Why I hate Polarized Sunglasses

Summary

In this video, the host discusses the pros and cons of polarized versus non-polarized sunglasses. Despite polarized lenses reducing glare and enhancing clarity, they can cause issues with LCD and LED screens, alter natural vision, and are more expensive. The host prefers non-polarized sunglasses for their crisp clarity and lack of downsides, a preference shared by many in the eyewear industry. The debate also touches on the impact of sunglasses on driving safety, with polarized glasses potentially masking important visual cues.

Takeaways

• 🕶️ The video discusses the preference for non-polarized sunglasses over polarized ones by the speaker.
• 🌟 Polarized lenses reduce glare from reflective surfaces but have some downsides, according to the speaker.
• 🖥 One downside is that polarized sunglasses can cause issues when viewing LCD and LED screens, such as at gas pumps or on phone screens.
• 📱 Higher-end phones mitigate the effect of polarized sunglasses on screens, but there can still be some distortion and eye strain.
• 🏞️ Polarized sunglasses can alter the natural appearance of the world, which the speaker finds undesirable.
• 🔍 Non-polarized sunglasses provide a clear and unaltered view of the world, which the speaker prefers.
• 💰 Polarized sunglasses are more expensive to produce due to the complexity of their design, involving a polarizer filter.
• 🚗 There is debate over whether polarized sunglasses are suitable for driving; they can affect depth perception and visibility of glare.
• 🛣️ Wearing polarized sunglasses while driving might not be ideal in situations where detecting wet or icy roads is crucial.
• 👓 Non-polarized lenses block harmful UV rays and reduce eye strain without altering the view, which is a benefit highlighted by the speaker.
• 👁️ The speaker has very sensitive vision, making the effects of polarized sunglasses on screens particularly bothersome.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is a comparison between non-polarized and polarized sunglasses, focusing on the reasons why the speaker prefers non-polarized sunglasses.

What is the primary function of polarized lenses?

The primary function of polarized lenses is to remove glare off reflective surfaces, such as water, ice, or the inside of a windshield, which can help reduce eye strain and allow for clearer vision.

What is the first downside of polarized sunglasses mentioned in the video?

The first downside mentioned is the effect polarized sunglasses have on LCD and LED screens, which can cause difficulty in seeing the screen, especially at gas pumps.

How do polarized sunglasses affect phone screens according to the video?

Polarized sunglasses can cause an annoying effect on phone screens, making it harder to read texts and use the phone, especially at different angles, which can cause eye strain and black spots to appear.

What does the speaker claim about their vision sensitivity?

The speaker claims to have very sensitive vision, which is one of the reasons they got into sunglasses and why the effects of polarized sunglasses on screens are particularly unbearable for them.

Why does the speaker believe non-polarized sunglasses provide a more natural viewing experience?

The speaker believes non-polarized sunglasses provide a more natural viewing experience because they do not alter the real world or screens, offering a crisp and pure view without technological interference.

What are the benefits of non-polarized lenses as mentioned in the video?

Non-polarized lenses allow less light into the eyes, reducing eye strain, and they block harmful UVA and UVB rays, which is important for eye health.

Why are polarized sunglasses more expensive to produce than non-polarized ones?

Polarized sunglasses are more expensive to produce because they have a two-piece design, with a polarizer filter sandwiched between the two lenses, which adds to the complexity and cost of manufacturing.

What is the debate about wearing polarized sunglasses while driving?

The debate is about how polarized sunglasses can affect depth perception and cut through glare, which might prevent drivers from noticing potential hazards like water on the road or black ice, but can also help reduce glare when driving directly into the sun.

What is the speaker's personal stance on wearing polarized sunglasses for driving?

The speaker sometimes wears polarized sunglasses while driving but acknowledges the pros and cons, suggesting that drivers should be mindful of the potential limitations polarized lenses may have while on the road.

What does the speaker suggest about the views of people in the eyewear industry regarding polarized sunglasses?

The speaker suggests that most people in the eyewear industry tend to agree with their preference for non-polarized lenses, citing similar reasons such as the clarity and lack of alteration of the natural world.

Outlines

00:00

🕶️ Nonpolarized Sunglasses Preference

The speaker begins by setting the stage for a potentially controversial topic: their preference for nonpolarized sunglasses over polarized ones. They explain that while polarized lenses are known for reducing glare from reflective surfaces like water or windshields, which can be beneficial for clarity and reducing eye strain, they also have downsides. The first issue mentioned is the effect polarized sunglasses have on LCD and LED screens, causing them to be unreadable, which can be particularly bothersome when using gas pumps or phone screens. The speaker also notes their sensitive vision, which makes the effects of polarized sunglasses on screens especially unbearable for them.

05:00

🌟 The Impact of Polarized Sunglasses on Perception

Continuing the discussion, the speaker argues that polarized sunglasses alter the natural world in a way that nonpolarized sunglasses do not. They liken nonpolarized sunglasses to an 'analog' experience, providing a crisp and clear view without technological interference. In contrast, polarized sunglasses are compared to a 'digital' experience, modifying what is seen in the real world, including screens. Nonpolarized lenses are praised for their purity, allowing less light in to reduce eye strain and block harmful UV rays without altering the view. The speaker also touches on the higher cost of polarized sunglasses due to their complex production involving a two-piece design with a polarizer filter sandwiched between lenses. They acknowledge that while polarized sunglasses can be beneficial in certain driving situations by reducing glare, they can also affect depth perception and obscure important visual cues like water on the road or black ice, which nonpolarized sunglasses would make more apparent. The speaker concludes by sharing that many in the eyewear industry share their preference for nonpolarized lenses, and they encourage viewers to consider the pros and cons of each type of sunglasses.

Keywords

💡Nonpolarized Sunglasses

Nonpolarized sunglasses are eyewear that does not have a polarizing filter, allowing light to pass through without altering its orientation. In the video, the speaker prefers nonpolarized sunglasses over polarized ones, citing their natural and unaltered vision quality. The script mentions that nonpolarized lenses are chosen 9 times out of 10 by the speaker.

💡Polarized Sunglasses

Polarized sunglasses are equipped with a special filter that reduces glare from reflective surfaces by blocking light waves that are vibrating in a particular direction. The video discusses the downsides of polarized sunglasses, such as their effect on LCD and LED screens, and their alteration of the natural world's appearance.

💡Glare

Glare is the intense light reflected off a surface that can cause discomfort or reduced visibility. The video script explains how polarized lenses help reduce glare from surfaces like water or windshields, but also how they might obscure important visual cues like the presence of water on the road or black ice.

💡Eye Strain

Eye strain, also known as asthenopia, is a common condition that occurs when eyes get tired from intense use. The script mentions that the effect of polarized sunglasses on phone screens can cause eye strain, particularly for someone with sensitive vision like the speaker.

💡LCD and LED Screens

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and LED (Light Emitting Diode) screens are types of flat panel displays used in various devices, including phones and gas pumps. The video describes how polarized sunglasses can cause these screens to be unreadable due to the polarizing filter's interaction with the display technology.

💡Analog

Analog refers to a continuous signal or representation of information as opposed to digital, which is discrete. In the context of the video, the speaker uses 'analog' to describe non-polarized sunglasses, suggesting they provide a natural and unprocessed viewing experience without technological interference.

💡Digital Experience

A digital experience typically involves technology that processes and manipulates information in a binary format. The video contrasts polarized sunglasses with a digital experience, implying that they alter the natural viewing experience by reducing glare and potentially affecting depth perception.

💡UV Rays

UV rays, or ultraviolet rays, are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light. The video mentions that non-polarized lenses block harmful UVA and UVB rays, which is crucial for protecting the eyes from damage.

💡Price

The price mentioned in the video refers to the cost of producing polarized sunglasses, which is higher than that of non-polarized ones due to the complexity of installing the polarizing filter. The speaker initially thought it was a scam to charge extra for polarized lenses but later understood the production costs involved.

💡Depth Perception

Depth perception is the ability to judge the distance of objects. The video script discusses how polarized sunglasses can affect depth perception by reducing glare, which might lead to not noticing certain road conditions like water or black ice, potentially causing safety issues while driving.

💡Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is a phenomenon where a vehicle's tires ride on a layer of water instead of making contact with the road surface, often caused by driving through a puddle at high speed. The video uses hydroplaning as an example of a potential risk when wearing polarized sunglasses while driving, as they might obscure the visibility of water on the road.

Highlights

The video discusses the preference for non-polarized sunglasses over polarized frames.

Polarized lenses reduce glare from reflective surfaces like water, ice, and windshields.

Polarized sunglasses can cause eye strain and block visibility of LCD and LED screens.

Higher-end phones mitigate the effects of polarized sunglasses on screen visibility.

Polarized sunglasses can cause annoyance and discomfort when using phone screens.

Non-polarized sunglasses provide a crisp and pure viewing experience without altering the natural world.

Non-polarized lenses are compared to an analog experience, while polarized are more digital.

Non-polarized sunglasses block harmful UVA and UVB rays, reducing eye strain.

Polarized sunglasses are more expensive to produce due to the complexity of the polarizer filter.

Polarized sunglasses may affect depth perception and the visibility of glare on roads.

Wearing polarized sunglasses while driving can have both advantages and disadvantages.

Polarized sunglasses can cut through glare, improving visibility in certain driving conditions.

The video acknowledges the controversial nature of the topic and invites diverse opinions.

The speaker shares personal preference for non-polarized lenses due to their clarity and lack of 'funny business'.

Many in the eyewear industry also prefer non-polarized lenses for similar reasons.

The video concludes by encouraging viewers to subscribe for more content.

Transcripts

hey everyone welcome back to shade

review today's video might be a little

bit controversial because I'm going to

be going over the reasons why I prefer

nonpolarized sunglasses against

polarized frames and about nine times

out of 10 I'm actually picking up a pair

of non-polarized frames versus those

polarized sunglasses most of you

watching this video I'm sure already

know that polarized lenses help to

remove glare off reflective surfaces

like water ice or even the inside of a

windshield and this technology can be

very helpful in reducing ice strain it

also allows you to see more clearly but

it's not without its downsides so the

first downside of polariz sunglasses is

probably something that every one of you

have experienced if you personally own a

pair of polariz sunglasses and that is

the effect that polary sunglasses have

on LCD and led screens the biggest

example being if you go to get gas in

your vehicle and you pull up to the

screen you literally can't see anything

typically because the polarized filter

completely blocks out the screen in the

gas pump and at first you think that the

gas pump is broken and then you realize

oh it's just the sunglasses so you take

the sunglasses off and then you kind of

you know do one of these things while

you're typing on the screen and it's

definitely annoying but what's more

annoying is the effect that it has on

phone screens now most higher-end phones

actually do a good job at mitigating the

effects of Po ey sunglasses on the

screen so you know the newest iPhones

and the highest Flagship Android phones

do a pretty good job but they still do

add uh definitely an annoying kind of

weird effect to the LCD screen even on

these higher end phones now with polar

eye sunglasses on I can still totally

use my phone and I can still read texts

that come on it and I can still again

use it like I normally would but again

if you hold it at different angles it

just really kind of screws with your

vision and definitely causes some eye

strain there and there's like definitely

some black spots that kind of appear

depending on the angle as well just not

a really good uh viewing experience and

I actually have very very sensitive

Vision that's actually one of the

reasons why I got into sunglasses in the

first place so the effectss that

polarized sunglasses have on LCD screens

really becomes unbearable to me all

right reason number two is polarized

sunglasses alter the natural world they

alter the way that we see nature as it

was designed to be seen and a great

example of this I believe was given to

me by Matt from that glasses guy and he

kind of made a comparison that

non-polarized uh sunglasses are

basically analog there's no technology

or anything going into them whatsoever

they're just very crisp and clear and

then polarized sunglasses are being more

of a digital experience where it's

altering the real world it's altering

what you see it's altering screens and

on the other hand with non-polarized

sunglasses there is just something so

crisp and pure about a pair of natural

glass non-polarized lenses they just

look absolutely beautiful when looking

through them they're not altering the

world or anything like that they're just

very crisp and clear and of course they

do add a little bit of a tint to them as

well especially depending on the lens

color that you have but nothing is being

altered if that makes sense

non-polarized lenses simply allow less

light into your eyes reducing eye strain

and they're also going to block harmful

UVA and UVB rays as well which is

extremely important for your eye health

and with a pair of polariz and glasses

there's just a lot more going on into

the lens now another downside which

really isn't big one but it's actually

the price polarized sunglasses are

actually much more expensive to produce

than non-polarized ones especially ones

with all glass lenses because it's

actually a two-piece design and they

actually sandwich the polarizer filter

in between the two lenses I remember

back when I first got into sunglasses I

kind of thought it was a manufacturer

scam to charge $50 extra for a pair of

polarized lenses but as soon as I

actually learned the complexity of

installing those uh filters into

especially glass lenses I completely

understand why it costs you know an

extra $50 or so to get a pair of

polarized uh lenses so sunglass

manufacturers are definitely not

scamming You by charging you $50 it

legitimately cost them a lot to make

them so that's definitely you know

downside all right and the last reason

here is actually highly debated and that

is if you should ever be wearing

polarized sunglasses while driving now

personally I do sometimes wear polarized

sunglasses when driving but there's a

couple of reasons why you definitely

would not want to wear them so polarized

sunglass actually affect depth

perception and they also cut through

glare which is naturally present on

roads so for a quick example here

picture that you're driving down the

road on a bright and sunny day there's

not a rain cloud to be seen but somehow

there is a pretty thick layer of water

on top of the road this could be from

maybe a broken fire hydrant that was

fixed or something like that if you're

wearing a pair of polari sunglasses it's

going to cut straight through the glare

that the sun is creating off of the

water and and what you're going to be

left with is seeing kind of a sheen on

the road and a pair of Po ey sunglasses

are going to cut straight through that

and all you're going to basically see is

the road so potentially you could keep

driving right through it at a high rate

of speed and you could potentially hydro

plane depending on the you know quality

and the tread wear on your tires and

that would not be a good day if you slid

off the road but if you're wearing a

pair of non-p poiz sunglasses you would

definitely notice the glare and know

that something's probably not quite

right our brains by default kind of look

at glare and know that something might

be wrong there and you're definitely

going to want to slow down to prevent

hydroplaning issue now another example

here is dealing with black ice if you

have a pair of polarized sunglasses it's

going to just completely cut down the

glare and now you're going to see it's

just kind of like a black spot and

typically you know roads are black

anyways and you're not going to notice

that is actually black ice however if

you're driving and you see a glare off

the section it's going to be a much

better indication that it is black ice

and it is time to slow down uh so

definitely another thing to keep in mind

but on the other side of the argument

sometimes if you're driving directly

into the sun there's just a ton of glare

of the sun bouncing right off the road

and a pair of good polariz sunglasses

are going to cut straight through that

and allow you to kind of see what's in

front of you a little bit better or to

see oncoming traffic coming at you more

clearly and see the lines more clearly

as well when you are driving so there's

definitely pros and cons to poiz

sunglasses uh for driving and I kind of

flip flop between the two but definitely

be sure to be mindful that when you are

driving with a pair of sunglasses on uh

you might not see all the glare that is

naturally there and it might you know

slow down your reaction time so overall

polar ey sunglasses can be really really

great but they definitely come with a

lot of downsides where a pair of

non-polarized uh sunglass lenses uh

really don't have any downsides at all

and that's why I prefer them you know N9

out of 10 times but let me know what you

think about this video in the comment

section down below again this is

probably going to be one one of my most

controversial videos on the channel and

this of course is just my personal

opinion if you have a different opinion

than me you're definitely not wrong and

I'm not wrong either uh there is room

for both of us to exist in this world

and uh yeah I just figured I'd make this

video to kind of explain why most of the

time I'm preferring the non-polarized

lenses it just so clear so crisp and uh

no funny business if that makes sense

and another thing to note here is most

people in the eyewear industry actually

tend to agreed with me on this subject

which was definitely shocking to me I

thought I was one of the only people who

had these views I thought everybody

would prefer the polarized sunglasses

however a lot of people in the industry

prefer non-polarized lenses for again

basically the same reasons that you know

I prefer non-polarized lenses but that's

it for the video If you enjoyed it make

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much for watching and I'll catch you all

in the next one