Polarized lenses are becoming an increasingly popular feature of prescription sunwear. But what, exactly, are polarized lenses?

Polarized lenses have a special filter that blocks glare. Glare occurs when natural light waves hit reflective surfaces such as pavement, windshields or snow at an angle that causes the light to be transmitted in a horizontal direction. Glare can be very harsh to unprotected eyes, and can alter perceptions of shapes, colors and contrast.

Health and safety

benefits

By significantly reducing glare, polarized lenses allow wearers to be in the sun without squinting. This reduces eyestrain and facial tension. In addition, high-quality polarized lenses offer 100 percent UV protection, which shields eyes from sun damage that can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration.

Polarized lenses can also help wearers drive safer. Glare from reflective surfaces, including car hoods, the road surface or even car dashboards, can seriously impair driving. Glare is particularly bad during the early part of the day or just as the sun is setting.

“Poor visibility due to sun glare is the suspected cause of many motor vehicle accidents,” according to the Virginia Deputy Sheriff John McAlister. “Drivers should take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety, as well as the safety of others on the road.”

Precautions include keeping windshields clean, using sun visors, avoiding the use of highgloss cleaning products on dashboards and wearing sunglasses with polarized lenses.

“Only polarized lenses address glare; regular sunglasses do not,” said Mike Solosko, product manager of sunwear for Essilor of America, the number one company worldwide in ophthalmic optical products. “So if you do a lot of daytime driving, polarized lenses are practically a necessity.”

Outdoor sports

Polarized lenses are very popular with those who enjoy the outdoors. Water sport fans, like fishing and boating enthusiasts, value the way polarized lenses block the glare that bounces off the water. Many skiers likewise appreciate the way these lenses significantly reduce glare from the sun hitting the snow.

“A frequent problem for skiers, snowmobilers and others who spend a lot of time in the intense reflective light of snow is 'snow blindness,'” said Susan Taub, M.D. of the Taub Eye Clinic and the Better Vision Institute. “This condition can damage the cornea for up to a week, cause eye pain, extreme sensitivity to light and the sensation of having sand in your eye.

More vivid vision

In addition to the important health and safety benefits, polarized lenses actually help improve vision - images are sharper, depth perception better and distracting glare is significantly reduced.

“The great thing about polarized lenses is that they make your vision more vivid,” Solosko said. “Once you go polarized, you'll never go back.”

Buyers beware

Not all polarized lenses are the same. Laminated polarized lenses have a filter applied to the outside of the lens that is susceptible to scratching and can wear off over time. High-quality polarized lenses incorporate the polarized filter in the lens in a solid construction, rather than by lamination.

“Our polarized prescription lenses have the filter embedded in the lens itself, so it can't be scratched off, and it won't wear off over time,” Solosko said.

Polarized prescription lenses are available in a wide range of prescriptions. Talk to your eyecare professional about whether prescription sunwear with polarized lenses are right for you.

Polarization 101

High-quality polarized lenses have a special filter embedded in them. The chemical filter is made of molecules that naturally align parallel to each other, forming a very effective sheild that greatly reduces glare.

Mark DiVietro is an optician at

Silbert Optical in Auburn