POC Goggle Lens Guide

POC Clarity lenses are tuned for different light conditions, skiing environments, and levels of visual intensity. Choosing the right lens involves more than matching a tint to the weather. Consider the Clarity intensity level, Visible Light Transmission (VLT), lens category, and expected light conditions to find the best option for training, racing, or everyday skiing.

This guide explains POC Clarity intensity levels, lens options, lens shapes, and construction so you can better understand how each lens is designed to perform.

Quick Navigation: Clarity Intensity | Lens Options | Understanding VLT | Lens Shapes | Lens Construction

POC Clarity Intensity Levels

POC tunes Clarity lenses at different intensity levels to support specific skiing and racing needs. The intensity level describes how strongly the lens emphasizes contrast and visual detail.

  • Universal: Tuned for balanced visual comfort throughout a full day of skiing.
  • Intense: Increases visual detail to help skiers make decisions about line choice and speed.
  • Highly Intense: Provides POC's strongest contrast emphasis, helping racers read snow and terrain at race speeds.
  • POCito: Designed specifically to provide comfortable vision for young, developing eyes.
Race Place Tip: VLT and Clarity intensity describe different parts of lens performance. VLT tells you how much visible light passes through the lens, while the Clarity intensity level describes how strongly the lens is tuned to emphasize contrast and visual detail.

POC Clarity Lens Options

Lens Intensity Category VLT Best Conditions
Clear / No Mirror Universal CAT 0 87% Very low light and night skiing
Artificial Light Highly Intense CAT 1 73% Artificial light, night racing and very low light
Cloudy Violet Highly Intense CAT 1 53% Cloudy, overcast and low-light conditions
Partly Sunny Blue Highly Intense CAT 2 20% Partly sunny and variable conditions
Sunny Gold Intense CAT 3 13% Sunny and bright conditions
Sunny Silver Highly Intense CAT 3 10% Sunny and bright conditions

Understanding VLT

Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is the percentage of visible light that passes through a goggle lens. Higher VLT lenses allow more light through and are better suited to darker conditions. Lower VLT lenses reduce incoming light and are better suited to brighter conditions.

  • Higher VLT: More light reaches the eye for low-light, overcast, night, or artificial-light conditions.
  • Lower VLT: Less light reaches the eye for bright and sunny conditions.
  • Lens Category: Provides another way to classify how much light a lens transmits, from CAT 0 for very high transmission to CAT 3 for bright conditions.

POC Goggle Lens Shapes

POC uses different lens geometries to balance goggle profile, field of view, optical comfort, and fog management. The lens shape is built into the goggle design and is not interchangeable between models with different frame geometries.

Cylindrical Lens

A cylindrical lens curves along the horizontal axis while remaining relatively flat vertically. This allows for a lower-profile goggle design while still supporting a very wide field of view.

Toric & Spherical Lens

Toric and spherical lenses curve both horizontally and vertically. The larger lens surface supports peripheral vision in multiple directions, while the shape more closely follows the eye and maintains a more uniform distance between the eye and lens to help minimize optical distortion. The additional space between the lens and eye also supports airflow and fog management.

Race Place Fit Note: Lens shape is determined by the goggle model. Always choose a replacement lens made specifically for your POC goggle frame rather than selecting by tint or VLT alone.

POC Goggle Lens Construction

POC goggle lenses use multiple functional layers rather than relying on the visible mirror finish alone. These layers work together to control glare, improve durability, help resist fogging, and protect the lens surface.

Mirror Finish

The mirror finish reflects light away from the eye to help reduce glare. Different mirror tints serve a functional purpose and are not used only for appearance.

Hydrophobic & Oleophobic Treatment

Hydrophobic and oleophobic treatments, including POC's Ri-Pel™, help keep water, dirt, sweat, salt, oil, and other contaminants from adhering to the lens surface, making the lens easier to keep clean.

Anti-Scratch & Anti-Reflection Treatments

Lens surfaces may include anti-scratch and anti-reflection treatments. Anti-scratch coatings help protect the lens surface from damage, while anti-reflection treatments help control unwanted reflections and glare.

Double-Layer Lens Construction

POC goggles use a double-layer lens construction to help minimize fogging and provide additional eye protection. The 1.8 mm outer lens also increases protection against penetration.

Anti-Fog Treatment

Anti-fog treatments are used within the double-layer construction to help reduce condensation and maintain clear vision as temperature and activity levels change.

Clarity Night Vision

POC Clarity Night Vision lenses use additional anti-reflective coating layers to reduce glare from artificial floodlights, helping racers maintain visual focus during night training and competition.

Lens Layer Overview

  1. Hydrophobic / Oleophobic Treatment
  2. Mirror
  3. Anti-Scratch Coating
  4. Outer Lens
  5. Anti-Scratch Coating
  6. Anti-Reflection Coating
  7. Anti-Fog Treatment
  8. Inner Lens
  9. Anti-Fog Treatment