3 Things You Need To Know About Polarized Sunglasses

Polarized sunglasses are a special type of sunglasses that have lenses that filter light in a specific way – through polarization. This type of light filtering can provide the clearest, sharpest vision without excess glare or reflections. When light hits a surface – such as a paved road or water in a lake – it is reflected in all directions and scatters. This scattering can cause glare and starbursts when viewing this light. A polarized pair of sunglasses use a built-in filter to reduce the glare and light scatter and leave only the light rays which come directly from the surface. Wearing polarized sunglasses is recommended for achieving the best vision in bright environments that have lots of solid surfaces. Activities like fishing, skiing, and even driving can be greatly benefited by wearing polarized sunglasses.
 

What is Polarization?

Polarization is an optical phenomenon that occurs when scattered light rays pass through a special filter and only specific light rays are transmitted and the remaining is absorbed or blocked by the filter.

This principle is used in sunglasses to filter out all of the light rays which are not perpendicular to the surrounding surface.

While sunglasses are tinted, which reduces the brightness of all parts of the scene, polarized lenses selectively filter and do not impact the brightness of the light that is transmitted.

Wearing a pair of polarized sunglasses can allow a lighter-tinted pair of sunglasses to provide even better vision since the polarized filter removes the excess light.
 

How Do I Know If My Sunglasses Are Polarized?

Checking for polarization can be formally done by an optician or optometrist, however, if you have a pair of sunglasses that you believe may be polarized, you can check them at home.

Look through the lenses as you would normally, and look towards a bright, flat surface. If the lenses are polarized, the amount of glare and reflection should be minimal in this view.

Then turn the sunglasses and view through the lenses perfectly sideways. This will have the temples vertical and the lenses stacked on top of each other instead of side by side.

If the lenses are polarized, this method will cause the glare and light scatter to be significantly worse than when viewed directly.

If the sunglasses are not polarized, the orientation of the lenses will not affect how the glare or reflections appear.
 

Benefits of Wearing Polarized Sunglasses

While any UV-blocking sunglasses will provide eye protection from harmful light rays, wearing polarized sunglasses is especially recommended due to the improved vision with this type of sunglasses.

Since these sunglasses are able to improve the clarity of a scene without reducing the brightness, the overall vision is much better.

Additionally, polarized sunglasses can eliminate glare which impacts the ability to see an object that is directly illuminated.

Polarized sunglasses are often marketed for specific outdoor activities, but this type of lens can be used as a pair of daily wear sunglasses to improve vision in all aspects of life.

Our eye doctor at Local Eyes Optometry in New Braunfels, TX excels in the prescription of glasses, contact lenses and the diagnosis of a variety of eye diseases. Call our optometrist at (830) 627-9272 or schedule an eye exam appointment online if you would like to learn more about polarized sunglasses. Our eye doctor, Dr. Marcus Page, provides the highest quality optometry services and eye exams in New Braunfels, Texas.