How to Identify Anti-Glare Sunglasses

In addition to protecting your eyes from the sun, anti-glare (polarized) sunglasses are popular because they reduce glare. However, they can be more expensive than regular sunglasses, so you want to make sure you’re getting what you pay for. You can test the anti-glare technology of polarized sunglasses by looking at a reflective surface, comparing two pairs of sunglasses, or using a computer screen.

Table of Contents

Test on reflective surface

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Find a reflective surface that produces glare when the light hits it. You can use a reflective countertop, mirror, or other shiny, flat surface. Ensures glare can be detected even from a distance of 60 to 90 cm. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you need to create glare, you can turn on overhead lights or shine a flashlight on a reflective surface.

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Hold sunglasses 15 to 20 cm away from your eyes. You will see the reflective surface through one of the lenses at a time. Depending on the size of the lenses in your sunglasses, you may have to move them a little closer to your face.

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Rotate the sunglasses to a 60-degree angle. Your sunglasses should be angled, with one side of the lens raised slightly above the other. Since sunglasses prevent glare in a specific direction, rotating the sunglasses can make anti-glare more effective. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Depending on how the glare hits the surface, you may have to slightly adjust the angle of the glass to see the difference.

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Look through the lenses and check the glare level. If your sunglasses have an anti-glare coating, you’ll see the glare disappear. When you look through one of the lenses, it will be very dark and you will see little or no glare, but it will still look like light is hitting the surface. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Move your sunglasses to compare your normal vision with what you see through them a few times if you are unsure about the effectiveness of the anti-glare.

Comparison between two pairs of sunglasses

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Locate a pair of sunglasses that you know are anti-glare. If you already have a pair of anti-glare coated sunglasses, or are at a store with multiple pairs of anti-glare sunglasses, you can do a comparison test. This test only works with another pair of anti-glare sunglasses. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Hold out the anti-glare sunglasses and the other pair in front of them. Align the lenses at your eye level, making sure they are about 2.5 to 5.1 cm apart. You’ll want the sunglasses to be tested closest to you, and the anti-glare glasses farther away. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Make sure the lenses do not touch each other, as this may scratch the anti-glare coating.

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Place sunglasses in bright light for clearer results. This will make checking in a little easier, especially if it’s your first time comparing sunglasses this way. Light will make the gloss more distinct. ^{[6] X Research Source}

You can use natural light coming in from windows or artificial light like overhead lights or table lamps.

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Rotate the sunglasses to be tested 60 degrees. One side of the lens should be at an angle from the other lenses, and the anti-glare sunglasses should remain in place. Only one side of the lenses is aligned with the other pair. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

It doesn’t matter which direction you rotate your sunglasses, but make sure you keep both pairs steady.

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Look at the overlap of the lenses to see if it’s darker. If both pairs of sunglasses are anti-glare, the overlapping lenses will appear darker when you look directly at them. If the glasses under test do not have an anti-glare coating, the color will not change. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

You can compare overlapping lenses with the color of non-overlapping lenses.

Using the computer screen

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Set the computer screen to the brightest setting. Most electronic devices have the same anti-glare technology as polarized glasses. You can check the polarity by looking at the screen. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Open the white screen, because the brightness will make the effect of the test more obvious.

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Put on your sunglasses. When you’re sitting in front of your computer, just put on your sunglasses as you would normally wear them. Make sure you sit directly in front of the screen. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Raise the computer screen to eye level if it is not already positioned there.

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Tilt your head 60 degrees left or right. While you are in front of the screen, tilt the top of your head to the left or right side of your body. If the sunglasses are anti-glare, the screen will appear black because the anti-glare properties cancel each other out. ^{[11] X Research Source}

If tilting to one side doesn’t work, try tilting your head to the other side. If that doesn’t work, the sunglasses don’t have anti-glare coatings.

Warning

If possible, check the anti-glare of your sunglasses before you buy. Some stores will have anti-glare test cards with images that only appear when polarized sunglasses are used.

Steps

Test on reflective surface

Comparison between two pairs of sunglasses

Using the computer screen

Warning

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