Polarized sunglasses are the premier choice for outdoor enthusiasts and those who live their lives on the water fishing, boating, and anyone else who demands the clearest vision from their sunglasses.
What are Polarized Sunglasses?
A special chemical is applied to eyeglasses to be polarized during the manufacturing process, meaning it. The chemical is laminated in a vertical pattern, which reorganizes light. This pattern blocks the horizontal light to eliminate glare, which is similar to how a window blind works.
What Is Glare?
When a bundle of light hits a flat surface, it becomes polarized or is reflected horizontally. The bundle becomes concentrated and is blinding anyone observing it. This is referred to as blinding glare.
The main benefit of polarized sunglasses is that they reduce glare. Glare is created when sunlight reflects off a flat surface, and the light is reflected in every direction. Normal tinted sunglasses lenses do not block glare; they only reduce the brightness of horizontal and vertical light.
How do polarized sunglasses work?
Polarized glasses mitigate glare by applying a chemical film or embedded in the lenses. The chemical filter on polarized sunglasses removes glare by absorbing the incoming horizontal light while allowing vertical light. What we perceive as glare is usually reflected horizontal light. The horizontal light that creates the effect of glare is absorbed and nullified by the chemical film on polarized sunglasses. The lenses only allow vertical light, acting as a chemical Venetian blind.
Glare typically happens when light waves bounce off reflective surfaces, such as a lake, snowy hillside, or shiny car bumper. Because the surface is horizontal, the light is reflected horizontally. When wearing polarized sunglasses, the surface blocks the glare by filtering out the horizontal light waves that don’t fit through the chemical laminate pattern.
Images may appear darker while wearing polarized lenses. However, when glare is eliminated, the image details are easier to see and reduce eye strain. Plus, these shady ray glasses also protect from harmful UV rays.
Polarized Aviators
Polarized sunglasses are nearly essential for boaters and fishers because of the intense glare created by light reflecting off the water. However, they are also very helpful for outdoors people, athletes, golfers, bikers, and anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors. Additionally, lenses help reduce eye stress for professional drivers who spend many hours on the road; light reflecting off the road and other cars can cause the effect of glare.
Polarized Sunglasses Differences
Inexpensive polarized sunglasses differ from more expensive lenses in significant ways. Cheaper sunglasses may only have a thin chemical laminate on one side of the lens. The thin layer may only provide minimal benefit, and the thin layer can be rubbed or scratched off easily. You may also notice aberrations in your ray ban sunglasses, as these are usually mass-produced stamped-out lenses that are lower quality.
How Polarized Sunglasses Work for You
In addition to reducing glare, polarized sunglasses ease eye strain from long hours in the sun. And if you experience headaches due to light sensitivity, polarized glasses may help you experience fewer occurrences and less intense headaches.
Polarized sunglasses can also increase visual clarity, contrast, and acuity, shady rays making your environment more enjoyable. And when you’re able to see better, you may be able to mentally determine what you’re seeing quicker, which can help improve reaction time.
Bonus advantage: If you are a recreational or commercial fisherman or boater, polarized glasses can allow you to see below the surface of the water, so you catch more fish and maneuver the water safely.
Get the Best Polarized Sunglasses by Knowing the Benefits and Drawbacks
There’s a price for living in a state that has an average of 300 sunny days per year. You don’t often have to deal with snow shovels and parkas if you live in Arizona, but you almost always think about how the sun will affect you. From staying hydrated to wearing sunscreen, every Arizonan needs to take steps to be healthy and comfortable in the sun—and wearing the right protective glasses is one of them, like shady sunglasses.
Your choice of Sunwear is particularly important. Although UV lenses help protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes from the damaging ultraviolet light, they don’t eliminate the distracting and blinding glare that causes visual discomfort in any sunny situation.
Polarized lenses eliminate glare, but they may not be the perfect solution for every situation. This article explores how they work, their benefits, potential drawbacks, and where to buy the best one.
Polarizations Limits
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)—common on cell phone screens, auto dashboards, clocks, and other instrument displays—can be difficult to see clearly when wearing polarized sunglasses. They are especially troubling for pilots who may have trouble reading their instrument panel and viewing objects in the sky, including other planes. Because polarization blocks some light, nighttime use isn’t recommended for safety reasons.
Conclusion
Polarized sunglasses are available at numerous retail locations, from your local drug store to high-end sunglass retailers. If you’re buying these glare-blocking sunglasses to reduce eye strain, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Consult with a professional to help ensure you receive accurate information about your eyewear.
Also, depending on the level of strain and discomfort your experience with sunlight, there may be another issue that your eye doctor should know about. Consult with a qualified eye care professional today if you have questions about how polarized sunglasses work and if they’re right for you.