A pair of sunglasses is a must-have in every fashion lover’s closet. Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from UV rays, but also enhance colors, clarity and contrast.
Polarized lenses have a special chemical that blocks horizontally polarized light, thus reducing glare.
Try this simple test to see if your sunglasses are polarized: Rotate your glasses or the screen and observe whether it appears brighter or darker.
Reduces Glare
A pair of sunglasses that doesn’t feature polarization reduces the intensity of sunlight, making it easier to view things through the lenses. These lenses are popular among fishermen, golfers, runners and other people who spend a lot of time outdoors. The sun can cause glare on the water, roads and flat surfaces that can cause eye strain or even blindness. The polarized lenses cancel out the bright reflected light from these surfaces, which prevents the eyes from getting strained.
Sunglasses come with many different tints that filter the light in various ways. While some tints enhance colors and some distort them, polarized lenses block out the most intense rays from the sun. Polarized lenses are also more expensive than non-polarized frames, but the increased clarity and reduced eye strain make them worth the investment.
The polarized lens technology involves a coating that has vertical stripes in it that act like blinds. They let in normal sunlight and eliminate the piercing horizontal glare from surfaces such as flat water, road, snow or smooth hardtops (like the hood of a car). The glasses also reduce glare from reflective indoor surfaces, including LCD screens such as those on cell phones and tablets.
Some people like to wear polarized sunglasses when skiing or snowboarding, especially in areas where there are patches of black ice. The polarized lenses help them see the glare reflecting off of them and where they are located, which can be important for safety.
People may also choose to wear polarized sunglasses for driving, as they can increase visibility and improve the contrast between the road and the sky and other objects. However, people should be aware that they can interfere with the readability of some digital screens such as the ones on computers and ATM machines. This might cause problems for those who have to look at these screens for work, such as pilots.
The best way to tell if a pair of sunglasses is polarized is to hold them up to a flat surface and look through them. If they look dim or dark, then they are polarized. This is a quick test that can be done at home.
Less Color Distortion
Non polarized sunglasses do not contain the special filter that cancels out bright surface reflections. As such, they may distort colors more than polarized lenses do. For people with sensitive eyes, this can be a problem. Fortunately, most glasses have some form of tint that will minimize this distortion. These tints can also help block out harmful blue light, which can be a cause of eye strain.
The general idea behind polarized sunglasses is that when light bounces off a reflective surface, it aligns itself in a horizontal direction. This creates glare that can be distracting and even dangerous in some situations. The polarized lens filters out this horizontal light and allows vertical light to pass through, which lessens the glare that causes these issues.
This makes polarized lenses great for sports that take place on the water or over snow, as well as driving and other outdoor activities during daylight hours. But polarized lenses can make it difficult to see patches of ice or snow on roads and sidewalks, which can be problematic in some circumstances.
Sunglasses with a non-polarized lens will still provide plenty of protection against UV rays. They will just do so in a less effective way. And because of the way these sunglasses reduce the intensity of sunlight, they can actually be better for certain types of activity than polarized lenses.
Whether you prefer to wear polarized or non-polarized sunglasses, all good quality sunglasses should protect you against UV rays. Choosing the right pair is all about finding the balance between the protection you need and the look you want.
One thing to note is that polarized lenses can interfere with LCD screens, which makes them less useful for things like a smartphone or GPS device. If you are going to be using these devices, it is best to go with a non-polarized pair of sunglasses. If you are unsure about which type of sunglasses to buy, talk with an experienced eye care specialist for more information. You can also try testing your current sunglasses by holding them up to an LCD or LED screen, and then tilting them back and forth. If the screen appears to get darker or dim, the sunglasses are polarized.
Easy to View LCD Screens
When you’re glued to your phone checking maps on Komoot, snapping pics of your latest hike with Instagram or kicking back and reading your e-book after a mountain bike ride, it’s essential that you can see the screens on your devices. Unfortunately, polarized sunglasses can make it hard to view LCD screens. This makes them less than ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
The reason for this is because polarized lenses block horizontally polarized light, which allows only vertically polarized light to pass through them. Consequently, the screen on your device appears darker or even black. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps that can help you determine if your sunglasses are polarized.
To test if your sunglasses are polarized, simply place them in front of an LED or LCD screen. If the screen gets darker, the sunglasses are polarized. Alternatively, try tilting the sunglasses back and forth. The screen should get brighter and darker as you rotate the glasses.
Polarized sunglasses eliminate reflective glare that can cause eye strain. They also enhance contrast and make colours stand out. Non-polarized sunglasses offer protection against UV rays and reduce overall brightness, but they don’t eliminate reflective glare and can make it harder to read screens.
It’s important to know which type of sunglasses are best for your needs. For example, polarized lenses are better for activities near water or on snow because they filter the sunlight that reflects off of those surfaces. However, if you need unrestricted visibility and don’t plan on going near water or snow, non-polarized sunglasses may be the better choice. Also, if you’re driving and need to see the road in sunny conditions, polarized lenses can make it harder to see snow or ice on the road. This can be dangerous, so if you’re planning on wearing polarized sunglasses for driving, consider switching to non-polarized lenses.
Reduces Eye Strain
Polarized sunglasses are a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts as they reduce glare from reflective surfaces like snow and water. They also block UV rays from the sun, which is good for your eyes. However, there are situations in which you might prefer a non-polarized pair of sunglasses.
For instance, if you’re downhill skiing, it’s important to be able to see the glare reflecting off patches of ice. This can help you avoid falling on them and injuring yourself. If you’re driving, it’s also a good idea to be able to see glare from other vehicles on the road, which is why non-polarized sunglasses may be better for these scenarios.
The main reason people wear polarized sunglasses is because they reduce glare, which can cause eye strain and headaches. This is because they work by filtering out horizontally polarized light waves that bounce off of flat surfaces. However, if you’re not planning to be outdoors or looking at reflective surfaces, then there is no need to invest in polarized lenses.
While polarized sunglasses offer numerous benefits, they can also be distracting and can make it harder to read LCD screens. For this reason, it’s important to test a pair of sunglasses before purchasing them. To do this, simply hold the sunglasses up to a screen and rotate them 90 degrees. If the screen darkens, then the sunglasses are polarized. If the screen doesn’t change, then they are non-polarized.
Both polarized and non-polarized sunglasses provide effective protection from harmful UV rays. However, polarized sunglasses have additional features that can enhance colors, improve clarity, and offer significant contrast. In addition, they can make it easier to view LCD screens, which is especially useful for outdoor activities such as downhill skiing or driving.
Choosing between polarized and non-polarized sunglasses will ultimately come down to your lifestyle, activities, and required comfort level. While polarized sunglasses are more expensive, they do offer several additional benefits that can make them worth the investment. If you’re interested in buying a pair of sunglasses with polarized lenses, check out the range available at Revant Optics.