Polarised lenses are made to cut glare: the harsh light that bounces off water, wet roads, car bonnets and snow. If you drive a lot, or spend time on the water or outdoors in bright light, they can make your day more comfortable.
What is glare?
When sunlight bounces off a flat surface such as a road, water, snow or the bonnet of a car, the reflected light is polarised: it mostly vibrates in one direction. It reaches your eye as bright, uncomfortable glare that hides what you are looking at and makes you squint.
How polarised lenses work
A polarised lens has a special filter built into it that blocks light vibrating in that direction and lets the useful light through. Ordinary tints cut brightness, and anti-reflection coatings cut the reflections on the lens itself, but only a polarised lens blocks glare.
When to wear them
- Driving by day. Glare off the road and other vehicles is what tires your eyes. A polarised lens cuts it, so the road looks clearer and you are more comfortable.
- On or near water. Fishing, boating and water sports all put a lot of reflected light in front of you.
- Cycling, running and other outdoor sport. Bright days, wet roads and shiny surfaces are where polarised lenses help.
- Snow and sand. Both reflect a great deal of light.
What you will notice
- Less glare, so you squint less.
- More comfortable vision in bright light.
- Higher contrast and clearer views of the road or the water.
- Protection from harmful UV: every Torga sun lens is UV treated.
Will you notice the difference?
If you spend a lot of time driving, on the water or outdoors in bright light, you will probably notice the difference straight away. In our stores you can look through a polarised lens at a reflective surface and see the glare disappear for yourself. Your optometrist will talk you through the options for your prescription.
Good to know
- Polarised lenses can be made in your prescription, as single vision or multifocal lenses.
- Not every frame suits polarised lenses. We will check with you.
- Ordinary photochromic lenses (the kind that darken in the sun) are not polarised, and they do not darken behind a windscreen. Drivewear is the exception: it is both polarised and photochromic.
- Very dark tints are not suitable for driving, and no tinted lens is suitable for night driving.
Torga's polarised lenses are Polar T and NuPolar. Read more about them, and how to choose a colour, on our polarised lenses page, or book an eye test.