When sunlight hits a surface like water, snow,
or metal and bounces straight into your eyes, the glare can be very
uncomfortable. The primary reason is because these lightwaves are concentrated,
intense, and coming at you horizontally. It’s the reason why polarized sunglasses have been popular with boaters, snowboarders and anglers for
years.
Rather than being merely uncomfortable, having
this intense horizontally-polarized sunlight in your eyes for prolonged periods
can actually cause long-term damage. Sure, there’s the initial short-term
visual impairment, but there can also be an impact on eye health. Naturally,
sunglasses with polarized lenses are a wise investment.
Advanced polarized technology uses special
filters that actively absorb this reflected glare. They’re so effective at
doing so that less than 1% of these intense light rays are able to get through
to the eyes themselves—greatly improving visual comfort and reducing eye
strain.
Benefit 1 - They Offer
Supreme Eye Comfort
When you’re outside in bright sunlight without
the right protection, the first thing you’ll notice is the discomfort that
causes you to squint your eyes in response. This is caused by both vertically
and horizontally-polarized light rays that are all but eliminated by polarized
lenses, allowing you to see clearly for long periods without eye fatigue.
The reason why polarized sunglasses make it easier to see in these conditions is chiefly because they’re able to
block out both polarities of light. As such, the muscles around your eyes
aren’t continually being strained to keep them out.
Benefit 2 - Superior
Contrast, Clarity & Color
Another huge benefit of polarized lenses is
the way they make it possible to discern colors accurately in inhospitable
light conditions. In fact, they make it significantly easier to see both
contrast and definition with all of those horizontal light waves being removed
from the equation.
With a pair of good quality polarized sunglasses on, you can see clearly and perform your best, as if there was
no reflected glare at all.
Benefit 3 - They’re Great
For Sports
When you’re engaged in outdoor sports that
call for precision like tennis, cycling, shooting and archery, the need for
absolute concentration and quick reaction times are paramount. However, if the
sun’s beating down and creating glare, it can be quite difficult to focus and
react.
As we mentioned earlier, polarized glasses are great at stopping glare reflected back from the surface of water, so
they’re the perfect choice for anyone engaging in water-based sports. When
using wrap-around styles, sportspeople are thoroughly protected from most light
conditions and are free to concentrate on the job at hand.
Benefit 4 - They Make
Driving Safer
Reflected glare can be really dangerous when
driving, especially when there is sunlight coming up at you from a wet road. In
fact, glare is cited as being one of the primary causes of motoring accidents
across the US, but polarized lenses can make light of difficult driving
conditions.
As squinting causes tiredness, driving for a
long time on a sunny day can also greatly increase general fatigue—
another leading cause of road accidents—so
getting a pair for the car is certainly a wise move.
Benefit 5 - They’re Great
For Winter
Polarized sunglasses are
super effective all-year-round, but they really come into their own during the winter
months when there’s snow on the ground. Believe it or not, as much as 80% of
the UV rays the sun emits can be reflected back up at you from the ground, effectively
doubling the sun exposure that reaches your eyes.
No matter what you’re doing in a snowy
environment, polarized lenses can help keep your eyes comfortable with no loss
of clarity, whether you’re snowboarding, skiing or simply working in the snow.
Benefit 6 - They Make It
Easier For Anglers to See Through the Water
If you’re a fan of fishing, then you’ll
understand the need to be able to see beneath the surface of the water easily.
On a sunny day, the water’s surface is one of the most reflective you’ll find,
which can make seeing past it uncomfortable or even downright impossible!
With a pair of polarized sunglasses on,
however, this sharp glare is negated, making it easier to keep a close eye on
the behavior of the fish you’re trying to catch!
Benefit 7 - They Can Be
Tailored to Your Specific Needs
While many types of polarized lenses offer
general protection that works in most types of light conditions, there are also
different colors of polarized lens that will help to protect your eyes and
sharpen your vision depending on your requirements.
For instance, rose-colored polarized sunglasses are known to reduce the frequency of migraine triggers, whereas
yellow lenses are perfect for people who are susceptible to eye fatigue and
eye-related headaches.
Polarized Lenses
Represent a Wise Investment
The concept of glare and UV damage is something
that everyone is aware of to some degree, as it’s a discomfort that we can all
relate to. As well as making it difficult to see, going out unprotected in
these kinds of environments can make you tired, irritable and lead to both
short and long-term eye health issues.
Then there are the issues of safety and
performance, with driving, skiing, watersports and many other activities that
are more than adequately dealt with by the unique qualities that polarized
lenses offer.
When you look at what polarized sunglasses offer in terms of comfort, eye-safety, overall safety and ability to see
clearly in the most harshly lit environments, the benefits really do speak for
themselves. So, we’d urge you to invest in a pair for yourself and experience
what total eye comfort feels like.
