Sunglasses which change colour at the touch of a button could go on sale within a year.
A small switch on the frame will allow the user to turn the lenses red, green or blue.
The technology uses "smart" plastics that change colour when an electric current flows through them.
Power is supplied by a tiny watch battery.
Scientists at the University of Washington in Seattle have so far only produced a prototype pair of lab goggles which switch between transparent and light or dark blue.
They expect a full-scale version of the "chameleon" glasses to go on sale within one to two years.
The team's leader, Chunye Xu, said: "Through polymer chemistry, we've developed lenses that aren't like anything else on the market.
"This could be the fashion statement of the future."
There are also practical advantages to having a choice of colours.
Yellow lenses, for instance, are said to enhance contrasts and improve depth perception, while a rosy colour brightens low-light scenes.
If a protective coating is applied, the lenses could also block UV radiation as effectively as traditional sunglasses.
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