Polarized Lenses: How They Work and Who Needs Them
On a bright day, sunlight bounces off flat surfaces such as roads, car bonnets, wet streets and water. This reflected light becomes intense horizontal glare that makes you squint and hides detail. Polarized lenses are designed to block exactly that.
How polarized lenses work
A polarized lens contains a special filter with vertical orientation. It lets useful vertical light through and blocks the horizontal glare reflecting off flat surfaces. Ordinary tinted sunglasses only make everything darker; polarized lenses remove the glare itself.
Benefits
- Less glare: far less dazzle from roads, water, snow and car windows
- Better contrast and colour: scenery looks sharper and more vivid
- Less eye strain: less squinting on long drives and sunny days
- Safer driving: easier to see the road surface and other vehicles in strong sun
Polarized vs UV protection
Polarization and UV protection are different things. Polarization reduces glare for comfort and clarity; UV400 protection blocks harmful ultraviolet light for eye health. Good polarized sunglasses do both. Read more in our article Polarized vs UV400 sunglasses.
Who should wear polarized lenses
- Drivers, especially on motorways and long trips
- Travellers to the northern areas, where sun reflects off snow and lakes
- Anyone who fishes, boats or spends time near water
- People who are sensitive to bright light
When polarized may not suit you
- Screens: some phone, ATM and car dashboard LCD screens can look dark or patchy at certain angles.
- Pilots and some machine operators: may need non-polarized lenses to read instrument displays.
- Night: polarized lenses are sunglasses and should not be worn for night driving.
Quick test: is my lens polarized?
Look at a phone or laptop screen through the lens, then slowly tilt your head 90 degrees. If the screen darkens, the lens is polarized.
Prescription polarized lenses
If you wear glasses, you can get polarized lenses made to your prescription, so you see clearly and comfortably in the sun without wearing contacts. For a driving lens that also adjusts its tint behind the windscreen, see Drivewear.
Shop polarized sunglasses, or ask our optometrists about prescription options at our G-9 Markaz shop.
More lens guides: Coatings | Lens index | Blue Filter | Drivewear