Polarized Sunglasses

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Jun 19, 2016
858
63
I need to get my DD a new pair of RX Sunglasses. She has a pair of transition sports glasses and they work great except for in the evening when the sun gets low. They basically turn almost clear. I have been told this is due to UV light be filtered out by the Earth's atmosphere when the sun is at a lower level. At any rate, I have a choice between polarized and regular tinted lenses. Logic tells me that polarized would be better but I have read a few articles that suggest that polarized sunglasses can cause depth perception problems. Has anyone experienced this? Also, what about tint color? My gut tells me that grey is this best since she is pretty light sensitive but I have read one article that suggested green. It was talking specifically about baseball but I am not sure I am buying into green tint.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
FWIW, I've always used high quality polarized lenses when I've played ball or did anything else where picking out a small object was important. My DD also uses polarized lenses on her regular sunglasses. No problems ever with depth perception.
 
Jan 27, 2010
1,871
83
NJ
it she isn't too big, Oakley makes a kids sized frame with polarized lenses that can be had for 50-60 dollars online. DD has a small noggin and that is what she wore through HS and Club ball. Hats or visors help too.
 
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
Can your dd wear contacts? RX sunglasses are pretty darn expensive in my experience. Then having to get a new pair every year because the prescription changes so often with kids will be very expensive. I was looking at about $250-$300 for polarized prescription sunglasses for my daughter. There is also a lot of people that have issue with prescription sunglasses and certain frames. Most people can not use a frame that has much curvature built into the frame, the curvature of the frame and lenses will cause a lot of distortion.

My daughter is 9 years old and just started wearing contacts about 1 month ago.
 
Hi Brian

My DD has polarized transitional prescription sunglasses. I have worn polarized glasses since a teen for competitive fishing and other activities, so I feel I can share some hard learned lessons. Polarized glasses are a great idea for keeping glare of lights out of DDs eyes. What you should consider is that all polarized glasses have tint and therefore darker than what meets the eye. At night, it's a trade off, no light (luminance) glare from bulbs, or making everything darker without the light glare. If you choose to use polarized glasses, a lighter shade of amber or yellow might be great choice for night time. Yellow is used by the shooting sports, and eagles and hawks have yellow eyes for a reason, the are tack sharp. The problem with yellow is softballs are a yellowish green color. Whatever you choose, get quality glasses, preferably glass. Glass is optically superior and will be sharper. Quality glasses, glass or plastic, will be optically set to 0-0 power, whereas cheap glasses may have a prescription setting ever so slightly, causing harm to the wearers eyes over time.

Best of luck!

SS
 
Apr 8, 2013
192
0
I did some research on this a few years ago. Polarized is great for high glare situations, like fishing where the sun is everywhere. But you lose some depth perception. I'm a golfer and switched to non polarized lenses a few years ago. I had a better feel and better sense of depth in my short game. But everyone is different. And with the internet you will find 87,000 different opinions.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
Hi Brian

My DD has polarized transitional prescription sunglasses. I have worn polarized glasses since a teen for competitive fishing and other activities, so I feel I can share some hard learned lessons. Polarized glasses are a great idea for keeping glare of lights out of DDs eyes. What you should consider is that all polarized glasses have tint and therefore darker than what meets the eye. At night, it's a trade off, no light (luminance) glare from bulbs, or making everything darker without the light glare. If you choose to use polarized glasses, a lighter shade of amber or yellow might be great choice for night time. Yellow is used by the shooting sports, and eagles and hawks have yellow eyes for a reason, the are tack sharp. The problem with yellow is softballs are a yellowish green color. Whatever you choose, get quality glasses, preferably glass. Glass is optically superior and will be sharper. Quality glasses, glass or plastic, will be optically set to 0-0 power, whereas cheap glasses may have a prescription setting ever so slightly, causing harm to the wearers eyes over time.

Best of luck!

SS

You should absolutely avoid glass lenses if you are playing any type of contact sport due to injury from breakage!
 
You should absolutely avoid glass lenses if you are playing any type of contact sport due to injury from breakage!

Probably not a bad idea! I've whacked my glasses with an Oz weight jig and although they didn't break, it was scary. With helmets and protective gear, one should get away with it. But, the polycarbonate lenses are pretty good nowadays! So yes, kids, wear plastic. Although I agree, it's not an "absolute".
 
Jul 29, 2013
6,782
113
North Carolina
Can your dd wear contacts? RX sunglasses are pretty darn expensive in my experience. Then having to get a new pair every year because the prescription changes so often with kids will be very expensive. I was looking at about $250-$300 for polarized prescription sunglasses for my daughter. There is also a lot of people that have issue with prescription sunglasses and certain frames. Most people can not use a frame that has much curvature built into the frame, the curvature of the frame and lenses will cause a lot of distortion.

My daughter is 9 years old and just started wearing contacts about 1 month ago.

I agree with everything GB said, with contacts her vision will be sharper and you guys can pick any pair of sunglasses you want.
 
Jun 19, 2016
858
63
Glass is not an option. They will not even put in the normal tinted plastic lenses because she is under 14. Polycarbonate is the only lenses material my local Wal-Mart will use. 6 months ago when I got the transitions that was the only tinted option they gave me. Apparently, they have a new "Coppertone" polarized permanently tinted lenses they will use in kids glasses now. DD is strongly against contacts because she "doesn't want to have to touch her eye". I personally wish she would get over that fear because she is always getting me to clean her glasses.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,478
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top