(Editor's note: This is the first of several articles about polarized eyewear, written by the staff at Guideline Polarized Eyegear.)
There's a lot of confusion out there about polarized lenses. What are they? How do they differ from standard lenses? How are they made? And most importantly, how do they benefit the user?
With so many sunglass brands now offering polarized lenses, you'd think it was a new technology. Not so. Polarized lenses have been around for more than 70 years. It's only been in recent years that many sunglass manufacturers have determined that they had to offer this lens option to everyone.
To understand why more manufacturers are offering polarized lenses to consumers, it's vital to understand the benefits (and trade-offs) they offer.
The Hazards of Glare
Glare is the enemy of the human eye. This harsh, bright light is most commonly associated with sunlight reflecting horizontally off shiny, flat surfaces (slick roads, flat glass, fog particles and water). Glare is not only visually uncomfortable, but it can also be dangerous.
Imagine driving along in your bass boat toward a low-lying sun. The sun's light is not only harsh from above, but the reflection off the water can easily generate a blind spot. Floating logs, snags and oncoming boat traffic could be hiding there.
Enter the polarized lens. By removing most of the water-borne, reflected glare, the eye is soothed and potential hazards are revealed.
Even in colder weather, polarized lenses are helpful. In fog, each suspended water molecule can create glare, reducing visual distance. Wearing polarized glasses in this situation can greatly increase distance of sight, making boating safer.
The Fishing Factor
Do polarized lenses help you catch more fish? In certain situations, the answer is yes.
When the sun is high overhead and the water is clear and flat, most anglers can see fish without polarized lenses. But as the sun drops its angle, generating more water glare, fish become more challenging to make out. Polarized lenses reduce this glare and get the angler visually back on the fish.
The ability to see fish is beneficial, but seeing structure (logs, rocks and weedlines) can also up your catch. Polarized lenses will assist in this regard, too.
It's All in the Film
Contrary to some rumors out there, polarization is not a spray-on coating or specific lens material. Instead, polarized lenses are created by "sandwiching" a polarizing film between two glass or plastic-type lenses.
Imagine the polarizing film like a miniature version of a Venetian blind. The filter inhibits most of the horizontal glare from penetrating the lens. If properly made, the end result is a glare-cutting lens with little or no optical distortion.
Can a clear polarized lens be made? No, not even with today's technology, regardless of price or brand. The polarizing film carries with it a slight tint, but the majority of the tint comes from the two encapsulating lenses. As for UV protection, almost any quality sunglass manufacturers' lenses will provide it at 100%.
Glass and polycarbonate are two common lens material choices for polarized sunglasses. If properly made, glass can have the best optical qualities, but it is much heavier and costlier than polycarbonate, which offers the wearer a lightweight, shatter-resistant material with superior optics at a value price.
What do you Give Up?
The list of tradeoffs in wearing polarized glasses generally won't affect anglers, but there are some examples. Imagine driving your super-expensive sports car down a road after a light rain. At high speeds, seeing the glare off a quickly approaching puddle of water could be an advantage.
The same argument can be made for a snow skier or boarder who needs to see the glare of an approaching ice patch. Other polarized conflicts occur when viewing liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Gas pump read-outs and some digital watches go black when viewed through polarized lenses.
But quality polarized sunglasses can benefit all anglers. Even if you don't sight-fish, there are many other advantages to them. In fact, many eye doctors are recommending polarized sunglasses to their patients to reduce the occurrence of cataracts.
If you don't already have a pair, put them on your list – and then on your face.
