There is a price for living in an Archipelago that has an average of 300 sunny days a year. Those of us who live in the Canary Islands don't have to deal with snow, low temperatures and other characteristics of regions with marked seasons... But we do have to deal with the negative effects of the sun, even more so in summer. From staying hydrated to using sunscreen, there are steps all canaries must follow to stay healthy and comfortable in the sun; and wearing proper glasses is one of them.
It's important to know that while UV protective glasses help protect your eyes and the skin around your eyes from harmful ultraviolet light, they do not eliminate distracting glare that blinds and causes visual disturbance in any sunny situation.
Polarized glasses eliminate glare, but they may not be the perfect solution for all situations. Since Nivaria Clinic We tell you how polarized glasses work, their benefits and possible drawbacks, to help you make smart purchase decisions to take care of your eye health.
What is glare?
When a beam of light hits a flat surface, it is polarized or reflected horizontally. The light concentrates and blinds anyone who observes it. This is known as blinding glare.
These reflections can be uniform, which is soft reflected light. Uniform reflections would be light reflected off the road, bumper, or rear window of a car. They can also be non-uniform, which is light reflected from an uneven surface. An example of this would be light reflected from running water, the sea, or a patch of ice on the road. No matter what the case, the desired result is to filter out distracting reflected light to provide a clear viewing experience for anyone.
What are polarized glasses?
During the manufacturing process, a special chemical is applied to the lens of an eyeglass to polarize it. The chemical is laminated in a vertical pattern, which rearranges the light. This pattern blocks light that is horizontal to eliminate glare, which is similar to how a window shade works.
Glare generally occurs when light waves bounce off reflective surfaces, such as a lake, the sea, sand, a snowy slope, or a shiny car bumper. Since the surface is horizontal, light is reflected horizontally. When you wear polarized sunglasses, the surface blocks glare by filtering out horizontal light waves that don't pass through the chemical laminate pattern.
Images may appear darker when wearing polarized glasses. However, when glare is removed, image details are easier to see and can reduce eye strain. In addition, polarized sunglasses also provide protection from harmful UV rays.
Differences of polarized glasses
Inexpensive polarized sunglasses differ from more expensive glasses in significant ways. Cheaper sunglasses may only have a thin chemical laminate on one side of the lens. The thin layer can only provide minimal benefit and the thin layer can be easily rubbed or scraped off. You may also notice aberrations in the lenses as they are generally mass produced patterned lenses that are of lower quality.
Higher quality options have a film laminated between two layers of lens material. Coating laminate protects it from scratches and provides additional benefits. The thicker the polarizing film, the more protective the lens is against glare.
A note on lens color to keep in mind: darker lenses are not a sign of better protection.
How do polarized glasses work?
In addition to reducing glare, polarized glasses relieve eyestrain from long hours in the sun. And if you experience headaches due to light sensitivity, polarized glasses can help you experience fewer and less intense headaches.
Polarized glasses can also increase clarity, contrast, and visual acuity, making your surroundings more pleasant. And when you can see better, you can enjoy the landscape and the sunny day more.
What are the drawbacks of polarized glasses?
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs), which are common in cell phone screens, car dashboards, clocks, and other displays, can be difficult to see clearly when wearing polarized glasses.
Also, because polarization blocks some of the light, night use is not recommended for safety reasons.
Consult one of our professionals if you have questions about how polarized glasses work and if they are suitable for taking care of your eyes. Request your appointment today in our Clinic located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we will be happy to assist you.
