polarized sunglasses lcd screen free sample

If you are currently staring at an old LCD monitor and a pair of discarded spectacles, and are wondering if there"s something you can do with them in the next couple of hours, then good news! We have just the project for you. So go grab yourself a coffee, some paint thinners and an X-acto knife (do not mix these together) and I"ll finish writing this post.

The theory is simple: Remove the polarized film from the monitor so that you only see a white backlit screen. Then take this film, cut to fit your spare specs and you can see the screen only when you wear them.

The practice isn"t much more complicated. Once you have removed the monitor"s bezel, you slice the film like an art thief would slice an etching from its frame. Use the thinners (which you hopefully still haven"t mixed with the coffee) to remove any glue still stuck to the glass screen and reassemble.

Now, using the old glasses lenses as templates, cut yourself some new polarized lenses and pop them into the frames. You"re done. This is, of course, completely impractical for everyday use, but for secure computer use, or just watching porn whilst sitting comfortably amongst your coworkers, it"s ideal.

This bit of magical privacy is achieved through the way typical LCD (liquid crystal display) screens are constructed. Most light from the sun, light bulbs, or that twinkle in your eyes is actually a big messy wad of electromagnetic waves pointing this way and that. This is also the case with the source light for LCDs.

However, these screens also use polarizing filters that work like a Play-Doh fun factory and squeeze out a thin horizontal strip of light. Then, depending on whether the crystals are “turned on” or not, they will bend the light into a vertical strip that can pass through the second polarizing filter oriented in a vertical direction.

In any case you have to be careful, because not all screens are created equal so results may vary. And it probably goes without saying that this only works with LCD screens, so put the screwdriver down and slowly back away from that plasma screen.

Coyote Eyewear Polarized lenses are designed to improve clarity and reduce eye strain on bright sunny days. This is a huge benefit  to outdoor enthusiasts who become frustrated and even temporarily blinded by the reflected light and glare of the sun from water, bright days and reflections. Having a bright shaft of sunlight hit you directly in the eyes is both annoying and can be very dangerous.

Light Glare is caused when light bounces of a smooth surface, such as calm water or a flat piece of sheet metal, light reflects at one angle directly into your eyes. The glare that is created can be easily reduced with Coyote Eyewear Polarized sunglasses

Polarized lenses have a special chemical applied to them to filter light and glare. The chemical’s molecules are lined up specifically to block some of the light from passing through the lens thus reducing the glare from direct light. The effect is the user is not blinded by the light.

On polarizedsunglasses, the filter creates vertical openings for light. Only light that is coming in at a vertical axis will be  visible and therefore reflections will not come through the glasses.

The results are , the image you see with polarized lenses is a bit darker, but objects look crisper and clearer, and details are clearer and easier to see. People who use polarized sunglasses for long stretches of time often say they are are less fatigued and do not have headaches from the glare of the sun. People who fish, surf, or are on the water often find polarized sunglasses drastically cut the glare and help them see into the water.

There are a few instances where polarized lenses are do not work well. The best example of this is a LCD Screen,  in which you would have trouble seeing the screen

It is important to keep in mind that if your sunglasses are labeled as blocking the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, it does not mean they are polarized too. Polarized lenses in Coyote Eyewear will be labeled as such and are guaranteed to eliminate UV Glare.  Try them today at https://coyotesunglasses.com/

What does “polarized” even mean? And, what are the benefits of polarized vs. non polarized sunglasses? Do non-polarized lenses really protect your eyes? These are the types of questions we all ask ourselves before splashing out on a new pair of sunnies or when we’re choosing replacement lenses for our favourite sunglasses. Read on to find out all you need to know. We’ll start with the all-important basics…

A polarized lens is one which is designed to reduce glare from reflective or bright surfaces. We apply a polarisation film to the outside of our lenses, which is created using a very delicate chemical process, to help filter out light. The chemical molecules in the film line up to proactively block out some of the light that passes into, and through, the lens, kind of like a blind might do with a window. Close the slats a little, and only some light can come streaming through – this is essentially how polarized lenses work.

For sunglasses, this means that they filter out ambient light as well as counteract glare. Technically, what’s also occurring is that the filter creates vertical openings for light – only light rays that beam in towards your eyes vertically can get through those openings. Polarized lenses therefore block out all horizontal light waves, including the glare created by light bouncing off flat surfaces like a window, car hood or patch of ice", as examples. So, you’re less likely to experience this “glare”, and it is safer for you when, for example, driving, as well as less irritating and stressful on the eyes themselves.

In order to make clear the difference between polarized and non-polarized lenses, we need to take a look at the non-polarized option. Non-polarized lenses, put simply, only offer protection from light; they do not contain a filter allowing them to cancel out surface glare. So, yes, they can protect your eyes from the sun and from associated sun damage – this is called UV protection, which is different from polarisation in any case – but they will still allow glare or ambient light through, unlike polarized lenses, which as mentioned above, are designed to reduce glare.

You might think that not being polarized is less advantageous, somehow, but in actual fact both modes have their benefits. So, before you buy any replacement lenses, let us fill you in on what the benefits are for polarized sunglasses vs regular so that you can make an informed choice. Let’s take a closer look…

As you might imagine, the benefits of polarization are many. They reduce eye strain, increase clarity of vision and remove glare, which means eyes are far more comfortable. When you repair scratched sunglasses, a polarized lens offers all of these advantages over its non-polarized counterpart. Although polarization, as a process, makes a pair of lenses a little more expensive to buy, it’s also true that you get what you pay for and sometimes it’s definitely worth spending a couple bucks more, especially when there are so many tangible benefits. Money isn"t everything, particularly when it comes to the health of your corneas, the quality of your vision, and also the stress you put your sensitive eye muscles under.

Reduced glare can also make activities such as driving safer, in many instances, because it means you’re not going to be suddenly blinded by reflected light from, say, a windshield or bumper. However, there are times when it might be more beneficial to take the non-polarized option – or take your polarized sunnies off.

There are some benefits to non-polarized sunglasses that are worth weighing up before you make a choice on your new lens option. For one, common non-polarized lenses can sometimes be a little more hard-wearing than treated lenses, although it"s up to you as to whether that would outweigh the benefits given in the previous section.

It"s also been found that non-polarized sunglasses may make white tones more true to their intended color, if that’s an issue for you. As a linked benefit, it can be easier to view LCD (liquid crystal display) screens with this type of lens. If you"re using an LCD screen, well, maybe you shouldn"t be wearing sunglasses anyway, would be our argument! But, anything LCD, like your car’s dashboard controls, your cell phone display, your LCD watch, as well as the info displayed on an ATM cash machine, will be affected if your lenses are polarized. Pilots, for example, don’t wear polarized sunglasses because it can make their instruments appear blacked-out. Meaning that non-polarized are the most beneficial in these cases.

There are also some situations in which more glare or light might be an advantage, too, making non-polarized lenses the better option. When driving, if conditions are icy, then non-polarized shades are better for seeing patches of ice on the road (this holds true if you’re skiing, too) – as polarized lenses would reduce glare, making the ice harder to spot.

This is a question we need to pick apart a little in order to give an answer. In truth, both polarized and non-polarized lenses will protect your eyes, if – and it’s a big if – they are made for UV protection. It’s whether they safeguard your eyes from ultraviolet rays that is the key query here, rather than ‘polarized vs non polarized sunglasses’. Polarized lenses and non-polarized lenses, protect your eyes from UV if they are labelled “UV blocking”. If they are not labelled as such, then, whether they’re polarized or not, makes no difference. They will not protect your eyes from UV rays.

Yes! You can repair scratched or damaged sunglasses with either lens type. We hold replacement sunglass lenses for all top brands, too. Simply decide which lens would be most useful and advantageous to you, and select the style that suits. It’s as easy as 1-2-3, all you have to do is think about where you’re going to wear your reinvigorated sunnies and what you’ll be doing when you wear them. Think about this before you buy, then get our lenses delivered straight to your door. Polarized are, with us, cheaper than you’d imagine, and we can fit them perfectly to your favorite frames, no problem at all.

Polarized sunglasses vs regular is a difficult question. Both polarized and non-polarized sunglasses have their place in our sunshine world! It really depends upon your own needs, what the shades will be shading you from, and so forth. As an example, if you"re thinking of wearing sunglasses when playing water sports, then polarized lenses,to counteract glare coming from refracted light hitting off the water, would be the best choice. If you"re going skiing and need the terrain to remain clear, as well as to spot icy patches, then maybe non-polarized glasses would be best.

Whatever you choose, make sure you go as far as you can with your budget and make sure to choose the best quality lens that you can. Sunglass Fix™ lens options offer both, and are of the highest possible quality, made by people (us here!) who truly care about all things lens-related. The wearer should wear the sunglasses, and not vice versa, so choose wisely, and choose what"s best for you – now that you know the difference!

At goodr, we’re recklessly committed to fun...blah blah blah, sunglasses. Especially polarized sunglasses. Ah, polarized eyewear, a topic that leads to more polarizing existential questions like, “Does pineapple belong on pizza?”

For the last time, pineapple 100% does belong on pizza and we will fight you to the death on this. Yes, bears sh*t in the woods. And yes, active sunglasses are the perfect application for polarized lenses. DUH.

OK yeah, so why are we talking about polarized sunglasses like it"s the "Secret Word" on Pee Wee"s Playhouse? (AHHHHHHH!!!! We said the SECRET WORDZ: polarized sunglasses!!! Dibs on sitting in Chairy’s lap!!!) The truth is we recently had a very special guest visit our Lagoon headquarters who got us thinking about what polarized sunglasses means to us. No, it wasn’t Pee Wee. We don"t want to brag or anything, but our visitor is a famous feline internet celebrity who asked us a plethora of questions when he saw our impressive wall of polarized sunglasses. Luckily for him, Carl the Flamingo has the patience of a saint when discussing polarized eyeglasses. It"s only one of his favorite topics of all time!!! It’s “polarized sun lenses” and “polarized lens goggles” and “polarized glass” and “polarised glass sunglasses” all day e’ry day. We told Carl he needs to seek professional help. He threatened to fire us if we didn’t write this. He told us our jobs depended upon cramming as much information about polarized eyewear in here as we could. So here we are. We apologize in advance.

Our visitor, Captain Meowzipan, asked SO many questions. “Carl, I can has lots of questions about polarized sunglasses? Why polarized sunglasses, Carl? What does polarized mean in sunglasses? Or, what is polarized sunglasses mean? What is polarized sunglasses meaning? What is polarized sunglasses? What is polarized lens? Or, more importantly, what is polarized lenses? Does polarized sunglasses come from the North Pole? Does polarized lenses come from polar bears?! Does polar bears wear polarized sunglasses? Does polar bears eat cats?!?! I can has protection from polar bears?!”

To the hoomans sitting around the office, this succession of questions was super cringe and awkward. It’s like when your friend’s toddler asks you a bajillion questions at brunch and you’re hungover and just want to shove your shrimp toast into their sweet little boogery face so you can get two minutes of peace and quiet. Hey, it’s not your friend’s fault that you’re the only one lucky enough to still be on the Uncle Buck lifestyle plan. Right? Carl was thrilled though because he could share his polarized sunglasses view literally, and figuratively with Captain Meowzipan.

“Of course you can! You can has cheeseburgers, you can has pizza, you can has polarized grey sunglasses! Is that offensive? Sorry, I had heard that cats could only see gray and blue. So I assumed you wanted polarized gray sunglasses, but you can choose any color of polarized protective glasses you want!!! Just ignore those signs over there that say you have to do the Truffle Shuffle if you touch the sunglasses wall. I own this place and can do whatever I want!!! And I do. And I have never done the Truffle Shuffle. Try on as many pairs of sunglasses with polarized lenses as you want!!! OK, now that we’ve got that settled, let’s get started on answering some of your questions!!! What is polarized glasses? Or really, what does polarized sunglasses mean?

“It’s obvi you’ve never looked up “polarized definition sunglasses”. Oh jeez, I’m talking like you now. Let’s see, What do polarized lenses do… What are polarized sunglasses… What are polarized lenses…Well, if you’re looking for sunglasses glare reduction, polarized sunglass lenses are fantastic for reducing eye strain and light glare. For that reason, they can improve your vision in super glare-y situations, like when you’re shreddin’ gnar on snowy slopes or executing wheelies on water using a jet ski. Is it still called a wheelie if there aren’t any wheels? But like, we’ve all experienced the frustration of being temporarily blinded by reflected light and glare. It’s like when your team makes the beach volleyball playoffs, and there’s light bouncing off of the oiled up bodies at Muscle Beach, and then the glare causes you to miss the setpoint, and then you have to blow this month’s rent on the alcohol tab for the opposing team. Know what I mean? What do you mean you don’t know what I’m talking about? Don’t famous internet cats play beach volleyball?! Anyhow, polarized lenses reduce glare and this is one of the most important reasons your sunnies should be polarized. Do you understand polarised sunglasses meaning now?”

“Sunglasses that aren’t polarized won’t really block glare. That’s why you need polarised eyewear, or better yet polarized sunglasses. You know, like goodr sunglasses!!!

“Carl, that was shameless plug for your polarized sunglass lenses. How important is polarization in sunglasses? Is polarized sunglasses better? Why polarized tinted lenses?!”

“What do you expect when you’re visiting the CEO of a sunglasses company?! I thought cats were supposed to be evil geniuses. No offense. Please don’t kill me. Man, I feel like I’m sticking my foot in my mouth all over the place here. Yes, they’re definitely better for some scenarios because they block glare.” Carl laughed nervously.

“Carl, does polarized glass block polarized glare from my angry ex-talent-agent, Bebe? She can"t has my bizness anymore. Carl. Tellz me more about polarized shades. Can polarized eyeglasses protect me from the angry glare of my haterz?”

“No, no, no!!! Not THAT kind of glare!!! You"re talking about the kind of glare Carl the Flamingo shoots at people he sees wearing non-goodr sunglasses. Or when they take up two parking spaces at the local swingers club. Just because you’re leaving with multiple people doesn’t mean you deserve multiple spaces. Amirite?! Was I talking about myself in the third person again? Sorry I have a tendency to do that…”

“Let me see if I can explain this. So, light will scatter when it bounces at different angles off of an object’s uneven surface. But when the surface is smooth, like a frozen lake or skyscraper’s windows, light reflects at one angle. When this light shines bright like a diamond and reflects right into your peepers, blinding you, this is what we call glare. Polarized sunglasses reduce this glare and solve this problem. goodr sunglasses are a fun, functional, ‘ffordable, fashionable way to reduce glare. Except they, unfortunately, don’t work for blocking the glare from bitter exes and ex-talent-managers.”

“Polarized lenses have a special chemical applied which filters light. Molecules of the chemical are lined up precisely to block some of the light from passing through the lens. Think about those tacky mini blinds in your first apartment, the ones you keep closed all the time because you’re usually hungover. Oh wait, I’m projecting again. Well, it’s like those blinds. Only the light that passes through the openings is visible. HAAA listen to me, I actually sound like I know what I’m talking about. You really can’t run a sunglasses company if you don’t know these things. Just sayin’.”

“OK, hmmm. On polarized sunglasses, the chemical that filters light creates vertical openings for light. Only the light rays that approach your eyes vertically can fit through those openings. It’s basically like pol lenses are saying, ‘F*ck horizontal light rays!!!’ The polarized lens color blocks all of the horizontal light waves and bright sunlight that are bouncing off a glassy lake or chrome bumper, for example. Thanks to this filtering out of the horizontal light waves, you will be able to see details more easily, and objects will look crisper and more clear!!! Some people even report that polarized lenses give objects an almost 3D appearance. Pretty fancy, huh?”

“Duh!!! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Sunglasses with polarised lenses are great!!! Some people who wear pol lenses report that they are less tired than usual after hours of battling the harsh glare bear (the sun). Lots of everyday situations can be improved with polarized sunnies!!! Let me guess, you want specific examples?”

“Ok, I can do that. Uhh, just curious, would you consider taking a grammar class in return for this information?! I kid, I kid. Again, please don’t plot to kill me. Here are some scenarios that are improved by polarized glasses. Or polarized glass if you’re a cyclops. I imagine that since you’re a cat, you enjoy fishing. People, or cats, who fish often find that polarized sunglasses help them see into the water and drastically reduce the glare reflecting off of the H2O’s surface. It probably comes as no surprise then that people who enjoy boating can also benefit from a polarized lens. If you’re driving a boat, polarized lenses can help you see below the surface better, which could be important for safety. Polarized lenses may reduce the eye fatigue caused by eyestrain that is common when staring at the water’s surface all day. Also, do you know that we make special lenses for golfing? Our Flamingo Eye Technology provides polarized glasses perfect for golfing. They’re designed to help you spot the ball easier on the greens compared to golfing without them. We aim to reduce the glare on the fairway while increasing your chances of scoring a Flamingo. If you don’t know this already, it’s not a Bogey, it’s a Flamingo. You’ll also have an easier time spotting golf balls that have accidentally found their way into that murky golf course pond water when you’re wearing polarized lenses. Pro-tip: Don’t submerge your head under that water. No one wants a parasitic brain amoeba. What am I talking about? Cats hate water, right? Oh yeah, polarized glasses are great for a lot of snowy environments too.”

“Good call my feline friend. There are a few instances where use of polarized sunglasses is not good. For example, a polarized lens material can interfere when you’re looking at LCD (liquid crystal display) screens. So they may be a very bad idea if you have LCD car dashboard controls, or if you’re using an ATM machine, using a cell phone, and some digital watches. Also, even though we offer our aviation-themed Mach G sunnies with polarized lenses, you should not be wearing them when flying an actual plane!!! Side note, we’re not responsible if you fly into the Bermuda Triangle and are lost forever because you didn’t heed our warning to not wear polarized lenses while flying a plane and then end up misreading your instrument panel because you were desperate to look stylish!!!”

“Oooooh, that’s a great question! UV blocking and polarization are two completely different things! UV protection or UV blocking is NOT the same as polarized or polarization. goodr glasses offer full UV 400 protection. UV 400 means that the lenses provide nearly 100% protection from harmful ultraviolet light rays, blocking wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, including harmful UV rays. Polarization is different, as I have already described earlier. Almost all of goodr’s sunglasses are polarized. If you’re not sure, you can always reach out to one of our Customer Service Parrots to inquire about a specific pair. It will also show you on the product display page on

“So Carl, seeing as how I have secretly recorded this entire conversation in hopes of publishing it on my podcast, I will give you another opportunity to shamelessly plug your business. How to buy polarized sunglasses, Carl?”

“Is this a joke?! Are you really asking ME about buying polarized sunglasses? Never mind, I can see that you’re serious. goodr.com is the only place I would recommend buying polarized sunglasses. (and you receive free shipping on orders of $50+!) But I am incredibly biased. So, do you have any other questions for me now that our cheezburgers have gotten cold and congealed?”

“HAAAA. Why you no good, furry sonofabitch...Your mom loves my wardrobe. And my polarised glass lens sunglasses. She says they make everything look bigger. Bet from now on she wants all her ​​eyewear polarized.”

If you have a fancy for trends or know about the importance of wearing protective eyewear, then you’ve probably heard about non-polarized and polarized sunglasses. Still, you might not be entirely sure about the differences between the two.

What are polarized sunglasses? Essentially, they should reduce glare and protect your eyes from bright lights. This should also make polarized options a better option for seeing clearly, and are generally more suitable for activities like skiing, fishing, and driving.

As mentioned above, these sunglasses reduce reflections and glare to the eyes. This specific eyewear has a chemical filter in the lens that aims to block some of the light reflecting off surfaces like glass, snow, and water. As such, the filter improves both your safety and vision while you’re outdoors.

When the sunlight reaches a flat surface, the light gets reflected toward the eye at a horizontal angle, which can cause strain on the eyes. The special coating or filter on polarized glasses “filters” out the lights from the horizontal angle and allows the vertical light to pass through the lenses, improving your vision freely.

Are non-polarized sunglasses inferior to their polarized counterparts? Generally, they are both used to protect our eyes from the sunlight, but there are a few distinct differences between them.

Polarized sunglasses come with the said chemical coating, while non-polarized glasses only have a tint. The lack of the special filter might make it more difficult to see clearly with non-polarized glasses in bright light.

Polarized lenses allow only the vertical light to get through the lens, filtering out horizontal light and reducing glare. Non-polarized glasses only filter out UV rays but won’t prevent glare.

As seen above, polarized lenses come with more benefits than traditional sunglasses. On that end, polarized options are probably better for people who spend more time outdoors, especially during intense sunlight.

They can be especially great for daytime driving because when the sunlight hits the windshield, the scattered light can turn into a distracting bright glare. Polarized lenses will block said glare providing better vision and clarity on the road.

In most cases, you will see a sticker on polarized sunglasses stating that they have a special filter. However, if you are buying used eyewear, you can see whether they are polarized in the following way:

Put the glasses on and try looking at reflective, bright horizontal surfaces, like a lake. The lenses are polarized if you tilt your head, and the light’s intensity increases as a result.

If you, by any chance, have two sunglasses, put one in front of the other, and then look into the light. You should have no problem seeing through them. Then, tilt one pair of glasses to the right at about 60 degrees. If it gets darker, both glasses are polarized.

Still, this doesn’t mean that they will always be more expensive. When it comes to sunglasses, frame, materials, and brand name will all influence the costs. Roughly, polarized options will cost anywhere between $25 and $450 or even more.

For certain activities, the advantage of polarized lenses is undeniable. These sunglasses reduce glare and eye strain and improve vision making a fair number of outside activities more enjoyable and safer.

Still, most of these sunglasses will not offer proper UV protection unless you specifically buy a pair with UV protection. Also, when comparing them with non-polarized options, polarized lenses make it more difficult to read LCD andLED screens, which can be a disadvantage if you use tablets or phones frequently while you’re also wearing sunglasses. Ideally, you can wear both options every day.

All in all, polarized lenses may have more advantages, but whether they are a better fit for your needs will depend on your everyday activities and lifestyle. Still, in terms of protecting your eyes, your best option with be a pair of polarized glasses with added UV protection.

Take a look at any professional athlete competing in an out-door sport: baseball, cycling, golf, fishing, shooting, skiing, tennis, track and field, beach volleyball, sailing… the list goes on. What do they have in common? Most of these athletes wear sunglasses. They are no longer an accessory, but a piece of equipment just as important as the rest of their uniform and gear. It ensures that athletes compete at their best without interruption or distraction. Sunglasses are an essential tool for optimum vision, especially in action sports where split-second decisions mean the difference between winning and losing, or even preventing an accident. These athletes demand the most cutting-edge

However, polarized sunglasses are not limited to the elite competitor. Because of their affordability, they can be used by everyone—even if you aren’t a professional athlete. The reason they are so popular is due to the increased visibility and performance they provide the wearer in everyday situations. While athletes use them to maximize their performance, the consumer can use them to maximize their experience. Whether it’s taking a relaxing hike, enjoying a casual Sunday drive, or relaxing with a book on a beach, polarized sunglasses can eliminate the distracting glare that causes visual discomfort in any sunny situation. Polarized sunglasses can best be described as a sun-glass option for everyone.

Some of this light lands directly on the eye, while some of it is reflected off of surfaces like roadways or water. This reflected light is slightly bent and scattered in all directions according to its angle of incidence on the reflective surface; some of these reflected light rays become polarized.

When a bundle of light hits a flat surface, it becomes polarized, i.e., is reflected only hori-zontally. It becomes concentrated and is blinding to the viewer. This intense reflection is commonly referred to as blinding glare. The reflections can be uniform, like light reflected off of the road ahead of a driver or from another car’s hood. The reflections could also be from non-uniform or changing surfaces, like running water or a non-uniform patch of ice on the road. No matter the case, the desired requirement is to filter out the distracting reflected light and provide a clear viewing experience for the wearer.

The properties of polarized filters are used in a variety of fields such as chemistry, engineering, professional photography, geology and astronomy. As an example, polarized filters can be used to highlight clouds for photographers or detect the amount of stress in lenses in a frame by observing the amount of birefringence (internal stress) induced. This is used in a variety of engineering stress tests and is used in many finishing labs to ensure proper lens fit with minimal stress placed on the finished lens.

One can think of polarized lenses as linearly aligned slit filters used to block incident light of a particular orientation. Think of the filter acting like Venetian blinds: The horizontal blind blocks incoming light from above and below. By blocking this light, it provides a clearer view when looking out a window; there are fewer distractions and reflections observed. For optimal viewing, a polarizing lens should stop horizontally polarized light from view while allowing vertical light rays through the lenses.

As stated, reflected light off flat surfaces becomes polarized in a horizontal direction to the viewer. It causes blinding glare. This light obstructs images from the observer, such as the bottom of a shallow streambed. By eliminating the reflected blinding glare from water, the wearer is able to see below the surface of the water and clearly identify rocks and fish. The advantage in this example is safely avoiding obstacles while wading through the stream, locating the fish one might be trying to catch as in fly fishing or from a boat.

Another instance in which polarized lenses provide an advantage is while driving because of the elimination of glare from oncoming traffic or the road itself. Both the metal finish from other cars and the road itself can be quite reflective on bright days, but this effect is amplified if it has recently rained or snowed. Suddenly these surfaces are reflecting much more light and in many more directions. Polarized lenses filter and reduce the most intense horizontal reflections from these surfaces. This ensures that the wearer’s eyes are relaxed and don’t feel strained, which can result from even a short drive.

Polarized lenses have never been suitable for pilots of major aircrafts. The Federal Aviation Administration (or FAA) advises pilots against wearing polarized sunglasses. The FAA specifically mentions polarized lenses creating striations and decreased visibility through aircraft windscreens. This can create much more visual noise (a colorful rainbow effect and visual obstruction)

for the pilot. This is extremely important when spotting other aircraft in high-traffic situations during takeoff or prior to landing. Polarized lenses effectively mask the sparkle of light from other aircraft, which is necessary to provide an additional measure of safety for pilots in these high-traffic situations.

The FAA even discourages the use of polarized sunglasses due to reduced visibility of instrument clusters equipped with anti-glare filters. This is a result of newer instruments incorporating LCD technology for digitally displaying flight data such as altitude, pitch and yaw of the plane. A polarized filter can dim or even make gauges disappear entirely, which can result in an unsafe situation for the pilot. The AR surface of the gauge helps reduce reflections from the sun or other lights in the cockpit that might mask the LCD display. However, this AR cannot reduce the problem of polarized sun lenses.

To the average consumer, the largest drawback is the disappearance of LCD screens like smartphones, car gauges, radio displays and gas pumps while wearing polarized sunglasses. LCD displays utilize a polarizer, placed at 45 degrees to ensure proper color contrast and clarity of the picture. This isn’t a problem for the wearer when their lenses are aligned in a parallel orientation to the polarizer in the LCD screen. But when the wearer is looking at an LCD device at a perpendicular angle to the polarizer, the image turns black. The same effect occurs if you hold two polarized lenses at 90 degrees to one another.

While this has been more of an issue in the past when looking at digital displays such as GPS navigation, advances in screen technology displays emit light at various angles to ensure that displays can be seen through polarized lens filters, though potentially dimmed. This is still a critical point of note when choosing lenses for those who work outside and rely on digital displays. I have asked many engineers and construction workers to bring in their digital devices and explore how their screens look through polarized lenses. This has saved costly remakes and patient dissatisfaction from choosing the wrong lenses for their needs.

One other note of importance is that some skiers prefer tinted lenses instead of polarized lenses because of the reduced visibility of ice. Since the reflections are eliminated, skiers might not be aware of the ice until it is too late. Those competing in slalom events need to know where they have to check their speeds to safely take the corners. Although competitive skiers wear goggles for competition, many recreational skiers will wear their sunglasses and go straight from the mountain to their après-ski activities. This is another point of mention with patients who express interest in using their sunglasses on the mountain.

Despite these cautions, the advantages of wearing polarized sunglass lenses outweigh the disadvantages. It is important to consider lifestyle and overall use of the sunglasses to make the most appropriate decisions concerning patient lens selection. It is very important that these limitations are understood and easily explained by the dispensing optician for troubleshooting purposes or to discuss how polarized lenses will work for patients’ specific needs.

The advantages to the consumer are invaluable in creating a better visual experience during daytime activities. First, they remove reflections in the form of scatter (“visual noise” as the reflected short wavelengths are polarized and crisscross over one another). This is called Rayleigh’s Effect and is a major reason that polarized lenses are so comfortable overall. Secondly, polarized lenses increase color saturation to the viewer by increasing edge contrast and color variations of an object. Because of this, environments look more vivid than if observed by the unaided eye: Leaves are a vibrant green, and the sky is a darker hue of blue. By eliminating blinding glare, polarized sunglasses provide visibility of an otherwise hidden object for the wearer. This is important for spotting debris and road imperfections whether on a bicycle, motorcycle or while driving a car.

Anti-reflective coatings, especially on the back surface of polarized lenses, are a requirement for the best sunglasses. These coatings improve acuity while driving and should be recommended to anyone wearing sunglasses when commuting. This option eliminates distracting reflections from objects behind the wearer, most noticeably the image of the wearers’ eye reflected on the inside of the lens, which can obstruct vision. Some premium anti-reflective coatings also prevent harmful UV from being reflected into the eye when the sun is behind the wearer.

The acuity polarized lenses can provide to the wearer is also important to mention. Colors look truer and better defined than a neutrally tinted sunglass. Depth perception and horizon differentiation is improved due to this filtration. This makes a big difference to the golfer following a ball bouncing down the golf course or a spectator at a baseball game tracking the ground ball from the infield into the outfield. However, golfers may have difficulty “reading the green” because of the individual grass blade reflections (the grass blades are pointed in all directions) and as a result, many prefer golf-specific tints.

While you don’t need polarized sunglasses to watch these events happen in real time, they are more comfortable and noticeably reduce eye fatigue over the course of several hours of watching the same events.

Comfort is a major factor to wearing polarized sunglasses. The eyes can become tired after viewing the same activity occur for several hours. This is most evident to those with long commutes or individuals who drive for a living—they are fixated for hours at a time on a road emitting horizontally reflected light and blinding glare. This reflection can cause discomfort, sensitivity and distraction. Polarized lenses help to reduce this fatigue by filtering “noisy light” (or distracting reflective polarized light). This can relax the eye, eliminating eye strain and making the wearer more comfortable.

Part of the necessity of sunglasses is to protect the eyes and the adnexa (the skin surrounding the eyes) from UVA and UVB light. All polarized filters are engineered to block these specific wavelengths of light waves regardless of the material of the lens. However, very light polarized lenses may not be as UV-absorbing as dark sun lens densities. Significant absorption is important for the health of the eye and ensures protection from damaging ultra-violet radiation that is associated with cataract development and retinal damage from prolonged exposure. Large sunglass frames act like a shield, protecting the eye and the sensitive skin around the socket. Sunscreen is used to protect the body from sunburn, so think of polarized sunglasses as sunscreen for the eyes.

This is also very important to consider at higher altitudes where the UV and visible light is much more intense. Sunlight includes potentially damaging high-energy blue-violet radiation (415 to 455 nm) of concern by ECPs and a predominant conversation with patients using digital devices. This light, associated with retinal damage is also filtered by polarized lenses. This makes for another crucial talking point when recommending polarized lenses to the wearer.

Polarized sunglasses act like sunscreen for the eyes by blocking these damaging frequencies of light. In fall 2012, Anderson Cooper suffered from sunburn to his cornea (commonly referred to as snow blindness, the clinical term is photokeratitis) while reporting for “60 Minutes.” He was recording a segment from a ship off the coast of Portugal without wearing any eye protection for only two hours. Even with limited exposure to light reflected from the water’s surface, it was enough for him to lose sight in his right eye for 36 hours. While the effects of a corneal burn are temporary, the long-term effects of intense UV exposure could result in cataracts, pingueculae, pterygia, skin cancers or permanent damage to the eye.

Sunglasses can also protect the bones that form the eye socket from projectiles. According to the National Eye Institute, approximately 800,000 total eye injuries occur in the United States annually. Of those total recorded injuries, roughly 100,000 occur while engaged in sports; but it is estimated that 90 percent could have been prevented with proper eyewear. Sunglass manufacturers purposely pair Trivex or polycarbonate lenses in sport frames for maximum protection.

Large sport sunglasses wrapped close to the face can provide maximum eye protection in the event of an impact. A skate-boarder can feel secure knowing that their eyes are protected from dust, debris and grit. Sport shooters can be confident that spent casings won’t become distracting projectiles. Volleyball players can concentrate on setting up their next attack after diving into the sand, not wiping sand from their eyes. Each scenario offers a solution to a common theme—the peace of mind that nothing will compromise the experience.

Polarized sunglasses in many ways sell themselves to the consumer. It is important to demonstrate the advantages and to be able to explain how polarized lenses will benefit the wearer whether they are recreating or competing. Reinforce to the viewer that polarized sunglasses ensure the highest quality of vision to maximize both their performance and experience. This way you will strategically align your practice to sell more polarized lenses, because polarized sunglasses are truly everyone’s most important piece of outdoor equipment.

With so many advanced lens technologies, it"s easy to get confused. Here, we tackle some of the most common questions people have about polarized vs. non-polarized lenses.

All sunglasses are formulated to protect against UV rays and to minimize glare, but polarized lenses have been made with a special process to filter out this type of intense glare. This formulation acts almost like a blind or curtain, allowing only some light to pass through.

No. While all sunglasses are designed to protect against UV protection, only some are equipped with the technology that makes them polarized. All polarized lenses are designated as such, so if it doesn"t say polarized, it probably isn"t.

No. The UV protection offered by any given pair of sunglasses depends largely on the brand; some are more effective than others. For example, all Eagle Eyes polarized sunglasses are made with TriLenium® technology and block blue light and 99.9% of UV radiation.

Polarized lenses are excellent for driving, exercising outside and any outdoor activities involving water, such as fishing, sailing, and water-skiing.

In certain brands of sunglasses, the formula used to create polarized lenses can make things appear darker, but Eagle Eyes is specially formulated to enhance contrast and definition without darkening.

Yes. It is difficult to see LCD screens and LED lights when wearing polarized lenses, so pilots cannot wear polarized sunglasses, because they would hinder the pilot"s ability to see the instruments and screens on the plane"s instrument panel. In general, non-polarized lenses are better for any activity that requires substantial screen time. For example, Eagle Eyes non-polarized DigiTec™ lenses are designed specifically to block the blue light emitted from computer, phone, and TV screens. Long periods of exposure to blue light can lead to eye strain and fatigue.

Non-polarized lenses are also better for low light and nighttime conditions; they provide clarity and definition without darkening your vision. Eagle Eyes low light glasses and night driving glasses are both non-polarized lenses that enhance clarity and definition in low light or nighttime conditions while simultaneously helping to filter out glare from oncoming headlights or LED signage.