In recent years we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of our customers either enquiring about or choosing to purchase a polarized lens, over a regular sun lens.  While this is in line with the international trends, we find that customers are not always sure of the benefits and who should be wearing them.  As with any lens, the answer is never simple and often comes down to personal preference and careful consideration of visual comfort.

The main appeal and advantage of polarized lenses lies in how they function, offering the wearer increased contrast and visual comfort in all conditions – especially when strong glare is present, such as the reflections from water or wet surfaces.  Polarized lenses are highly recommended for driving due to their effective ability to reduce glare and reflections from the surface of the road – horizontal rays of light are constantly refracted from the road, increasing eye fatigue and discomfort. Polarized lenses have a built-in, laminated filter that permits only vertical light rays to pass through, and almost totally blocks horizontal rays, to eliminate glare.

If you need a prescription indoors then the chances are that you need one outdoors too. Plus, it is important to remember that we all need to protect our eyes from the sun and reduce squinting, which prevents headaches and reduces premature wrinkling. Prescription polarized sunglasses offer the clearest, most comfortable vision outdoors.