Polarized Sunglasses Vs Non-Polarized - Which One Is Better?

Are you having a headache choosing between types in the market? Polarized sunglasses vs non-polarized, what is the difference between them? Which is more useful? We will break this matter down in detail for you. Let's take a look.

What Are The Similarities Between Polarized And Non-Polarized Sunglasses?

UV Resistant 

The sun's intense radiation can be harmful to humans with prolonged exposure. Many people only think about skin protection from the sun and forget about other parts, such as the eyes. They don’t know that the eyes are also the part most affected by UV rays. 

More seriously, this bad effect happens more often outdoors and in the shade. At all times of the day and all days, the number of UV rays caused by scattering and reflection can be as high as 70 - 75%. Specifically, water contrast is 20%, 88% for snow, 25% for sand, and 12% for concrete pavement. 

There are two types of UV rays, UV-A and UV-B. Exposure to these rays for a long period can result in eye diseases. These diseases include corneal sunburn, pterygium, cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelids, macular degeneration, etc. Unfortunately, these are all very difficult lesions to treat.

Experts recommend that people wear sunglasses to protect their eyes to avoid these problems. Both models can filter UV rays to protect your eyes. It also makes you feel more comfortable when exposed to light.

Reduce Brightness

They help reduce the intensity of light reaching your eyes, allowing you to avoid glare and discomfort when looking at bright light (indoor and outdoor). 

Protect Your Eyes 

In addition to the above similarities, these two models also help shield against dust, wind, sand, and water splashes. If you have sports activities or work outdoors, don't forget to wear this accessory to function without worrying about vision problems comfortably. 

What Are The Differences Between Polarized And Non-Polarized Sunglasses?

Despite some similarities, in reality, the first ones are always more expensive than the rest model. The reason lies in the differences between them. 

Apart from the features mentioned initially, non-polarized lenses do not have many outstanding features. That's why it costs less. So, what makes polarized glasses more special? Here are some key differences to help you choose the best model.

Outdoors

When outdoors, you will easily notice the difference between these two types. Unlike its siblings, polarized models come with a special coating. This coating has the effect of limiting reflections, reducing glare and haze throughout the day.

When using it to look at a lake or sea from a certain angle, you can see the reflections on the surface and through the water. Thanks to these lenses, reflections of objects above the water surface appear as clear as if you were not wearing glasses. 

This is good news for those passionate about water activities such as sailing, fishing, etc. These are what non-polarized lenses cannot do.

With good anti-glare capabilities, users of this type can comfortably walk and enjoy the scenery, even on sunny days. Because it has a high contrast overlay, you'll see the sky appear darker than usual.

This feature is extremely useful for people with photosensitivity. However, each person achieves a different effect depending on the darkness and intensity of the lens’s reflection.

Driving

If you often have to drive under the sun, the sunlight must have caused you quite a trouble viewing the road. That's why polarized glasses are born for. It neutralizes excess sunlight and filters the rays reflected on the windshield, road, and snow. Thus, this type is ideal for drivers to ensure safety and prevent distracting glare.

On overcast days, the light will also be less dazzling. That’s when regular glasses are enough for you. 

However, using polarized lenses may be less safe than those without that layer when driving in ice or snow. If your glasses don't have surface reflections, the patches of snow will become harder to see. The same is true for skiing or winter sports. It's dangerous if you can't spot the shiny stickers to dodge them.

Screen Usage

Not only can polarized lenses block most of the reflected light from the water, hood, road, snow, etc., from reaching your eyes, but they can also eliminate glare. Still, they can cause problems with anti-glare technology. 

Also, certain LEDs cannot be seen with it. They tend to limit the ability to display LCD and LED screens images, including cell phones, gas pump monitors, and more.

Polarization limits the photoelectric range, making them relatively less flexible than non-polarized lenses. This is why pilots cannot wear it while flying.

Are All Polarized Sunglasses UV Protected?

As noted above, polarized ones can block UV rays, but not all of them do. Brands often combine the two features to improve their product quality. Yet, some cheap ones do not block any UV rays.

So, how do you know if the product you choose is UV resistant?

There are still some methods to make the selection easier. Let's focus on a few aspects below to know whether you are choosing the right option:

How Much Is The UV Protection Of The Glasses?

UV resistance includes many different levels. A thick layer of glass can also block a certain amount of radiation. Glasses don't offer UV protection, not because they can't at all, but because the amount is too small to protect your eyes. Make sure you find the right glasses with 90 - 100% protection.

Does The Glass Have A UV Coating? 

CR-39 plastic polymer glass material has poor UV resistance. So, to protect the user's vision, each lens needs an additional UV coating. Before making any purchasing decision, you should check the product information to see if this issue is mentioned.

Choose The Reputable Brands

Many tourists often have the habit of going to the beach and buying a pair of sunglasses from a nearby street vendor. However, these glasses are not as good as they think. They may be fake and cannot protect your eyesight when using them.

These products only work to reduce the harshness of visible light but cannot filter UV rays. As a result, UV rays can reach the eye faster through the prosthetic lens and cause seriousimprovingwith and never-recoverable damage such as cataracts, rare types of malignant eye cancers.

The material of counterfeit products is also the cause of skin diseases for users. The most typical of which are recycled plastics or poor quality synthetic metals. When these products are used in the hot sun, a part of this layer that consists of harmful chemicals flows out, penetrates the skin, and causes allergies, burning pain, itching, etc., and skin diseases.

That's why you should look for reputable brands to avoid buying fake and poor-quality products. Here, you find not only good UV-resistant glasses but also have many models and styles to choose from. Usually, big brands will allow users to buy directly at the store or through their website.

Do Non-Polarized Sunglasses Also Protect Your Eyes?

As noted above, non-polarized lenses can also filter out UV rays. Hence, it helps you avoid vision problems like cataracts, macular degeneration, etc. According to a study by the Vision Council, if an adult in the United States wears UV-blocking sunglasses for at least 30 minutes a day, they will achieve about 183 UV-free hours a year.

In addition, this model also protects your eyes from environmental factors such as dust, smoke, wind, water, etc. You can rest assured of outdoor activities when wearing it.

Conclusion

There are two basic options for lens technology - polarized sunglasses vs non-polarized ones. Non-polarized lenses are moderately priced, but they have a narrow range of uses and are only suitable for low-light conditions.

Polarized lenses provide full protection against glare and harmful UV rays and are the right choice when constantly in the sun. However, its price is quite high. To achieve the best effect, you should consider choosing on a case-by-case basis.