When you’re out on your fishing trip, your ability to scan the water surface dramatically improves your chances to spot your next big catch.
Regardless of where you fish, you need to be able to “read” the water and see clearly, not only to enhance your fishing game, but to avoid eyestrain as well.
This is not an easy task when the sun is shining bright, as glare often stands in the way between anglers and the fish.
Don’t worry…
Keep on reading you will discover it is not so difficult!
What is glare?
Glare occurs when the light is particularly strong, creating visual conditions in which there is excessive contrast or reflections that limit our ability to distinguish details and objects.
As a result, glare causes discomfort and loss of visual performance. It is originated by the reflection of light from surfaces (such as water or snow) and is a primary cause of eyestrain.
The intensity of glare depends on factors such as the size, the position and the luminance of the source. This phenomenon is particularly strong when light bounces off the sea or a lake. Glare is the reason why, on a sunny day, you are unable to see anything but a shining surface when looking at the water.
Age is also a factor on which the amount of discomfort from glare depends. In fact, people are impacted differently and become more sensitive to glare as they age.
How do I reduce glare?
While you can easily reduce glare in a closed space by adjusting the light level or changing the contrast settings of your computer, you can’t do so with the sun when you’re outdoor.
Therefore, the essential tool you need to get rid of glare is a good pair of polarized fishing sunglasses. What does polarized mean? This special filter has a vertically oriented transmission axis which is able to block the light reflected by the water surface.
When you use polarized fishing sunglasses the sea appears more transparent and you are able to scan the water and see what’s happening in it. By eliminating glare, eye strain and unnecessary squinting are also avoided.
Many fishermen also use a wide-brimmed hat and side flaps on sunglasses to enhance their vision.
Are polarized sunglasses better than regular eyewear?
Non-polarized lenses are useful to reduce brightness of light, but they don’t do anything against glare. They are useful for everyday life, but in certain situations, you might need something more.
Polarized sunglasses are a must-have tool for those who spend a lot of time outdoors, as they make glare more bearable and less shocking for your vision.
For a better result, try sunglasses with foam padding and a wrap-around style, which can protect your vision even from angular glare.
Do polarized sunglasses have disadvantages? There are a few. However, the benefits definitely outnumber the flaws. With polarized eyewear you will find impossible to see LCD screens, such as your smartphone, and therefore you won’t see yourself when taking a selfie.
Polarized lenses also reduce visibility in low-light situations; however, some lens shades (such as yellow or orange) work better than others in such circumstances.
Enhancing your polarized lenses
Polarized sunglasses come with a variety of optional filter and treatments:
Hydrophobic Lens Coating: this is extremely useful for anglers who love saltwater fishing, as the salt can seriously damage your sunglasses. Salt creates a film which can scratch the lenses when you clean them. You probably want your sunglasses to last as long as possible, considered that they do not come cheap. If so, you should include a hydrophobic coating on your lenses.
UV Protection: most sunglasses have a UV filter, however, it’s important to understand that a polarized filter does not automatically include protection against UV rays. The best polarized fishing sunglasses are those with a UV400 label, which means that the lenses can block 99 to 100% of harmful ultraviolet rays.
Mirrored lenses: There’s a strong debate about whether mirrored sunglasses can help you see better or not. Some people argue that they’re the best choice when the light is particularly strong, while others are convinced that a mirror coating does absolutely nothing for your vision, it simply makes you look cool. Consider paying extra for a mirror coating if you like the aesthetic of it, or if you’re hard on sunglasses, as it has proven to resist scratches much better than other coatings.
Conclusions
Glare is not only annoying but can often be dangerous too. It has been proved that long term exposure to sun glare can cause cataracts and other sight problems. Thankfully, it’s easy to protect your vision with the right equipment.
Polarized lenses do cost more than regular eyewear, but they will shield you against the sun and protect your eyes from the dangers of intense glare.
