Understanding How Polarized Fishing Sunglasses Work
Understanding how polarized fishing sunglasses work is far from simple. If you have a basic understanding of physics, you may already know how light works and why these specialized lenses are helpful under certain conditions. Polarizing lenses are not merely darkened; they filter out reflected light off water and other surfaces. You may just want to take this technology on faith. However, advertisements are not always your best source of information.
Selecting the right light-blocking lenses for your purpose is important, both for the health of your eyes and for clear vision. Sometimes the polarizing variety are helpful, but sometimes they can block vision and become a safety hazard. You'll see advertisements that offer the same glasses for fishing, skiing, cycling, and driving a car. 'Buyer beware'; there are points to consider.
There are great sites online that discuss the subject of natural light versus reflected beams, as well as the action of polarized glasses. Natural sunlight is 'scattered', or coming from many different directions. When it's reflected off a surface, it travels to your eyes in a much more direct way; this is referred to as glare. This direct light is more harmful to your eyes than natural, diffused sunlight.
The issue is complicated by the angle of light, so lenses that work great at ten o'clock AM and 4 o'clock PM may not do the same at dawn or high noon. The motion of the wearer's head can affect them, as well. For instance, sight might be improved by looking into the water at an angle rather than straight down, and it might be distorted when looking over the water at certain angles.
Water reflects light in a polarized way. Although some sites say that snow does as well, other say that it does not. Some information warns that, while skiers may find that objects at a distance look very clear, they might be unable to detect icy patches when wearing this type of lens. There are similar warnings for drivers and those who need to be able to see digital displays on instrument boards.
Actually, the topic of reflected light would make a great science fair project. For those who just want to wear glasses that help them see when on the water, all this information might not be necessary. The fact is that these lenses can both help cut glare off the water and make objects underwater - like fish - more visible. They block out reflections of clouds as well as light, apparently.
Find a reputable manufacturer. You don't want to sacrifice either your vision or your safety just to get a bargain. Once you've found a good source for glasses, you might want to see if any fishing organizations rate them. Customer reviews can also be helpful, as can the experiences of your fishing friends and the advice of your eye doctor.
If you really want to know what you're doing, the internet has some great sites with charts and other aids to understanding how light works and how it bounces off different surfaces. There's even a test you can do to make sure the glasses you have are truly polarized. Take control of your own health and safety with a better understanding of this important topic.
Selecting the right light-blocking lenses for your purpose is important, both for the health of your eyes and for clear vision. Sometimes the polarizing variety are helpful, but sometimes they can block vision and become a safety hazard. You'll see advertisements that offer the same glasses for fishing, skiing, cycling, and driving a car. 'Buyer beware'; there are points to consider.
There are great sites online that discuss the subject of natural light versus reflected beams, as well as the action of polarized glasses. Natural sunlight is 'scattered', or coming from many different directions. When it's reflected off a surface, it travels to your eyes in a much more direct way; this is referred to as glare. This direct light is more harmful to your eyes than natural, diffused sunlight.
The issue is complicated by the angle of light, so lenses that work great at ten o'clock AM and 4 o'clock PM may not do the same at dawn or high noon. The motion of the wearer's head can affect them, as well. For instance, sight might be improved by looking into the water at an angle rather than straight down, and it might be distorted when looking over the water at certain angles.
Water reflects light in a polarized way. Although some sites say that snow does as well, other say that it does not. Some information warns that, while skiers may find that objects at a distance look very clear, they might be unable to detect icy patches when wearing this type of lens. There are similar warnings for drivers and those who need to be able to see digital displays on instrument boards.
Actually, the topic of reflected light would make a great science fair project. For those who just want to wear glasses that help them see when on the water, all this information might not be necessary. The fact is that these lenses can both help cut glare off the water and make objects underwater - like fish - more visible. They block out reflections of clouds as well as light, apparently.
Find a reputable manufacturer. You don't want to sacrifice either your vision or your safety just to get a bargain. Once you've found a good source for glasses, you might want to see if any fishing organizations rate them. Customer reviews can also be helpful, as can the experiences of your fishing friends and the advice of your eye doctor.
If you really want to know what you're doing, the internet has some great sites with charts and other aids to understanding how light works and how it bounces off different surfaces. There's even a test you can do to make sure the glasses you have are truly polarized. Take control of your own health and safety with a better understanding of this important topic.
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