Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Test on a reflective surface
• Method 2 of 3: Compare two sunglasses
• Method 3 of 3: Using your computer screen
• Warnings

Polarized sunglasses are very popular because they reduce glare and protect your eyes from the sun. However, these sunglasses can be more expensive than normal sunglasses, so you have to be sure that you are actually getting what you pay for. You can test the anti-reflective coating on polarized sunglasses by looking at the reflective surface, comparing two sunglasses, or using your computer screen.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Test on a reflective surface

1. Find a reflective surface that shines when light hits it. You can use a reflective table top, mirror, or other shiny, flat surface for this. Make sure the glare is also visible from a distance of about 60 to 90 centimeters.
   • If you want to make something sparkle, you can turn on a light or shine a flashlight on a reflective surface.
2. Hold your sunglasses about 6 to 8 inches in front of your eyes. It should be possible to see the surface through one of the lenses. Depending on the size of the lenses, you may need to bring the sunglasses closer to your face.
3. Turn your sunglasses up to an angle of 60 degrees. You should now be holding your sunglasses at an angle, with one of the lenses lifted slightly higher than the other. Since sunglasses are polarized in a specific direction, rotating the sunglasses can make the polarization work better.
   • Depending on how the glare hits the surface, the angle of the sunglasses may need to be adjusted slightly to see a noticeable difference.
4. Look through the glass to see the degree of glare. When the lenses are polarized, you can see the glare disappear. When you look through one of the glasses it should be very dark and you should see little to no glare, but it will still look like light is shining on the surface.
   • Move the sunglasses a few times to compare your normal vision with what you see through the sunglasses if you are not sure if the polarization is working properly.

Method 2 of 3: Compare two sunglasses

1. Find sunglasses that you know are polarized. If you already have polarized sunglasses or you are at a store where they have polarized sunglasses, you can compare them. The test only works well with different polarized sunglasses.
2. Hold the polarized sunglasses in front of you and the other sunglasses in front of you. Hold the glasses straight behind each other in your field of view, making sure there are about 2 to 5 centimeters between them. The sunglasses that you are not sure about are closest to you and the polarized sunglasses are kept a little further away.
   • Do not let the glasses touch each other, as this can scratch the protective layer.
3. For best results, keep the sunglasses in front of a bright light. This makes the test a bit easier, especially if it is your first time comparing sunglasses in this way. The light will distinguish the shadow even more.
   • You can use natural light from the outside or artificial light such as a lamp.
4. Turn the questionable sunglasses 60 degrees. One of the lenses should be diagonal to the other lens. The polarized sunglasses must remain in the same position. However, one of the lenses should still line up with the lenses of the other sunglasses.
   • It doesn't matter which way you turn the sunglasses, just make sure to keep both lenses still.
5. Look at the overlapping part of the lenses to see if it is darker. When both sunglasses are polarized, the overlapping lenses appear darker when you look directly into them. If the questionable sunglasses are not polarized, there will be no difference in color.
   • You can compare the color of the overlapping lenses with the color of the lenses that do not overlap.

Method 3 of 3: Using your computer screen

1. Set your computer screen to the brightest setting. Most electronic devices have the same anti-reflective coating as polarized sunglasses. You can test the polarization by looking at the screen.
   • Open a white screen, as this is where the brightness of the screen is most evident.
2. Put on your sunglasses. Once you are sitting in front of the computer, put on the sunglasses as you normally would. Make sure you are right in front of the screen.
   • It can help to position your computer screen at eye level if it is not already.
3. Bend your head 60 degrees to the left or right. While sitting in front of the screen, bend the top of your head towards the left or right side of your body. If the sunglasses are polarized, the screen will black out due to the anti-reflective coating on both the sunglasses and the computer screen.
   • If one side doesn't work, try again with your head tilted to the other. If that doesn't work either, the sunglasses are not polarized.

Warnings

• If possible, test the polarization of the sunglasses before buying. Some stores have test cards with images that you can only see with polarized sunglasses.