Let’s start by agreeing on one aspect: sunglasses aren’t all about elevating your look or helping you feel comfortable. They also protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays and block glare, which can be beneficial whether you’re driving, spending time on the water, or simply enjoying a sunny day outdoors.
How do sunglasses achieve this? In short, by having polarized lenses. For starters, consider getting your hands on the best polarized sunglasses here. Meanwhile, here’s a look at how light affects you and how your polarized sunnies work:
Polarization
As anyone who has ever put on a pair of sunglasses understands, light can be very bright and sometimes even blinding. But what exactly is light? And why do sunglasses help reduce the amount of light that reaches our eyes? To get answers, we need to delve deeper and examine the nature of light.
Light is a type of energy that travels through the air and is then detected by our eyes. The light source may be natural or artificial. That said, light doesn’t always move in a straight line. Instead, it can be scattered or reflected in different directions, especially when it hits a solid surface. When this happens, the light becomes polarized. This can cause glare when bright light bounces off a surface and interferes with your vision.
So, what is glare? Think of it this way – when light waves are parallel, they produce a bright reflection. However, when light waves hit a surface at different angles, the reflection isn’t as bright. This is what we perceive as glare.
How Polarized Lenses Work
Polarized lenses filter out the horizontal component of sunlight, which generally produces more glare than anything else. In other words, they help reduce the amount of reflected light that enters your eyes.
These lenses have a filter that only allows vertical light waves through. This helps reduce the glare you experience, making it easier to see on sunny days. Thus, polarized sunglasses are particularly beneficial for those who spend time on the water or in other situations where glare is a common problem. Besides minimizing glare, polarized lenses:
- Improve clarity and contrast.
- Reduce eye fatigue, which occurs as we strain to see.
- Allow you to see better in bright conditions.
Also, polarized lenses are available in various colors, including grey, brown, and green. Grey is an excellent all-purpose option. Brown lenses are ideal for riding, while green lenses are perfect for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing.
However, non-polarized lenses do not have this type of filter. As a result, they allow both horizontal and vertical light waves to enter your eyes, which can adversely impact your vision.
Are Polarized Lenses Right for You?
Polarized lenses may be a good option if you squint or strain to see on sunny days. They can also be beneficial if you spend a lot of time outdoors or on the water, as they can help reduce the amount of glare.
Polarized lenses are not for everyone, however. For instance, they may not be the best choice if you frequently drive at night or in low-light conditions. This is because they can make it more challenging to see by reducing the amount of light entering your eyes.
If you’re unsure whether polarized lenses could work for your situation, it’s advisable to talk to an eye doctor or other vision specialist. They can guide you and help you choose the right type of sunglasses.
Testing Polarized lenses
Many sunglasses are often passed off as polarized. In reality, most are not, although advertisers tend to use the gimmick to lure unsuspecting customers. So, how can you ensure the sunnies you snag at your favorite store are polarized? Here’s how:
Place the sunglasses in front of your eyes. Then, look at a digital screen, such as a computer monitor, phone, or television. If the lenses are truly polarized, you should see no glare on the screen. Next, hold the glasses up to your eyes and then rotate them 90 degrees. If the lenses are polarized, the glare should disappear. If it doesn’t, the lenses are not polarized.
When shopping for polarized lenses, test them first to ensure you get the real deal. It will also help if they provide 100% UV protection, as some don’t.
So, whenever you put on polarized sunglasses, remember that you’re not just blocking out the sun but also keeping out the glare. And if you haven’t grabbed a pair, you might consider adding this eyewear staple to your collection. After all, who doesn’t love a good pair of shades?