For the love of healthy EYES: Know the difference between polarized and UV Sunglasses

Have you been presented with the option of having a pair of polarized or UV sunglasses, but the right answer eluded you?

YOU: “Do I really need both? Will polarization offer added protection for all that extra cash?”
SUN: “Why yes, the world does revolve around me!”
YOU: “Please Sun, have mercy!”

No really. What’s the difference between polarized and UV protection, you ask?

Depending on what you need your sunglasses for, the impact of polarized and UV lenses can be astronomical.

Not to mention how essential both are throughout the year (It’s true, the sun shines all year long, not only in the summer). Even when it feels like the sun evades you in winter, it still emits harmful UV rays and glare that can damage your irreplaceable eyeballs.

With that said, let’s see how impactful each type of lens can be, shall we?

UV Protection Vs Polarized Sunglasses

It’s simple really. While UV protection lenses shield your eyes from the harmful sun rays, polarized sunglasses eliminate glare that causes discomfort. What’s more, having ultraviolet protection is crucial to ensure healthy peepers, whereas polarization is more of a preference (assuming you want blinding glare to penetrate your eyes).

But even though polarized shades offer wondrous benefits, it doesn’t offer full UV protection and vice versa. (Oh, snap!? Not so simple.)

Yeah, I recommend you continue reading…

If you’re thinking, “Nope! I’m convinced. Skip it and just gimme a pair of Swannies Sunnies (our UV rated and polarized sunglasses) already!” Get em’, here. And remember to keep your new sunglasses looking brand-spanking new, like this.

For those that don’t want to skip it (because of FOMO!). ????

Advantages Of UV-Rated Shades

Over-exposure to UV radiation is known to cause damage to the lens and cornea of your eye, which can increase the risk of vision conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts, among others. That’s why a proactive approach is necessary to avoid these common eye problems.

If all it takes is wearing UV sunglasses on your face, then there really isn’t more I can tell you. Except, reveal the amazing benefits.

Yep! These benefits will surely win you over. ????

An effective blocker of harmful UV rays (but you know you shouldn’t stop at eye protection though, learn your ABC’s of UV radiation for complete UV protection)
Protection against skin cancer (the delicate skin around your eyes is more likely to be at risk for carcinoma)
Decreased possibility of eye conditions (macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, pterygium, and photokeratitis)
Reduced headaches and migraines

It’s safe to say that UV sunglasses act like sunscreen for your eyes, but it’s not effective against light beams (aka extremely bright-scattered-reflective-peeper-damaging-light-beams).

So, what? One can’t be without the other?

Maybe… let’s see…

Now that we’ve covered UV protection, let’s look at how polarization can be applied.

Advantages Of Polarized Shades

Typically, light bounces off angles of uneven surfaces and especially so on smooth, flat, and highly reflective surfaces – mirrors, metal, water, snow… dad’s bald head.

Yeah, that’s when the wonderful invention of polarization can work its magic.

So what are the real benefits here, you ask?