We need to wear sunglasses when outdoors, particularly during summers to save eyes from the discomfort of hot sun and its harmful ultraviolet rays. Choosing a pair of sunglasses can be hard in today’s market due their availability in varied range. Apart from the frame, you need to select the lenses, which come in an equally large range of colors and tints. Additionally, you get polarized lenses too, which are getting increasingly popular by the day, despite being considerably expensive than the usual lenses. You may be wondering if polarized sunglasses indeed need to be so expensive or these are simply over rated.
Understanding Polarized Glasses
Sunlight gets absorbed or reflected in many directions. Sunlight that gets reflected from a horizontal surface, like land, water or hoods of cars is often reflected back horizontally, producing a very strong glare, which apart from causing discomfort may also cause blinding. Hitting across such glares while driving, apart from being highly irritating, can also cause serious accidents. Polarized glasses have a built-in laminated filter that permits only vertical light rays to go through, and almost totally block horizontal rays of light to eliminate glares. Usually these are available in brown or gray colors, though manufacturers offer other colors too.
Who needs Polarized Lenses?
It is interesting to point out here that polarized lenses were initially used by fishermen and boaters. Because such lenses reduce glare, it is easier for fishermen to view deeper into sea for fish or any obstacle. These days, it is quite trendy to use such lenses. Polarized glasses are very helpful to people who undertake long driving trips and also for sportsmen.
Pros and Cons of Polarized Lenses
Pros
A pair of quality sunglasses would generally contain polarized lenses. Compared to non-polarized lenses, here are the advantages of polarized variety:
A high quality pair of sunglasses will usually include polarized lenses. A polarized lens offers the following advantages over non-polarized lenses:
- Perks up visual comfort
- Enhances clarity of vision and contrast
- Lessens eyestrain
- Enables an accurate insight of colors
- Diminishes reflections and does away with glare
Cons
Like most other items and devices, polarized lenses too have certain limitations. These can be quite disturbing for people who need to see and work on liquid crystal displays, LCDs. If you are wearing polarized glasses, you will have difficulty reading an LCD screen which may seem to disappear altogether at particular angles. That’s why pilots or operators of heavy machines are not recommended to use these. You might have experienced difficulty while operating an ATM machines while keeping polarized glasses on.
Though recommended for use of snow skiers, some may complain getting insufficient contrast, making it difficult to distinguish between patches of ice or snow and moguls. It may prove hazardous. It’s not a good idea to use polarized glasses for this sport.
Both the kinds, polarized as well non-polarized glasses offer their own benefits. While polarized variety is preferred for long drives or fishing, non-polarized glasses may be used for daily affairs when not driving.
Do Polarized Lenses Provide UV Protection?
Superior quality of polarized glasses provides protection against ultra violet rays of the sun. Yet, it will be incorrect to conclude that any polarized lens protects you against those harmful rays from the sun. It is imperative to verify the same from the manufacturer or the dealer that the lenses provide the needed safety. Usually it is marked on the lenses. One of the constituents of polarized lenses is polycarbonate, which is impact resistant and provides UV protection.