Here you will learn about polarized lenses the good and the bad. 🎓🌞
Recently someone asked if the information in this blog is true? Sadly it is true and many people including babies and young kids world-wide will loose their eyesight due to these low quality TAC polarized sunglasses coming from China. The internet, Facebook, Amazon, Temu, AliExpress and many other online sources are all advertising this rubbish. Please be really careful. Read this blog and definitely watch the video so you can tell the difference between the good and the really bad. Then do the right thing and tell your family and friends so their kids don’t lose their eyesight as well.
You can also help others. All parents need to know about polarized lenses. So please like this post by clicking on the like (thumbs up) button below. That certainly will help more people see this important information and that will save sight. Thanks.
Questions and answers about polarized light.
What is polarized light? 😦
Polarized light occurs when scattered light reflects off any flat horizontal shiny surface. Such as water in a lake, a car windscreen, sand, snow, concrete and asphalt roads. Glare or polarized light does reduce visibility and it also distorts colour. As well it makes vision uncomfortable and painful. But extensive research shows it does not* cause eye problems.
*The reason it does not cause eye problems is because that glare is within the visible spectrum. That is why we see the glare. The real danger is the UV radiation that also reflects into the eyes that we do not see.
The white polarized glare shinning off the top of the water in this picture distorts the true colour. High quality polarized lenses would eliminate all of this glare. Alternatively low quality polarized lenses would eliminate as little as 30% of this glare.
Polarized lenses are they good or are they bad?
Polarized lenses in theory should be better than plain lenses. But in reality this is not always the case. Low quality polarized film does cause headaches. They also distort vision and lead to eye problems and yes even blindness.
Polarized lenses and UV protection
Please note: Polarized lenses are not better or worse than plain lenses at eliminating harmful UV radiation. Just make sure you only buy sunglasses with *100% UV protection between 280Nm and 400Nm. *(Note the earth’s atmosphere absorbs all UVC from 100Nm to 280Nm). *Let me be clear, that means all UV rays between 280Nm to 400Nm. Not:- UV400, UVA, UVB, UVC, 99% UV or the USA and EU standard UV 280Nm to 380Nm.
Kids especially require total UV protection. This is due to the lack of chromophores within their eyes compared to adults. You can read more about UV protection here: Sunglasses the good and the bad
How they are made – Polarized lenses the good and the bad
Low quality polarized film. Note: they are not called a lens 👎
The polarized film is made first. Simply by heating and stretching a very soft PVA “Polyvinyl acetate” material. It then forms into long chain molecules. That subsequently align in one direction. Secondly by placing the polarized film between two thin sheets of either acrylic. Or more commonly TAC (tri-acetate cellulose). It is then gets laminated together. Finally to create a curve. The flat laminated film is then pressed into a mould.
Note, this cheap soft polarized film does scratch really easy. Also, this thin film does easily bend and twist which distorts the polarized film. Consequently many customers report that this film causes them headaches and eye fatigue. Also due to the distortion and low quality polarized sheet material. They only cut as little as 30% of the reflected glare. Worse still the distortion from this film leads to major non-reversible eye damage. There after requiring prescription glasses to see.
More on Low quality polarized film 👎
Never buy cheap TAC polarized film (lenses). Especially for children. Who are harder on sunglasses and will scratch this very soft film. Scratched lenses do cause even more *stress to the eyes. Many of these cheap (film) lenses also use a UV coating that children will scratch easily. Consequently leaving no UV protection. Please watch the video so both you and your children do not end up blind.
*When you wear a scratched lens. The scratch appears as a blur in the image. And as the brain is not happy with the blur. It automatically sends a small signal to the ciliary muscle (a small muscle that circles the lens of the eye). To adjust the lens for a clearer picture. Of course the blur remains. So the brain sends another signal to readjust. And this repeats until the scratched lens is removed. Just by wearing a scratched lens for one day the small ciliary muscle wears out. Then the only way to adjust vision is with prescription glasses.
How to know if it is cheap polarized film (lens)
- The material name, TAC (Tri-acetate cellulose). Please note: Many kids sunglasses use these rubbish lenses. But incorrectly state it is polycarbonate. (Because a Chinese manufacturer lied to them or they just want to fool you). So please do the following finger test and if it deflects don’t buy them. They will harm your child’s eyes.
- By pressing your finger tip on the centre of the outside surface of the lens. Cheap film will deflect under a little pressure. Any deflection will distort the polarized film.
- Tap the lens with you finger nail. A cheap film gives a dead thud sound. A hard lenses will ring like glass when tapped.
The name and shame list of companies harming kids eyes
This list comprises some companies that do sell rubbish TAC polarized film that certainly will harm your children. So, if you do care for your kids please avoid these brands. And please do the right thing and warn your family and friends.
- Cancer Council, Roshambo, Gummy Sunnies, Flexi Sunnies, Izipizi, BukiBaby, Lummi Bunny, Goeth & Co, Henrays, Ugly Fish, Fox Baby & Co, Teeny Cherubs, Sunnyo, Black Ice, Speckles, Sunnies, Sojos, VideMundi, Babieojo, Koolsun, Bprotectedstore, Temu, Amazon and many, many more.
To have your company name removed from this list? Simply let us know that you are no longer selling these very harmful TAC polarized film sunglasses. Also if you know of any brand selling this rubbish film and they are not on our list please let us know. Then we can add it to our list to help others.
Please note: There are also many adult’s sunglasses using this horrible film as well. Just so they can make a huge profit.
Fact: These rubbish sunglasses cost only $2.00 in China. So, if you paid above $4 to $5 you just got ripped off. Worse still you or your children will certainly loose your eyesight.
High quality polarized lenses 👍
High quality polarized lenses start with the same process. By heating and stretching a soft PVA material to form long chain molecules. But done very accurately with high quality material. Therefore these lenses will eliminate all polarized glare. This polarized film is then placed between two high quality lenses. Made from either polycarbonate, trivex, CR39 or glass.
Consequently by using these high quality lenses. They do not require a UV coating that will scratch. Instead the lens has UV protection evenly distributed throughout. The finished lenses should be at least 2mm thick. This will then avoid any distortion of the polarized film. To avoid headaches and eye fatigue do not buy thinner lenses. They will only cause problems as reported by many customers. Of cause these high quality polarized lenses do cost more.
How to know if it is a high quality polarized lens
- The material name, polycarbonate, trivex, CR39 or glass.
- Press the centre of the outside surface of the lens with your finger tip. It should not deflect under pressure.
- Tap the lens with you finger nail. The sound of a hard lenses will ring like glass when tapped.
Important checks when buying polarized lenses ✔️😎
- Firstly to check that it is a polarized lens. You will need two pair of polarized sunglasses or two lenses to do this. Place the two sunglasses facing each other and both lenses horizontal. You should be able to see clearly through both lenses. Now while looking through one set of lenses facing each other. Slowly rotate one sunglasses lens until it is 90 degrees with the other lens. It should go from clear to dark and not transparent. If there is no change. Then either one or both of the lenses are not polarized. Note: You can also check if the lens is polarized on a computer screen (like in the video above). But please be aware that screens do differ. And can emit polarized light either horizontally, vertically and even at 45 degrees. While some do not emit polarized light.
- Secondly check the polarized lens is horizontal with the frame. Place the two sunglasses facing each other and horizontal. You should be able to see clearly through both lenses. If it is not perfectly clear. Then the installation of the lenses is incorrect. Now while looking through one set of lenses facing each other. Slowly rotate one sunglasses lens until it is 90 degrees with the other lens. If the lens goes completely dark before reaching 90 degrees. The lens has been incorrectly installed. In either one or both sunglasses. Don’t buy them as it will not filter the polarized light effectively. Then check the other lens the same way.
Our recommendation 👍🕶️
Eye sight is important. And low quality polarized sunglasses will damage eyesight. So never buy them. They also cost similar to high quality plain lenses sunglasses. That will protect eyesight. So we recommend you buy the high quality plain sunglasses. If you can afford the high quality PC polarized sunglasses. That will eliminate all reflective glare then buy these.
High quality adult PC polarized sunglasses can start at A$140.00 and go up to A$700.00 or higher depending on the brand. Our Idol Eyes Australia baby polarized sunglasses start at A$110.00. Using the same high quality PC polarized lenses. Any prices lower than I have indicated. Will only be low quality polarized lenses and should be avoided. If you care about your or your child’s eye health.
Myths about polarized lenses. – As seen on many websites by those with no experience in optics.
- Polarized lenses are made with a polarized coating. No, totally false.
- Polarized lenses have a special polarizing film that is applied in the factory on the front surface of the lens. No, totally false.
- Polarized lenses have a special chemical applied to them to filter light. Totally wrong.
- Polarized coatings darkens the lens. Wrong.
- Polarized lenses aren’t available for regular reading glasses. Wrong.
- Darker lens colors provide higher levels of polarization. Also Wrong.
- Polarized lenses cut more UV radiation than plain lenses. No, not necessarily. Polarization has nothing to do with UV radiation. (Polarized lenses help eliminate polarized light or glare.)
- Polarized sunglasses are better than plain sunglasses. No, it firstly depends on the quality. But if both are high quality, the polarized lens will also eliminate that horrid glare. And if they are low quality polarized lenses. You will end up with headaches and distorted vision. All leading to eye problems and blindness.
- There are those who say that polarized lenses make them feel dizzy or disoriented. That is only caused by cheap distorted polarized lenses.
You can help prevent blindness in premature babies.
If you found this information here really helpful then you could do something to help others. Prematurity is the number one cause of blindness in children. Idol Eyes Australia is the only company in the world that makes premature baby sunglasses. Every donation to the Premy Wrapz Donor Fund is only used to reduce the price of our “Premy Wrapz” sunglasses for every parent with a preemie baby world-wide. Early protection certainly does help save sight. You can make a donation here on our donation page.
Want high quality kids polarized sunglasses. Just follow the links.
If you are looking for the very best baby or kids polarized sunglasses. You certainly cannot buy better than our PC polarized range. Available in these terrific models: Baby Wrapz, Baby Wrapz 2 or Tiny tots I – IE1027SR, IE5630 or Tiny tots II – IE1027MR, IE5635, IE88 and IE532. Check them out.
Don’t miss the latest sunglasses “WARNINGS” on this page. They will save your child’s eyesight.
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