polarized lenses lcd displays brands

Polarized sunglasses may make it easier and more comfortable to see outdoors, but wearing them while trying to read an LCD (liquid-crystal display) screen can sometimes — literally — leave your eyes in the dark.

Most LCDs, such as your smartphone and tablet, use a polarizing filter to help you see the screen in bright sunlight. But so do polarized sunglasses, meaning the two essentially cancel each other out, causing your LCD screen to appear dark or completely black when you look at it.

Polarized sunglasses are designed to block glare — overly bright light reflected off shiny surfaces such as water and snow. Natural light consists of protons bouncing in many directions; polarized lenses filter that light, causing those protons to travel in a single, uniform direction (usually horizontal).

Polarized sunglass lenses are coated with a chemical compound composed of molecules that are parallel to one another. These molecules absorb any light waves traveling in the direction in which they’re aligned, preventing them from passing through the coating.

LCD screens and sunglasses typically contain a polarizing filter for the same reason: to make it easier for you to see clearly, especially in bright sunlight.

What tends to happen is your polarized sunglasses do their job by only allowing light to pass through vertically. Meanwhile, your phone screen emits horizontally vibrating light while blocking vertical light.

Your lenses and screen end up counteracting each other by working in opposite directions. As a result, you wind up seeing a dark or blacked-out image.

The solution is simple: Rotate your tablet or phone screen by 90 degrees. This trick usually works because it positions your screen’s polarizing filters so they block light waves traveling in the same direction as your polarized sunglasses, allowing light to pass through.

Newer smartphone and computer screens have found ways to compensate for this issue, but you may still notice a darker screen when wearing polarized sunglasses with an older model screen.

In some cases, you may need to view LCDs on an instrument panel that can’t be rotated. This can be true for boaters and pilots who must be able to read instrumentation quickly and accurately to ensure their safety. For this reason, you should avoid wearing polarized sunglasses in these circumstances.

Polarized lenses also can interfere with your ability to see and read the displays on gas pumps and ATMs. To see more clearly when filling your tank or withdrawing money, remove your sunglasses when performing these tasks.

Any reputable eyewear retailer (brick-and-mortar store or online shop) will provide accurate labeling on sunglasses they offer, so you should be able to tell at a glance whether those sunglasses you’re considering have polarized lenses.

Hold the sunglasses in a way that allows you to look through both pairs of lenses at the same time. Rotate one pair of sunglasses by 90 degrees. If all light is blocked when passing through both pairs, then your older sunglasses probably have polarized lenses.

You also can test your sunglasses by looking at an LCD screen while wearing them. Just remember to rotate the device 90 degrees to make sure you’re checking for a polarizing filter that blocks light traveling either horizontally or vertically.

ARE YOUR SUNGLASSES POLARIZED? If not, it might be time for a new pair. Shop for polarized sunglasses at an optical store near you or an online eyewear retailer

Known as the sunnies to sport for athletic use (hiking, boating and the like), most people who typically wear prescription glasses can benefit from a solid pair of polarized sunglasses. Similar to how UPF-protective clothing and sunscreen help bask off harmful UV rays, so is the case with these sunglasses, as they help control the amount of reflected light hitting your eyes.

We turned to a board-certified optometrist who explained what to look for in the best polarized sunglasses and also pulled the top styles to shop for this season.

Reflected light in any form can cause discomfort and reduced visual performance — specifically, acuity and decreased contrast — so these special lenses help alleviate this eye-ridden distress.

Now, many polarized sunglasses exist on the market, including frames from GlassesUSA, RAEN and even Dick’s Sporting Goods. Many of our favorites are unisex, too.

From the company that started the polarized sunglasses trend hands-on, Ray-Ban is offering the Erika Polarized Sunglasses for less than $200. Wonderfully, the nosepiece isn’t too thick (which is perfect for avoiding foundation makeup from transferring) and we love its simplistic, match-all design.

Shop one of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ top sellers: Oakley’s Holbrook Polarized Sunglasses. With a sportier look and feel, they have a coveted lightweight frame with different types of polarized lenses to choose from. Plus, they also come in a blue tone.

Don’t pass up the classic aviators this season. Coach’s Polarized Sunglasses are a great score for the season. With a slim nature and gold-toned hues, they’re chic and classy (especially when paired with a designer clutch and new pair of shorts).

If we’re being honest, QUAY has some of the sweetest shades in its repertoire. Namely, its Sweet Dreams Polarized Sunglasses are less than $100 (in other words, add to your cart now) and its thin nosepiece band will provide lightweight support in warmer temps.

Blenders Eyewear has the surfer-inspired, cool blue polarized sunglasses we’ve all been waiting for. Its Surfliner Polarized Sunglasses are budget-friendly, add a touch of vibrancy to your summertime look and look great on anyone. They’re a lovely unisex option, too.

Give your eyes the clarity and protection they need without the high ticket price. Foster Grant’s Marli Polarized Sunglasses are some of our favorites on this list (and ones we recommend IRL), so pick up this moody tortoiseshell pair while you still can.

If athletic polarized sunglasses are more your speed, you’ll love Nike’s Trainer Polarized Sunglasses. They’re the perfect blend of quality and affordability, too, and they’re apt for sports and basking in the sun’s rays all the same.

Elevate your look tenfold with Michael Kors’ Anaheim Polarized Sunglasses. These on-trend, oversized sunglasses will look dynamite with your best bikini and cover-up this season, undeniably, and they’re conveniently on sale right now.

Polarized lenses have some limitations and should only be worn in suitable conditions, according to Hoff. Specifically, they’re suitable for driving in bright sunlight, around water, snow and sand.

Though great for a variety of purposes, you don’t want to wear polarized sunnies all the time. Since these lenses will interfere with LCD (liquid crystal displays), they’re not recommended for airline pilots or heavy equipment users that utilized LCD instruments or screens.

“Polarized lenses make it difficult to distinguish shades of white and mask ice patches making downhill skiing and snowboarding difficult,” Hoff notes. “Polarized lenses can also cause you to see the tempering pattern on windows, say, when it looks like a grid pattern and can be distracting while driving when you see them in car windows.”

“Polarized lenses are designed to reduce reflected light from flat shiny surfaces like glass, sand, snow, water and the road to increase visual comfort and a sharper image,” Hoff explains. “Polarized lenses have filters oriented perpendicular to the reflected light to absorb the intense beam of light, too.”

They’ll likely be clearly labeled but if you want to test for polarization, orient them 90 degrees apart, per Hoff. “If the lens in question is polarized light will be totally blocked, if not light will pass through,” she notes.

However, use caution whenever digital displays are used in sports. “Some cycling handlebar displays are not compatible with polarization,” Hoff says. “Also, due to decreased depth perception with polarized lenses, avoid polarized sunglasses with ball sports such as baseball and tennis, and mountain bike riding.”

Wearing tinted or polarized lenses at night is not recommended unless prescribed for certain ocular conditions by a qualified Eye Care Practitioner, per Hoff.

Interestingly enough, “polarized sunglasses block out a significant amount of light and studies show they do not help with night driving glare,” Hoff adds. “They can actually be harmful because in low light conditions too much light is blocked reducing acuity and contrast to unsafe levels for driving.”

Anyone who wears polarized sunglasses should know that they can make things look a bit screwy once inside a car. Window tint can look like it has squares imprinted in it, colorful in-dash displays can get a little psychedelic and head-up displays can completely disappear.

Because of this, I avoided polarized sunglasses for years. As I was constantly testing different cars from different manufacturers, I couldn"t have my sunglasses throwing an unnecessary personal variable into reviewing a car. Besides, my non-polarized Oakleys were just fine for the California sun. I also didn"t want every other review I wrote to have a Con of "instruments disappear with polarized sunglasses" – something that always irked me when Patrick Bedard would review something for Car and Driver. And if memory serves me right, BMW was often in his crosshairs for radio displays that would disappear when wearing his polarized sunglasses.

Which is all why a PR pitch from BMW Eyewear caught my attention. Apparently, they have something called Vi/ON lenses that contain a special polarized filter produced by Dalloz Creations that supposedly prevents in-car displays from distorting or disappearing altogether. Sounds like a game changer, especially for head-up displays, which continue to suffer the most from polarized sunglasses despite all-digital gauge clusters and other interior displays being generally impervious nowadays. Indeed, I once drove a Kia Stinger for four hours before I took off my polarized sunglasses (yes, I eventually made the plunge) and discovered the thing had a HUD beaming info onto the windshield the entire time. Some HUDs are better than others in this regard, but all suffer to some extent with polarized sunglasses.

Well, most polarized sunglasses apparently. Let"s see how these BMW Eyewear Drop Collection sunglasses do, specifically the BW0005 "navigator frame" that markets for $219 when fitted with the Vi/ON lenses. There are two other design options available in the 2021 collection plus a third does not seem to be available with the Vi/ON lenses.

Since they are BMW-branded sunglasses, testing them in a new BMW was in order: a 2021 4 Series Convertible. I also checked them out in a pair of older BMWs, a 2013 BMW X5 and a 1998 BMW Z3. I also tested them in a 2021 Kia Telluride, since I already knew Kia"s HUD would present a challenge. As a control, I used a pair of Oakley Latch sunglasses with Prizm Sapphire Polarized lenses that I knew could distort certain interior displays and diminish HUDs.

On the left is the view with the BMW Eyewear Vi/ON lenses. On the right are the Oakley Prizm Sapphire Polarized lenses. These photos are true to what I was seeing.

This is a far more concrete result, once again proving that Kia"s HUD gets along worse with polarized sunglasses than those of other carmakers, including BMW.

As for other vehicle displays, I didn"t notice any difference with any of the cars I tested. Both the BMW and Kia"s digital/animated instrument panels were always legible and undistorted regardless of glasses, as were other interior displays. I would be curious to see how they"d perform with the colorful, low-mounted displays found in upper-crust Bimmers like the 7 Series and current X5 as those can create some hippy-dippy distortions with the Oakleys. Unfortunately, I didn"t have one of those cars on hand.

I also didn"t notice any distortion in the various amber LCD displays in the 2013 BMW X5 and 1998 BMW Z3. Apparently, Mr. Bedard"s beef with BMW was isolated between those eras, which makes sense given that"s when those reviews were written.

So, how about that. A product delivers as promised. The Dalloz Creations Vi/ON polarized filter does indeed work better inside a car than those of at least Oakley and likely most other polarized sunglasses. As for the glasses themselves, BMW Eyewear is produced by the Marcolin Group, which produces eyewear for a diverse array of brands, including Ermenegildo Zegna, Harley-Davidson, Marciano, Skechers, Swarovski and Omega. In total, it sold about 14 million eyeglasses in 2019.

Just tried out a fix for the black-out + polarized glasses problem with the a7iii, i.e. putting on a protective glass on the screen. And voila, it works, to some extend.

The screen is now fully visible, but as with many other things and polarized glasses, the tint of the screen changes with rotation. My suspistion is that the adhesive between the glass and screen diffracts the light from the display to become more scattered (less polarized) thus allowing various colors and light to get through the polarization of the sunglasses.

Might explain why most smartphone screens tend to be reasonably visible (as in, you see visual artifacts but at least it"s not pitch black) with polarized glasses.  Or smartphone manufacturers have taken this phenomenon into account and include QWPs by default.

The A7M3 is the only product I"ve used that went pitch black with my prescription polarized glasses.  To the point where the first time I took it out when wearing the glasses, I thought the camera was broken.

Turns out that my current phone has an AMOLED not LCD, I could have sworn otherwise, but I"ve definitely had OK results with my glasses and other LCDs.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized eyewear is the only contrast enhancing eyewear that meet the EN.166 and ANSI Z87.1 safety standards. While other companies focus on either the functionality or style of eyewear, we manage to deliver a product that is stylish on the outside and mind blowing from the inside.

These lenses ensure high-performance on slightly cloudy/overcast days, as they minimize the blue light (HEV) reflected from white (lines on the road) and blue objects. Green, orange, and blue colors will appear more vivid, and glare across reflective surfaces will be reduced. Additionally, they will improve your depth perception, so that underwater landscapes are highlighted.

With these lenses, colors are evenly distributed based on wavelength strength for increased contrast and performance. Additionally, they reduce blue light (HEV) to allow more saturation of colors in red, yellow and green areas; they define and intensify yellow shades; and they reduce glare across reflective surfaces.

The lenses equalize the visible light spectrum to help light enter the eye more uniformly. They keep most colors neutral while enhancing greens; they reduce glare across reflective surfaces; and contrast and color in outdoor environments are highlighted. 100% UVA/UVB protective

With these lenses, the reflection of blue light (HEV) off water is reduced. Moreover, they equalize the visible light spectrum to help light enter the eye more uniformly; keep most colors neutral, while enhancing greens; and they reduce glare across reflective surfaces. 100% UVA/UVB protective

These lenses distribute color evenly based on wavelength strength; reduce blue light (HEV) to allow more saturation of colors in red, yellow, and green areas; and they define and intensify yellow shades. Additionally, they reduce glare across reflective surfaces, and highlight contrast and color in outdoor environments. 100% UVA/UVB protective

The lenses have a high-performance on slightly cloudy/overcast days, as well as they reduce orange and blue peaks, which allow greens and yellows to appear more vivid. Additionally, they reduce glare across reflective surfaces, and have an ideal Visible Light Transmission % (VLT) for changing light conditions. 100% UVA/UVB protective

The human eye cannot see the entire light spectrum. Some areas are too difficult for your eye to see clearly, while others are much too dangerous for your eyes’ health. CAPTIVATE™ Polarized lenses filter out the harmful rays, as well as light that confuses the eye, increasing clarity and definition with vibrant contrast and vivid detail.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized lenses filter out that confusing light and make the color spectrum clearer for the eye. The results are increased contrast and greater clarity.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized blocks out the UV and bad blue light (HEV) (380nm-430nm) – rays that are harmful to our eyes, reducing the risk of damage to retinal cells and age-related macular degeneration.

Wiley X utilizes a proprietary oleophobic coating on all CAPTIVATE™ Polarized lenses to create a smoother lens surface, which helps to keep dust, dirt, oil, snow, and water from sticking to the lens. This in turn helps prevent smudging and water spots, making the lenses much easier to clean than an uncoated, standard lens.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized filters out the confusing light where blue merges with green (500nm) and green merges with red (585nm). This allows more light where it is easier for your eyes to see, resulting in enhanced blues, greens and reds for a true color experience.

Blue light (HEV) with shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies scatter light and create haze. By filtering out this bad blue light (HEV), CAPTIVATE™ Polarized removes the haze and allows distant objects to be seen more clearly.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized lenses allow the beneficial side of blue light – blue-turquoise rays – to be seen. This helps maintain the body’s Circadian biological clock and the sleep/wake cycle. This beneficial blue light also boosts alertness, helps memory and elevates mood.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized technology is offered in a variety of lens tint options so you can fine-tune your experience based on the specific needs of your environment.

By eliminating the bad blue light (HEV) haze while separating and enhancing colors in the visual spectrum, CAPTIVATE™ Polarized lenses will enhance depth perception.

CAPTIVATE™ Polarized blocks the UV/blue light (HEV) rays that are harmful to our eyes. It is important to remember that spending one hour outside on a normal overcast day exposes our eyes up to at least 30 times more blue light (HEV) than spending one hour inside sitting in front of a screen. Wiley X CAPTIVATE™ Polarized is the only premium polarized eyewear brand that blocks out all bad blue light (HEV) up to 430nm.

Polarized sunglasses and the infotainment screen: Two great technologies that don"t play well together. Polarized lenses cut glare and can bump up contrast, effectively sharpening your view, but they can make it nearly impossible to see some modern nav screens or head-up displays. Since it"s less than practical to swap your car to match your favorite sunglasses, here"s a primer before you invest in new summer shades.

HOW THEY WORK: Horizontal light waves, like those reflected from the road or your dashboard, severely hinder your vision in bright light. Polarized glasses block these waves, making surroundings seem clearer and helping to reduce eye fatigue.

THE DOWNSIDE: Since head-up displays function by reflecting light horizontally off windshield glass, polarizers can make these displays seem to disappear. LCD infotainment screens and digital gauge clusters also use polarizing filters and can go dark when seen through glasses polarized in the same orientation. Some carmakers combat this problem by reorienting those light waves on an angle; depending on the angle, this can help but not entirely fix the issue.

THE ALTERNATIVE: Half-silvered lenses with a gradient tint let in more light than the polarized variety, with the reflective coating blocking more at the top of the glass than at the center or bottom. This protects your eyes from the sun but lets you see what you need on the dash.

But what if we told you that times are changing, technology has advanced, and you now have the option of choosing a pair of cockpit-friendly, digital-device compatible polarized sunglasses?

Today we will share exciting news about a visionary sunglasses brand that has brought polarized lenses to everywhere from the golf course to the ocean and now – to the cockpit.

When light hits a flat horizontal surface (like water or snow), it is reflected back more intensely, and also in a horizonal direction. This type of light which is retransmitted in mainly one direction is said to be polarized.

The lenses of polarized sunglasses have a special laminated filter that blocks much of this powerfully magnified horizonal reflection and allows just the vertical light through.

Non-polarized lenses work by simply reducing the intensity of the light that passes through them and into our eyes. Basically, they just act as dimmers and make the light less bright.

Non-polarized lenses do not have the benefit of a filter to decrease the blur, haze and glare that comes from intense horizontal light reflecting off of flat surfaces.

Traditional polarized lenses present an issue in the cockpit largely because of the way that their light-filtering technology interacts with digital devices.

A byproduct of the filtering is that it often makes it more difficult – if not nearly impossible – to read LED and LCD screens on devices like cell phones, tablets or instrument panels.

The polarized lenses in Revo brand shades feature unique technology that other brands lack. This special tech makes Revo a polarized lens that we can finally recommend wearing in the cockpit.

The secret to Revo’s singular effectiveness lies in its ability to manage the full light spectrum. Revo has designed specialty lenses to combat blue light, glare and UV radiation while remaining digital-device friendly.

We are all plenty familiar with the blinding glare that can envelop the cockpit. Revo lenses protect our eyes and reduce the strain, fatigue and squinting.

Phones, tablets, LCD/LED instrument displays – all the screens in the cockpit can still be easily viewed and read while wearing Revo polarized glasses.

The top side of a Revo lens is given a “polarized film” to reduce glare and eye strain. Over the top of the film are 3-6 layers of “exclusive mirror coatings” – the secret NASA technology component. Finally, an “oleophobic coating” helps keep oil and fingerprints at bay.

Revo may not reveal all of their proprietary secrets, but it is clear that they have put a great deal of research, thought and care into crafting their high-performance lenses.

When buying new sunglasses, people commonly ask the same question: Do I really need polarized lenses? As they should. After all, polarization is far from a small investment. For example, a classic pair of Wayfarers with polarized lenses ($203) lists over 30 percent more than the non-polarized version ($153). “The lenses look the same when you see them, but there are physical layers, not just coating layers, in these lenses that take a lot more time to make,” said Dave Barton, the founder of premium eyewear brand David Kind.

Polarized lenses have an immediate effect on vision, reducing glare off of flat surfaces. The quality of material and method of manufacturing greatly affects both the price point and the optics. “A polarized lens in a $10 pair of glasses is going to have some of the properties of a polarized lens in a $500 pair of glasses,” Barton said. “But, you’re getting 30 percent more effectiveness and quality, and maybe 50 to 80 percent more durability when you start going up.”

There are many manufacturers making medium and low-end polarized lenses, but the highest quality glass comes from just a few factories across the world, including Barberini in Italy and Nakanishi in Japan. “When you’re sourcing your lenses, it makes a difference to a point what you’re picking,” Barton said.

To better understand how polarized lenses work, the range of available options and who benefits the most from polarization, we talked to few independent eyewear experts.

Behle: We consume a world of reflected light that is constantly moving and in flux. Polarized lenses channel this reflected light, reducing its movement. This channeled light provides more visual clarity and definition. Polarized lenses also address eye fatigue and strain from reflected light. Eye fatigue is caused as your pupils chase reflected light, which causes constant expansion and contraction of the eye as it adjusts to the changing angle and intensity of the light. This eye fatigue is a direct trigger for headaches and migraines.

Barton: Polarized lenses are almost like mini Venetian blinds — there are microscopic blinds that are in the film in the lens. That cuts out the glare that’s coming into your eyes at that angle. It’s very effective at this.

Daly and Vallot: Polarized lenses block reflected light so they offer a higher level of eye protection. People often forget sunglasses are a medical device. Unlike our skin, our eyes do not contain melanin. This means [that] each time we expose them to sunlight, they become more sensitive.

Behle:Polarized lenses have a polarized film that filters reflected light in a vertical plane (the reflected light is predominately vibrating in a horizontal plane). In channeling that light, polarized lenses remove the majority of electromagnetic vibration, also known as glare.

Barton: The cheapest way to produce it is to use an acrylic-based material or acetate material, and then laminate the polarized film between these thin sheets of acrylic or acetate. Then they use heat to form it into the spherical shape of a lens and then they cut the lens. Those are the cheapest, but they also have the most distortion of the lens. You can see these hot spots around the edge of the lens that cause distortion and reduce the polarize effectiveness. And they scratch really easily too.

The next level is polycarbonate injection molded [lenses]. You see a lot of this being used. It’s what Oakley uses primarily, and it’s what most of the other sports brands use. It’s an impact-resistant material, and it’s more scratch resistant than the [laminated lenses]. The film is put into a mold and they inject the polycarbonate material around it. That makes for a good strong lense, but it’s not a clear lens to look through. It can cause distortion in the polarized film.

Next, you start getting into CR39, where you have two wafers and you glue the polarized film in between the two wafers of the lens. Done with a high quality, this can be a much clearer lens than the polycarbonate one, but it’s not impact-resistant.

Then you have glass, which is primarily what we use at David Kind. It’s done in the same construction method as the CR39, but it’s going to be the clearest, most scratch-resistant material. It seems to affect the polarization film the least. If it’s manufactured in a high-quality facility, it doesn’t distort the polarized film, so you have nice polarized effectiveness all around the periphery of the lens.

There’s also cast NTX, which is kind of like a Trivex material. Instead of injection molded under pressure, it’s cast into a mold around the polarized film. That results in an impact resistant, relatively distortion-free lens material. So I would say, for sport, that is the best. And for optical clarity and scratch resistance, glass is the best.

Behle: Quality in a polarized lens starts with the quality of the lens material. The highest quality lenses are optical-grade and they’re predominately made out of CR39 or mineral glass. The second component is the quality of the polarized film and how the film is adhered to the lens and aligned. Quality polarized lenses use a higher quality polarized film, sandwiched between the two lenses so that the film is perfectly aligned in the worn position. They also use a backside anti-reflective coating on the inside of the lens that absorbs light that enters from the back of the lens and prevents this light from reflecting back into your eye. Further, high-quality lenses will use hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings that repel water and oils, to ensure that your lens is clean and clear.

Barton: One of the best values out there is a glass polarized Ray-Ban aviator. That’s a great quality lens and they’ve been doing it for years. As you move up-market, you start getting into better frames, and you start getting things for the lens like anti-reflective coating, which make a huge difference. You can get into photochromics, you can get into mirror coatings — all of that increase the price as well. When you go down-market, you start going into the polycarbonate materials. The cheapest of the cheap are the gas station polarized ones are the acrylic acetate ones that won’t last.

Daly and Vallot: There are different levels of protection available. Our mountain athletes also request IR (infrared rays) protection due to a closer proximity to the sun. IR causes our eyes to get warmer and inflamed so this additional protection is paramount. Mirrored lenses have also gained a certain notoriety in the sports industry but this is more cosmetic than anything else in our opinion.

Behle: Everyone. It is absurd to be wearing a sunglass, especially a premium sunglass, that does not have a polarized lens. Beyond UV protection and reducing the amount of light that penetrates the lens, which virtually all sunglasses have, the real point of having a sunglass is being able to see clearly and without eye strain in the constant barrage of reflected light. Most people equate polarized lenses with outdoor activities on the water, but they are conducive to virtually all settings. You are getting almost as much reflected light from urban surfaces, e.g. auto windows and concrete, as you are on the water. The mirror effect and movement of water, of course, amplifies this glare.

Barton: My experience is it’s definitely not for everyone; it’s for most people, but it’s not for everyone. Some people feel a little discombobulated because they’re disoriented by the effects that polarized can have, They’re not used to it. For example, car window screens that have window tint, you start seeing these purple blotches. It can change how you perceive the road surface. If you’re a skier and you want to see the reflection of ice on a sunny day, you don’t want polarized. If you’re a pilot, many of the windscreens are polarized themselves, and when you combine a polarized windscreen and polarized glasses, it can black out the screen, so they don’t wear polarized. It’s definitely not for everyone, but for most people, you’re going to have a better visual experience, especially when you’re in bright conditions, near water or outdoors.

Find a surface or object that produces glare. It’s easiest to work with a hand mirror. Keep the glasses in your hand, horizontally, and look through them. If you rotate the glasses to about 90 degrees, the glare from the mirror will start to disappear. If your lenses aren’t polarised, it will look the same or even appear brighter.

Another easy way to test for polarisation is to use other polarised items such as LCD screens, PC monitors, or an extra pair of polarised sunglasses. Hold the glasses in front of the screen or glasses, turn them to about 90 degrees, and notice whether they turn completely dark or black. If they do, your lenses are polarised.

No. Polarised glasses do not lose their functionality over time, unless the lenses crack, chip or break. If you feel that your eyes are more light sensitive and you think your lenses are to blame, there may be other factors to consider. Your prescription sunglasses may be too weak or not suitable anymore, or you could have another underlying condition that causes light sensitivity. If you experience this, book a consultation with your eyecare practitioner and take your glasses along.

Remember that some coloured lenses have limitations, and you can’t necessarily wear them for every occasion. For example, certain colours may hinder you from seeing traffic lights when you’re driving.

Polarised lenses are available in almost any colour you can think of, but speak to your eyecare practitioner about what you intend to use your tinted glasses for before choosing a shade.

Yes. It can actually improve your vision when driving by reducing the annoying glare reflected off objects on the dashboard through the windscreen, wet roads, snow, white sidewalks and metal. Just be aware of the fact that you may struggle to see the LCD displays in certain cars.

No other lenses on the market can reduce glare better than polarised ones. However, at the end of the day the purpose you want to use your sunglasses for will determine your choice.

Although most polarised lenses also provide UV protection, keep in mind that there’s a difference between full UV protection and polarisation. Make sure that your eyes are fully protected from harmful UV rays by purchasing lenses that block up to 400 nm.

But what about polarized lenses? It’s not uncommon to see the word “polarized” next to “100% UV protection” on the tag for a new pair of sunglasses. What does that mean? Will polarized lenses protect your eyes from ultraviolet light too?

Non-polarized sunglasses are designed to reduce the intensity of any light. If your lenses offer UV protection, they most likely contain special dyes and pigments that absorb ultraviolet rays, preventing them from reaching your eyes.

Polarized lenses are treated with a chemical that filters out light. However, the filter is applied vertically, so vertical light can pass through, but horizontal light cannot.

That is the general idea behind polarized lenses. Some vertical light can pass through the filter, but horizontal light, or glare, is unable to make it through.

Even when glare is not a safety issue, it can impact your ability to see clearly. Athletes and outdoor hobbyists often use polarized sunglasses so they can see with a higher degree of precision.

Polarized lenses may not be the ideal choice in every situation. For instance, devices that use LCD displays emit polarized light. If your car uses LCD displays for basic controls, you should avoid polarized sunglasses while you drive.

Polarized lenses will not protect your eyes from UV damage more than standard 100% UV lenses. However, they can give you clearer, more accurate vision and alleviate some eye strain.

If you find yourself squinting a lot, even when you’re wearing sunglasses, consider investing in polarized sunglasses. You may find them to be a more comfortable option.

However, polarized sunglasses are not limited to the elite competitor. Because of their affordability, they can be used by everyone—even if you aren’t a professional athlete. The reason they are so popular is due to the increased visibility and performance they provide the wearer in everyday situations. While athletes use them to maximize their performance, the consumer can use them to maximize their experience. Whether it’s taking a relaxing hike, enjoying a casual Sunday drive, or relaxing with a book on a beach, polarized sunglasses can eliminate the distracting glare that causes visual discomfort in any sunny situation. Polarized sunglasses can best be described as a sun-glass option for everyone.

Some of this light lands directly on the eye, while some of it is reflected off of surfaces like roadways or water. This reflected light is slightly bent and scattered in all directions according to its angle of incidence on the reflective surface; some of these reflected light rays become polarized.

When a bundle of light hits a flat surface, it becomes polarized, i.e., is reflected only hori-zontally. It becomes concentrated and is blinding to the viewer. This intense reflection is commonly referred to as blinding glare. The reflections can be uniform, like light reflected off of the road ahead of a driver or from another car’s hood. The reflections could also be from non-uniform or changing surfaces, like running water or a non-uniform patch of ice on the road. No matter the case, the desired requirement is to filter out the distracting reflected light and provide a clear viewing experience for the wearer.

The properties of polarized filters are used in a variety of fields such as chemistry, engineering, professional photography, geology and astronomy. As an example, polarized filters can be used to highlight clouds for photographers or detect the amount of stress in lenses in a frame by observing the amount of birefringence (internal stress) induced. This is used in a variety of engineering stress tests and is used in many finishing labs to ensure proper lens fit with minimal stress placed on the finished lens.

One can think of polarized lenses as linearly aligned slit filters used to block incident light of a particular orientation. Think of the filter acting like Venetian blinds: The horizontal blind blocks incoming light from above and below. By blocking this light, it provides a clearer view when looking out a window; there are fewer distractions and reflections observed. For optimal viewing, a polarizing lens should stop horizontally polarized light from view while allowing vertical light rays through the lenses.

As stated, reflected light off flat surfaces becomes polarized in a horizontal direction to the viewer. It causes blinding glare. This light obstructs images from the observer, such as the bottom of a shallow streambed. By eliminating the reflected blinding glare from water, the wearer is able to see below the surface of the water and clearly identify rocks and fish. The advantage in this example is safely avoiding obstacles while wading through the stream, locating the fish one might be trying to catch as in fly fishing or from a boat.

Another instance in which polarized lenses provide an advantage is while driving because of the elimination of glare from oncoming traffic or the road itself. Both the metal finish from other cars and the road itself can be quite reflective on bright days, but this effect is amplified if it has recently rained or snowed. Suddenly these surfaces are reflecting much more light and in many more directions. Polarized lenses filter and reduce the most intense horizontal reflections from these surfaces. This ensures that the wearer’s eyes are relaxed and don’t feel strained, which can result from even a short drive.

Polarized lenses have never been suitable for pilots of major aircrafts. The Federal Aviation Administration (or FAA) advises pilots against wearing polarized sunglasses. The FAA specifically mentions polarized lenses creating striations and decreased visibility through aircraft windscreens. This can create much more visual noise (a colorful rainbow effect and visual obstruction)

for the pilot. This is extremely important when spotting other aircraft in high-traffic situations during takeoff or prior to landing. Polarized lenses effectively mask the sparkle of light from other aircraft, which is necessary to provide an additional measure of safety for pilots in these high-traffic situations.

The FAA even discourages the use of polarized sunglasses due to reduced visibility of instrument clusters equipped with anti-glare filters. This is a result of newer instruments incorporating LCD technology for digitally displaying flight data such as altitude, pitch and yaw of the plane. A polarized filter can dim or even make gauges disappear entirely, which can result in an unsafe situation for the pilot. The AR surface of the gauge helps reduce reflections from the sun or other lights in the cockpit that might mask the LCD display. However, this AR cannot reduce the problem of polarized sun lenses.

To the average consumer, the largest drawback is the disappearance of LCD screens like smartphones, car gauges, radio displays and gas pumps while wearing polarized sunglasses. LCD displays utilize a polarizer, placed at 45 degrees to ensure proper color contrast and clarity of the picture. This isn’t a problem for the wearer when their lenses are aligned in a parallel orientation to the polarizer in the LCD screen. But when the wearer is looking at an LCD device at a perpendicular angle to the polarizer, the image turns black. The same effect occurs if you hold two polarized lenses at 90 degrees to one another.

While this has been more of an issue in the past when looking at digital displays such as GPS navigation, advances in screen technology displays emit light at various angles to ensure that displays can be seen through polarized lens filters, though potentially dimmed. This is still a critical point of note when choosing lenses for those who work outside and rely on digital displays. I have asked many engineers and construction workers to bring in their digital devices and explore how their screens look through polarized lenses. This has saved costly remakes and patient dissatisfaction from choosing the wrong lenses for their needs.

One other note of importance is that some skiers prefer tinted lenses instead of polarized lenses because of the reduced visibility of ice. Since the reflections are eliminated, skiers might not be aware of the ice until it is too late. Those competing in slalom events need to know where they have to check their speeds to safely take the corners. Although competitive skiers wear goggles for competition, many recreational skiers will wear their sunglasses and go straight from the mountain to their après-ski activities. This is another point of mention with patients who express interest in using their sunglasses on the mountain.

Despite these cautions, the advantages of wearing polarized sunglass lenses outweigh the disadvantages. It is important to consider lifestyle and overall use of the sunglasses to make the most appropriate decisions concerning patient lens selection. It is very important that these limitations are understood and easily explained by the dispensing optician for troubleshooting purposes or to discuss how polarized lenses will work for patients’ specific needs.

The advantages to the consumer are invaluable in creating a better visual experience during daytime activities. First, they remove reflections in the form of scatter (“visual noise” as the reflected short wavelengths are polarized and crisscross over one another). This is called Rayleigh’s Effect and is a major reason that polarized lenses are so comfortable overall. Secondly, polarized lenses increase color saturation to the viewer by increasing edge contrast and color variations of an object. Because of this, environments look more vivid than if observed by the unaided eye: Leaves are a vibrant green, and the sky is a darker hue of blue. By eliminating blinding glare, polarized sunglasses provide visibility of an otherwise hidden object for the wearer. This is important for spotting debris and road imperfections whether on a bicycle, motorcycle or while driving a car.

Anti-reflective coatings, especially on the back surface of polarized lenses, are a requirement for the best sunglasses. These coatings improve acuity while driving and should be recommended to anyone wearing sunglasses when commuting. This option eliminates distracting reflections from objects behind the wearer, most noticeably the image of the wearers’ eye reflected on the inside of the lens, which can obstruct vision. Some premium anti-reflective coatings also prevent harmful UV from being reflected into the eye when the sun is behind the wearer.

The acuity polarized lenses can provide to the wearer is also important to mention. Colors look truer and better defined than a neutrally tinted sunglass. Depth perception and horizon differentiation is improved due to this filtration. This makes a big difference to the golfer following a ball bouncing down the golf course or a spectator at a baseball game tracking the ground ball from the infield into the outfield. However, golfers may have difficulty “reading the green” because of the individual grass blade reflections (the grass blades are pointed in all directions) and as a result, many prefer golf-specific tints.

While you don’t need polarized sunglasses to watch these events happen in real time, they are more comfortable and noticeably reduce eye fatigue over the course of several hours of watching the same events.

Comfort is a major factor to wearing polarized sunglasses. The eyes can become tired after viewing the same activity occur for several hours. This is most evident to those with long commutes or individuals who drive for a living—they are fixated for hours at a time on a road emitting horizontally reflected light and blinding glare. This reflection can cause discomfort, sensitivity and distraction. Polarized lenses help to reduce this fatigue by filtering “noisy light” (or distracting reflective polarized light). This can relax the eye, eliminating eye strain and making the wearer more comfortable.

Part of the necessity of sunglasses is to protect the eyes and the adnexa (the skin surrounding the eyes) from UVA and UVB light. All polarized filters are engineered to block these specific wavelengths of light waves regardless of the material of the lens. However, very light polarized lenses may not be as UV-absorbing as dark sun lens densities. Significant absorption is important for the health of the eye and ensures protection from damaging ultra-violet radiation that is associated with cataract development and retinal damage from prolonged exposure. Large sunglass frames act like a shield, protecting the eye and the sensitive skin around the socket. Sunscreen is used to protect the body from sunburn, so think of polarized sunglasses as sunscreen for the eyes.

This is also very important to consider at higher altitudes where the UV and visible light is much more intense. Sunlight includes potentially damaging high-energy blue-violet radiation (415 to 455 nm) of concern by ECPs and a predominant conversation with patients using digital devices. This light, associated with retinal damage is also filtered by polarized lenses. This makes for another crucial talking point when recommending polarized lenses to the wearer.

Polarized sunglasses act like sunscreen for the eyes by blocking these damaging frequencies of light. In fall 2012, Anderson Cooper suffered from sunburn to his cornea (commonly referred to as snow blindness, the clinical term is photokeratitis) while reporting for “60 Minutes.” He was recording a segment from a ship off the coast of Portugal without wearing any eye protection for only two hours. Even with limited exposure to light reflected from the water’s surface, it was enough for him to lose sight in his right eye for 36 hours. While the effects of a corneal burn are temporary, the long-term effects of intense UV exposure could result in cataracts, pingueculae, pterygia, skin cancers or permanent damage to the eye.

Sunglasses can also protect the bones that form the eye socket from projectiles. According to the National Eye Institute, approximately 800,000 total eye injuries occur in the United States annually. Of those total recorded injuries, roughly 100,000 occur while engaged in sports; but it is estimated that 90 percent could have been prevented with proper eyewear. Sunglass manufacturers purposely pair Trivex or polycarbonate lenses in sport frames for maximum protection.

Polarized sunglasses in many ways sell themselves to the consumer. It is important to demonstrate the advantages and to be able to explain how polarized lenses will benefit the wearer whether they are recreating or competing. Reinforce to the viewer that polarized sunglasses ensure the highest quality of vision to maximize both their performance and experience. This way you will strategically align your practice to sell more polarized lenses, because polarized sunglasses are truly everyone’s most important piece of outdoor equipment.

Polarized sunglasses are all the rage these days. And why not? There are many benefits to wearing polarized lenses, such as reducing eye strain and improving vision by blocking excess glare. Heck, for some people, polarized sunglasses can even help lessen or eliminate headaches.

All of which is great if you are planning to buy new sunglasses. But what if you already own a pair and don"t know or remember if they’re polarized? Do you have to just buy a new pair? Not necessarily. There are several easy ways to determine whether or not your current sunglasses are already polarized. You’ll find tips that might save you more than money—they could also save your eyesight and help prevent macular degeneration. And for superior clarity and protection, check out Xperio UV™ Polarized Sun Lenses for the best vision under the sun.

This is so meta it might just blow your mind, but if you wear your sunglasses while reading this article, you may be able to determine whether they are polarized. That"s because most modern computer screens use the same glare-reducing technology as polarized lenses. If you rotate your glasses sideways while looking at a computer monitor through polarized glasses, portions of your screen will become blank or go dark. The same is true of LCD display screens such as the ones on a gas pump. Crazy, right?

One of the primary benefits of wearing polarized lenses is cutting down on glare, such as the glare you get off a car windshield. Polarized sunglasses are also great at reducing the glare of the sun reflecting off water. If your sunglasses are polarized, instead of only seeing the surface of a lake or river, you will suddenly be able to see through the glare and into the water below. Catching all those fish down there, on the other hand, is up to you.

If you know somebody who owns polarized sunglasses, figuring out if your own lenses are polarized is as easy as phoning a friend. All you need is their cooperation—and, of course, their glasses. First, hold up your glasses and theirs simultaneously and look through both pairs at the same time. Then, rotate one pair of sunglasses about 60 degrees. If both pairs of glasses are polarized, the overlapping area will darken as they filter out excess light. If your pair isn"t polarized, however, you won"t notice any difference.

Most new polarized sunglasses come with a sticker on one of the lenses stating that the glasses are polarized. But some companies take things a bit further and actually mark their polarized sunglasses in a more permanent fashion. Some even etch the word "polarized" into the bottom edge of the left lens. As a result, even if you bought your glasses months or years ago, it"s possible a quick inspection may turn up clues you never even noticed before.

If you determine that your sunglasses aren"t polarized, a trip to your eye doctor can solve this problem. Your local eye doctor is able to swap out the lenses in any frames for polarized lenses, typically in a week or less. If you wear glasses full-time, you can even have your eye doctor add your prescription to your polarized sunglasses.

Polarized lenses-the greatest thing since sliced bread. Invented in 1936 by Edwin H. Land, the same man who brought you the Land"s camera by Polaroid, polarized lenses have long been a staple in the eyewear industry. And for a very good reason. Polarized glasses cut hazardous glare off of flat surfaces such as water, glass, and asphalt. The question this article and our sunglass lens color guide will answer is: what are polarized sunglasses and how do they work?

So, what do polarized sunglasses do, exactly, and what lens color is the best for bright days? First, let"s back up a little in the history of the polarized lens. In 1808, a French physicist and mathematician by the name ofEtienne-Louis Malus discovered that light waves from the sun, which usually vibrate in all directions, can be aligned in one direction when reflected off something.

When the polarization axis is vertical, all light that has been polarized through reflection and is now traveling horizontally (such as the glare off of water or a windshield), will be blocked by the filter. It can’t pass through because it’s moving the opposite direction of the filter.

Likewise, any non-polarized light that’s moving in multiple directions (i.e., the knuckleball) will become polarized as it passes through the filter, because the horizontal light will be blocked, and the vertical light will pass through.

If you were to take 2 of these filters and cross them perpendicularly, less light would pass through. The filter with a horizontal axis will block vertical light, and the vertical axis will block horizontal light. That"s why if you take two polarized sunglasses and tilt them back and forth between 0° and 90° angles, they"ll darken as you rotate them.

You can also verify whether your lenses are polarized by holding them in front of a back-lit LCD screen. Unlike standard sunglasses or non polarized sunglasses, as you turn the lens, it should become darker. This is because LCD screens use crystal filters that can rotate the polarization axis of light as it passes through. The liquid crystal is normally sandwiched between two polarizing filters at 90 degrees to each other. Although not standard, many polarized filters on computer screens are oriented at a 45 degree angle. The screen in the video below has a filter on a horizontal axis, which is why the lens does not darken until fully vertical.

Not all sunglasses are equal. Cheaper lenses on regular sunglasses let less light into your eyes but fail to block the UV rays you can"t see. UV rays can do serious, long term damage to your eyes.Make sure your lenses block 100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays. UV-A and UV-B rays make it through the protective ozone layer, and can cause long-term damage to your eyes.

While many lenses feature a protective UV coating that quickly degrades after time, Revant lenses provide integrated UV protection within the lens itself that keeps your eyes safe from 100% of UVA, UVB and UVC rays for the life of your lenses.

Not exactly. While they do elevate contrast that will enhance situations where glare can be distracting or dangerous, they don"t offer any additional protection from harmful UV rays. However, polarized, tinted sunglasses’ glare reducing properties can alleviate the onset of sunlight-induced eye strain and headaches.

The most often talked about disadvantage of polarized lenses is that they can make it difficult to look at LCD screens. While wearing polarized lenses, the lenses reduce the amount of light your eyes process from an LCD screen. In certain conditions your phone screen might be visible when looking at it at a 90 degree angle, moving to different angles can make the display disappear completely.

Are polarized lenses good for driving? Not for everybody. The treatments in automotive glass can also be slightly more apparent while wearing polarized lenses, causing some minor distractions while driving.

At Revant, we specialize in making polarized replacement lenses for any brand of sunglasses. If you have an old pair of non-polarized sunglasses that need to be refreshed or upgraded, we can help. If you’re looking for the best sunglasses for watersports, polarized sunglasses might be your answer. Check out our full assortment of polarized lenses in the link below.

When you’re heading out on the water, you want to make sure you have a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Wearing polarized glasses on the water, either while boating or fish, is important. They’re more than just a cool lying pair of shades. A good pair of polarized sunglasses offers UV protection. They reduce the glare from light off of water, pavement, and glass.

Polarized sunglasses are treated with a chemical. This will either be applied as a coating or embedded in the glass. The result is a significant reduction in glare.

The coating on polarized sunglasses is the key. It is able to absorb those horizontal light rays that bounce off of the surface of the water. Vertical rays can still pass through, but the glare of reflected light is eliminated.

There is more to polarized glasses than just a cool-looking pair of Ray Bans. The glare reduction caused by polarized lenses reduces eye strain. It also improves your ability to clearly see what’s ahead of you. That’s why polarized lenses are ideal for truckers, boaters, and anglers. When you need to see clearly but are faced with a reflective surface, they are ideal.

Like good quality regular sunglasses, polarized lenses should also reduce UV radiation. UV protection is essential if you spend a lot of time out on the water.

One thing to be on the lookout for is how the lenses you buy offer UV protection. Cheap glasses may say they offer high UV protection, but it’s only the result of a spray on coating. This will come off when you clean the glasses. That will leave you with tinted lenses that offer no protection at all.

Polarized glasses do not look very different from regular sunglasses. That means you may not be able to tell if you have a polarized pair or not. Worse, some lower-quality glasses market themselves as polarized when they are not. That means you need a way to tell the difference. There are a few methods you can use to determine if your sunglasses are polarized.

If you only have one pair of sunglasses, this is how you tell if they’re polarized. You need to find a reflective surface, like water or a glass table. Get it in some bright light and look at it with your glasses on. Now tilt your head. You need to tilt to around 60 degrees. At a 60 degree angle, you should notice the light increasing in intensity. If that doesn’t happen, then there’s no polarization on your glasses. They’re just regular sunglasses.

The reason this works is that the polarization coating absorbs the horizontal rays. At an angle, the light doesn’t hit the same, so it should increase if they are truly polarized.

If you already have one confirmed pair of polarized lenses, then this method is easy. Hold both pairs up so they are facing each other. Straight on you should be able to see easily through both pairs. Rotate one of the pairs to a right angle. The lenses should completely black out if they’re both polarized. If not, then your new pair is not polarized.

For this one, you just need an LCD display like a computer or a phone. All you need to do is look at the screen and tilt your head with the sunglasses on. If the LCD screen goes black, then your glasses are polarized.

If you’re buying a new pair of polarized sunglasses, then this method may apply. Some manufacturers include a test sticker on the lens of new glasses. Again, all you need to do is to tilt the lenses to an angle. If the sticker gets dark as you view it through the lenses, then you have a pair of polarized sunglasses.

Polarization test cards are another quick way to test sunglasses. Many businesses and websites that sell polarized glasses will also sell these cards. When viewed through true polarized lenses, an image will appear on the card. If you view them with your naked eye or normal sunglasses, they will appear blank.

As we have seen, polarized lenses filter horizontal light. But why is that different from normal sunglasses? And does it matter? Both sunglasses and polarized sunglasses filter ambient light. That makes it easier to see in bright conditions. But only polarized glasses reduce glare. Because they absorb those horizontal rays, clarity is greatly increased.

Polarized glasses cost often more but offer more. If you spent a lot of time near reflective surfaces, they are a necessity. Fishing and boating are greatly improved when you use polarized lenses. They just make everything easier.

It’s worth noting that if you use polarized sunglasses in the winter, there may be some drawbacks. Because of the glare reduction, it’s hard to see ice with polarized glasses on. If you do any ice fishing you may be unable to notice very smooth ice patches.

If you do the LCD screen test with your glasses, you’ll notice it’s hard to see. Reading screens in normal sunglasses is easier than with polarized ones. If you’re doing a job that requires frequent viewing of electronic screens, polarized may be a bad choice. For instance, pilots often wear normal sunglasses just for this reason.

What does “polarized” even mean? And, what are the benefits of polarized vs. non polarized sunglasses? Do non-polarized lenses really protect your eyes? These are the types of questions we all ask ourselves before splashing out on a new pair of sunnies or when we’re choosing replacement lenses for our favourite sunglasses. Read on to find out all you need to know. We’ll start with the all-important basics…

A polarized lens is one which is designed to reduce glare from reflective or bright surfaces. We apply a polarisation film to the outside of our lenses, which is created using a very delicate chemical process, to help filter out light. The chemical molecules in the film line up to proactively block out some of the light that passes into, and through, the lens, kind of like a blind might do with a window. Close the slats a little, and only some light can come streaming through – this is essentially how polarized lenses work.

For sunglasses, this means that they filter out ambient light as well as counteract glare. Technically, what’s also occurring is that the filter creates vertical openings for ligh