The Pure Sporting Power of Polarized Sunglasses

Polarized sunglasses are taking the sporting world by storm! Although it may seem as though polarized sunglasses are new on the protective eyewear scene, they have actually been around for some time and used by fishermen and boaters alike.

The main benefit of wearing polarized lenses is to take the glare off of water, and other wet objects. Polarized lenses are great for anyone sitting on a lake, river, or ocean all day. Imagine looking out across a lake with a blinding glare. Polarized lenses actually make it possible for fishermen to see into the water, and allow them to see what they are catching. People who like to boat and fish always appreciate polarized lenses and their extra special protection from the sun and bright reflection.

It is just as easy to see why polarized lenses come in handy for folks who like to jog or ride a mountain bike. Polarized lenses cut the glare from the road so they can better see where they are going. Or take a golfer out on a bright morning in Florida, or a skier hitting the slopes on a crisp, clear afternoon at 10,000 feet. All of these sporting folks could use extra protection from the glare of the sun. Polarized lenses also help when driving by cutting the blinding reflection from other cars and shiny roads. Truck driver have also recently jumped on the polarized lens bandwagon and can appreciate their benefits everyday on the road.

Polarized lenses work by rather complex scientific principles that can be explained rather simply. (At least we’ll try to explain it rather simply!) As any physicist will tell you, light reflected off of water, snow, pavement, and other flat, smooth surfaces generally comes at your eyes at a horizontal polarization. However, polarized sunglass lenses are vertically polarized, meaning they block the horizontal light from coming through to your eyes.

Of course, nothing is perfect. World-class skiers sometimes say the polarized lenses don’t work as well in the snow as they do on the water. Skiers indicate polarized lenses make it harder for them to have good depth perception, which makes it hard for them to read the slope of the hill and the distance and size of moguls and other mounds of snow coming at them.

Although polarized lenses are great for reducing dangerous road glare, the may make it difficult for people to correctly read LCD displays for speed, mileage, radio broadcasting, and other dashboard devices. They are also less helpful when the sun is very high or very low in the sky.

So the next time you are spending a relaxing afternoon on the lake, or driving down the busy freeway during rush hour, grab a pair of polarized discount sunglasses to make your day a little more enjoyable.