Spending time outside in the sun has many benefits for physical and mental health. It is important to protect your eyes and maintain good eye care when spending time outside. When spending a long time in environments where there is a lot of sun glare, you may want to consider polarized sunglasses.
Polarized sunglasses reduce the amount of sun rays that can pass through their lenses. Polarized sunglasses can reduce eye strain by reducing sun glare. Polarized sunglasses also enhance contrast, which lets you see images more sharply and clearly than when wearing non-polarized sunglasses.
How Do Polarized Sunglasses Work?
When sun rays reach the earth, they will bounce off or be absorbed into the different things they hit. When sun rays hit uneven surfaces, they will be scattered in many different directions. When sun rays are reflected off of a flat surface, they will all travel in the same direction. When a large number of sun rays are reflected into your eyes, it is called sun glare.
Sun glare is common when flat water, roads, and snow are present. You may have even noticed sun glare when fishing, driving, or walking outside after a fresh snowfall. In the short term sun glare can cause eye strain or even very painful snow blindness (aka a sunburned eye). Sun glare may also contribute to long-term eye issues like cataracts and eye cancers.
Light rays travel as waves. Light rays can either travel in an up-and-down (vertical) wave pattern or a side-to-side (horizontal) wave pattern. Polarized sunglasses have a special filter on them that blocks all horizontal waves from hitting your eyes. Reducing the amount of light rays that hit your eyes will reduce sun glare.
Polarized lenses can come in different colours. Amber lenses work best on bright sunny days without much cloud coverage. A grey or green lens may work more effectively than an amber lens on dark and cloudy days. If you’re wearing polarized lenses somewhere snowy, you may want to consider a blue lens.
What are the Benefits of Polarized Sunglasses?
Now that we know how polarized sunglasses work, what are their benefits?
The first benefit is reducing the amount of sun rays that can hit our eyes. By reducing the number of sun rays that hit the eyes, polarized sunglasses will reduce sun glare, which in turn may reduce eye strain. This means you may avoid the pain that sometimes accompanies eye strain so you can enjoy your time outdoors more.
Reducing sun glare will also allow you to see better in bright conditions. This means that your vision may seem sharper when driving or playing sports while it is sunny outside.
When Should You Use Polarized Sunglasses?
Polarized sunglasses may not always be the right choice. So when should you reach for another pair of sunglasses?
Flat and highly reflective surfaces lead to more sun glare. Polarized sunglasses are a good choice when you are outside in an area with flat or highly reflective surfaces. Environments like the beach, a boat on the water, paved roads, and snowy areas will all produce a lot of sun glare. When in these environments, polarized sunglasses are an excellent eyewear choice.
Another acceptable time for polarized lenses is in eyewear for sports and working outside. Polarized sunglasses can allow you to see images more sharply, so they work well when playing sports or working outside. Polarized lenses may make it easier to keep an eye on the water when fishing or see a fairway while golfing.
When are polarized sunglasses not the top choice? Polarized glasses may make it difficult to see screens that use Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology. LCD technology is used in most phone screens and some digital car displays. In instances where you need to look frequently at an LCD screen, polarized lenses may not be ideal.
Additionally, while polarized lenses can make things seem more clear by reducing glare, they may make seeing icy areas more difficult. If you are driving on icy roads, or skiing down an icy slope, it may be better to wear non-polarized lenses for safety reasons.
Find the Right Sunglasses for You; Visit Us!
Finding the right pair of sunglasses is an important aspect of keeping your eyes safe and getting the most out of your time outside. Whether or not you decide that polarized lenses are the right choice for you, it is important to purchase sunglasses with 99% UV-A and UV-B protection. Finding the right eye care for you starts with a comprehensive eye exam, which allows your eye care providers to make recommendations that are customized to you. Our dedicated staff at Vivid Eye Care is happy to help you find the perfect pair of sunglasses for you. To experience an eye care experience tailor-made for you, contact us today.
