The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 15 No. 6 - December 3, 2014

reel time

Polarized sunglasses a must

Reel time

submitted

Polarized sunglasses open up a window to the underwater world.

Polarized sunglasses are an essential tool for anglers. Polarized lenses reduce the amount of visible light that passes through the glasses, protecting the eye and cutting the surface glare, making fish visible below the waters' surface. This ability is indispensable when sight fishing or looking for signs of fish.

Many anglers choose their glasses according to style, not realizing that the color of the lenses and other factors determine their real effectiveness. Color is important, but it’s just one of the choices that you will need to make to get the most from your sunglasses.

After choosing a frame that’s comfortable, fits your face and prevents light penetration, lens color is the most important component. Anglers who fish blue water and spend long hours over the open sea should buy grey lenses. Grey provides natural contrast and minimizes color distortion in the deeper blue waters encountered offshore.

For flats fishermen, brown/amber lenses are the best choice for sight fishing shallow water. Brown/amber lenses offer a brighter field of vision, better visual acuity, and excellent color contrast. Many dedicated anglers own more than one pair of glasses.

The colors vermillion and light copper heighten visual acuity and enhance color in low and flat lighting conditions. When the sun is out and bright, they switch to the darker brown and amber. Another option is to choose a line of sunglasses that feature interchangeable lenses.

The reduction of the glare has another beneficial component. The eye functions like a camera and must adjust to varying light levels. On a bright day, the pupil constricts, muting light levels. Polarized lenses help eliminate reflected glare, so the remaining light falls in a much narrower range of intensity. The eyes can then relax, allowing greater depth perception and truer color contrast.

When choosing polarized glasses you have a number of options: cheap versus expensive, glass versus plastic, cast versus laminated polarized lenses and the color of the lenses.

The lowest quality are the so called rack glasses, the kind you find in the local pharmacy. These are better than no sunglasses, but you should buy the best pair you can afford. As a rule, a quality pair of polarized sunglasses will cost quite a bit more, but they’re well worth the difference in price.

One of the major decisions is choosing glass or plastic lenses. Glass lenses provide better visual clarity than plastic and are more scratch resistant. However, glass lenses are heavier and can fatigue the ears and nose after many hours. If you purchase glass lenses make sure you buy a quality pair with a broad, comfortable nose piece.

Whether you choose a good quality pair of glass or plastic sunglasses, your primary considerations should only be frame style and lens color. Choose a frame that is comfortable and one that helps block out extraneous light. Some glasses wrap around the side of the face, while others have separate side shields.

Several of the top manufacturers of sunglasses feature technologies that further increase the effectiveness of polarized lenses. Some offer photo-chromic lens that lighten or darken as light levels vary during the day. I have found the glass lenses to be superior to plastic, but good plastic lenses may be a better choice for others.

When you choose a pair of polarized glasses, follow the guidelines above while experimenting to find the color that works best in your fishing situation. By choosing a quality product with the proper color, you’ll greatly expand your fishing horizon while protecting your most valuable asset, your vision.

Recently I was introduced to Onos (www.onos.com)sunglasses. While there are tons of manufacturers, some have paid attention to the details that benefit anglers. I found the Onos glasses extremely comfortable with soft rubber ear supports, a wraparound design that shows little to no distortion and best of all they are 30 percent lighter than comparable brands.

If you use prescription glasses you’ll invest quite a bit more in the glasses and want to make sure you’re getting a good fit. Choose your sunglasses carefully; they’re one of the angler’s most important tools!


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