In recent years you may have been hearing more and more about polarized sunglasses, it often seems like they are the next must have in eyewear. However, they have actually been around for many years and have been popular with fishermen and sailors who struggle with the glare reflected off of the water around their boats. Now more people who spend time outdoors are discovering the benefits of having polarized lenses in their shades including golfers, skiers, joggers and cyclists among others. Drivers are also reaping the benefits of polarized glasses as they help to reduce the glare from both the hood of their vehicle and the road itself.
How Do Polarized Sunglasses Work?
When light is reflected from a flat surface like a road or body of water it has a horizontal polarity. That means that it tends to be reflected in a horizontal direction rather than being scattered in many directions. This is not only annoying for those in the reflected light’s path, but also potentially dangerous as we can be temporarily blinded by the resulting glare. When the lenses of your shades have been polarized they are equipped with a filter which reduces the intensity of the reflected light, thus reducing glare.
These types of lenses are intended to enhance comfort and visibility in bright sunlight, but there are some situation where they are not suitable because you do not want reflected light being blocked. They also make it difficult to read LCD and LED displays including cellphones, ATM machines, self service gas pumps and some dashboard instruments. A number of manufacturers are adjusting their devices to counteract this problem, but it is not yet widespread so you do need to check before relying on your ability to see such a device.
Are Polarized Sunglasses Stylish?
Like any other sunglasses, polarized glasses come in all shapes and sizes. You probably can’t even tell by looking at them if they are polarized or not so do not worry about compromising your sense of style in order to be more comfortable in bright sunshine! There are lots of retailers offering polarized sunglasses in a range of styles including many designer labels. Online stores are offering some great deals, for example 8wake has stylish eyewear in stock which will suit any style and budget!
Watch Out For UV Protection
When choosing sunglasses you do need to ensure that they actually offer protection against the harmful effects of the sun. Sometimes you will see sunglasses labeled ‘sun blockers’ or ‘polarized glasses’ and this often means that they offer little to no protection from the sun. Polarized glasses are generally shades that will reduce glare but will not offer any UV protection. You will want glasses offering at least 99% UV absorption and any that do should be labeled as such. You may also see UV 400 which indicates that they block all harmful UVA and UVB rays. If there is no UV label then they are not going to be any use in terms of protection.
Price is no indication of protection level. There have been many news reports recently in which various glasses were compared and in some cases the designer sunglasses with a $200 price tag offered exactly the same protection as low cost drugstore pairs! Look for quality and style and choose accordingly.
Why Do I Need Sunglasses?
Aside from making you more comfortable in bright light, the main reason for wearing sunglasses is to protect your eyes from UV damage. This is something we all know, but not many of us understand the potential damage we are dealing with. The skin around the eyes is the thinnest on our body and is vulnerable to age spots and wrinkling when exposed to UV. However, more serious are the potential threat to the eyes themselves. Our retinas can be damaged by the sun leading to blindness if there is a large amount of deterioration. There is also a risk of developing cataracts or sustaining sunburn to the corneas. These are just a few of the potential issues brought on by prolonged UV exposure, so it is important to wear sunglasses if you will be in the sun for extended periods of time.
