Polarized lenses reduce glare, making them great for use around lakes and oceans. They also are handy for a wide variety of sports. Polarized lenses possess a filter that will eliminate the amount of reflected light that enters the eye. This filter will eliminate the reflected glare which is most noticable on water, snow, or concrete and asphalt surfaces.


For years, polarized sunglasses have been used by boaters and fisherman to reduce glare from the water. In recent years, the benefits of polarized sunglasses have been realized by a variety of other outdoor sports enthusiasts as well as by drivers and general use wearers. The popularity of polarized sunglasses has increased dramatically, as has availability of different lens materials and lens types.

How does polarization work?
Light reflected from surfaces like a flat road or smooth water is generally horizontally polarized. This horizontally polarized light is blocked by the vertically oriented polarizers in the lenses. The result: a reduction in annoying and sometimes dangerous glare.


There is some debate on the effects of polarized lenses on snow-covered surfaces. Some experts say they can reduce the intense glare that is caused by sunlight reflecting off snow. And some purport that the lenses are not satisfactory for sports such as downhill skiing because they may not provide the contrast the eye needs to distinguish ice patches or moguls.