Polarized sunglasses are recommended for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. But some people wonder if that means polarized sunglasses provide better protection for the eyes?
Polarized lenses are excellent for improving vision when engaging in activities that expose you to glare. However, unless polarized lenses have built-in ultraviolet protection, they don’t shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays which can cause vision damage later on.
Learn more about polarized sunglasses by reading on below.
Do Polarized Sunglasses Protect Your Eyes Better?
Wearing polarized glasses helps you see better when engaging in high-glare activities under bright sunlight. They also reduce eyestrain, improving clarity and vision when working or playing outdoors. For these reasons, polarized lenses are better compared to other types of sunglasses for the following activities:
- Snow sports
- Fishing
- Cycling
- Boating and other water sports
- Golfing
However, polarized lenses are not recommended when looking at liquid crystal display (LCD) screens such as those found in mobile phones, car dashboards, ATM machines, and certain watches.
Keep in mind that polarization and ultraviolet (UV) blocking are completely different mechanisms in eyewear. Polarized lenses can help you see better in certain situations such as those mentioned above, but they do not offer protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays unless they are also equipped with 100% UV protection.
Experts recommend using sunglasses with 100% UV protection when outdoors to prevent vision disorders. It only takes the naked eye a few hours of unprotected sun exposure to increase the risk of cataracts, temporary blindness, and other vision disorders.
Conclusion
In certain outdoor situations, polarized sunglasses increase clarity and vision. But sunglasses with 100% UV protection is still the best way to protect your eyes from vision disorders. For those who spend significant time outdoors, polarized sunglasses with UV protection is best.