R R

What Are Polarized Lenses?

Polarized lenses are sun lenses designed with a special chemical filter that blocks horizontal light waves. Sunlight reflects off flat, horizontal surfaces like water, snow, or roads, creating intense, blinding glare. The polarization filter acts like a window blind, vertically aligning the light to eliminate this glare, which significantly improves visual comfort and clarity.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Are Polarized Lenses?

Polarized lenses are sun lenses designed with a special chemical filter that blocks horizontal light waves. Sunlight reflects off flat, horizontal surfaces like water, snow, or roads, creating intense, blinding glare. The polarization filter acts like a window blind, vertically aligning the light to eliminate this glare, which significantly improves visual comfort and clarity.

read more about polarized lenses ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

How Do Polarized Lenses Affect My Vision?

Polarized lenses dramatically enhance visual comfort by eliminating blinding glare. Glare is not only annoying but can obscure vision, especially while driving or engaging in water sports. By blocking horizontal light, polarized lenses allow you to see clearly below the surface of water and reduce eye strain in bright conditions.

Is Using Polarized Lenses Always Recommended?

No. While generally recommended for outdoor activities, there are specific situations where they are not advised:

  • LCD Screens: The polarization filter can darken or block the display on some liquid crystal displays (LCDs), such as car dashboards, boat navigation systems, or ATMs.

Pilots: Pilots often avoid them because polarized lenses can interfere with viewing critical cockpit instrumentation and spotting reflections that indicate other aircraft.

Do I Need a Prescription for Polarized Lenses?

No. Polarization is a coating or film applied to the lens material and is independent of the prescription power. You can purchase polarized lenses as non-prescription sunglasses or have the polarization feature added to your prescription eyeglass lenses.

What Should I Do to Maintain Polarized Lenses?

Maintenance is similar to any high-quality lens:

  • Cleaning: Use a soft, microfiber cloth and a gentle lens cleaning spray.
  • Storage: Always store them in a protective case when not worn to prevent scratching the surface, as damage to the film will compromise its effectiveness.

Caution: Avoid exposing them to extreme heat (like leaving them on a car dashboard), which can cause the film to delaminate or bubble.

FAQs on Polarized Lenses

Do polarized lenses offer UV protection?

Not automatically. Polarization reduces glare, but the lens material must have a separate UV-blocking treatment to provide full UV protection.

Can I get polarized transition lenses?

Yes, some lens manufacturers offer photochromic (transition) lenses that also include polarization, which darkens when exposed to UV light and reduces glare.

Are all dark sunglasses polarized?

No. Tinted lenses only reduce the total amount of light entering the eye; they do not specifically filter out horizontal glare like a polarized lens does.