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Non-Polarized |
Polarized |
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Usage |
Basic protection against bright light and UV rays. |
100% UVA and UVB protection. Block glare from horizontal surfaces such as roads, water and snow. |
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UV Protection |
Suitable for those who find polarized sunglasses uncomfortable. |
Enhance colour contrast. Reduce the amount of work the iris needs to do to adjust to varying levels of light. Improve visual acuity and comfort for driving, water sports, snow sports, and everyday sports. |
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Convenience |
Your iris needs to work much harder due to strenuous, ongoing adjustment to flashes of glare. Glare from surfaces such as oncoming car windshields, snow or water can be enough to make you squint — impeding vision and decreasing reaction time. |
You’ll notice a rainbow effect (known as birefringence) occasionally on car windshields, safety glass, and liquid crystal displays (LCDs). |
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Capability |
Using devices with LCD/LED screens. Flying an aircraft. |
Driving, fishing, sailing, hiking, skiing, and outdoor activities in general. Not suitable for pilots as it affects reading flight instruments and seeing other objects in the sky. |
Solid tint
Classic finish that’s great for everyday activities, available in a variety of colours for bold and subtle options.
Mirrored tint
Reflective finish that provides glare reduction and anonymity, great for active days and making a style statement.
If you’re not sure if your sunglasses are polarized, there are a few ways to test them out. Put them on and look at a reflective surface in bright conditions (such as water, glass, or the road). Tilt your head sideways and note whether the quality of the light changes or becomes more intense. If it does, you have polarized sun lenses.
You can also slide on your sunglasses and look at an LED or LCD screen. Tilt your head and note whether the display turns black – if it does, you are wearing polarized sunglasses.
Yes, polarized lenses allow your eyes to relax more and provide better vision than normal sunglasses in virtually all cases, especially conditions where glare is present, making them a better option for people who enjoy water and snow sports. There are some exceptions, such as when contra-indicated (e.g. when flying a plane) or when looking at digital screens.
When it comes to general, everyday wear, polarized sunglasses improve your visual clarity, contrast, and acuity in bright conditions, perfect for eliminating glare and relieving eye strain.
Dark coloured polarized lenses are good for driving, with brown being the most popular choice. In some instances, it’s normal to notice a rainbow effect on car windshields and LCD screens every now and then.
Yes – we offer polarized sun lenses with a mirrored tint. Explore our range of sunglasses colours and tints.
The best tint and colour for your sunglasses depends on your typical routine and personal sense of style.
Solid tints are a great all-around solution and will provide clear and comfortable vision for your regular routine. Gradient tinted sunglasses have a bit more of a fashion flair and can provide an extra boost of clarity when the sun is directly overhead. Mirror tinted sunglasses create an instant style statement and can help to reduce glare, making them a popular choice for sporting activities.
For the best glare reduction performance, choose polarized sun lenses (which are available in solid, and mirror tint).
Sunglasses lens colour can affect your ability to perceive visible light, colours, and contrasts. When deciding which colour to choose, consider when you will be wearing them and what you will be doing at the time.
Dark colours like brown and grey are designed to filter the glare and alleviate eye strain in bright conditions. Brown and grey sunglasses lenses are excellent for everyday use and most outdoor activities. Grey lenses help you maintain truer colour reproduction than brown or green-grey lenses, which offer superior contrast.
Light colours like green-grey are perfect to use in tricky, flat-light conditions, making them a popular choice for most snow sports. Light, green-grey lenses provide better depth perception and contrast, enhancing your visibility of objects by making your surroundings appear brighter.
We don’t recommend trying to alter your sunglasses lenses to tint them darker. DIY dye methods you come across online could damage the quality of the lens or alter the functionality of your sunglasses and distort your vision, making them dangerous to wear.
If you are looking for dark tinted sunglasses, consider choosing a solid or mirror tint in a dark shade such as black, brown, or purple.
All our sunglasses block 100% of UV light and create a dimming affect by blocking a broader range of visible light, which includes blue light.
When buying sunglasses, always check the label to find out the level of harmful light protection they offer.
