You’ve probably heard of polarised sunnies, but do you actually know what it means?
Is it just a way to get more money out of you? Or is it something that is going to make your life easier?
Well, today, we’re going to arm you with the answers to all your questions about polarised sunglasses.
So, let’s jump right in.
What is the point of polarised sunglasses?
You know how when you’re in really bright conditions and even though you have a pair of sunnies on, it’s still kind of hard to see?
Well, this is likely to be because of glare.
What is glare you might ask? Well, it’s essentially a visual sensation that is caused by excessive light entering your eye and interfering with your vision.
It can be uncomfortable, sometimes might stop you in your tracks, and it might even make you a little teary. The way it effects people is different for everyone, with some people significantly more sensitive to glare and excessive light, particular older folks.
Glare can distort an objects colour and shape and make it more difficult to see the object itself, or just hamper your ability to see in general. This is particularly risky when you’re driving or participating in fast sports like skiing.
So, this is where polarised lenses come in. In general, a polarised lens looks basically exactly the same as a standard sunglasses lens, however, the magic of them is hidden in the coating of the lens. They are coated with a chemical filter that has been specifically designed to cut down the glare that bounces off surfaces, thereby making it easier to see and safer out there in the real world.
They can also improve your comfort as they should help to reduce the amount you might squint and any headaches you might get from excessive glare and squinting.
How do Polarised Lenses function?
Polarised lenses are designed to block the horizontal light waves that bounce off objects and surfaces around you.
The focus is primarily on horizontal surfaces because when sunlight hits a surface at an angle, it will bounce off and reflect at that same angle. Most of the glare reflecting surfaces and objects that are indeed at a horizontal angle.
So, by reducing the amount of glare and excessive light your eyes are exposed to, you’re improving the longevity of your eye health as exposure to sunlight does cause sensitivity over time. This is because our eyes don’t have melanin in them in large amounts.
You’ve likely heard of melanin before as it is what actually gives us our hair colours, eye colours and skin tones and shades. In addition to this, it also provides us with protection against UV rays. However, while melanin helps to determine eye colour, there isn’t enough in your eyes to protect against the UV rays.
Are there different kinds of polarised lenses?
There are varying levels of quality when it comes to polarised lensed sunglasses. Sometimes a polarised film is laminated between sheets of acetate or acrylic to make the sunglasses lenses; others are made by injecting polycarbonate material into a sunglasses mold that also has the polarised film material in it; sometimes the polarised film is positioned between two layers of the lenses and can be done with materials like glass.
Essentially, the higher quality of the materials can directly impact how effective the polarised lenses are. It sort of lives up to the old saying of “you get what you pay for”.
In addition to different materials being used to make polarised lenses, these lenses are also available in a wide range of colours. The colour of the lenses is dependent on the material used to create them. Colours that are darker have a stronger impact. Hence, Grey and brown are the most prevalent colours. But light colours such as green, and yellow, are also popular and effective.
What are the advantages of using polarised sunglasses?
Polarised lenses are often seen in high-quality sunglasses.
Here are some of the advantages of using this sort of lens:
- This enhances your visual comfort.
- The contrast between light and dark is intensified.
- Objects become more prominent.
- Eye strain is reduced.
- Allows you to view colours as they are.
- Reduces glare and reflections
- Enhances sporting performance and abilities by improving your visual clarity
What are the disadvantages of using polarised lenses?
Some people become dizzy or confused when staring through polarised lenses. As a result, polarised lenses aren’t appropriate or right for everyone or in all circumstances
Polarised lenses can make information on an LCD display difficult to read, so they’re not a viable solution for some people that work in a profession that requires viewing digital numbers on a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Some polarised lenses claim to help with glare reduction when driving. With that, they should not be used at night, because they block some light. Polarised lenses can also make slippery areas on the road harder to see.
Polarised lenses are also almost always more expensive than sunglasses without them. While it might hurt the old wallet, the safety for your eyes is worth it!
How can I tell if a pair of sunglasses is polarised?
Most of the time, at least when purchasing from a reputable sunglass’s retailer (like us), the sunglasses will come with a sticker on the lens indicating that they are polarised sunnies, their model number may also indicate this.
However, if you’re just looking at a pair of shades and you want to try to determine whether they are polarised, here’s a way you can tell.
- Hold your sunglasses in front of, as if you’re about to put them on, so the right way up and just in front of.
- Hold an object, such as your smartphone, with the screen lit up, in front of the sunglasses, so you can see your phone screen through your sunglass’s lens, even though you’re not wearing the sunglasses.
- Now, slowly turn your sunglasses to the right, so you can still see through the lens but now your sunglasses are at a 90-degree angle to where they were before.
- As you turned your sunglasses, did the view of your phone’s screen change in colour? Did it go darker and/or lighter? If the tint of the colour you can see through the sunglasses changed, that means they are polarised. If the colour stayed the same, then they are standard lenses.
Where can I buy polarised sunglasses from in Australia?
Well, if you’re thinking about buying a pair of polarised sunglasses but no sure where to start, you’re in a pretty good place right now.
Here at Great Southern Sunnies, we offer a huge collection of polarised sunnies that we can ship to you fast, anywhere in Australia. Our collection includes polarised sunnies from major brands like Arnette, Oakley, Bolle, Ray Ban, Otis, Dragon, Smith and so many more.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to buying a pair of sunnies, why not check out our helpful guides to finding the right size and right lens colour.
With great low prices, free express shipping for orders over $80 and a huge collection of 100% genuine sunglasses, why would you shop anywhere else for your sunglasses in Australia?