When shopping for sunglasses, there are a lot of factors to consider. You want to look as cute as a movie star in your new shades, of course. You should be able to wear it in a wide range of scenarios. And perhaps more importantly, they need to Actually work– After all, sunglasses are often the first and only line of defense for one of the most vulnerable parts of our soft human bodies. You’ll only get one pair of peepers, so you better treat them right.
One word you may come across a lot while comparing brands, styles, and UV protection is “polarization.” But what exactly? We are Polarized sunglasses? What is it for and why does it cost so much? We called up a few eyewear experts to get a definitive answer.
What are polarized sunglasses and how do they work?
Simply put, polarized lenses filter light to reduce glare from surfaces such as water, glass, asphalt, and metal. The result is a sharper, more vivid visual experience. Colors appear richer, contrasts increase, and the world looks a little more like it does through an Instagram filter.
Without getting too deep into the physics of it, natural sunlight travels in oscillating waves in all directions, but when it reflects off the surface, those waves end up in the same horizontal direction. Polarized lenses filter out only horizontal waves, reducing glare and allowing for better vision in reflective environments.
It’s a very primitive technology discovered by the father of the Polaroid camera, Edwin H. Land, in 1929, and popularized shortly thereafter by eyewear giant Ray-Ban and its planes. Most of the modern sunglasses worn by pilots today are specifically designed to help pilots see better at high altitudes, and are actually non-polarized, and if you’ve ever noticed that your phone screen looks like a ’90s music video when you’re wearing polarized sunglasses, I know why. It’s science’s fault, of course. Polarized lenses block certain light waves, but digital screens do too, just not in the same way. They compete against each other in a visual tug of war that will leave you staring at bizarre rainbows while texting. elegant? maybe. Functional? Not always.
Additionally, as with most products offered with optional technology, polarized sunglasses often cost more than their non-polarized counterparts. Is it worth it?
Do you need polarized sunglasses?
According to Dr. Joseph Allen, a Virginia-based ophthalmologist and one of the leading voices in the field of eye health on YouTube, It depends. “The biggest benefit of polarized lenses is reduced glare and light sensitivity,” he says. “There aren’t any direct health benefits to polarized lenses. But because there’s less glare and you don’t see as many reflections off the road, water, windshield or other objects, you can improve your clarity of vision and potentially reduce the risk of things like car accidents, which is helpful, but not entirely Identification is only a healthy benefit of polarization.
