Sometimes, even while wearing sunglasses, the sun makes it hard to see. You might find yourself squinting while driving, on the ski slope, or near water. That’s glare at work.

The sun’s rays bounce off smooth, shiny surfaces and into your eyes. Polarized lenses help block out the blinding glare. Sport these sunglasses rather than traditional ones and the difference is easy to see.

“Polarized sunglasses reduce glare, improve contrast, and make vision sharper,” says David Teed, O.D., an optometrist who practices at America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses in McKinney, Texas.

But are polarized sunglasses actually better for your eyes? And are they right for everyone? Not necessarily. Here’s what you need to know about this popular lens coating.

Has it been a while since your last eye checkup? Now’s the time to book an appointment!  

How do polarized sunglasses work?

Polarized lenses have a chemical coating on them that filters light in a specific way. The lenses only let vertical light through, while blocking out light that approaches your eyes horizontally. That includes light that bounces off surfaces like car hoods and bodies of water, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Because of this filter, polarized lenses help objects appear crisper and clearer, Dr. Teed explains. Things will look a bit darker, but they will also look more detailed.

Another plus for polarized lenses is that they can help reduce eyestrain. But, he adds, so can other types of lens coating.

How do I know if I need polarized lenses?

While polarized lenses have many pros, they also have a few cons, including a higher price tag than traditional sunglasses. And according to Dr. Teed, not everyone needs the priciest shades. Here are his recommendations:

Consider polarized lenses if you are active in:

• Outdoor sports, such as fishing or hunting. “Fishermen should wear polarized glasses, no question,” Dr. Teed says.
• Ball sports, such as golf or baseball, where sharp vision is crucial. “Polarized glasses provide wearers with the best enhanced contrast,” Dr. Teed says.
• Snow sports. Snow reflects sunlight into the eyes. “Polarized lenses cut out the excess light bouncing off the surface of the snow, enhancing sharpness,” he explains.

Skip polarized lenses if you are:

• Driving a car or flying a plane. Polarized lenses can make instrument panels (such as an LCD display) appear blank, Dr. Teed cautions. To see this in action (safely), try wearing polarized sunglasses while looking at your laptop, cell phone, or smartwatch.

Your optometrist can help you decide whether polarized lenses are right for you. Use your annual eye exam as an opportunity to share your job, hobbies, and lifestyle, as well as your desired price range. The optometrist is there to answer questions and help preserve the health of your eyes.

“Your eye doctor will be curious about how they can recommend glasses that help your eyes see and feel better, to ultimately improve your daily routine,” Dr. Teed says.

Even if they’re not for everyone and every situation, do polarized lenses offer the best sun protection?

No. Compared with other sunglasses, polarized lenses can help you see better in high-glare situations, but that’s not the most important feature sunglasses should have, Dr. Teed stresses.

When it comes to the health of your eyes, your top concern should be that your sunglasses offer complete protection against ultraviolet (UV) light. The eye care specialists at America’s Best can show you the latest sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection.

“UV light causes damage to the eyes,” says Dr. Teed. “Excessive UV exposure can cause anything from corneal burns to retinal damage or skin cancers on the eyelid and cataract formation.”

Adding polarization to UV blocking means you’ll have dual protection for your eyes.

You can learn more about the best ways to protect your eyes from the sun by reading Sunglasses for Eye Health: The Definitive Buyers Guide.

What other lens options should I consider?

If you don’t think polarized sunglasses are right for you, ask your optometrist about photochromic lenses (which go from clear to dark depending on the surrounding light) and anti-glare coatings, suggests Dr. Teed.

Photochromic lenses. These lenses offer UV protection and automatically adjust their darkness depending on the amount of light in the area. (The most well-known photochromic lenses are Transitions®.)

“They do not get as dark as a traditional pair of sunglasses and do take a little bit of time to change from clear into sunglasses and back again,” Dr. Teed says.

Photochromatic lenses have a slight tint, even indoors, which some people might view as a drawback.

Anti-glare coating. This lens coating option is good for everyday encounters with the sun, such as going in and out of buildings on your way to work or when running errands. In addition to reducing glare, they help improve clarity.

“I try to give patients the best bang for their buck, so I recommend that everyone get an anti-glare coating on both their sunglasses and their regular eyeglasses. If you do, you will never leave anti-glare off again,” Dr. Teed says. (You do not need anti-glare if you opt for polarized sunglasses.)

Bottom line: Polarized sunglasses should be one of the options you consider. But they should not be viewed as superior sunglasses. “The most important thing is protecting your eyes with UV protection,” Dr. Teed says.

Press play to learn more about the importance of protecting your eyes from the sun year round: