Polarised & Leisure

What makes polarised lenses different?

Polarised lenses are different to standard sunglass lenses; they have a special film either sandwiched between two layers of the lens or applied to the front of a lens. This special film eliminates the polarised light/glare that reflects off a surface like a road, ski slope or water.

What is polarised light?

Light waves from the sun travel in all directions but when sunlight strikes a surface it becomes concentrated – this polarised light, as it is called, causes glare. Non-polarized sunglasses only reduce the amount of light entering the eye; they don’t block glare. Polarised lenses block glare and allow only useful vertical light to enter so you can see much more clearly.

What are the benefits of using polarised sunglasses?

Glare makes it difficult and uncomfortable to see and can cause eye strain. Glare also distorts the true colour of objects and makes them harder to distinguish. With polarised sunglasses the benefits include glare-free vision, clear contrasts, more natural colours and reduced eye fatigue. They can also help prevent headaches caused by eye strain from prolonged exposure to glare.

Are all polarised lenses the same?

The short answer is no. Although polarised lenses provide lots of vision benefits it is important to note that the majority of polarised lenses are made from a material called TAC which is relatively thin and does not provide impact protection. For sports such as shooting where impact protection is important a polycarbonate lens is required.

As mentioned above, the vast majority of inexpensive polarised sunglasses sold (typically under £50) use a lens material called TAC and the polarised film is on the front of the lens. This means over time it can scratch and eventually lose some of its polarising properties. On higher priced polarised sunglasses (typically above £50) the lens material is likely to be polycarbonate or a similar material called Trivex. Here the polarised film is sandwiched between two layers of polycarbonate meaning the polarised film can never wear out. Importantly Polycarbonate or Trivex polarised lenses will also provide impact protection. We have some affordably priced models with polycarbonate polarised lenses (look for Polycarbonate Polarised in the headline description).