It all started on the beaches of Maui. In 1980, a small company began selling sunglasses on the beach in Lahaina, Hawaii. Seeing a need in the market for better lens technology that could combat intense glare and harmful UV rays, and bring the brilliant colors of the island to life, Maui Jim engineered the revolutionary lenses that set new industry standards. More recently, Maui Jim became known around the world for their state-of-the-art PolarizedPlus2® lenses. Find out more about Maui Jim replacement lenses and sunglasses in our complete guide to all things Maui Jim.
Maui Jim lenses come in five different types, including SuperThin Glass, MauiBrilliant™, MauiPure®, Maui Evolution®, and MauiPure® LT, all with PolarizedPlus2® technology. Each lens type reveals the vibrant colors of the world while protecting your eyes from the effects of the sun's harsh glare. SuperThin Glass offers the clearest optics out of any of Maui Jim's lenses, and, while they offer improved scratch resistance, these lenses are not as shatterproof as some of Maui Jim's other options. MauiBrilliant™, MauiPure®, Maui Evolution®, and MauiPure® LT lenses are all made from polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is known for its reduced weight and superior scratch resistance in harsh environments. Every pair of Maui Jim lenses features an anti-reflective coating (AR Coating) and polarization for reduced glare. The brand’s shades include powerful filters to protect against 100% of UVA and UVB rays, and Maui Jim has been awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation for effectively filtering UV rays from the eyes and surrounding skin.
Maui Jim uses three rare-earth elements in its PolarizedPlus2 lenses to filter, balance, and enhance the colors the eye naturally perceives. The resulting deep, saturated colors, better contrast, and improved depth perception offer a view of the world like you’ve never seen. As their name suggests, all PolarizedPlus2 lenses come with polarization to cut glare from reflective surfaces on bright, sunny days.
Maui Jim designed its patented PolarizedPlus2 technology to enhance your view across light conditions, from the brightest sunlight to overcast days. Tailor your Maui Jim prescription sunglasses with Rx lenses for vision correction and enhanced visual perception to see more of the vibrant beauty around you.
MauiBrilliant lenses are made of a proprietary material that offers the clarity and scratch-resistance of glass and the comfort and impact-resistance of plastic. In the past, sunglass wearers had to choose between lenses that offered the most optical clarity and lenses that were lightweight and comfortable to wear. Glass lenses offer the sharpest vision, but they’re usually heavy and not very impact-resistant; plastic or polycarbonate lenses, on the other hand, are lighter weight and offer better protection against impact, but scratch easier than glass and offer the wearer less clarity. With the introduction of Maui Jim’s innovative MauiBrilliant lenses, wearers can enjoy optimal clarity in scratch-resistant and impact-resistant lenses that are lightweight and comfortable to wear.
The Maui Jim Evolution® lens is a hybrid of Maui Jim’s SuperThin Glass and Polycarbonate lenses. This lens is lightweight and offers exceptional scratch- and impact-resistance while providing better optical clarity than traditional polycarbonate lenses. The Evolution® is a high-index lens, making it the perfect choice for wearers with a strong prescription.
MauiPure™ lenses strike the perfect balance between superb clarity, extreme scratch- and shatter-resistance, and an unbelievably lightweight design. These technologically advanced properties make MauiPure™ the most popular lenses from Maui Jim.
SuperThin Glass lenses are made of glass, while Maui Jim's MauiBrilliant™, MauiPure™, Maui Evolution®, and MauiPure™ LT are made from proprietary polycarbonate-based materials. MauiPure™ lenses are Maui Jim's most popular lenses, offering superior durability with crisp, clear optics. These lenses also have improved impact and shatter resistance in a variety of environments. SuperThin Glass lenses are the heaviest out of all of the brand's offerings, but they also offer the crispest optics. MauiBrilliant™ lenses are almost as clear as their SuperThin Glass without the added weight, while Maui Evolution® glasses offer improved scratch and impact resistance with slightly less sharpness in terms of clarity. MauiPure™ LT lenses are far and away Maui Jim's lightest lenses and are ideal for wearers who will sacrifice a modicum of clarity for a lighter pair of shades. Whether you opt for glass or polycarbonate lenses, you can feel confident that every pair of sunglasses undergoes a thorough process to improve visibility, scratch resistance, and durability.
Maui Jim offers four lens tints, including HCL® Bronze (High Contrast Lens), Neutral Grey, Maui Rose®, and Maui HT® (High Transmission). Some of these lens colors are specifically designed to provide optimal contrast and clarity in specific light conditions, while others are perfect for everyday wear. The Neutral Grey lenses are Maui Jim's most popular color, as they are the most conducive to all-day, everyday usage.
Explore the recommended scenarios for each Maui Jim lens tint:
Neutral grey lenses work great on and off the water, making them the most popular choice among Maui Jim's lens colors. These versatile lenses offer the powerful glare-cutting power of polarization while boosting blue/green contrast for ultra-clear optics.
Mirror coatings are both fashionable and functional: They add a bit of mystique to your look and reflect more of the sun’s harmful rays away from your eyes. Maui Jim sunglasses are available with solid, gradient, or bi-gradient mirror coatings.
Yes, Maui Jim sunglass lenses can easily be replaced with the same quality lenses that came with your frames. Replacement lenses are an excellent option if your lenses have become scratched, your prescription changes, or you want to swap your existing lenses for a different color or material. If you have questions about this process, reach out to us.
Since Maui Jim replacement lenses are custom-made to fit your frames with the tint and coatings you desire, the best way to replace your lenses and retain Maui Jim’s award-winning quality is to call FramesDirect.com. One of our experienced opticians will help you choose the Maui Jim replacement lenses that are right for your frames and your needs. To start the process of replacing your Maui Jim lenses, call 1-800-248-9427.
If your Maui Jim lenses are lightly soiled with smudges, dried salt from the ocean, or lint, you can use a scratch-free microfiber cloth, and gently wipe the lenses in a circular motion. For lenses soiled with mud, food, or a sticky beverage, start by dampening a scratch-free microfiber cloth with clean tap water and wipe the lenses in a circular motion. If residue remains after repeated cleaning attempts with water and a microfiber cloth, try a lens cleaning solution along with the microfiber cloth. While you may be tempted to use a simple lens wipe on your Maui Jim Sunglasses, be aware that some wipes may leave behind residue or fibers that can damage your lenses. A microfiber cleaning cloth is always the safest option.
Yes, these sunglasses are made specifically for the water and can get wet. However, good cleaning practices when your sunglasses are used in salty, sandy, or hard water conditions can help extend the life of your lenses and reduce scratching. Always keep a microfiber cloth handy to wipe any mineral residues from your lenses.
As long as you purchase replacement lenses from an authorized retailer, like FramesDirect.com, you can be confident your replacement lenses are genuine and offer the same exceptional quality you’d get in a new pair of Maui Jim sunglasses. Plus, Maui Jim sunglasses and replacement lenses are under warranty when purchased from an authorized dealer.
All Maui Jim sunglasses come standard with a two-year warranty when the sunglasses are purchased from an authorized Maui Jim reseller.
MauiPure lenses combined with PolarizedPlus2 polarization are arguably the best Maui Jim lenses for most wearers. These all-around optimal lenses are thin, crisp, lightweight, and shatter- and scratch-resistant. For some applications or environments, you may prefer the more activity-specific benefits of MauiBrilliant® or Maui Evolution® lenses, but for most people, in most cases, the MauiPure™ lenses, made from Maui Jim's SuperThin Glass, stand out as the best all-around option for any occasion.
Maui Jim is an independent eyewear manufacturer and controls the production of its lenses.
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