Types of Polarized Sunglasses

Polarizing sunglasses are increasing in popularity due to their ability to reduce glare and improve vision in extremely bright conditions. Though originally employed by fisherman and other water-sportsmen for their ability to allow the wearer to see 'through' the surface of water, they are definitely beginning to enter the mainstream in a variety of forms.

The first way to distinguish between two different kinds of polarized lenses is by their thickness. Generally speaking, polarized sunglasses do not differ from two thicknesses of filtering film: .75mm, and 1.1mm. Most casually worn sunglasses will sport the .75mm film, and provided there's no rough wear, this will suit most needs. Incidentally, these sunglasses tend to be cheaper. 1.1mm films, though they do not necessarily polarize better, are more impact resistant. These more expensive alternatives are usually reserved for more sport-oriented wear.

This difference between sport and casual sunglasses extends beyond the mere thickness of the film, however. Sport sunglasses will tend to feature thicker frames, hooks, and greater lens concavity than casual sunglasses. There is also less gender variance here, whereas casual and fashionable sunglasses will change based on the wearer. Women's frames tend to feature long, narrow, or swept lens-shapes while men's frames tend towards the wide and rectangular.

It is also possible to apply polarizing filters to prescription glasses. This can be done by altering the lens directly, or by means of a magnetic or clip-on sunglasses attachment that integrates with prescription glasses. In this way you can have corrected vision, UV protection, and the glare-reduction of polarized sunglasses.