Protecting your eyes is a top priority. Although most people know that the perfect pair of sunglasses shield their eyes from the sun’s UV rays, many may be unaware of the benefits of wearing sunglasses with polarized lenses.
What are polarized sunglasses and lenses? Are they different from non-polarized sunglasses and non-polarized lenses? Understanding the benefits of polarized glasses will help you protect your eyes. We are here to help you understand the science behind polarized lenses and arm you with the information you need.
What Are Polarized Lenses?
To understand how polarized lenses work, you first need to know about light. Light travels in waves and vibrates during travel. When light is not bouncing off objects, it moves in multiple directions.
When lights bounce off cars, sidewalks, buildings, or water, it moves in only one direction — horizontally. We refer to this process as polarization.
Polarization changes the way light waves move. Horizontal light hits your eye directly. We know this phenomenon as “glare.”
In the simplest terms, polarized lenses receive a chemical coating that blocks harmful light. Manufacturers apply the chemical coating vertically.
The vertical coating allows vertical light waves to move through but not horizontal ones. This coating allows you to continue to see while preventing light glare.
What Are the Benefits of Wearing Polarized Sunglasses?
Now that you understand how polarized lenses reduce overexposure to the sun, it is essential to learn about the benefits. The following are some key benefits you will experience when you wear sunglasses with polarized lenses.
Reducing Glare
Glares are something we all experience when our eyes are unprotected. You have surely been affected by glares while driving in traffic and found it difficult to see if you don’t wear a pair of sunglasses.
Glares are a distraction but can also be dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, glares cause around 9,000 accidents in the United States each year.
Wearing polarized lenses helps in preventing light glares and is especially critical while driving. These sunglasses prevent bright light from bouncing into your eyes from other cars or the road.
Clearer Vision
Polarized sunglasses allow you to see with higher definition, which is one of the main reasons you will see many athletes wearing these lenses. It may surprise you that these sunglasses can help you see colors in their truest form.
Even when safety is not an issue, seeing with clarity is essential. Polarized lenses offer a darkening effect that does not limit your ability to see.
You may find polarized sunglasses designed for hiking, watersports, golfing, and other activities where you plan on spending time outdoors. Instead of darkening your vision like tinted lenses, a darkened lens is the best eyewear for protecting your eyes and enhancing your visual clarity.
Eye Fatigue Protection
Glares from sunlight cause your eyes to work harder, leading to eye fatigue. Glares make your eyes work harder to interpret what you are seeing.
When your eyes work harder than normal, you are more likely to experience eye strain. Strain may cause symptoms like dry eye, headaches, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating.
Because polarized sunglasses shield your eyes from glare, they are less likely to become fatigued. Protecting against eye fatigue by wearing a lens with polarization is essential, whether you are driving or working out on the beach.
UV Protection
Another benefit of polarized sunglasses is ultraviolet light protection. The materials used to coat the lenses naturally block 100% of UV lighting.
Some lenses also offer blue light protection. Both blue light and UV rays are linked to blurry vision, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
Wear Polarized Sunglasses for Outdoor Activities
Outdoor activities expose your eyes to sun rays and glare during certain times of the day. You wear sunblock to protect your skin against UV exposure, but what about your eyes?
Your eyes need protection against UV light. Harmful glares can cause a range of symptoms, including eye strains.
We highly recommend wearing glasses with a polarized lens when exposed to the sun or glares from lights in your workplace or school. These lenses make you more comfortable, help your eyes work more efficiently, and protect your eyes from damage.