Pop down your local arts & craft shop and get some thin red plastic film you use to have at school place that over lens should get darker then you would with just a marker pen
Use a normal clear lens, but when you need to save your night vision. Red sweet wrapper over the lens with a elastic band. Boom problem solved this method is still used today by covert teams.
Downside you may have to go and buy a big box of quality street first
p.s You can also use blue as a low light source as well.