Polarized Versus Non-Polarized Ray Ban Sunglasses

[M. Charles]

Originally Posted by Blackhood

The key difference is actually what you use them for.

Light bounces off of reflective surfaces such as glass and water, and also renders colours such as blues and greens a little washed out. Polarized lenses prevent this but there are significant drawbacks:

1. Cell Phone, PDAs, Computer Screens, SatNavs and almost all other portable screens are polarized, which means that when you view them with polarized glasses they can sometimes be rendered black (And thus un-usable).

2. Omitting waves of light on a particular oscillation (polarization is essentially like looking through a Venetian blind) removes that light from your vision. If you are driving for instance, this could present problems as you wont be receiving the full spectrum of information that could be being displayed to you.

Examples:

When I am flying, if another aircraft is in the distance at 3o'clock and the sun is at 10o'clock then the only way I will see the other aircraft is by seeing the sun reflecting off of it. With Polarized glasses all I see is a speck of dark in the distance which is very easy to miss. The light saved me from crashing into the guy. - Result: Never wear Polarized glasses for Flying

When I'm fishing/surfing the glare from the sun bouncing off the water is not only blinding, it stops me seeing what is in the water with any great ease. By blocking the reflected light with polarized glasses I can see through the water as the excess light is no longer visible. - Result: Wear Polarized lenses for water sports.

When it comes to driving I personally don't think that it matters, I have both Ray Ban P and Ray Ban glasses but I stick to the non-polarized ones because I can see my satnav and CD player much more easily without them.

Edit: Woah, I never realised I knew/cared that much about polarization.


This is all very helpful. Thanks.

 

[mikkopsalm]

I bought Ray Ban Polarized aviators. The glasses did not come with care instructions.
After one moth of use and washing with mild soap water, the Polarize started to worn off.
I contacted Ray Ban customer service, but they didn´t even answer to me.

 

[texas_jack]

Why are you washing your glasses? I've never heard of that. You use the cloth that came with them

 

[MrG]

I prefer to clean mine with extra-coarse sandpaper, but I know a lot of my friends prefer a finer grit.

 

[mikkopsalm]

Because the grease stucks to the lenses and to the sand stucks to grease. So yes... if you wipe with a cloth its the same as using the sandpaper. Welcome to Israel to try...

 

[texas_jack]

That's what you get for trying to look like an American

 

[VaderDave]

I like to use non-P glasses when driving because I have the same issue others have mentioned with seeing the nav screen and other displays in my car, along with the windows (although the windshield appears to be fine). I have also noticed that when I run or ride my bike with my polarized sunglasses that I sometimes have issues with puddles and wet pavement--I will see weird patterns that are really quite disorienting.

My polarized glasses are Oakleys and Maui Jims, so I don't think it's the quality of the lenses that's an issue. Maybe I'm just like one of those kids who kept having seizures when watching Pokemon back in the day.

 

[MrG]



Because the grease stucks to the lenses and to the sand stucks to grease. So yes... if you wipe with a cloth its the same as using the sandpaper. Welcome to Israel to try...

I've had this problem, but I've never felt the need to use soap to clean them. I just rinse them to remove the grit and then hit them with the microfiber cloth, and I've never had an issue with scratches.

 

[sunwearvn]

Polarized sunglasses have benefits only when wearing in reflective environments as a lake, open water. Otherwise, just use regular sunglasses.