Polarized lenses are known for their ability to reduce glare and improve color contrast in bright light. These lenses enhance visual clarity, reduce eye strain, and provide maximum protection in bright environments.

Polarized lenses are recommended for outdoor use, especially in environments known for reflecting light and producing glare, such as:

1. Near the water 

Oceans, rivers and lakes are all bodies of water that reflect the sun’s light. Whether you are fishing, sailing, or jet skiing, polarized lenses can prevent the sun’s light from reflecting off the water and shining into your eyes. They can also help you to see more clearly into the water— a helpful tool for successful fishing.

2. On the ski slopes

Whether you are skiing, sledding, or snowboarding, if you plan to spend the day on snow-covered mountains, polarized lenses will absorb the light reflected off the snow and enhance your visual clarity.

Caution: Some eyecare professionals caution against wearing polarized lenses while skiing as these lenses can affect your ability to distinguish between snow and ice.

3. On the road

The roads and highways are also known for reflecting light, and can cause a dangerous glare while driving. Polarized lenses reduce the light that is reflected off the surface of the highway, increasing depth perception and decreasing drivers fatigue.

Contact an eye doctor near you to discuss how to achieve the best vision possible.

SEE RELATED: Going Skiing – Remember Your Polarized Sunglasses

How do polarized lenses work?

When the sun’s rays shine in different directions, the light is called unpolarized light. When unpolarized light hits a reflective smooth surface, such as a mirror, car window, water or even snow, the reflected light causes the light rays to point in one direction. This transforms the light into polarized light.

Reflected polarized light can be harmful for your eyes— and without the right kind of protection, can cause glare, reduced vision clarity and UV light exposure.

Polarized lenses prevent reflected light from shining directly into your eyes and make it easier to see when bright light is reflected off of smooth surfaces. 

Polarized lenses are created differently than regular lenses due to their ‘sandwich’ design. A polarized lens contains three layers: two outer layers made of plastic or glass, and a middle layer containing the polarized material which is stretched into long vertical strands.

This ‘sandwich’ design allows the polarized lens to absorb the horizontal light that is reflected off smooth surfaces, preventing it from reaching your eyes.

When to use polarized lenses

Polarized sunglasses can make a world of difference when it comes to certain activities, such as:

• Fishing
• Boating
• Golfing
• Snow sports

When not to use polarized lenses

Wearing polarized lenses can make it difficult to see the images on LCD screens, such as the screen on your cell phone or car dashboard, or the ATM machine at the bank.

Sometimes, wearing polarized lenses can interfere with your visual clarity.

Here are some situations when wearing polarized lenses is NOT recommended:

• Looking at digital screens or mobile phones
• Driving on icy roads
• Nighttime driving

In these situations, the reflected light and increased glare can signal oncoming danger and help you to avoid accidents.

Polarized vs. regular sunglasses

Regular non-polarized sunglasses rely on the dark tint of the lens to reduce glare.

Polarized lenses have the ability to reduce light energy without increasing lens color density, and are therefore available in a variety of lighter shades.

Note: While most polarized lenses provide 100 percent UV protection, be sure to read the label on the sunglasses before purchasing.  

Polarized lenses can be beneficial in bright light environments and help to improve your visual clarity for many different activities.

LEARN MORE:  Optical and Contact Lenses

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor to learn more about polarized lenses and how they can benefit your lifestyle.

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Many sports players and professional athletes can be seen wearing tinted sunglasses.

Of course, your ability to excel in sports is determined by your skills, but by supporting your vision and visual skills and enhancing the way you see, you are giving yourself all of the tools you need to achieve optimal performance.

Sunglasses for sports

Since every sport is played differently, in varying conditions and environments, the sunglasses you choose can either improve your vision or actually hinder your ability to see well while you play.

Sunglasses come in a variety of colors, and though you may have originally thought to choose your favorite color or the one that looks best on your face, know that each color carries a unique set of advantages and disadvantages.

That being said, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing sunglasses, so take your time to trial the different color lenses in your optometrist’s office before making a decision.

Guide to tints for sports 

Yellow and orange tints enhance contrast in low light or overcast conditions and protect against blue light emissions.

These tints can be worn for both indoor and outdoor sports, and are generally recommended for basketball, racquetball, tennis, baseball, football, soccer, cycling, hunting, shooting, and snow sports.

Amber and rose tints enhance contrast on sunny days, as well when the skies are gray. They offer improved vision in low-light conditions, and in the presence of green and blue backgrounds (think grass and sky). Be aware though that these tints can cause significant color distortions and are therefore not recommended for driving or other activities that require accurate color perception.

They are generally recommended for outdoor sports such as fishing, water sports, hunting, shooting, cycling, skiing and snowboarding.

Red tints enhance contrast by blocking blue light. They are known for heightening visual depth and reducing eye strain and glare. Red lenses do not alter colors and are soothing to the eyes, making them comfortable for prolonged wear and driving.

They are generally recommended for outdoor sports, especially for skiing, snowboarding, and other snow sports.

If you want to improve your sports performance, contact an eye doctor near you, who can discuss how to take your game to the next level.

SEE RELATED: Vision for High School Athletics

Dark amber, copper or brown tinted lenses contain melanin that block out significant amounts of blue light, enhance contrast, and improve visual acuity and depth perception. They reduce glare and eye strain in moderate to bright conditions. They are especially helpful in discriminating between different shades of green, which make them a great tool for golfers and baseball players.

They are generally recommended for outdoor sports such as fishing, water sports, cycling, golf, hunting, baseball, and skiing.

Green tints add soothing, cool tones while enhancing contrast. They help to reduce eye strain in moderate to bright light conditions and are generally recommended for baseball, tennis, and golf.

Blue tints enhance contrast while reducing glare. Be aware though that they can cause significant color distortion and are therefore not recommended for driving or other activities where color perception is essential.

These lenses are generally recommended for tennis, skiing, and snowboarding.

Gray tints are the most natural color vision lens because they minimize brightness and glare without altering colors.

They are known for reducing eye strain and are therefore generally recommended for any type of outdoor sport that is played in bright light conditions.

Gold tints enhance depth perception and minimize brightness and glare in low-to-moderate level light conditions. However, they are not known for their overall brightness protection.

They are generally recommended for skiing, snowboarding, and other other snow sports.

Which tint is right for you?

The tint you choose will depend on the sport you play. If you play several sports that differ in their lighting conditions and environments, such as indoor basketball and snowboarding, you may want to consider purchasing more than one pair of tinted sunglasses— each with a different colored lens.

Some sports sunglasses even have lenses that can be changed easily, offering you the ability to customize your shades for various lighting conditions and sports activities.

Transition lenses for sports

Transition (photochromic) lenses can be worn as sports sunglasses as well. However, sports lenses should be made from polycarbonate or trivex plastic to be able to withstand any rough play and offer you the protection you need against eye injuries.

Transition lenses are clear for indoor use, but automatically darken when exposed to sunlight or UV light.

These lenses are a great solution if you need prescription lenses in your sunglasses. Keep in mind though that they are only available in brown, gray, and green tints.

Anti reflective (AR) coatings

Anti reflective (AR) coatings are essential for eliminating glare that is reflected off of smooth surfaces, such as water, snow, and even freshly cut grass. Although some tints naturally cut down glare, adding an AR coating to your lenses will further enhance your visual acuity.

When searching for the perfect pair of sports sunglasses that can help you to improve your game, it is always a good idea to consult with your optometrist.  

Your optometrist can help you to decide which tint is best for your individual needs, and will show you a variety of colors that you can trial in different lighting conditions.

LEARN MORE:  Guide to Sports Vision

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam, and to find out how to take your game to next level.

Tinted sports sunglasses do not only add a touch of style, but the right color with also enhance your sports performance and enjoyment of the game. 

The post Sunglasses for Sports appeared first on Optometrists.org.

Did you know that snow reflects almost 100% of sunlight and is a major source of UV radiation?

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause permanent damage to the eyes. Without proper eyewear, not only are you increasing your risk of getting an eye sunburn (photokeratitis), but you are also exposing your eyes to the long term side effects of UV radiation, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Aren’t UV rays usually associated with sunbathing at the beach?

This is a common misconception.

Ultraviolet rays are actually a potential threat whenever you are in close proximity to a surface that reflects light.

The light from the sun is called unpolarized light, mainly because the light rays point in different directions, instead of shining in just one direction.

When unpolarized light hits a reflective surface, such as a mirror, car window, water or even snow, the reflected light causes the light rays to point in ONE direction, transforming the light into polarized light.

This reflected polarized light can be quite dangerous for your skin if you’re sunbathing at the beach without any sunscreen, but can also be harmful for your eyes if you are skiing without the right sunglasses.

How do polarized lenses help to protect the eyes?

Polarized lenses are created differently than regular lenses, due to their ‘sandwich’ design. 

A polarized lens contains three layers. The middle layer consists of the polarized material which is stretched into long strands and then laminated between two layers of glass or plastic.

This ‘sandwich’ design allows the polarized lens to absorb the reflected light and prevent the harmful UV rays from reaching your eyes.

Polarized vs. regular sunglasses

Regular non-polarized sunglasses rely on the dark tint of the lens alone to reduce glare. Therefore, many people opt for darker lenses with the mistaken belief that they will offer greater protection.

However, the opposite is actually true— a darker lens will cause the pupils to dilate wider, exposing the eyes to an even greater amount of UV light.

Polarized lenses have the ability to reduce light energy by half without increasing the density of the lens color, and therefore are available in a variety of lighter shades.

One of the first things you will notice about polarized lenses, is that they are comfortable to wear over an extended period of time and they are not too dark— both great features for a long day on the ski slopes.

If you are heading to mountains for a day of skiing, protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays by wearing polarized sunglasses.

Polarized lenses will not only provide the much needed UV protection, but will also limit glare — enhancing your vision and performance.

The post Heading to the Ski Slopes? Don’t Forget Your Polarized Lenses!  appeared first on Optometrists.org.