State Institution ‘The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of NAMS of Ukraine‘

SHOULD YOU BUY POLARIZED SUNGLASSES FOR DRIVING?

Health
03.05.2024

Bright light is one of the main sources of discomfort for vision. It leads to reduced visibility, color distortion, eye strain, and rapid fatigue. Using sunglasses with polarized lenses helps to cope with these symptoms, providing greater clarity and contrast. Glare is blocked, eye strain is reduced, and eye fatigue is prevented, creating a more comfortable visual perception overall.

HOW DO POLARIZED LENSES WORK?

These lenses have a special filter that only allows vertical light to pass through. A good analogy is to compare it with a pair of blinds, which, when the slats are turned, allow vertical light to pass but eliminate horizontal light or reflections. In this case, we look over the slats and can clearly see what is happening outside – similar to polarized technology.

WHAT ARE THEIR ADVANTAGES BEHIND THE WHEEL?

Behind the wheel, polarized sunglasses also provide an additional bonus:

  • completely eliminate blinding glares and reflections;
  • improve visual clarity and contrast, ensuring enhanced colors and clearer vision;
  • reduce eye strain and fatigue;
  • help avoid the unpleasant consequences of long-term squinting.

All the above advantages create a more comfortable drive and allow you to concentrate more on the road.

WHEN SHOULD YOU NOT WEAR POLARIZED SUNGLASSES?

Firstly, polarized lenses are notoriously known for affecting depth perception. By essentially removing the entire plane of horizontal light, your vision may become flatter. Sometimes they can create certain visibility restrictions at certain viewing angles, which can be a problem during maneuvers or turns. Another downside – by eliminating reflections from snow, polarized lenses block not only bright light but also the ability to distinguish ice on the road. This is important for those who live in snowy areas. Also, polarized lenses are not ideal for driving at night with poor lighting. They can darken any light in the dark and make visibility difficult. Polarized sunglasses may be incompatible with certain tints of windshields. It is very dangerous to drive if the lenses are blue or pink (a very popular color among women), as lenses of these shades can disrupt color transmission. When choosing sunglasses for driving, pay attention to lens colors that provide good color perception and depth, such as gray, brown, or green lenses.

DO POLARIZED LENSES AFFECT DIGITAL INSTRUMENT PANELS OR PROJECTION DISPLAYS?

Polarized lenses complicate the viewing of LCD screens, and today’s modern cars use a variety of different digital panels. Although they can be seen with direct visibility, during movement at different angles, there may be a complete disappearance of the screen due to the filtering process. Before starting to drive, make sure that the electronic instrument panel or HUD of your specific car is not adversely affected by polarization. Everyone visualizes objects differently through a polarized lens.

SO, IS IT WORTH BUYING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES FOR DRIVING?

Now that you know the pros and cons of polarized sunglasses for driving, it’s clearer which option is best for you.