Understanding Polarized Lenses: Myths and Realities

642 Words2 Pages

Most sunglasses owners are familiar with polarized lenses and agree that they're very effective at reducing glare. All too often, this technology is given too much credit for doing many things that it doesn't do very well if at all. Understanding what polarized lenses do will prevent misconceptions that can potentially harm your eyes, such as assuming polarization alone, is an effective UV blocker. Better understanding will also open your eyes to other uses that might not have occurred to you. What Is Polarized Light and How Do Polarized Glasses Work Without getting too technical, light behaves like a wave. If you watch a buoy in the water, you will notice that it moves up and down when a wave moves past it. Although each wave moves across the top of the water, the water itself vertically …show more content…

Polarized lenses are useful because most glare comes from horizontal surfaces. Because polarized glasses block horizontal light, they reduce the total light that you see. This means you should never use them for night driving even if your glasses have no tint. Uses for Polarized Sunglasses Polarized sunglasses are useful for cutting out road glare from sunlight reflecting off the backs of cars, wet pavement, puddles, and from distant bodies of water when the sun is low in the sky. Whether you're driving a car, riding a bicycle, or walking along the road, a pair of Nike polarized sunglasses will cut out the glare. If you are active in water sports such as fishing and boating, Nike polarized sunglasses allow you to see beneath the water surface. When fishing, you will see the fish in the water instead of a reflection of the sky. When boating in shallow water, you can see the bottom and submerged objects, and can avoid hitting them and damaging your hull. Beach goers also use polarized sunglasses to reduce water glare, especially when the sun is low over the

More about Understanding Polarized Lenses: Myths and Realities

Open Document