assuming you have the option between the two, it really will come down to personal preference. Ice Iridium is an overall darker lens while Blue is a bit lighter with purple-ish hues. The picture below demonstrates the differences in tint very well.

Oakley Blue Iridium (Left) vs. Ice Iridium (Right)

If you’re looking for prescription lenses, unfortunately neither Ice iridium nor Blue iridium is likely available. Through our research, we couldn’t even find any OCP frames which offered Blue Iridium or Ice Iridium. Today they’ve both been replaced by Sapphire Iridium lenses.

So which lens do you prefer? Have experience with both? Let us know in the forum thread below!

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discodave

Go Navy!

6/23/15

It depends on what you want to see when you look out of your lens. Ice is a much darker color and has 9 percent light transmission, Deep Blue has purple tones in it but has 15 percent light transmission. That's quite a difference.

Here's an image someone posted of the two side by side. You can see that the Blue Iridium is much lighter than the ice.

If I were buying the two I'd go with the Blue Iridium. Ice is kind of dark when not in direct sunlight and can look almost black.

JoshAD330

Oakley Enthusiast

6/23/15

discodave said:
It depends on what you want to see when you look out of your lens. Ice is a much darker color and has 9 percent light transmission, Deep Blue has purple tones in it but has 15 percent light transmission. That's quite a difference

Yeah plus I also want the lenses to match the violet icons and stem sleeves of the frame. Wondering what lenses will match these better: Ice or blue iridium. It is a pity Oakley does not offer violet iridium as replacement lenses for Radar Path

discodave

Go Navy!

6/23/15

JoshAD330 said:
Yeah plus I also want the lenses to match the violet icons and stem sleeves of the frame. Wondering what lenses will match these better: Ice or blue iridium. It is a pity Oakley does not offer violet iridium as replacement lenses for Radar Path

Blue Iridium would match more because it has hints of violet in it. Ice does not.

discodave

Go Navy!

6/23/15

JoshAD330 said:
Yeah plus I also want the lenses to match the violet icons and stem sleeves of the frame. Wondering what lenses will match these better: Ice or blue iridium. It is a pity Oakley does not offer violet iridium as replacement lenses for Radar Path

here's the image again. I was having trouble uploading it.

Last edited by a moderator: 5/25/20

JoshAD330

Oakley Enthusiast

6/23/15

discodave said:
here's the image again. I was having trouble uploading it.

thank you Dave that picture comparing both really helps because you see both lenses next to each other. so yeah it seems blue iridium will be a better match and it is offered by Oakley as replacement lenses. The Radars were my first Oakley frames ever and are very close to my heart so I will be very happy when I get my hands on the Infinite Hero ones. Thanks again Dave.

djhyper66

I should Work at Oakley

6/29/15

I made my own for radarlock with G30 polarized lens. I'm not a big fan of violet iridium lens, it's such a harsh lens color, make everything look yellowish. G30 polarized is a great lens !!!