What Are Polarized Sunglasses?
When you go to look for a new pair of shades, all the technical terms can get overwhelming. Luckily, Scratch is here is help you break it down. Ever wonder what “polarized” means? Read on to learn…
The first thing we need to do is talk about light. Light moves in waves, radiating and vibrating in all directions from its source. When these vibrations, from natural or artificial light, come together into one or more planes of direction instead of scattering in all directions, the light is said to be polarized. When ever you look at a body of water, you see a natural example of this. The reflected glare off the surface of the water is the light that doesn’t make it through the “filter” of the water. This is the reason why you can’t see below the surface of the water, even when the water is clear.
Polarized lenses are specialized eyewear designed to reduce glare and increase contrast sensitivity. they contain a special filter that blocks this type of reflected light and thus reduces glare. These lenses are typically made of a chemical film applied to a transparent plastic or glass surface. The chemical compound used will typically be composed of molecules that naturally align in parallel relation to one another. When applied uniformly to the lens, the molecules create a microscopic filter that absorbs any light matching their alignment.
Most of the glare you see comes from horizontal surfaces, like water or a road. When light hits a surface, the reflected waves are polarized to match the angle of the surface. So horizontal surface means horizontally polarized light. Polarized lenses are fixed at an angle that only allows vertically polarized light to enter. By selectively blocks out glare, polarized sunglasses don’t dim your entire field of vision unlike traditional sunglasses.
By reducing glare, polarized lenses increase your visibility and comfort. Whether you’re golfing, running, or just driving, polarized sunglasses might be the right choice to help you enjoy the outdoors. Check out Rock Bottom Sunglasses for a huge selection of polarized sunglasses at prices that won’t break the bank!
