Polarized Sunglasses – The Pros And Cons

This article contains many pros and cons of polarized sunglasses.

Polarized sunglasses are great for getting rid of glare and they have become quite trendy as well. A good pair of polarized sunglasses can absorb up to 97% of glare from flat surfaces such as water, snow and roads.

The way polarized sunglasses work is by polarizing light that is reflected to you off of flat surfaces. Ok, so what does that mean? Well light typically travels in the form of waves that vibrate in all directions. When light bounces off of a flat surface and is projected back at you it comes in the form of horizontally polarized light. Polarized sunglasses are designed with vertical polarization and hence they will block out much of the glare that is being reflected back at you.

There are some benefits and disadvantages when it comes to polarized sunglasses. This article will list a few of the Pros and Cons:

PRO – Polarized sunglasses will block glare that is reflected back to you from the road, shiny chrome bumpers and windshields of approaching vehicles, making it easier and much safer to drive.

CON – Although the benefits are apparent, polarized sunglasses are typically more expensive then ordinary sunglasses.

PRO – Grey polarized lenses are the best for multi-purpose use, and especially for fishermen, as the polarized lenses will enable fishermen to see right down into the water, protecting their eyes while making it easier to spot fish.

PRO – Brown polarized sunglasses are the choice for golfers, as the lenses will help to show the texture on the green and on the fairway, making it easier to get a birdie.

PRO – Polarized sunglasses with yellow lenses are a good option for people who use gun ranges, as the yellow lenses will really make the red bull’s-eye stand out more.

CON – Polarized sunglasses will block out some of the discerning features when it comes to snow sports. In certain light conditions it may be hard for the wearer to differentiate between ice patches and moguls.

CON – One of the major drawbacks of polarized lenses is that they make LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) virtually impossible to read from certain angles. This is because LCDs are also polarized light. LCD displays are commonly found on vehicle dashboards and aircraft displays, making it potentially dangerous to operate them while wearing polarized sunglasses.

CON – Pilots should not wear polarized sunglasses because the coating will make it hard to read the digital instruments inside the aircraft.

PRO – You can also purchase polarized sunglasses that contain a backside anti-reflective coating, which will also block the glare and reflection that comes from behind the wearer.

As noted in this article there are many Pros and Cons for the wearer when it comes to polarized sunglasses. Not only are they more expensive then regular sunglasses but also in certain situations the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. That being said, they provide the wearer with better sight as the lenses absorb glare from flat surfaces. In truth it is entirely up to you whether you think you would benefit from sunglasses with polarized lenses. If you are a golfing or fishing enthusiast however, the decision to buy polarized sunglasses seems to be a good one to make.