Glare is any outdoor enthusiast's biggest pain. It distorts true color, makes details fuzzy, and fatigues your eyes. If you've been a victim of harsh glare reflecting off water, snow, or car bumpers, you're probably on the hunt for a solution. Stop squinting and start seeing with a pair of polarized sunglasses! Whether you're reeling in a fresh catch, hitting the slopes, or relaxing on the beach, enjoy your day to the fullest with the help of polarized lenses.


Your Questions, Answered.

1. What Are Polarized Sunglasses?
b. How Do Polarized Sunglasses Work?
c. How Do I Tell If My Sunglasses Are Polarized?
2. Are Polarized Sunglasses Better?
3. Types of Polarized Lenses
a. Tinted Lenses vs Polarized Lenses
b. Transitions Lenses vs Polarized Lenses
c. What Are Polarized Sunglasses vs UV Protection?
4. Do Polarized Lenses Block UV?
5. Can I Get Polarized Lenses In Prescription?
a. Do Polarized Lenses Affect The Prescription?
6. What Are The Best Polarized Sunglasses?
7. Where To Buy Polarized Sunglasses Online


What Are Polarized Sunglasses?

Polarized sunglasses block out polarized light or glare with a vertically layered film on or inside them. This leads to our next question. What are the benefits of polarized sunglasses? Polarized lenses reduce the amount of reflected light entering the eyes. They combat glare, providing comfortable, crisp vision without the painful brightness that causes you to squint.

How Do Polarized Sunglasses Work?

The sun emits vertical wavelengths of light. When those wavelengths hit shiny surfaces such as water, fresh asphalt, or metal, they rebound at a 90-degree angle. This creates horizontal, or polarized, light waves. Polarized lenses combat glare with a chemical compound. Molecules in the compound naturally run parallel to one another on the horizontal axis. When applied to a sunglass lens, the molecules create a microscopic filter that absorbs light, matching their alignment. Polarized lenses allow vertical light to pass through, while blocking intense reflective glare. Think Venetian blinds, but for sunglasses!

How Do I Tell If My Sunglasses Are Polarized?

An easy way to tell if your sunglasses are polarized is to grab your phone, laptop, tablet, or your nearest electronic screen. Look at it with sunglasses on and turn the screen from side to side. Polarization will often make digital display screens look odd — you might see a rainbow on the screen, a slight 3D effect, or it will look completely black. This is because things like smartphones and car dashboards already have a polarized filter on them. Putting two polarized filters over each other causes them to cancel one another out.


Are Polarized Sunglasses Better?

The answer to this question is based on your environmental conditions and optical preferences. Polarized lenses are extremely useful, if not necessary, for many sports and outdoor activities. They're the key to spotting fish beneath the surface of the water and avoiding potholes on the road. You're especially vulnerable to harsh glare when driving, because of the amount of glass and metal surfaces light bounces off.

On the contrary, polarized lenses make it difficult to see digital devices — you’ll need to take them off when looking at one. Additionally, designed for bright light, they can be unsafe to use at nighttime. They can also affect your depth perception, which is why we don't recommend polarized lenses for golfing, baseball, cycling, or mountain biking, where depth perception is essential.

Are polarized lenses worth it? To answer this question, use what you learned above, or give us a call! Our friendly opticians will consider the environment and conditions you use sunglasses in and listen to any concerns or dissatisfaction with your current glasses.


Types of Polarized Lenses

There are two main types of polarized lenses. One is higher quality, and the other is lower quality. The distinction lies in the thickness of the polarizing film. Cheap sunglasses will likely have 0.75mm lenses that scratch easier and aren't impact resistant. If you're using your sunglasses in a sportier way, you will want to go for the 1.1 mm lenses. Although both options reduce glare, the thicker lens is stronger and more scratch-resistant.

Tinted Lenses vs Polarized Lenses

Tinted lenses are a valuable feature to have for your sunglasses, but they enhance color rather than reduce glare. You can get the best of both worlds by choosing a polarized tinted lens. For example, an in-shore fisherman needs polarized lenses because he's in direct sunlight, but he would also benefit from a rose or copper tint to help track fish amid the shadows in the water.

Transitions Lenses vs Polarized Lenses

Transitions lenses are photochromic lenses that become lighter and darker according to light changes in your environment. Although they darken when exposed to bright light, they don't block glare like a polarized lens. But don't worry! You can add polarization to some Transitions.

Polarized Sunglasses vs UV Protection?

UV-protection lenses protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Polarized lenses block glare that hurts your eyes and distorts your vision, while blocking out UV rays.


Do Polarized Lenses Block UV?

They sure do! The point of polarized lenses is to block out glare, but you still get the UV blocking benefit.


Can I Get Polarized Lenses In Prescription?

Yes! Polarization is compatible with most types of Rx lenses. If you're not sure whether the lenses you're interested in are Rx-able, feel free to reach out to one of our opticians.

Do Polarized Lenses Affect The Prescription?

Because a polarizing filter is a film on the lens, it won't affect your prescription. However, the exact color you wanted for some types of prescription lenses, such as bifocals, may not be available. This is due to bifocals being a less common lens type than it is about polarized lenses being incompatible.


What Are The Best Polarized Sunglasses?

Watch the video, below, as we reveal the 2023 list!


Where To Buy Polarized Sunglasses Online

Need prescription polarized sunglasses? Done. When you shop with SportRx, you’ll find video guides and tooltips throughout the build process as you customize the perfect pair. The answer to all your questions is at your fingertips, and if you want to chat with an expert, Contact Us. We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians who can help you build your prescription polarized sunglasses.

Ditch risky online shopping with the See Better Guarantee. Try your polarized sunglasses for 45 days. If you’re not satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit towards a different pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get your pair of prescription polarized sunglasses at SportRx today!

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