Polarised vs Non-Polarised Lenses: Which Should You Choose?
Walk into any sunglasses shop and you'll see "polarised" plastered across half the display. But what does it actually mean, and is it worth paying extra for? Let's cut through the marketing and look at the science.
How Polarisation Works
Sunlight naturally scatters in all directions. When it bounces off flat surfaces — water, roads, car bonnets, sand — it becomes concentrated in a horizontal plane. This is what we call glare, and it's the reason you squint when driving towards a low sun or looking across a lake.
Polarised lenses contain a special chemical film that acts as a vertical filter. It blocks the horizontally-oriented light (glare) while allowing vertically-oriented light through. The result? A dramatic reduction in glare without making everything darker.
When Polarised Lenses Shine
Polarised lenses are genuinely transformative in certain situations:
- Driving — Cuts glare from the road surface and other cars' windscreens. Significantly improves visibility during dawn and dusk.
- Fishing — Eliminates surface glare on water, letting you see below the surface. Ask any angler — this is a game-changer.
- Water sports — Surfing, kayaking, sailing — any activity on or near water benefits enormously from polarised lenses.
- Snow sports — Reduces intense glare from snow and ice.
- Golf — Helps read greens and reduces glare off bunkers and water hazards.
- Beach days — Sand and water are both highly reflective. Polarisation makes a beach day much more comfortable.
When Polarisation Isn't Ideal
Polarised lenses aren't perfect for every situation:
- Reading LCD screens — Polarisation can create rainbow effects or darken screens at certain angles. If you need to read your phone or bike computer frequently, this can be annoying.
- Skiing (in some cases) — Some skiers prefer non-polarised lenses because polarisation can make it harder to distinguish between ice and snow patches.
- Aviation — Pilots avoid polarised lenses because they can interfere with reading cockpit instruments.
For the vast majority of everyday activities and outdoor sports, though, the benefits of polarised lenses far outweigh the drawbacks.
A Common Misconception: Polarisation ≠ UV Protection
Here's something many people get wrong: polarisation and UV protection are two different things. A polarised lens reduces glare; a UV-rated lens blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. You can have one without the other.
The best sunglasses combine both — polarised lenses with UV400 protection. This gives you glare reduction AND full UV blocking. Always check that your polarised sunglasses also carry UV400 certification.
How to Test If Your Sunglasses Are Polarised
Not sure if your current sunnies are truly polarised? Try this simple test:
- Look at an LCD screen (phone, computer, or dashboard display) through your sunglasses.
- Slowly rotate the sunglasses 90 degrees.
- If polarised, the screen will darken significantly or appear to change colours as you rotate.
- If non-polarised, the screen will look the same at all angles.
Our Take
For anyone living the Australian outdoor lifestyle, polarised lenses are well worth it. The glare reduction on roads, water, and sand makes a noticeable difference to both comfort and safety. The Voyager Blue comes standard with polarised UV400 lenses — no compromise, no upsell.
