October 31, 2022

Common Myths About Polarized Sunglasses

Maybe the biggest myth about polarized sunglasses is that all polarized lenses are made equal. Maui Jim’s patented PolarizedPlus2 lens technology gives you a superior level of image quality, glare reduction, and UV protection on the market. Get a crisp, color-rich image all day, every day, and enjoy your time outdoors without having to worry about damaging your eyes.

A number of myths have built up around polarized sunglasses over the years. Here are some of the most common:

Myth #1: Darker Tints are More Effective at Blocking Glare

Polarization filters out horizontally polarized light, which eliminates surface glare. While darker tints help reduce eye strain better than lighter tints, all of our tints work with the polarized filter as it manages glare. The same is true of UV blocking capabilities—the tint has nothing to do with how effective the lenses are at stopping UV rays.

Myth #2: All Polarized Glasses Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays

Polarization by itself won’t stop UV rays. To make sure your eyes are fully protected from the sun, choose Maui Jim’s PolarizedPlus2 sunglasses, which block 100% of harmful UV rays and offer comprehensive HEV protection. Our sunglasses have received the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as effective UV filters for the eyes and surrounding areas.

Myth #3: Polarized Glasses are Good for Driving

This myth is actually true! Polarized glasses are great at blocking glare shining off cars ahead of you. This helps keep your vision clear and reduces eye fatigue. Wearing dark-tinted sunglasses in low light conditions can potentially be unsafe, but lightly tinted, or rose lenses will give you a sharp, clear image.

Myth #4: Polarized Glasses Let You See Through Water

This one is half true. Sunglasses with polarized lenses eliminate surface glare off the top of the water, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to see to the bottom. If the water is murky, full of sediment, or stirred up, you may not be able to see more than a few inches under the surface. On a calm day in a tropical island inlet, however, you might be able to see several feet below the surface.

Myth #5: You Don’t Need Polarized Sunglasses on a Cloudy Day

If you’re spending more than a few minutes outside, even on a cloudy day, you should protect your eyes and surrounding skin with UV-blocking polarized sunglasses. Just because it doesn’t seem as bright doesn’t mean dangerous solar radiation isn’t still seeping through. Although the sun isn’t bright, that doesn’t mean it can’t produce bothersome reflected glare. Maui HT (High Transmission) lenses are ideal for low light conditions.

Elevate Your Experience

At Maui Jim, we’re committed to manufacturing premium sunglasses that do justice to the strikingly beautiful Hawaiian Islands we call home. Our polarized sunglasses are distinguished by our lens quality, which gives you a sharp image with all the colors of nature fully popping, while also eliminating glare and providing maximum sun protection.