What Are The Benefits Of Polarized Sunglasses?

The sun can make life fun. But, the sun can blind you. Sunlight can cause unwanted sun glare, which can make it difficult to see. Sunglasses are not only designed to protect your eyes, but they can also reflect your personality. Polarized lenses can help you see better.

What is Polarization?

Imagine that you are standing on a huge rock in the middle the ocean, while a massive storm is moving through. Waves are coming at you from all directions. This is how unpolarized light works. Light travels in waves. However, these waves can be found in many planes. You will be greeted by light waves from all directions, much like the storm waves.

Polarizing light only lets some light through. Imagine you're back in that storm, building a wall around your rock and yourself. There is only one opening. The waves are mostly blocked.

The unpolarized light is the storm waves in the analogy. Standing on the rock is your eye. You want to protect it from the waves. This is why you create a wall around yourself. This wall is your wall of polarized sunglasses.

Polarized lenses contain a filter that blocks all unwanted light waves. The lenses allow only vertical light waves to pass through them and absorb the rest. Polarized lenses don't block all light waves, as you wouldn't be able see through them.

Benefits of Polarized Lenses

1. Blocks Glare

Polarized lenses reduce unwanted glare, which is one of their benefits. Reflections of light can occur on objects such as cars, watches, cell phones, and even calm waters. You can make outdoor activities safer and more enjoyable by reducing blinding light reflections.

 

2. Increases the color contrast

Polarized lenses will make objects appear sharper and more clear. The increased contrast in the colors makes it easier to see details. It is like having high definition glasses.

 

3. Eye strain is reduced

Polarized lenses don't require you to strain your eyes. Your eyes will feel more relaxed due to the reduction in sun brightness and blockage of glare. This makes long days of sun exposure more comfortable for your eyes.

 

4. Look into the Water

While polarized lenses can be used for daily sunwear, they are especially useful for fishing and other outdoor activities. Polarized lenses reduce glare and haze from the water which can make it difficult to see wildlife below the surface.

 

When to Use Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are a great option for avid boaters and fisherman. Polarized sunglasses reduce glare from the water, which is why polarized lenses are so useful. They can distinguish fish from the crowd by using this method. Because of differences in water depth and color, the tint and mirror of lenses can differ for inshore and offshore fishing.

Polarized lenses are not only for those who enjoy being outdoors in the open sea, but also for anyone who is looking to reduce glare. Running, biking, skiing and hiking all benefit from reducing glare. Polarized lenses, for example, can help you see in rain as long as they are not too dark. It reduces the amount light that is reflected into the snow. This makes skiing more enjoyable. This is a warning sign that you should be careful when going downhill. It might make it harder to spot icy spots in the snow because there isn't much reflection.

When to Avoid Polarized Lenses

Why would anyone use any other type of polarized lens if they are so effective? Polarized glasses are not always the best choice. The computer test below shows that polarized glasses can cause blackouts at certain angles, preventing you from seeing clearly. These are some examples of LCD screens:

• Car dashboards equipped with LCD screens
• Cell phones
• ATM machines
• Some digital watches

 

Some professions, like those in aviation, may prohibit you from wearing polarized sunglasses. Pilots avoid polarized sunglasses because of the large LCD screens on many planes they use to navigate. Before putting yourself and others at risk, always double-check.

Polarized sunglasses can cause headaches and nausea in sensitive eyes. Polarized lenses can cause eye irritation. Even if the symptoms are not severe, they could be caused by wearing low-quality polarized lense. Low-quality lenses are often found at discount stores and gas stations. You may be able to reduce your symptoms by investing in polarized lenses of higher quality.

Non-Polarized versus Polarized Lenses

It is crucial to distinguish between polarized and non-polarized sunglasses when shopping for them. Both can reduce brightness and protect from harmful UV light. However, non-polarized lenses do not eliminate glare as polarized lenses do.

 

Are Your Lenses Polarized?

Are you unsure if your sunglasses are polarized? To check if your sunglasses have polarized lenses, here are two tests you can do at home.

1. Computer Test

This one requires a backlit LCD computer. The computer screen will be viewed through your lenses. Next, rotate your glasses. It will get darker if your lenses have polarization. This is because LCD screens use polarized technology.

2. Pop Out Your Lenses

First, find a piece of white paper. Once both lenses are out of their frames, place one lens on top of the sheet of white paper. The other lens should be held on top of it. Keep the lens facing the same direction as the first and slowly turn it so that the second lens is parallel to the first. If the lens is polarized, the overlap should gradually get darker until the entire area becomes black. The bottom lens blocks horizontal light waves, while the top lens blocks vertical light waves. Because the bottom and top lenses cancel one another, no light can pass through.

Summary

• Light travels in waves, and they can come at you from many directions. Polarized lenses block light waves from reaching you and allow only vertical waves to pass through.
• Polarized lenses offer four major benefits: they block glare, increase color contrast, reduce eye strain, and allow you to see into the water.
• Polarized lenses are useful for activities such as fishing, running, cycling, skiing, and boating.
• Polarized sunglasses can cause problems in certain situations. Some cars have LCD screens on the dashboard. Others use ATM machines, cell phones, ATMs, and watches. People in certain professions can also be affected by it, such as those working in aviation.
• All sunglasses are not the same. It is important that you understand the differences between non-polarized and polarized sunglasses. It does not necessarily mean that lenses are polarized if they offer UV protection.
• To check if your lenses have polarization, there are two things you can do at-home. The first requires an LCD computer, while the second requires that you pop out your lenses.

Make sure to grab your polarized sunglasses the next time you are out.