Polarized sunglasses have been depended upon by sporting outdoorsmen and women for years. Their ability to deflect intense light makes them a superb choice for any event that takes people outside and into the sun; whether you're kayaking, playing golf, or skiing, the glare off the water, ground, and snow can be as painful as it is annoying. The invention of polarized lenses -- and their addition to affordable prescription sunglasses for sports -- have made all of these activities safe and enjoyable. But just how do they work?
A Look At Light
Generally speaking, light scatters in all directions. When it's reflected from flat surfaces, however, it becomes polarized and travels in a more uniform (usually horizontal) direction. When light beams join together like this, the effect is an intense and sometimes dangerous brightness that causes glare and reduces visibility. This means that any flat surface -- like water, snow, or asphalt -- can become a magnifying glass for the sun's rays and potentially damage your eyesight, not to mention affect your ability to perform. If you feel like the name sounds familiar, that's because it is. Edwin H. Land, inventor of the Polaroid over 80 years ago, discovered polarized lenses during an experiment using his patented Polaroid filter. Polarized sunglasses for sports contain a special filter that blocks this type of intense reflected light, which reduces glare and can greatly improve visibility: there will be no more squinting as you cast your fishing line, no more straining as you try to follow your golf ball and no more pain as you head down the slopes.
Making A Good Thing Better
Polarized lenses fulfill a very important function and keep your eyes safe in a variety of conditions, but -- just like any sunglasses -- can be a pain of their own if you're constantly in and out of the sun. By pairing your polarized sunglasses with photochromatic lenses, you won't have to be constantly taking them on and off again; these light-adaptive lenses darken in the presence of UV rays to provide protection against the sun and become clear when indoors. The total effect feels like two pairs of sunglasses in one! If you find yourself dealing with the glaring sunshine on a constant basis, it's time to make a change. With polarized sunglasses, you'll find that your game -- and your eyesight -- with improve.
