Polarised Sunglasses: What They Actually Do

When buying a pair of sunglasses, it’s often assumed that you need polarised lenses, or that ‘polarised lenses are better’. But do you really know what polarised sunglasses do?

By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what polarised sunglasses are, what they do, whether you need them and if they’re worth the money.

What exactly do polarised sunglasses do?

Polarised sunglasses reduce glare caused by light reflecting off flat, shiny surfaces like water, roads, and snow. They work by filtering out reflected light, which improves visual clarity, reduces eye strain, and improves vision in bright conditions.

In simple terms, polarised lenses block the glare that makes vision uncomfortable and causes you to squint. The result is clearer vision, less squinting, and your eyes feel more relaxed in bright conditions - especially when driving, on the water or out in the sun for a long time.

How do polarised sunglasses work?

Polarised sunglasses block glare to take the strain off your eyes, but how do they actually work?

What do they have that standard sunglasses don’t?

To answer that, we need to look at what glare is and then get into how polarised lenses stop it…

What is Glare?

Glare is when light reflects off flat, shiny surfaces. The light reflects horizontally and becomes extremely intense, which is why it’s bright and blinding.

When you see glare, you’re getting lots of light reflected in one direction at once, making it extremely intense.

It’s a concentrated blast of light!

Glare often comes from:

• Water

• Wet or dry roads

• Snow and ice

• Glass, metal, and painted surfaces

Your eyes aren’t built to take intense, concentrated light. If you’re not wearing proper eye protection, glare will affect your vision, cause eye strain and headaches.

How do polarised lenses block glare?

Polarised lenses have a vertical polarisation filter built into the lens. This filter is designed to block horizontal light waves - the type of light that causes glare - while still allowing vertical light to pass through. This helps you see clearly in bright conditions.

Think of your polarised sunglasses like a small set of Venetian blinds.

Venetian blinds let in light at the correct angle, but block light that comes in at the wrong angle.

Polarised sunglasses work in the same way.

The molecules inside the lenses block horizontal light, which stops glare from hitting your eyes, while letting normal light pass through.

Put simply:

• Glare from horizontal reflections is blocked.

• Normal light passes through to keep your vision clear and comfortable.

Where and when polarised sunglasses help the most

• Water glare – Reflections from the ocean, rivers, lakes, and pools. Perfect for fishing, boating and days by the water.

• Road glare – Light reflecting off asphalt, concrete, and roads while driving in wet or sunny conditions.

• Snow glare – Intense reflection from snow and ice in alpine or wintry conditions. Great for hiking, skiing and other winter adventures.

• Glass and metal reflections – Glare from buildings, vehicles, windows, machinery and other shiny surfaces.

• Long days in the sun - Anytime you’re out in the sun for an extended period, polarised lenses are great for blocking glare and reducing eye strain.

Are polarised sunglasses worth it?

Polarised sunglasses cost more than other sunglasses and are often perceived to be ‘better’ - but are they really worth the extra cost?

If you’re spending more, you should know exactly what you’re paying for, and ultimately, if you actually need polarised lenses.

Let’s dive into why polarised sunglasses usually cost more, and if they’re worth it.

Benefits of polarised sunglasses

The main benefit of polarised sunglasses is that they block glare and improve visual clarity.

Once you know that polarised sunglasses reduce glare, the difference compared with regular sunglasses is clear.

If you’re driving, out on the water, or just out in the sun for a while, you’ll notice that polarised lenses add an extra layer of performance to your sunnies.

It’s like having another gear in your car, or another tool in your toolbox.

In short, polarised sunglasses really do make a noticeable difference to your vision and comfort - especially when you know what to look for.

Now you know, you’ll notice the difference!

Potential downsides to be aware of

While polarised sunglasses have some great benefits, there are a couple of reasons why some people don't prefer polarisation.

One of the biggest reasons is that they can make digital screens harder to read.

Because polarised lenses block horizontal light, they can interfere with the light from screens.

If you spend a lot of time looking at screens while you're on the go, this can be particularly annoying.

Polarised lenses are more complex and expensive to make, which bumps up the retail price of polarised sunnies.

And of course, not everyone likes forking out more for a pair of sunnies!

There’s also a small number of people whose eyes don’t react well to polarised sunglasses, giving them mild headaches - but this is a small minority.

Polarised Sunglasses Summary

For most people, the drawbacks are small and don’t outweigh the visual benefits of polarised sunglasses.

But if you use screens a lot during your day-to-day, or if visual changes can give you headaches, you might just want to think twice before spending more on a pair of polarised sunglasses.

Tinted, non-polarised sunglasses still give you the same UV protection, will be cheaper and will avoid the small drawbacks of polarised lenses.

Polarised Vs Non-Polarised sunglasses

Here’s a simple summary of the differences between polarised sunglasses and non-polarised or tinted alternatives.

Polarised Sunglasses

• Strong glare reduction

• Improved clarity and contrast

• Greater comfort in bright conditions

• Best for driving, water activities and outdoor work

Non-polarised or Tinted Sunglasses

• Offers the same UV protection as polarised lenses

• Reduces brightness

• Doesn’t block reflected glare

• More affordable

Do polarised sunglasses protect your eyes?

A common misconception is that polarised sunglasses provide superior UV protection. This is not necessarily the case.

Polarisation and UV protection are not the same thing.

Polarised lenses block glare to improve visual clarity, but do not provide any additional protection from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

UV protection comes from a completely separate lens treatment, which is applied to both polarised and tinted lenses.

High-quality sunglasses - polarised, tinted or otherwise - should clearly state the level of UV protection. Look for lenses that block 99% of UVA and UVB rays.

Both polarised and non-polarised sunglasses should offer the same level of UV protection.

All SafeStyle pairs, as well as being fully AS/NZS 1337.1 certified, block 99.9% of harmful UV rays.

Are polarised sunglasses good for driving?

Yes, polarised sunglasses are good for driving, and this is one of the best times to wear polarised sunnies.

Polarised sunglasses reduce glare from roads, car bonnets, windows and other vehicles, which is especially helpful in very sunny or wet conditions. Polarised lenses can also improve contrast, making it easier to see road markings, hazards, and changes in surface conditions and light conditions.

By reducing glare and squinting, polarised sunglasses help minimise eye fatigue on long drives, making them a practical, comfortable and safer choice for everyday driving.

If you spend a lot of time driving, polarised sunglasses are a great choice.

How to tell if sunglasses are polarised

It can be difficult to tell if a pair of sunglasses are polarised, so here are a few ways in which you can tell the difference.

• Reflection test – Look at a reflective surface and tilt the sunglasses. Glare should reduce or disappear at certain angles.

• Screen test – Look at an LCD screen and rotate the sunglasses 90 degrees. If they’re polarised, the screen will darken or black out.

• Manufacturer labelling – Brands and manufacturers should clearly label polarised lenses on packaging, product descriptions, or the lens or frame itself. All polarised SafeStyle pairs have ‘polarised’ written on the inside of the temple tip.

Should you choose polarised sunglasses?

Polarised sunglasses offer a genuine and practical advantage over standard, non-polarised sunglasses.

They’re great at blocking glare for better visual clarity and improved comfort.

There are specific use cases where polarised sunglasses are an absolute must. If you’re driving, out on the water, or spend lots of time in the sun, polarised sunglasses are a game-changer.

But remember that polarised sunglasses don’t offer any greater UV protection than standard, non-polarised sunglasses.

Choose polarised sunglasses for their superior visual clarity, improved comfort and glare blocking.

Check out SafeStyle’s Polarised Collection for polarised sunglasses that combine style with unmatched durability and eye protection.

SafeStyle’s polarised sunglasses are all AS/NZS 1337.1 certified for use on all Aussie worksites and to provide maximum eye protection ‘from the worksite to the weekend’.

SafeStyle has a wide range of frame styles, so you can choose a pair of polarised sunglasses that truly suits you.

Polarised sunglasses are a practical choice for real-world conditions where glare affects comfort, clarity, and safety. They aren’t essential for every situation, but for driving, outdoor work, and time spent around water, they can make a noticeable difference to how well and how comfortably you see.

If you’re looking for polarised sunglasses that combine high-quality lenses with durability, style, and serious eye protection, SafeStyle offers polarised options designed to take from the worksite to the weekend without compromising on comfort or visual performance.