When looking for sunglasses, people tend to consider two things: UV protection and style. But what does UV protection actually mean, and how does it work?

The key is lens polarization.

Polarized lenses are a perpetually underrated invention with applications that span far beyond sunglasses. Invented by Edwin H. Land in 1936, polarized lenses have since become an industry standard.

Why? Simply put, because they protect your eyes.

More specifically, they cut down on hazardous glare. Which is all well and good, but what does that mean? Most of us still don't know what polarization is or how it works.

Polarized Sunglasses block horizontal light waves; meaning light reflecting off of water, snow, sand and other surfaces won't be able to damage your eyes quite as much. This makes seeing more crisp, allowing the wearer to perceive everything clearly while protecting the retina of their eyes.

Sunglass lenses that block both UVA and UVB rays are called "full spectrum" or "complete spectrum." These types of lenses will block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sunglass lenses that only block 99% or 98% of these rays are still considered safe, but not as effective as full spectrum sunglasses.

Polarized Sunglasses offer more than just sun protection for your eyes; they can also improve safety on the water by making it easier to spot swimmers, boats, floaters, buoys and other objects in the water. They're particularly useful when submerged in the water while fishing or swimming.

You might not think that Polarized sunglasses could be useful when you're in the water, but polarization is essential for many outdoor activities!

Sunglasses with enhanced lens coatings can also enhance contrast of colors and remove haze from your line of sight. The better your sunglasses perform at these tasks, the easier they will be for you to spot where you need to go or what you need to look at.

Lastly, polarized Sunglass lenses reduce eyestrain when staring at computer screens or digital devices by decreasing reflection on screen surfaces and distracting light sources.

When looking for sunglasses, people tend to consider two things: UV protection and style. But what does UV protection actually mean, and how does it work?

The key is lens polarization.

Polarized lenses are a perpetually underrated invention with applications that span far beyond sunglasses. Invented by Edwin H. Land in 1936, polarized lenses have since become an industry standard.

Why? Simply put, because they protect your eyes.

More specifically, they cut down on hazardous glare. Which is all well and good, but what does that mean? Most of us still don't know what polarization is or how it works.

Polarized Sunglasses block horizontal light waves; meaning light reflecting off of water, snow, sand and other surfaces won't be able to damage your eyes quite as much. This makes seeing more crisp, allowing the wearer to perceive everything clearly while protecting the retina of their eyes.

Sunglass lenses that block both UVA and UVB rays are called "full spectrum" or "complete spectrum." These types of lenses will block 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sunglass lenses that only block 99% or 98% of these rays are still considered safe, but not as effective as full spectrum sunglasses.

Polarized Sunglasses offer more than just sun protection for your eyes; they can also improve safety on the water by making it easier to spot swimmers, boats, floaters, buoys and other objects in the water. They're particularly useful when submerged in the water while fishing or swimming.

You might not think that Polarized sunglasses could be useful when you're in the water, but polarization is essential for many outdoor activities!

Sunglasses with enhanced lens coatings can also enhance contrast of colors and remove haze from your line of sight. The better your sunglasses perform at these tasks, the easier they will be for you to spot where you need to go or what you need to look at.

Lastly, polarized Sunglass lenses reduce eyestrain when staring at computer screens or digital devices by decreasing reflection on screen surfaces and distracting light sources.