The following link has some interesting pictures taken with and without polarizers:
Polaizer Pictures Link

I have to reply to this because I'm wierd and I work with light alot!..

There are essentally 4 different types of polarization the type of polarazition for sunglasses is called "Polarization by Refraction"


The refraction occurs when a beam of light "any light" passes from one material into another.

When the light hits the surface of the 2 materials the path of the light will be redirected. The "refracted" beem acquires some degree of polarization. Subsequently, the light is split into two beams upon entering the two materials. Both refracted light beams are polarized - one in a direction parallel to the surface and the other in a direction perpendicular to the surface. I think the way that the sunglasses are made is the beam that is parallel is filtered out otherwise you would see 2 images. Some of the cheaper sunglasses use a cheaper filter to filter out the parallel beam thats when you sometimes get double images and or the rainbow effect.

Hopes that makes sense.

Bazz - How would you check out the glasses in the store? I usually buy the SolarShield (about $20) so they will fit over my specs. And that should be 90 degrees, I think, instead of 180???

Sometimes when we ask a question here, we get WAY more info than we wanted.........

Thank you everybody.

The next time your in a summer down pour driving your car and can not see, grab those polarized glasses and you will be amazed at how well you can see through the rain.
I got caught in one that came up real fast, went from sunny skys to a heavy down pour before I realized I still had on my glasses. I took them off and could hardly see where I was going, I put them back on and the difference was amazing...

Man, what an education you can receive by reading
this forum

Yeah, some of these guys really know their #%*&.

_Hey PopScot: Take a pair of Known Good polarized lenses and turn them so they face the ones your buying. Oh and as for the direction of the blinds..think of them as being in a straight line.The ends of the line are 180 deg from each other on a flat plane... like on a compass rose... one being North/up and one South/down. 90deg would be at a right angles to one another as in "L" Angle....lots of filtration but not a Black Out of light.

_Look thru the New glsses in question out thru your known good ones to see if the immage looks the same thru both lenses. If one lense looks different then it's Polarized element is out of phase and will cause glare problems in that eye on the water. If you dont currently own a pair or you just dont have them with you... get two pairs off the rack and check several of them together.

_While you're at it... You can also check out the light wave Polarization Black Out effect by rotating one pair in front of the other. When you line up the lenses just right you cant see thru them.... as in 180deg out of phase.

_Good Luck and Catch A Big'un Yall!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bazztex<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

You can also see through clothes with the ones with the red coating.

Bazztex get's the prize! What you see in the car is the saftey layer laminated between the glass. Never tried this with sun glasses but with two photo filters as they come at right angles to each other and block nearly all light you will see a deep blue-violet color, that's UV light.
Abel

Thanks Bazz. I think I have it straight now.

After reading all this aaaahh, "stuff" I deserve a degree!!!

Try looking at a color ATM screen with them sometime! I do not mean the old ones that display text only

You guys need to get >>>>>Bazztex<<<<<'s book, "Everything I Ever Learned About Optics and Glass Polarization in Jarhead Sniping School".

He hit the nail on the head with his explanation at the top. Aviators had special tinted face plates so they could block more light out and not distort radar scope displays. Wayyyyy back then 20-10 vision had a lot to do with it as well....

You want to get close to the same effect, you're going to have to pay a lot more than just $29.95 for a pair of sunglasses.