People who have used polarized sunglasses once are likely seen getting hooked to it. Being asked they would speak of comfort, cooling effect, and better vision.
Polarized glasses are specially suggested to people who drive a lot, people who live at high altitudes or near sea coast or snowy peaks.
If you have never used polarized lenses here is what you need to know. First, let us know what polarization of light is before we understand how polarized lenses work.
What is the polarization of light?
A light coming from its origin vibrates in all directions. This is a non-polarized wave. This wave when reflects from a reflecting surface like water, metal, snow, etc., it vibrates in one direction causing glare. This is a polarized wave.
It is present in high intensity in our environment. Regions like sea coast, mountains, or shiny surfaces have high reflectance and thus it not only causes glare but also posts long-term damage to your eyes.
Mountaineers often suffer from snow blindness. It is caused by the sun burning the cornea. If you don’t wear sunglasses at altitude, it could only take a short time without protective sunglasses and the following morning you can be blinded. Medications help in recovering but the damage on the retina is done.
Not just high altitudes even in plain regions reflectance is enough to damage your eyes as the light reflects from various mediums like saying metal bodies of cars, buses or other vehicles, glass windows or doors, or buildings. That’s where polarized sunglasses would help you prevent glare-causing light from disrupting your vision.
What polarized lenses do?
A polarized filter blocks the polarized wave vertically and allowing the light to pass through the lens between the blocks. This helps reduce the intensity of light giving a cooling effect and better visual acuity. When you walk in to store to buy polarized glasses you are shown some magic card to test the authenticity of the lens which is not fake, but there is a simpler way to check it for yourself. The polarized lens has vertical blocks design in its film-like coating.
How to check if your lens is polarized?
- Hold your sunglasses in front of the digital screen and not wear them. Keeping your one eye closed Rotate your frame at 90 degrees. This should block out the vision through the lenses, meaning it becomes opaque. There will be no vision through the lens until you rotate it back.
- Hold two polarized lenses i.e, two sunglasses with lenses one on the other. Rotate it and you will observe it becomes opaque. Try this on your pair of sunglasses and see the magic!
Polaroid is a brand that is known for its polarized lenses. The quality and clarity of Polaroid are no match although if you not looking to spend that amount, you can still choose from a huge range of polarized glasses on market by various other brands. You may find one for as cheap as 300 rupees to as high as 10000 rupees or more. There are many good brands such as
- Fahrenheit
- Wolf eyes
- IDEE
- Opium
- Image
- Carrera
- RayBan and more
These brands offer mid-ranged polarized shades that are stylish, durable, and serve their purpose. Not all sunglasses are polarized so while selecting check the product details.
