Polarized Glasses

[max]

Now that I can wear regular sunglasses, I bought a pair of polarized. I thought they would come in handy when I drive to Tucson next month. They definitely give you a different view.

I thought part of the dash on my car had gone out. I have a Bonneville SSEI and all of the led's are red. I was trying to decide if I wanted to put a bunch of money into fixing my radio and clock display. I took the glasses off and the display came back. A friend told me that some gas pump displays are hard to see also.

 

[310Pilot]

I like polarized sunglasses in general, but they do make the red fluorouscent displays "go away." That is bad enough in a car, but you haven't lived until all the navigation and comm data goes away while flying an airplane equipped with the fancy new "glass cockpits." Having experienced enough system failures over the years, I can guarantee that can get the heart rate up a bit. It can get downright exciting! Another fun thing is windshields in many turboprops and jets are polarized, and the outside world disappears if you wear polarized sunglasses in one! A few years ago, I was flying a King Air and they wanted me to check out a new copilot - I gave hime a pair of polarized sunglasses to see what he'd do, he almost jumped from the seat to the cabin roof! Didn't take him too long to figure it out, of course.

 

[DeathGrip]

The only use I have for polarized shades is fishing.Other than that it's RayBan Grey.

D.G.

 

[BarbC]

I use these Edge Dakura Polarized Safety Glasses for shooting on sunny days. I find polarized lenses help fight eye fatigue and I like them while driving. Of course, I don't have a fancy HUD dashboard.

 

[DeadAye]

If you roll your head over 90 degrees you can see all the stuff that the Polaroid lenses make disappear. Not very handy on LONG trips though

 

[max]

Actually Barb, my HUD is green. I haven't used if for a couple of years. I will have to try it again and see if I can see it.

 

[FlYFiShErMaN]

The only use I have for polarized shades is fishing.Other than that it's RayBan Grey.

D.G.

Right On! Cant beat them on the water but they can get strange looking at shatter proof car windshields and when reading the gas pump LED display.

 

[Faulkner]

I quit wearing polarized sunglasses after getting a scare while on my motorcycle once . . . I hit a slick spot in the road that the polarized glasses had completely hidden from sight.

They're great when you're out on the water, but otherwise I shun away from them.

 

[rcnixon]

Hmm, my prescription sunglasses are polarized. They are also lineless bifocals and made by Zeiss Optik. I won't be without them. Believe me, I take VERY good care of them; especially for what they cost.

I understand how they work and I also understand how LCDs work so I was a bit surprised when I COULD see the instruments and radio displays. Apparently, some engineers are smart enough not to cross-polarize the displays with sunglasses. In any case, you only need to tilt your head a bit for the displays to come back.

I have spent considerable time mulling over the interference patterns on some types of window glass. My current two theories are that it's from internal stresses in the glass caused by the tempering process or it's the result of the patterns caused by polishing the moulding dies. Can anyone shed some light on this? Pun intended.

Russ

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Hmm, my prescription sunglasses are polarized. They are also lineless bifocals and made by Zeiss Optik. I won't be without them. Believe me, I take VERY good care of them; especially for what they cost.
I understand how they work and I also understand how LCDs work so I was a bit surprised when I COULD see the instruments and radio displays. Apparently, some engineers are smart enough not to cross-polarize the displays with sunglasses. In any case, you only need to tilt your head a bit for the displays to come back.

I have spent considerable time mulling over the interference patterns on some types of window glass. My current two theories are that it's from internal stresses in the glass caused by the tempering process or it's the result of the patterns caused by polishing the moulding dies. Can anyone shed some light on this? Pun intended.

Russ

+1 on that. Mine are lineless bifocal polarized Maui Jim's They are wonderful and for what they cost-I handle them with kid gloves. Ahhhhhh.....the price one pays for cool If my wife ever figured out what they cost I would be toast.

 

[beemerphile]

I have spent considerable time mulling over the interference patterns on some types of window glass. My current two theories are that it's from internal stresses in the glass caused by the tempering process or it's the result of the patterns caused by polishing the moulding dies. Can anyone shed some light on this? Pun intended.

Russ

You get an "A". That is exactly what it is. When I was in the glass industry (30 years ago) we used polarimeters to gauge glass annealing.

 

[YeshuaIsa53]

Turn two polarized lenses at opposite axis and place a light underneath them. Slide a glass lens that has been heat temprossed or tempered and you will see two lines called a Maltese Cross, indicating a properly temprossed eyeglass lense. Yes, they are only polarized at one axis....180 degrees, for wear in eyeglasses. Some vehicle windows and glasses look pretty cool. They definitely reduce eye fatigue and are a fisherman's best friends. Polarized multifocals can get expensive and can peel apart, as they are laminated with a polarized plastic sheet near the front surface of the lense(single vision, too). Thus, they cannot be tempered or heat treated for impact resistance if glass.

 

[afriqueart]

Having lived in south Florida for years, I learned the value of a top of the line pair of Serengetis or Maui Jims. I once had a guy say: "I never spend more than $5.00 on a pair of sunglasses 'cuz I lose them or sit on them."

Spend a couple of hundred dollars on a pair of quality sunglasses and you know where they are at all times! I only buy polarized lenses. I even wear my Serengeti drivers at night on highway road trips. Cuts out all the idiots who drive with their brights on. They don't do anything for the slow guy in the left lane with his right turn signal on, though!

 

[rcnixon]

Hey Caj, my wife encouraged me to get them. She knew well what they were costing. As someone else posted, when you spend over $500 for a pair of glasses, you will damn well keep track of them.

Russ

 

[Nygma]

I quit wearing polarized sunglasses after getting a scare while on my motorcycle once . . . I hit a slick spot in the road that the polarized glasses had completely hidden from sight.

They're great when you're out on the water, but otherwise I shun away from them.

I agree completely! After my scare on a bike while wearing polarized glasses I wear them on the water only.
Just about any other time I want to see shiny surfaces.

 

[george minze]

I like polarized sunglasses in general, but they do make the red fluorouscent displays "go away." That is bad enough in a car, but you haven't lived until all the navigation and comm data goes away while flying an airplane equipped with the fancy new "glass cockpits." Having experienced enough system failures over the years, I can guarantee that can get the heart rate up a bit. It can get downright exciting! Another fun thing is windshields in many turboprops and jets are polarized, and the outside world disappears if you wear polarized sunglasses in one! A few years ago, I was flying a King Air and they wanted me to check out a new copilot - I gave hime a pair of polarized sunglasses to see what he'd do, he almost jumped from the seat to the cabin roof! Didn't take him too long to figure it out, of course.

When flying if I remember polarized glasses were a no no for the reasons mentioned. Has that changed ? I was always on the edge of failing Flight Physical due to depth perception even though back then I had 20/15 one eye and 20/20 other eye. Now with lasik i guess even that has changed....