What does polarization mean? How does polarization work?
Polarized sunglasses are specially designed to reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as water, snow, glass. A major problem with glare is that it distorts the true color of objects making them harder to distinguish and this can be especially problematic while driving.
What is polarization?
Once light strikes a surface it becomes ‘polarized.’ This means that the light particles are are all vibrating in one direction rather than spreading out like natural light. This is what causes the glare reflected from a car window or hood, wet pavement, water to become blinding. This glare distorts the true color of objects and makes them harder to distinguish.
Polarization Process
Polarization is the process of using a virtually invisible filter designed to eliminate the amount of light that enters the eye. The filter for the lens is vertical, while glare is horizontal. This creates a grid-like situation allowing only some of the light to pass through the openings. With the horizontal light being filtered away this allows for superior clarity and contrast. Color enhancement is also a benefit compared to not wearing any lenses because your eyes are not working as hard. Please check out our blog about disability glare if you have any more questions or concerns!
Polarized lenses are available in an assortment of colors with darker colors provide higher levels of polarization. Each color does have its attributes: Gray lenses are good in both sunny and cloudy days, and allow for vision closest to pure. Green lenses offer better contrast than gray, and brighten shadows. There are additional colors such as yellow and red, each offering other benefits. At Glare Guard we are one of four polarized manufacturers in the world while also being the only custom polarizer in the world. Our product line includes luxury polarized sunglasses for both men and women along with polarized visors.
Not Sure if Your Glasses are Polarized?
There is a simple test you can do if you are unsure whether or not your lenses are polarized, according to Very Well Health:
- Take your sunglasses to the store and grab a pair of polarized sunglasses.
- Place the lens of your sunglasses at a 90-degree angle to the lens of the store sunglasses.
- If the combined lenses turn dark or nearly black, your sunglasses are polarized.