polarized lenses lcd displays manufacturer

The glare of the sun on the sea (and other surfaces) is highly polarized!Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as the surface of a lake or the hood of a car. They accomplish this feat through a process called polarization, much like a venetian blind controls sunlight through a window.

Sunlight itself is not polarized - light from the sun will either be absorbed or reflected horizontally, diagonally or vertically. The problem this causes for fishermen and drivers lies in the horizontal reflectivity. Sunlight bouncing off a horizontal surface will strike the viewer"s eyes at a similar angle. This means the glare from the surface of the water or the road or the car hood will be strong. Polarized lenses have a laminated surface containing vertical stripes. These stripes only allow vertically-polarized light to enter the wearer"s eyes. Glare is eliminated because the horizontally-polarized lightwaves cannot bypass the polarized filter.

Polarized lenses do not provide universal protection from glare, however. If the wearer tilts his head past 45 degrees or so, some of the horizontal light can enter and cause some bright spots. Some wearers who use polarized lenses in snowy areas may find that they lose some contrast between snow and shadows. Fishermen and drivers seem to derive the most benefit from polarized lenses because they deal with mostly horizontal surfaces. A fishermen wearing polarized sunglasses can see below the surface of the water to search for schools of fish or hidden obstacles. Drivers are no longer affected by a constant reflection of light from their hoods or the road ahead.

There are some limitations to the use of polarized lenses, however. Because the polarizing stripes reduce the amount of light entering the eye, polarized lenses cannot be used for regular eyewear with clear lenses. Prescription sunglasses can be tinted a very light gray to accommodate the polarized laminate, but most contact lenses cannot. Some drivers discover that polarized lenses can cause distortions in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Onboard clocks and other instrument displays may be temporarily unreadable.

Both horizontally and vertically-polarized lenses are used to view three-dimensional movies. Some of the light reflected from the movie screen is vertically polarized, which means only a lens with a similar vertical laminate will receive it. The other lens only receives horizontal lightwaves. Your brain takes both of these images and combines them to create a realistic sense of depth.

When light strikes a surface, it becomes polarized. This means that the photons in the light are all vibrating in one direction, instead of in random directions. The light waves travel from "pole" to "pole" along that plane. This phenomenon is what causes the glare reflected from a car window or chrome, or from a wet pavement. This glare distorts the true color of objects and makes them harder to distinguish. It also causes a mirror-effect on wet surfaces, so that objects below the water"s surface cannot be clearly distinguished.

Polarized lenses filter the waves of light by absorbing some of the reflected glare while allowing other light waves to pass through them. The most common illustration of how a polarized lens works to reduce glare is to think of the lens as a Venetian blind. These blinds block light that strikes them from certain angles, while allowing light from other angles to pass through. A polarizing lens works when it is positioned at a 90-degree angle to the source of the glare. Polarized sunglasses, which are designed to filter horizontal light, are mounted vertically in the frame, and must be carefully aligned so that they will properly filter the light-waves.

The first polarized lenses were made of a polarizing film that was sandwiched between two flat sheets of glass. Because glass lenses are so heavy, however, the advent of plastic and polycarbonate materials, which are lighter and thinner, made the glass lenses less popular.

One of the problems with early polarized sunglasses was delamination, when the polarizing film separated from the pieces of glass or plastic. This problem has been solved with modern lenses, as the plastic can be melted and poured into a mold in which the polarizing film has been suspended. The plastic then hardens around the film, creating a solid material, rather than a layered one. Polycarbonate lenses are created in a different manner, since polycarbonate lenses are injection molded and the heat from the process would destroy the polarizing film. For polycarbonate lenses, the polarizing film is applied to the front of the lens and covered with a scratch-resistant coating. This process means that polarized polycarbonate lenses are the thinnest and lightest polarized lenses available.

All polarized lenses have some color, as it is possible to polarize light only when the film is colored. Darker colors provide higher levels of polarization. Depending on the material used, polarized lenses are available in a variety of colors. The following colors are available in each of the following lens materials:

Select your polarized lenses carefully, as lens color does have an impact on what you see. It is important to choose the right color lens for the activity in which you will be wearing the sunglasses. Each color affects vision in different ways.

Orange:Like yellow, orange lenses filter out blue light and increase contrast sensitivity. Orange is a popular color among skeet shooters because it makes the targets more visible.

Melanin: Melanin lenses are relatively new on the market. They are a golden-brown tint and provide high contrast. Melanin lenses are believed to help protect against macular degeneration. Melanin is a pigment that occurs naturally in the body and protects the body from harmful exposure to sunlight. Melanin lenses are made with a synthetic form of this pigment that never loses its potency.

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

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.

The most frequently chatted regarding disadvantage of polarized lenses is that they can make it tough to look at LCD displays. While putting on polarized lenses, the lenses minimize the quantity of light your eyes process from an LCD display. In specific conditions your phone display may be noticeable when taking a look at it at a 90 degree angle, transferring to various angles can make the display go away totally.

The therapies in auto glass can additionally be slightly extra obvious while wearing polarized lenses, creating some small distractions while driving. Upgrade to Polarized Lenses At Revant, we concentrate on making polarized replacement lenses for any kind of brand name of sunglasses. If you have an old pair of non-polarized sunglasses that need to be refreshed or updated, we can assist.

That"s since the light in the skies is polarized. Revolve the polarizer as well as notice that at one orientation of the polarizer, the surface reflections are greatly decreased and you can see below the surface area of the water.

Polarized sunglasses work by removing particular frequencies and positionings of light, such as ultra-violet, which is damaging to human eyes. In order to polarize a material for light, etches of scratches have to be microscopically be taken into the product, so that just the light waves that are lined up with the scrapes can go through.

Drive with Self-confidence If you invest the day behind the wheel of an automobile or vehicle, polarized lenses need to be a must-have in your sunglasses. Polarized lenses can lower the glow from the roadway itself or the light reflected as glare off of your vehicle or vehicle. Polarized sunglasses provide crisp, clear vision without wearing down your eyes, which is crucial for any person who spends the day driving.

We"re here to clarify what polarized sunglasses are as well as exactly how they function. Table of Component, Watch Sunglass Rob briefly discuss what polarized sunglasses are, or read on to learn a lot more.

To make a polarized lens, sunglass makers use layered movie to the lens surface area in vertical stripes that enable upright, yet not straight, waves to pass through. While a darker lens decreases polarized glow, it can not obtain rid of it.

Putting two polarized filters over each other causes them to terminate each other out. In the Sport, Rx display room, we have a special display where the video clip having fun on it is just visible with polarized lenses. Unfortunately, this trick just functions if you"re checking out the display in person. If you try this in your home, the white screen will certainly still just be a white screen.

Below are the most usual sporting activities individuals ask us about, yet if you"re still not exactly sure, do not hesitate to contact us! Fishing and Sailing, When you do sports on or near water, such as angling or sailing, you can"t obtain by without polarized lenses. Water shows 100% of UV light right back at your eyes, making the surface area almost impossible to see without polarization.

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.

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.”

Nearly everyone in the ophthalmic industry uses and appreciates polarized lenses. Yet only about 8 percent of prescription sun lenses dispensed in the U.S. are polarized. There is definitely something wrong with that picture. One company producing high-end plano polarized as well as prescription polarized sunglasses estimates that approximately 20 percent of their products are prescription. If eyecare professionals embrace polarized technology, why aren’t the patients they care for similarly enthused?

As an ECP working with patients who need prescription lenses, you are in a perfect position to discuss the advantages of polarized sunglasses. One might expect that greater than 20 percent of your prescription sunglasses orders would be polarized. Your laboratory can probably provide your practice’s polarized versus non-polarized ratio if you simply request that information.

Are eyecare professionals inadvertently discouraging the use of polarized products? And if so, then how and why is that happening? Perhaps we should dig down to the fundamentals of how we are including polarized lenses in the family of eyecare products that we prescribe for our patients. Could it be that our patients are not really aware of the value of polarized protection? Can you and everyone on your staff honestly say that you enjoy the benefits of polarized lenses? And if you can say it, why don’t you say it?

Is every patient you examine given at least a couple of sentences in the post-exam consultation that deals with the importance of absorptive lenses, and does that information include the difference between standard sun lenses and the better performing polarized lens products? Do you and your staff members let your patients know how much you enjoy the clarity, comfort and improved vision provided by your own polarized sunglasses?

A trial frame and a lens flipper with polarized and non-polarized lenses make a good demonstration of the new Rx and the advantages of polarized sunglasses. It’s quick and easy, and it can be used with a polarizing demonstrator.

These correctly mounted polarized lenses show the blocking effect (photo A) when the absorption axis of the lens is in alignment with the direction of the vibration of the light emitted by this laptop screen (shown by the red arrow). When the eyewear is rotated 90 degrees (photo B) so the transmission axis of the lens is oriented at a right angle to the red arrow, it allows vertically polarized light to pass through the lens. Annoying, visually fatiguing and sometimes visually debilitating reflected light from horizontal surfaces such a snow, beaches, water, road surfaces and car tops, hoods and trunks is polarized and blocked as shown in photo A.

The benefits of polarized lenses are substantial, and those benefits should be understood by every one of your staff members. Polarized lenses are unique ophthalmic products. If your staff treats polarized as an “add-on,” you may have discovered a significant problem. Polarized lenses are truly a unique product. They selectively eliminate visually useless, sometimes dangerous and typically fatiguing light, and they pass light that forms better defined retinal images. But how do your patients learn that you have polarized lenses, and how do they learn about their benefits?

Many manufacturers of polarized lenses have demonstrators that make the advantages evident. Even better, using four-lens, lens-flippers with polarized and non-polarized sun lenses (Fig. 1) makes it quick and easy to demonstrate polarized lenses over a trial frame or over the patient’s existing clear lenses. These are easy-to-use tools, but don’t assume that your staff will intuitively understand how best to use them. (For more on polarized lens demonstrators, see the sidebar, “It’s Easy to Demonstrate Polarized Lenses” on page 94.)

Another easy demonstration is shown in Fig. 2. A lens flipper with polarized lenses and non-polarized lenses can also be used by patients to check the GPS screen in their cars, as well as to check the other instruments. An informal check of GPS screens in 2017 Toyota and Subaru models showed the driver with polarized sun lenses would need to tilt his head at a 45-degree angle to make the GPS screens lighter and most visible. The entire instrument panel and GPS screen of a high-end Audi was polarized, but the manufacturer had wisely shifted the axis of polarization so the instrument and GPS visibility was quite good for drivers with polarized lenses. The same proved true for several models of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz. No tilting was required for a better view.

The screen of several Garmin automotive GPS units worked well with polarized lenses. Even if the polarized lens requires a head tilt for a better view, that should be known before lenses are ordered. Dispensing tip: Let your patient know in advance that some dashboard instruments and some gas pumps may be best viewed with a head tilt—a small penalty to pay for the comfort and safety of polarized lenses for driving.

Three lenses in this flipper are correctly oriented with the absorption axes oriented to block horizontally vibrating light. The uppermost lens axis has been incorrectly oriented to align with the transmission axis, or vertical meridian, in polarized eyewear.

Just as there are standard lenses and better performing AR lenses that should be differentiated for patients, polarized lenses should be presented as a better performing product category compared to the performance of standard sun lenses. Some patients will want the best in whatever they get in health care, but many others will want to know the value they are purchasing. Regardless of patients’ motivations, it is important to dispense top quality, properly fabricated polarized lenses.

In creating a polarized lens, a filter, tinted to achieve an appropriate transmission level, is sandwiched into the lens blank. Polarized lenses theoretically cannot eliminate more that 50 percent of incident light, so some additional tint is typically added to achieve the absorption needed for sun protection. Polarized lenses should always be finished so the edge of the polarized, tinted film is concealed for a better appearance. Nylon cord mountings are best avoided for polarized lenses. Selecting a frame with a somewhat thicker eyewire makes it easier for your lab to conceal the edge of the filter.

The laminated layers of polarized lenses of years ago were prone to separating due to heat, materials contracting or expanding unevenly with temperature changes, or even as the result of using nylon cord mountings. Today various techniques are used to prevent delamination. Your lab should be able to advise you about the properties and manufacturer support that you can expect when fitting polarized lenses.

Occasionally a lab will edge and insert one lens to correctly block horizontally vibrating light rays, but the other lens is inadvertently edged so that it incorrectly blocks vertically vibrating light (Fig. 4). This causes an odd luster effect because one eye sees one level or brightness of reflected light, and the other eye sees another level of brightness. Many patients find this distressing because a binocular rivalry interferes with comfortable fusing of similar objects in the field of view that are seen by reflected polarized light. Occasionally such a patient will return saying that some things seem to shimmer or glimmer, but most will simply be on your doorstep saying, “There’s something not right about these sunglasses.” If both lenses were oriented incorrectly—a highly unlikely error (Fig. 3b)—your patient may not be on your doorstep again, ever.

oriented so that the 180-degree meridian of the eyewear parallels the orientation of polarization of light emitted by the screen (shown by the red arrows). Photo A on the left shows no areas of depolarization. The left frame has a flatter base curve and very little wrap. The lenses in photo B show significant areas of depolarization, but polarized glare is blocked in the center of both lenses. It is important to remember that these lightened areas cannot be seen except by polarized light sources. If your lab finds that the lenses will be too loose when edged down enough to relieve all the stress, the patient may need to either select a different frame or be satisfied with the reduced polarizing efficiency.

A newly dispensed pair of polarizing sunglasses was inadvertently left on a leather-upholstered piece of furniture. When sunlight was reflected from the leather and through the lenses, a patient in the UK was distressed to see that the lenses had significantly lightened, and sent photos and questions asking, “. . . what is wrong?” and, “Will my eyes be more visible to others.” The problem is that the lenses are too tightly mounted in the frame causing areas of depolarization, but to observers her eyes will not be more visible. Obviously this patient appreciates the mystique factor as part of the fashion statement made by sunglasses.

if both lenses in your patient’s eyewear have the correct orientation of polarization. However, the birefringence will not adversely affect your patient’s vision. When verifying polarizing lenses, always check the orientation of polarization as shown in the left photo with the concave side of the lens toward you. When the lens is edged, the meridian that parallels the flat edges of the laminated polarizing film within the lens must be oriented to fall in the 180-degree meridian of the eyewear.

Polarized lenses have two axes, one is the “absorption axis,” which should be aligned with the 180-degree meridian of the sunglasses so that it blocks the horizontally vibrating light reflected from horizontal surfaces, and the other is the “transmission axis,” which is at 90 degrees to the absorption axis, and which passes vertically vibrating polarized light in polarized sunglasses.

An important part of “getting it right” when verifying polarized eyewear is to include two additional steps in your normal verification procedure. First, hold the eyewear with the back of the lenses toward you and view light reflecting off of a flat countertop or tabletop. With the eyewear held horizontally, the reflected light is dimmed in both lenses (Fig. 3a) giving a clearer image. Then by rotating the lenses 90 degrees, both lenses reveal more useless reflected light being transmitted by each lens (Fig. 3b). The second additional verification step is to put the lenses (after they are in the frame) in front of a known source of polarized light in order to look for patchy areas of depolarization (Fig. 5 and Fig. 6).

If your computer screen is not polarized, you can use a plano polarized lens, or even a polarized lens demonstrator for verification purposes. Always check polarized lenses for depolarization with the minus (concave) side of the lens toward you and with the top of the eyewear parallel to the vibration of the reflected light. In the case of reflected light from a horizontal, flat surface or from a polarized lens demonstrator, the eyewear would be held “level” or at right angles to gravity. If you are using a laptop screen as your source for polarized light, start with a polarized lens that blocks light reflected from a horizontal surface, and then determine the position the lens must be in to block light correctly from the computer screen. This will be the orientation you should use when checking lenses using the computer screen.

Be sure everyone on your staff has top-quality polarized sun lenses for their own use. Make educational discussions of polarized lenses part of your staff meetings. These discussions should include how the lenses work, why they are important for better vision and safety, and how to demonstrate polarized lenses with demonstrators available from various manufacturers. Lens flippers can be fitted with polarized and non-polarized plano lenses to demonstrate the benefit of the polarization. This should be done over a trial frame with the new Rx if at all possible.

Your staff should know that the streamlined tilt of automobile windshields creates a veiling image of the dashboard that degrades the retinal image. This contributes to fatigue while driving. Even worse there have been serious accidents, some involving fatalities that have occurred as the result of reflected glare that could have been eliminated had the driver been using polarized lenses. On the more positive side, there have undoubtedly been accidents avoided by more fortunate drivers who owned polarized lenses.

Of course, automobile drivers are also subjected to polarized glare from many other sources such as car tops, trunk lids and trim, road surfaces and other parts of the environment. Although trucks typically have a more vertical windshield than automobiles, truckers are exposed to sources of reflected glare over much longer periods of time than people driving automobiles, and they are prime candidates for the benefits of polarized lenses.

This reflected glare is dangerous as well as fatiguing, and it can be effectively reduced using polarized sun lenses and specialty lenses such as Younger Optics’ DriveWear products. Most fisherman already know the advantage of eliminating glare from the water’s surface, but many patients may not realize the advantages of using polarized lenses for the beach. Both water and sand can create significant discomfort glare that can be eliminated by polarized lenses.

Seniors often realize that night driving has become an issue and wisely restrict their driving to daylight hours. Seniors also have a longer glare recovery time, and legal-for-driving-but-reduced acuity levels and reaction times. The reduction of the veiling effect from the windshield and the elimination of flashes of reflected glare through the use of polarized lenses can make them more comfortable and safer for daylight driving. Of course, polarized lenses should never be used for night, dusk or dawn driving conditions.

Polarized lenses, just like AR lenses, have a tremendous advantage over some of the other significant improvements in eyewear technology. They provide benefits that are immediately patient perceptible and patient appreciated. Should polarized lenses be presented as an add-on when discussing prescription sunglasses? Probably not. Polarized lenses offer unique benefits that deserve to be presented in a category of quality performance of its own. ■

Pilots are not permitted to use polarized lenses when operating aircraft. Most commercially licensed pilots are aware of this regulation, but it applies to private pilots also. The primary

reasons for the restriction are: 1. Aircraft in level flight are seen by light, much of which is horizontally polarized and therefore blocked by polarized sun lenses. With closing speeds that may be in the triple digits or higher, anything that shortens the pilot’s response time to avoid a potential collision is contra-indicated. 2. Various cockpit instruments emit polarized light and may appear dimmed or non-functional when viewed through polarized lenses. Annotating your chart to indicate the patient was advised about this regulation and having it initialed by the patient would be a good idea.

Skiers make frequent, rapid judgments about snow and ice conditions, and their head position varies considerably as they twist and turn down a slope. Changing the head position rotates the absorptive axis (which is in the 180-degree meridian of polarized eyewear) and causes the surfaces they are viewing to vary in appearance. This should be discussed when your patient is considering his or her sunglass options.

Playing golf is generally not a high-risk activity, but many players take the game very seriously indeed. The light reflected from a grass surface can be partially polarized, and this could possibly be a problem.

Selling polarized lenses is easier than you think—simply demonstrate them. Dispensing table displays such as those produced by Younger Optics, Costa and Essilor that are pictured here show how reflections block images on the display in the same way reflections block vision when driving. A polarized lens lorgnette allows the patient to look at the display and the reflected light obscuring the display is blocked. Only the display photo is visible. It’s that easy. Once the patient has worn polarized lenses, they’ll usually purchase them again.

Costa’s in-store demonstrator features a horizontal plaque with the words “Beyond Polarized” that can only be read while the patient is wearing Costa polarized lenses.

Younger Optics’ NuPolar LED Glare Demonstrator creates bright glare so that ECPs may demonstrate the power of polarized lenses to their patients. The unit is battery operated and lights up with the push of a button. It features an easy access on/off button on top and an automatic timed shut-off. It also includes a polarized lorgnette that rests on top of the unit when not in use. If desired, the demonstration image beneath the glare surface is able to be swapped with any one of four seasonal images included.

The NuPolar LED Glare Demonstrator is available to ECPs through laboratories for $50. Ten coupons for $5 off NuPolar lenses are included with each demonstrator.

Essilor offers a sample lens kit that dispensers can use to show patients how XPerio polarized lenses can provide a colorful view while blocking glare.

This bit of magical privacy is achieved through the way typical LCD (liquid crystal display) screens are constructed. Most light from the sun, light bulbs, or that twinkle in your eyes is actually a big messy wad of electromagnetic waves pointing this way and that. This is also the case with the source light for LCDs.

In any case you have to be careful, because not all screens are created equal so results may vary. And it probably goes without saying that this only works with LCD screens, so put the screwdriver down and slowly back away from that plasma screen.

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.

Polarized product comes of ageThis state-of-the-art report shows how polarized lenses have evolved into the growing category they are today.By Joseph L. Bruneni

Sunwear consumers have been attracted to polarized sunglasses for well over 60 years. The first lenses, produced by American Optical, were plano and sold in drug stores.

By today"s standards, these 1930"s products were crude. The first oddity was that the lenses were made from thin sheets of flat glass, with the polarizing film sandwiched in the middle. They were flat because no one knew how to shape polarizing film to match the normal curve of ophthalmic lenses.

A new concept, the first polarized sunglasses were priced around $5.00 to consumers. For those dreary Depression times, this was an outrageous price for over-the-counter sunglasses. Nevertheless, Polaroid sunglasses became successful for much the same reason they are so popular today-they performed an action that was immediately evident.

Edging. When edging, it"s critical to properly align the polarizing filter. Manufacturers place markings on the lens to indicate the 180� line to be used when laying out lenses for edging.

Sizing. After beveling, lenses should be sized for a snug fit, not a tight fit. n Alignment. After mounting, verify that the polarizing filter is properly aligned to the 180� line.

Breakage. The two laminated sheets of glass were approximately 1mm thick and, in those pre-FDA days, were not tempered. As a result, a little pressure on the frame would crack one of the wafers. The lenses remained in one piece, held together by the film, and looking through a cracked lens turned out to be a common

Separation. The laminating process used for those early lenses was crude, and it wasn"t unusual for wearers to find a whitish area creeping in from one edge of a lens as film and wafer separated.

Optics. As you might imagine, viewing the world through flat lenses created serious distortions when looking anywhere but through the exact center of the

Cosmetics. Due to the lamination process, the original glass polarized lenses ended up considerably thicker than conventional glass lenses. The minimum thickness for each wafer was 1.0mm, so finished lenses were at least 2.0mm thick at their thinnest point. This made for heavy, thick lenses at a time when minus glass lenses were often less than 1.0mm center thickness.

Polarized lenses have come a long way since the 1930s. For the balance of this article, we"ll review the current state of polarized technology and review how modern polarized lenses have improved on the factors listed above.

Breakage. This is a relatively minor problem for glass polarized lenses today. FDA regulations do not require laminated glass lenses to be heat-treated or tempered. The FDA"s reasoning is that, for safety purposes, the film in a laminated lens holds broken pieces together and prevents glass particles from impacting eyes. Plastic polarized lenses, of course, are much more impact resistant than glass, so breakage is seldom a problem with modern plastic polarized lenses.

Separation. The manufacturers of plastic lenses now treat the polarizing film with adhesive and suspend the film in the mold during casting. This essentially produces a one-piece lens and eliminates the old problem of separation between film and lens wafer. Glass polarized lenses are still produced in a lamination process, but advances in adhesives and molecular chemistry have made separation in polarized glass a thing of the past. As a comfort factor for dispensers, most manufacturers warranty their polarized lenses against

Optics. Compromised optics are simply not an issue with modern polarized lenses. Many of the world"s finest lens designs are now available in polarized form, and they share the same precise optics as conventional lenses. Quality polarized sun lenses unquestionably represent the finest quality in ophthalmic lenses, and they"re now available in single vision, several forms of bifocals and trifocals, as well as brand-name progressives.

Cosmetics. In this area, polarized lenses have really come of age. Placement of the film during manufacturing used to be a rather random process, with the film usually ending up somewhere about 1.0mm behind the front surface of the lens. As the quest for thinner, lighter eyewear became a cosmetic issue for lenses, however, labs faced a problem in processing polarized lenses. The one guaranteed way to ruin a polarized lens is to grind into the filter portion, particularly with minus corrections. Surface a fraction of a millimeter too much off the backside of the lens and a highly visible white spot appears in the center. To avoid this problem, labs tended to surface polarized lenses slightly thicker.

Polarized lens producers now control film placement more precisely. For one thing, the polarizing film is individually curved to match the exact shape of the front curve, varying with the base curve. This more precise matching of filter to lens curve allows labs to process polarized lenses to conventional thicknesses. At least one manufacturer has found a way to position film in its lenses just behind the front surface, and these lenses can be surfaced routinely to 1.5mm minimum thickness (edge or center, depending on if plus or minus).

One of the more popular forms of polarized sunlenses is made of polycarbonate. The film is placed inside the front mold before the poly is injected into it. This produces a superior bond between film and lens blank. As a result, labs can process polarized poly as thin as 1.0mm. That provides the thinnest polarized lenses currently available. Heat created during injection molding does, however, slightly reduce the polarizing efficiency.

Any quality sunlens will reduce harsh sunlight to acceptable levels and provide added comfort to the wearer. The problem (and the shortcoming of conventional sun lenses) is that we live in an environment where a high percentage of the sunlight coming from overhead is reflected back into our eyes, in effect greatly increasing the amount of ambient light passing through the sunglasses. Here, in a nutshell, is where polarized sunlenses excel. Like conventional sunlenses, they reduce bright sunlight to acceptable levels, but kick in added protection to block the annoying glare produced by reflected

Though this unique property makes polarized sunwear a superb lens on or around water or snow, their advantages go well beyond these activities. Try driving on a sunny day and notice how much glare reflects off the road surface and the car"s hood or dashboard. Reflected glare is a factor with most road surfaces, but when the problems created by reflected sunlight are added-particularly in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low on the horizon-glare complicates the hazards. Simply from a safety aspect, polarized lenses provide an added degree of protection that can make a difference in comfort and safety.

The original polarized lenses could only be ordered in green. Today, polarized lenses can be ordered in green, brown, and at least two shades of gray. One company also produces very light "neutral" gray and brown that are suitable for indoor use.

Color is an essential factor in polarizing light. In fact, the degree of efficiency of the polarizing filter depends on the darkness of the filter. As a result, light gray and brown neutral polarized lenses have less efficient polarizing filters than conventional dark colors, but are very beneficial for working indoors at computers or blocking glare from overhead lights.

Polarized lenses in the lighter shades are also useful for tinting to other cosmetic fashion colors. It"s important to remember, however, that tinting a light polarized lens to a darker shade does not increase the polarizing efficiency. For maximum blocking of reflected glare, the darker polarized colors should be used.

As for applications, one company produces a line of polarized lenses for shooters. Depending on the type of target, shooting enthusiasts can choose from orange, violet, red, blue, yellow, brown A, gray A, and green lenses.

Patients notice certain optical phenomena when wearing polarized lenses. These shouldn"t be considered a problem, but it helps to explain in advance about some of the things wearers will notice when wearing polarized sunglasses.

Birefringence. The most obvious effect is a curious pattern seen in the side windows of automobiles. These windows are made of tempered glass, and what wearers see are stress patterns created by the tempering process. Dispensers see the same thing when they check heat-treated glass lenses in a polariscope. The technical term for this is birefringence (i.e., double refraction). Explain this visual experience as one of the ways wearers can verify they are wearing genuine polarized lenses. The effect is also seen in tempered glass doors.

LCDs. The other noticeable curiosity in wearing polarized lenses comes from the fact that LCD (liquid crystal display) panels also use polarized filters. These displays are seen on ATMs, gas pumps, digital watches, and auto instrument panels, and they may be difficult to read when wearing polarized sunglasses. Explain that wearers only need to tilt their head to one side and the display instantly clears up. LCD manufacturers are aware of this curiosity and are changing the orientation of the polarized filter in new LCD displays to eliminate this minor annoyance. Fortunately for those who use laptop computers, computer manufacturers have correctly lined up the polarizing filter in LCD screens so you can work outdoors on your laptop while wearing polarized sunglasses. You can verify this with a laptop screen by tilting your head 45 degrees. The screen will visibly

Airplanes. Windshields in pressurized commercial airplanes are tempered and can show those typical stress patterns to wearers of polarized lenses. This can be visually distracting and should be mentioned to airline pilots who are considering polarized lenses. Small plane windshields are polycarbonate and may also show some slight stress patterns.

Polarized lenses are sometimes called a "performance" lens because they perform an added function in the presence of reflected glare. This is an invaluable asset for sunglasses and, fortunately, is relatively easy to demonstrate. Here are three ways to do so.

Rotate lenses. One of the easiest ways is to take two pairs of polarized sunglasses and hold a lens of one pair in front of a lens in the second pair. Then rotate one of the frames, and the patient will see an instant demonstration of the "venetian blind" effect provided by polarized lenses.

Shiny surface. If there is a window in the dispensing area, position the patient so he or she can view glare from the window reflecting off a shiny magazine cover, a table, or the floor. Have them put on a pair of polarized sunglasses, and show how reflected glare is

Demo unit. The easiest way, of course, is to have an effective polarized demonstration unit in the office. The best ones provide patients with dramatic proof of exactly how polarized lenses reduce reflected glare, and they will produce faster results than any other lens demonstration kit. Take advantage of this fact, and make sure there is a demo unit in a highly visible area of the dispensary. One of the most effective displays features an interior light bulb to demonstrate glare. Be sure the display is turned on every morning. Patients who see the demo unit and will go test the sample lenses on their own. However you decide to demonstrate them, back up the demo with an explanation of how polarized lenses work. Soon, you"ll see your percentage of second-pair sales increase.

There’s a price for living in a state that has an average of 300 sunny days per year. If you live in Arizona, you don’t often have to deal with snow shovels and parkas, but you almost always think about how the sun will affect you. From staying hydrated to wearing sunscreen, there are steps every Arizonan needs to take to be healthy and comfortable in the sun—and wearing the right protective lenses is one of them.

Your choice in sunwear is particularly important. Although UV lenses help protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes from the damaging ultraviolet light, they don’t eliminate the distracting and blinding glare that causes visual discomfort in any sunny situation.

Polarized lenses eliminate glare, but they may not be the perfect solution for every situation. This article explores how polarized lenses work, their benefits, their potential drawbacks and where to buy them.

When a bundle of light hits a flat surface, it becomes polarized, or is reflected horizontally. The bundle becomes concentrated and is blinding anyone observing it. This is referred to as blinding glare.

Glare typically happens when waves of light bounce off reflective surfaces, such as a lake, snowy hillside, or shiny car bumper. Because the surface is horizontal, the light is reflected horizontally. When you are wearing polarized sunglasses, the surface blocks the glare by filtering out the horizontal light waves that don’t fit through the chemical laminate pattern.

Images may appear darker while wearing polarized lenses. However, when glare is eliminated, the image details are easier to see. and can reduce eye strain. Plus, polarized lenses also provide protection from harmful UV rays.

Inexpensive polarized sunglasses differ from more expensive lenses in significant ways. Cheaper sunglasses may only have a thin chemical laminate on one side of the lens. The thin layer may only provide minimal benefit and the thin layer can be rubbed or scratched off easily. You may also notice aberrations in your lenses, as these are usually mass produced stamped out lenses that are lower quality.

A note about lens color: darker lenses are not a sign of better protection. Ask your eyeglass retailer or optometrist how the polarized laminate is applied to the eyewear before you purchase it. As far as other options go, polarized glasses are available in a wide variety of colors, materials and lens designs.

In addition to reducing glare, polarized lenses ease eye strain from long hours in the sun. And if you experience headaches due to light sensitivity, polarized lenses may help you experience fewer occurrences and less intense headaches.

Polarized lenses can also increase visual clarity, contrast, and acuity, making your environment more enjoyable. And when you’re able to see better, you may be able to mentally determine what you’re seeing quicker, which can help improve reaction time.

Bonus advantage: If you are a recreational or commercial fisherman or boater, polarized glasses can allow you to see below the surface of the water, so you catch more fish and maneuver the water safely.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs)—which are common on cell phone screens, auto dashboards, clocks and other instrument displays—can be difficult to see clearly when wearing polarized lenses. They are especially troubling for pilots who may have trouble reading their instrument panel and also viewing objects in the sky, including other planes.

Polarized sunglasses are available at numerous retail locations, from your local drug store to high-end sunglass retailers. If you’re buying these glare-blocking sunglasses to reduce eye strain, make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Consult with a professional to help ensure you receive accurate information about your eyewear. Also, depending on the level of strain and discomfort your experience with sunlight, there may be another issue that your eye doctor should know about.

Polarized lensesact like a picket fence with vertical slats that cut glare by filtering horizontally-polarized light, or glare, and only allowing vertically-polarized light to reach our eyes, resulting in clearer vision when outdoors.

Although both polarized lenses and non-polarized lenses can offer equal levels of UV protection, one could argue that polarized lenses are "better" because they deliver increased visual clarity by cutting glare.

If you"re looking for sunglasses with polarized lenses, you can try Rocket Eyewear sunglasses because all our sunglasses come with polarized lenses that cut glare as well as offer 100% protection from UVA/UVB rays.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors doing activities on reflective surfaces such as water, roads or snow, polarized lenses are worth trying because they cut glare and improve visual clarity.

Darkening happens because screens contain polarizing filters, and if your screen emits horizontally polarized light, your polarized lenses will not let horizontally-polarized light from the screen reach your eyes, resulting in a darkened screen.

If your lenses are polarized, rotating them 90 degrees clockwise or anticlockwise will cause the screen to appear brighter or darker. Brightening can happen because the rotated polarized filters on your