Chances are, you’re familiar with glare. It’s the worst enemy of surfers, fishermen, and recreational boaters. Polarized sunglasses can help. Glare is not only a nuisance, UVA and UVB rays can damage your eyesight. Picking up a pair of polarized sunglasses can help you combat glare and get back to doing what you love. Polarized lenses help discern how light is reflected off of the water's surface and transmitted to our brains for processing. The transmission axis of most polarized sunglasses is vertical, to block the light reflecting off of the water's surface. Polarized lenses help to reduce the glare from the sky and sunlight off of the water, meaning that you can see rocks, fish, and submerged obstacles with ease.
If you partake in fishing, whether it be offshore, fly fishing, or freshwater--polarized sunglasses are going to be a go-to item in your tackle box. However, there are some notable caveats one will want to make note of before any polarized eyewear purchase. Polarized lenses are best when the sun is between points, within 30-60 degrees from the horizon. Wearing your polarized eyewear at high noon or dawn will be of little use. If the sea is rough, polarized lenses will help you to discern the height of a wave before it even breaks the bow of your boat.
These Hobie Boneyard sunglasses are just one example of modern, stylish design that will keep glare at bay!
Polarized lenses are also helpful when driving, but can be an issue on more modern vehicles equipped with LED/LCD devices. There are many other benefits to wearing polarized sunglasses while driving. If the road is wet or slippery, polarized lenses will help immensely in that regard. The position of the sun will determine which polarizing benefits you will experience while driving. If the sun is relatively low behind your vehicle, the glare from a car's glass will be polarized more than the body would. Again, be aware that some polarized eyewear does not display these projections properly. If you are driving or operating a cellular device with polarized lenses on, note how your lenses will react to your instrument panel or mobile phone before embarking on a trip or making a call. If you have any questions as to if your polarized eyewear can be used while driving with an LCD device such as a GPS, smartphone, or your car's instrument panel--contact the manufacturer of your eyewear.
As the seasons change, so will your eyewear needs. If you live in an area where there is a lot of snow or icy conditions, keep in mind that polarized lenses may not be in your best interest for optimal vision outdoors. Snow glare is processed differently than the glare off of water, and the polarization will not be helpful in this regard.
We have a wide variety of polarized sunglasses available in our retail stores and online, and hope to see you on the water in your new polarized sunglasses!
Browse our selection of sunglasses here.
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