To polarize or not to polarize?
Deciding whether to polarize your sunglasses is often a difficult decision. Picking out which fabulous pair of shades to opt for (from Madonna Rigney Optometry of course) can be tricky enough let alone deciding whether to have them polarized or not. It can be particularly difficult when you aren’t clear on the benefits or if your lifestyle requires polarized sunnies.
Do I need polarized lenses?
Anyone who works, plays or just spends time outside will benefit from wearing polarized sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Here’s why…
Traditional sunglasses offer protection from the sun but may not shield your eyes from the glare of reflected light. Polarized lenses block certain types of light waves that reflect off surfaces such as water, the hoods of cars and roads. These light waves travel at oblique angles and intensely hit your eyes and cause glare.
Polarized lenses work like blinds, controlling the amount of sunlight passing through to your eyes. Polarization blocks as much as 50% of the light passing through lenses which means you’ll experience less glare and brightness will be reduced.
Not only will polarized lenses make your time in the sun more comfortable, but much safer too when you match them with 100% UV protection. Polarized lenses protect you from potentially blinding glare and also provide the benefits of all sunglasses such as reduced risk of cataracts and other eye diseases.
Worried that polarizing might change the look of your sunglasses? Don’t be. There is no difference in the look of unpolarised and polarized lenses.
So are there any disadvantages?
While there are many benefits of polarized lenses, they may not always be the best option for you. Polarized lenses may interfere with seeing the LCD displays on the dashboards of some cars, the screens of ATMs, your mobile phone or your GPS navigation unit.
Our expert team of optometrists and eyecare professionals at Madonna Rigney Optmetry can help you choose the best option for you when it comes to sunglasses and polarized lenses. Come in store and speak with our team.