Ever donned aviator sunglasses and slid them down the bridge of your nose just to get that ultra-cool look? You're certainly not the only one who has! The origin of this popular style of sunglasses dates back to the 1930s when WWII pilots began donning them during flights to reduce glare from the sun. But these aren’t just any sunglasses, they are actually polarized sunglasses. And it's no surprise that polarized sunglasses have become all the rage, but do you know exactly how they work?
Polarized sunglasses contain a special filter that blocks intense reflected light. This filter filters out certain rays of light, reducing glare and improving visibility by making colors more vivid and enhancing contrast.
In this blog post, we're going to uncover the science behind polarized sunglasses in order to explain what makes them so effective in reducing glare and enhancing vision. We'll explore the process of polarization and its application to lenses, and then cover the benefits of wearing polarized lenses. So, if you want to learn all the secrets behind why polarized shades are the best choice for any outdoor activity, keep on reading!
Table of Contents
What are Polarized Sunglasses?
Polarized sunglasses are a specialized eyewear designed to reduce the brightness of reflected surfaces, such as water or snow. The lenses of polarized sunglasses are laminated with a film containing vertically aligned microscopic crystals that block and absorb light waves. This reduces the amount of glare reflected off horizontal surfaces, allowing improved visibility and comfort while outdoors.
The debate surrounding polarized sunglasses lies in its effectiveness compared to other forms of eyewear. Many believe that polarization provides superior protection against the sun’s harmful rays when compared to regular sunglass lenses. Others argue that since the visible light spectrum is only five percent of solar radiation, polarized lenses barely make a difference in protecting eyes from the UV lights.
Regardless of which side you are on in the debate, polarized lenses can offer greater comfort and clarity to those outdoors. By blocking out excessive light and allowing clear vision through darker lenses, they provide an improved viewing experience for those looking at wide open spaces like beaches or hilly countryside. And with this improved viewing experience comes the next section: How Polarization Works.
How Polarization Works
Polarized lenses are created using a technology known as polarization, an optical process that consists of arranging the filters in a very specific pattern. Polarized lenses work by blocking light waves that reflect off flat surfaces. This means they reduce glare and help improve visibility, especially in environments with high levels of reflected light such as on snow, ice and water.
Most glare is caused by horizontally polarized light which can be blocked by vertically polarized lenses. When vertical filters are fitted to the lenses, they refract the horizontal light away from the eyes, while still allowing some other (non-horizontally-reflected) light to pass through. By doing this, polarized sunglasses reduce glare making it easier to see in bright conditions or during activities like fishing, skiing and driving.
However, there are some drawbacks to polarized sunglasses too: for example, because they do reduce some of the natural lighting that reaches your eye, depending on the lens design you might experience “dimness” or reduced brightness of colours and objects. Additionally, vertically polarized lenses can obstruct certain types of electronic displays or detectors due to their polarization properties (this includes instruments such as speed cameras and aircraft dashboard reading devices).
Overall, the benefits of using polarized sunglasses usually outweigh any negatives. By reducing glare and improving visibility in outdoor environments they provide protection against both UV rays and bright strong light which can harm our eyesight over time if not properly defended.
Polarization technology provides an effective way to protect our eyes from harmful environmental factors while still providing clear vision in bright conditions. With this knowledge in mind, let's move onto discuss the technology behind lens production and what makes them so effective.
Polarized lenses are created using a technology called polarization that filters light waves, blocking those that reflect off flat surfaces and reduce glare. Polarization improves visibility when engaging in activities, like fishing, skiing, and driving, and helps protect eyes from UV rays and bright light.
However, polarization can slightly dim objects as well as obstruct certain electronic displays. Ultimately, the benefits of polarized sunglasses usually outweigh any negatives.
Lenses Technology
When discussing lenses technology, one of the most important factors to consider is how polarized lenses work and the specific materials used. Polarized lenses are effective in reducing or eliminating glare, which can be damaging to eyesight and even dangerous when driving or operating other equipment.
A polarized lens is essentially a filter that blocks out light waves which vibrate in one particular direction, with horizontally aligned light waves being the most likely to cause glare. This is achieved by using vertically aligned tiny crystals sandwiched between two sheets of film. When horizontally aligned light hits the lens, it causes a chemical reaction between the microscopic crystals in the lens which are then able to reduce the amount of glare passing through.
The traditional and most common material used for making polarized lenses is polycarbonate, though there are other possible materials such as Trivex and high-index plastic and glass. Polycarbonate is lightweight and highly impact-resistant, making it an ideal material for sunglasses. However, Trivex is also becoming increasingly popular due to its superior optical clarity and thinner shape than polycarbonate, while high-index plastics offer increased durability over glass.
When choosing polarized lenses, different factors should be taken into consideration such as weight, thickness, durability and optical clarity. Depending on individual preferences and activities involving use of sunglasses, different materials may be better suited in order to balance protection against glare and comfort of wear.
As we've discussed how polarized lenses work in reducing eyestrain caused by glaring light rays and explored various materials used in their construction, it's clear that there are many considerations when selecting lenses technology for your sunglasses. In the next section we'll look at specifically what types of materials are used in producing polarized lenses.
What are Polarized Lenses Made Of?
Polarized lenses are made primarily of polycarbonate, a lightweight and durable plastic material used to protect against impacts. Polycarbonate is the standard lens material for creating polarized lenses, as it provides superior optical clarity while maintaining its shape and preventing scratches. Additionally, many lenses also include ultraviolet (UV) protection to shield your eyes from damaging UVA and UVB rays.
There are also some polarized lenses on the market made with glass or plastic-resin construction. However, these types of lenses can be heavier and less shatterproof than polycarbonate lenses. Still, both types of lenses offer superior light filtration and crystal clear vision.
When discussing polarized lens materials, experts debate whether a lens should contain glare-eliminating chemicals or be coated in a special chemical film for maximum clarity. While chemical coats may help reduce reflections and enhance contrast, some studies have raised concerns about potential eye exposure to certain chemicals used for this purpose. Ultimately, it is important to do your research before purchasing polarized sunglasses and invest in a reputable brand that employs responsible manufacturing practices.
So what differentiates polarized lenses from regular lenses? The next section will explore how polarization technology reduces glare to give you improved vision and enhanced color enhancement when you’re out enjoying the great outdoors.
What Differentiates Polarized Lenses from Regular Lenses?
Polarized lenses are much different from your average sunglass lenses, considering their advanced functionality and benefits. The primary distinction between polarized lenses and regular lenses is the technology that blocks intense reflected light from entering your eyes. Polarized lenses contain a filter that is comprised of tiny vertical stripes that work to reduce glare caused by light reflecting off smooth surfaces like water or snow. Regular sunglass lenses do not employ this same filtering process, which explains why they are less effective at blocking intense reflected light.
On one side of the argument, some sunglass brands market "polarized sunglasses" without actually containing polarization technology, so buyers should be cautious when trying to differentiate between a polarized lens and a regular lens. One simple way to verify whether your sunglasses contain the polarization feature is to look through them with the sun shining directly on the front of the lens. If it looks blurry due to bright light reflections, it means the lens does not contain polarization technology.
On the other side of the argument, true polarized sunglasses offer several advantages over regular sunglass lenses - primarily in terms of comfort and contrast between objects’ colors and shapes around you. For instance, while fishing polarizing sunglasses will allow you to see clearly beneath the surface of the water, enabling you to detect fish more easily. Furthermore, since glare is blocked out instead of reflected back into your eyes, wearing polarized glasses makes for a more pleasurable outdoor experience overall.
For these reasons, an increasing number of sunglass wearers are opting for polarized lenses instead of regular ones. To learn more about what sets polarized lenses apart from regular ones as well as how you can benefit from them, continue reading about the benefits of polarized sunglasses in the following section.
Benefits of Polarized Sunglasses
The benefits of polarized sunglasses are massive and include improved visibility and eye protection. Polarized lenses reduce glare from surfaces such as a body of water, snow, and other bright reflective surfaces. This reduces eye strain, making it easier to see in those environments without having to squint. They also provide UV protection from the sun’s harmful rays, guarding your eyes from damage over time and improving comfort in the long run.
On the other hand, some polarizing lens can make it harder to read digital screens due to their polarizing layer which blocks light evenly, altering the display visibility. For example, digital instrument or GPS displays on boats may transition perpendicular or even disappear completely when wearing polarizing lenses. Lastly, many low end polarized lenses are not true polarization, meaning they do not offer adequate UV Protection or clear surface reflections.
Thanks to polarized lenses, we now have improved visibility in outdoor environments and improved eye protection against damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun. That said, it is important to keep these limitations in mind when considering them for everyday use or activities that involve looking at digital screens. In the next section we will look at how polarized sunglasses protect our eyes from potential danger.
Eye Protection
When it comes to protecting our eyes, one of the most important considerations is how well the glasses guard against ultraviolet (UV) rays. Our eyes are delicate organs, and long-term exposure to UV rays has been linked to increased risk for macular degeneration and cataracts. Regular sunglasses can help protect our eyes from sun damage, but polarized sunglasses offer an additional layer of protection.
On one side of the argument, many optometrists recommend wearing polarized lenses even when indoors to block out blue light from digital devices such as laptops and smartphones. By blocking out this type of radiation, polarized lenses reduce our chances of suffering from Digital Eye Fatigue Syndrome, a condition often caused by extended exposure to artificial screens.
At the same time, some experts argue that too much sun protection carries its own risks. By blocking out all UV rays, sunglass lenses limit the amount of vitamin D - essential for healthy bones - that our bodies produce naturally. Additionally, wearing tinted lenses outdoors can impact our circadian rhythm due skylight being filtered out by the lenses.
Taking both sides into consideration, wearing polarized sunglasses with proper UV protection is generally considered the safest option when spending extended periods of time outdoors in sunny environments.
Next we'll discuss how polarized lenses provide superior UV protection compared to regular sunglasses.
Polarized Sunglasses and UV Protection
When it comes to protecting yourself from the sun, polarized sunglasses have become one of the most effective forms of protection. Not only are they able to reduce glare and improve visibility, but they also help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.
UV radiation is an invisible form of energy that has been linked to a number of eye health issues including cataracts and macular degeneration. Because of this, experts recommend wearing 100 percent UV-protective sunglasses whenever you’re exposed to direct sunlight. Polarized sunglasses are often made with lenses that are treated to block this type of radiation, providing additional protection against UV light.
Although some experts argue that tinted lenses without UV-protective technology can still provide some level of protection, others argue that tinted lenses may actually make it easier for more UV rays to enter your eyes due to their filter transparency. This means that even if you purchase regular non-polarized shades, you may not be receiving as much protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
Polarized sunglasses provide an extra layer of protection for your eyes when it comes to blocking out both visible light and UV radiation. By combining general tinting with special polarization technology, these shades help decrease glare so you can see better and stay protected from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation at the same time.
With this added protection in mind, polarized sunglasses should always be your first choice when looking for eye wear. Before making a purchase, make sure you double check that your selected pair are labeled as being 100% UV protective.
Now that we understand how polarized sunglasses can protect us from harmful UV radiation, let's take a look at how they reduce glare so we can see better - the next section discusses "Glare Reduction".
Glare Reduction
Glare reduction is perhaps the most obvious benefit of wearing polarized sunglasses. Glare occurs when light rays bounce off a surface like a lake or a roadway and make it difficult to see. The horizontal polarization of polarized lenses blocks these horizontally-oriented rays, relieving strain on the eyes. To demonstrate this concept, you can take two polarized lenses and hold them at right angles, creating a cross shape: any glare that passes through one lens would be blocked by the other lens.
This characteristic provides safety advantages while out on the water, snow, or road since the details on the surface are more easily visible due to reduced brightness levels; this increases awareness in potentially hazardous situations. Polarized lenses can also provide comfort when out in sunny environments because colours appear more vibrant due to reduced light reflection.
On the other hand, non-polarized lenses do not offer this protection as non-polarized lenses simply reduce overall brightness level without distinguishing between parts of the light spectrum.
By filtering out 99 percent of glare, polarized lenses help bring comfort and clarity back into our sunny moments. With plenty of brands and styles to choose from, these sunglasses offer an essential accessory during any outdoor venture.
The next section will discuss how polarized sunglasses can improve clarity and vision beyond basic glare reduction.
Clarity and Vision Improvement
The primary benefit of polarized sunglasses lies in the glare reduction, but it is also worth mentioning that the lenses themselves can improve clarity and vision. Thanks to a special filter included on polarized lenses, there is improved visual acuity provided, which increases contrast and visibility even further. This can be especially useful for driving or other activities where you need to be able to see clearly in any and all weather conditions.
On one hand, most people will acknowledge that polarized lenses are beneficial insofar as they improve visual accuracy, particularly in bright sunlight. However, some counter that the improvement of clarity is slight at best and may not be meaningful enough to justify the added expense associated with these types of glasses.
Ultimately, whether or not an individual is convinced by this claim depends heavily on personal opinion and preferences. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that polarized sunglasses offer a wide range of benefits beyond just glare reduction, such as improved contrast and clarity.
It's clear that polarized sunglasses can provide more than just glare protection - they can also aid in improving one's vision while out and about. In the next section, we'll take a look at our final thoughts on this topic.
Conclusion
Polarized sunglasses provide amazing protection from the sun's harsh rays and allow us to see more clearly when out in the sun. The technology behind polarized lenses is simple yet highly effective, by blocking horizontally-aligned light, reducing glare and allowing for more detail in our vision. It is a great addition to any set of sunglasses, whether worn on their own or in combination with a UV filter.
The main downside to polarized lenses is that they can reduce visibility when looking at LCD screens, such as those found on smartphones and GPS systems. For many who do not use these screens while outdoors or are willing to take off their glasses when using them, this inconvenience is small or non-existent and many still prefer polarized lenses as they feel they offer superior protection during outdoor activities. There are also potential legal issues if one happens to be driving around with polarized lenses as it can interfere with traffic lights.
Ultimately, it is up to the individual user and their specific needs which lens type to choose when buying new sunglasses. Polarized lenses certainly have the advantage of providing superior glare-reduction and stronger UV protection than regular sunglasses. They can also look great, coming in a variety of styles and colors. However, those who use a lot of electronics outdoors may want to consider using non-polarized lenses instead so they don't experience further visual interference while using those devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using polarized sunglasses?
The main benefit of using polarized sunglasses is improved visibility by reducing glare. For outdoor activities, this can be especially useful in bright conditions when light reflects off surfaces like water or snow.
Polarized lenses also reduce eye strain, help maintain color perception and clarity, and may even reduce the risk of UV damage. Furthermore, they are easy to wear and style so you can look good while protecting your eyes from the sun's rays.
Is there any difference between the cost and quality of polarized sunglasses?
Yes, there is a difference in the cost and quality of polarized sunglasses. Generally speaking, cheaper polarized sunglasses are not as effective at reducing glare, do not provide as much UV protection and often have a lower-quality lens that can scratch more easily.
On the other hand, higher-end polarized sunglasses can be more expensive but offer better quality lenses and improved durability that can withstand harder use and provide more reliable glare reduction and UV protection. Ultimately, the price of polarized sunglasses depends largely on the quality of materials used to make them.
What specific types of lenses make up polarized sunglasses?
Polarized sunglasses are lenses that are specifically designed to reduce glare from reflective surfaces, such as water and snow, by blocking more intense light waves. Polarized lenses contain vertically aligned tiny crystals called "polarizers" that filter out horizontally reflected light and allow only vertical light rays to enter the eyes.
These vertical rays provide clearer vision while reducing glare and squinting caused by UV rays bouncing off of reflective surfaces. The most common types of polarized lenses used in sunglass manufacturing are made of polycarbonate, CR-39 resin, shatterproof glass, or prescription lenses with an added polarizing film.