Polarized sunglasses are all the rage these days. And why not? There are many benefits to wearing polarized lenses, such as reducing eyestrain and improving vision by blocking excess glare.

All of which is great if you are planning to buy new sunglasses. But what if you already own a pair and don't know or remember whether they are polarized? Do you have to just buy a new pair? Not necessarily. There are several easy ways to determine whether or not your current sunglasses are already polarized. Check out our guide to determining whether or not your sunglasses are already polarized—these tips might save you more than money—they could also save your eyesight.

Read This Article: This is so meta it may just blow your mind, but if you wear your sunglasses while reading this article, you may be able to determine whether they are polarized. That's because most modern computer screens utilize the same glare-reducing technology as polarized lenses. If you tilt your glasses while looking at a computer monitor through polarized glasses, portions of your screen will become blank or go dark. The same is true of LCD display screens such as the ones on a gas pump. Crazy, right?

Go Fishing: One of the primary benefits of wearing polarized lenses is cutting down on glare, such as the glare you get off a car windshield. Polarized sunglasses are also great at reducing the glare of the sun reflecting off water. If your sunglasses are polarized, instead of only seeing the surface of a lake or river, you will suddenly be able to see through the glare and into the water below. Catching all those fish down there, on the other hand, is up to you.

Phone A Friend: If you know somebody who owns polarized sunglasses, figuring out if your own lenses are polarized is as easy as phoning a friend. All you need is their cooperation - and, of course, their glasses. First, hold up your glasses and theirs simultaneously and look through both pairs at the same time. Then, rotate one pair of sunglasses about 60 degrees. If both pairs of glasses are polarized, the overlapping area will darken as they filter out excess light. If your pair isn't polarized, however, you won't notice any difference.

If you determine that your sunglasses aren’t polarized, a trip to see us can solve this problem. We can swap out the lenses in any frames for polarized lenses. For those full-time glasses wearers, you can even have us add your prescription to your polarized sunglasses.

Take off all that makeup.
Makeup is great when needed, but old eye makeup can lead to bacterial infections, toxic heavy metals, dry eyes, allergic reactions and loss of eyelashes. So, if you’ve been applying some eye shadow, liner, primer and mascara, make sure you properly take it off! And, if you’re out of makeup remover, consider using avocado.

Eat healthy.
A new study shows that coffee can be good for your eyes, as its strong antioxidant chlorogenic acid can prevent retinal degeneration. For food, think leafy greens, dark berries, eggs and cold-water fish like salmon, which have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. And, while we’re on the topic of health, quitting smoking is also a good idea as cigarettes can lead to cataracts, optic nerve damage and macular degeneration.

Regular eye exams.
Annual comprehensive eye exams can spot  early signs of diseases. Keep in mind the difference between a vision screening  (includes a brief vision test for acuity) and a comprehensive eye exam (which tests all aspects of your vision).

Take a break and look away from the computer.
Digital eye strain affects up to 75 percent of computer workers.  In our plugged-in lives, we’re susceptible to “computer vision syndrome,” which can include ocular discomfort, muscular strain and stress. To help relieve the tension, eye doctors suggest taking a break, blinking frequently, wearing computer glasses and checking your computer’s position (20 to 28 inches away from the eye is best). Make sure to think about setting your monitor near minimum overhead light.  Also try magnifying the text on your screen to make reading easier.


So, in short, protect your eyes like you would protect your skin and the rest of the organs in your body. Stay safe, use eyewear protection and keep rocking on!