Polarized Sunglasses & Polarized Prescription Sunglasses

When you want the very best in outdoor eyewear, the question is bound to come up: “Do I need polarized sunglasses?" We at SportRx want the very best for our customers, so the short answer to that question would be: Yes - we have the very best polarized sunglasses and prescription polarized sunglasses online, including polarized sunglasses for men and polarized sunglasses for women. BUT, we at SportRx also know A LOT about sunglasses, so the long answer to the question of polarized vs. nonpolarized would be: maybe.

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What are Polarized Sunglasses?

A common misconception about sunglasses is that all dark lenses are the same – you wear them outside to block out the sun, right? Well, it’s not that simple. Most dark-lensed sunglasses might look the same, however, tinted lenses only reduce the amount of light that gets through to your eyes, while polarized lenses reduce reflective light while also cutting glare and haze. Best of all, they reduce the harmful effects of UV light on your eyes. For even more polarized sunglasses benefits, check out our blog post on How Polarized Sunglasses Work.

Polarized vs. Nonpolarized

Now, we know what you’re thinking… “I bought these sunglasses years ago, how do I know if they’re polarized?" There are a couple of easy ways to test if your sunglass lenses are polarized:

1. 1. Find a reflective surface (like a mirror or glass table) and hold your glasses so that you are looking at the surface through one of the lenses. Next, rotate your glasses to a 60° angle (or 2:00 on an analog clock). If the glare off of the reflective surface is reduced, your sunglasses are polarized.
2. 2. Look through your sunglasses at a computer screen and tilt them at a 60° angle. If the lenses turn black they are polarized.

Are Polarized Sunglasses Worth It?

Glare is the bane of many athletes’ existence: it can impair your view, distort colors, affect depth perception, and even cause temporarily blindness. The anti-glare technology of polarized lenses will not only make your favorite outdoor activities even more fun and enjoyable, they could even help to improve your endgame. So the extra cost of polarized sunglasses is worth it for most, but not for all. Because they affect how you see differences between surfaces (i.e. ice vs. snow) and in depth, they’re not recommended for tennis players, golfers, skiers/snowboarders, or pilots. If you have a question about whether or not you should get polarized sunglasses, feel free to give us a call! We always have real opticians on hand to answer all of your eyewear questions.

SportRx Worry-Free Shipping & Easy Returns

We get it, buying stuff online can be scary (let’s not talk about the snuggie craze of 2008). That’s why we have our See Better Guarantee.

If you're not 100% satisfied with your polarized sunglasses or polarized prescription sunglasses – just send them back! You will never be “stuck" with anything you order from us.