Polarized glasses filter horizontal light waves, reducing glare. In contrast, non-polarized sunglasses only filter ultraviolet (UV) rays but do not prevent glare. Whether skiing or driving, polarized sunglasses can make a big difference in your comfort and visibility by reducing eye strain.
Polarized sunglasses offer much better, even 99-100% UV ray protection. When surrounded by snow, up to 80% of UV rays can reflect back, nearly doubling exposure, making winter an important time to use polarized lenses.
Standard tinted sunglasses don’t contain polarization coating, which scatters light entering your eye, often at a higher price. So if squinting even with sunglasses on, polarized lenses can provide relief.
Downhill skiers and snowboarders should probably stick to nonpolarized sunglasses, too. On a sunny day, glare may actually help you distinguish between snow – which is good for skiing – and ice – which is decidedly not.
Polarized sunglasses have been around since 1936! The original polarized lenses were adapted for eyewear using a Polaroid camera filter.
How Do Polarized Lenses Work?
Now let’s explain exactly how they work. When you’re wearing them, you might notice that colors and details appear sharper than when you wear “normal” sunglasses.
If you are required to drive during the daytime, polarized sunglasses can make your commute safer by reducing the glare from roads and buildings.
However, polarized lenses do not provide UV protection from vertical UV radiation, so if you’re looking directly at a powerful source of UV light such as the sun or a floodlamp, you need better protection.
When to Use Polarized Sunglasses
- Driving on the highway on a sunny day
- Swimming in your local pool
- Boating on a river
These are all situations when you should wear polarized lenses to protect yourself from flying objects and other debris in your line of sight. If you want to learn more about polarized sunglasses, visit our website for information.
The Disadvantages of Polarized Glasses
While polarized sunglasses are great for reducing glare, they can interfere with your ability to see fine detail. This is because polarized lenses block out light coming from all directions, including light reflected off surfaces. As a result, polarized sunglasses can make it difficult to see small prints or intricate designs.
Polarized lenses can change how you perceive the world. All polarizers are the same, so a cheap polarized pair reduces reflections like an expensive one. However, cheap sunglasses are often not actually polarized, only tinted. Tinted glasses just reduce brightness, not reflections.
Polarized sunglasses provide superior glare protection on the water. They provide richer colors and make what’s below the surface clearly visible. Yes, polarized glasses are better than regular sunglasses because they eliminate dangerous glare when driving or doing outdoor activities. They also provide better clarity and visual acuity for those with sensitive eyes. However, they can be more expensive than regular sunglasses.