Cut the Glare! Polarized Sunglasses Help You See Better and Enhance Eye Health

Love is like a pair of polarized sunglasses, making every colour seem more vivid, richer, warmer.
Without it we stare at the world dull-eyed and flinch at the thought it might remain the same
forever.
-Anonymous

They take the glare away. That’s why many people opt for polarised sunglasses. Especially for those who spend much time outdoors, and especially for those who spend time outdoors by the water. The bright glare of water or other wet surfaces not only decreases one’s ability to see details clearly, but it is also tiring for the eyes and, over time, can even be damaging. There are some downsides to polarised lenses, however. For most of us, the biggest drawback is the issue of seeing LCD screens clearly with no distortion. Phones, tablets, monitors, and other graphic displays can be hard to see clearly while wearing polarised lenses. Pilot, for instance, avoid polarisation because they must constantly monitor LCD displays.

That said, for most of us, polarisation is a boon. Providing enhanced visual detail, they make the scenery more vivid, take away “blind spots” while driving (especially on wet, snowy, or icy roads). Light from the sun travels (very fast!) in all directions. When it hits a horizontal surface (like water or ice), though, it travels vertically. If you can filter this light (with polarised lenses) before it hits your retina, the glare is greatly reduced. The lenses do NOT offer UV light reduction. However, reducing glare can greatly reduce fatigue, strain, and headaches.

If you are shopping for sunglasses, or if you are unsure whether the ones you have are polarised, hold them up to an LCD screen and rotate them. See the difference? You can try the same method on a sunny day at the beach when the water has glare. Take your glasses off and rotate them or just tilt your head. Glare should be lessened or accentuated depending on the tilt. Built to filter out glare from vertical light waves, is the raison d’etre of polarised lenses.

Sometimes glass, like in passing cars may look like they are psychedelically rainbow-hued. Because you are looking at tempered glass – glass that has been processed to NOT shatter when broken. Not to worry. The rainbows will disappear if you doff your glasses, but you don’t need to. Those rainbows won’t hurt you or distort your vision

To achieve filtering, lenses are chemically laminated in a vertical pattern. Similar to a window shade, the pattern blocks the vertical light waves that are the cause of glare. With good quality glasses, this chemical process should last the lifetime of the lenses. In the shop or optical store, there should be a tag or an indication somewhere on the glasses that they are polarised. Ray-Ban puts a stylised ‘P’ right on the lens. Lenicc offers Polarised CR-39 lenses giving the most protection from glare and UV light. You’ll see the indiction when you are deciding on your favourite style or with the packaging when you receive them

If you are an outdoorsy-type, especially one who spends time by water, it’s a no=brainer — get polarised lenses. If you must use LCD displays in your work or recreation, you might be better off with regular ones. Your choice. Style-wise, you’ll find the polarisation is available in whatever trendy fashion you decide upon

For Janiqueel? I’m sold on the glare-reduction and enhanced colonization that polarised lenses provide. I’m wearing mine at the beach.

Today!