Polarised sunglasses have a filter that cuts glare reflected off flat surfaces such as water, wet roads and snow. Non-polarised sunglasses reduce overall brightness evenly but don't target that reflected glare.
Both can protect your eyes from UV, as long as the lenses are UV400. The right choice depends on where you'll wear them. We'll say it plainly up front: Yume lenses are not polarised. Below, we explain when that's the better choice, and when it isn't.
What's the difference?
How polarised lenses work
When sunlight bounces off a flat surface, such as a lake or a wet road, much of the reflected light becomes polarised, which means its light waves line up horizontally. That's the harsh, bright glare that makes you squint. A polarised lens has a built-in filter that blocks this horizontal light while letting other light through. The result is less glare, and on water it can be easier to see below the surface.
How non-polarised lenses work
Non-polarised tinted lenses reduce the amount of light reaching your eyes evenly, across the whole lens. They make bright days more comfortable, and with UV400 they block 100% of UVA and UVB. They don't do anything special about reflected glare, but for many everyday situations they don't need to.
Non-polarised lenses also come in a wide range of looks, from classic dark tints to lighter colours and gradient lenses, which are darker at the top and lighter towards the bottom.
One thing to know: polarisation and UV protection are separate. A polarised lens doesn't add UV protection by itself. Our guide to what UV400 means explains what to look for.
Polarised vs non-polarised at a glance
| Polarised | Non-polarised | |
|---|---|---|
| Reflected glare | Cuts it | Dims it along with everything else |
| UV protection | Only if the lens is UV400 | Only if the lens is UV400 |
| Phone and dashboard screens | Can look dark or patchy | Look as normal |
| Spotting icy patches | Can be harder | Surface shine stays visible |
| Price | Usually costs more | Usually costs less |
When polarised sunglasses make sense
Polarised lenses are at their best where there's lots of flat, reflective surface around you:
- Fishing, sailing, paddleboarding and other time on the water
- Beach days with bright glare coming off the sea
- Long daytime drives on wet roads, as long as you can still read your car's displays clearly
- Bright snowy days with lots of glare, although polarisation can make icy patches harder to spot
If glare off water is your main problem, a polarised pair is the better tool for the job. We don't make polarised lenses, so we'd rather tell you that now.
When non-polarised is the better choice
For a lot of people, non-polarised lenses are the more practical everyday option:
- Screens: polarised lenses can make phone screens, car dashboard displays and some other LCD screens look dark or patchy. Non-polarised lenses keep them clear.
- City wear: for commuting, walking, cafés and terraces, you mostly need comfort and UV protection rather than glare cutting.
- Natural contrast: some people prefer how the world looks through a non-polarised lens, with shine and reflections left as they are.
- Winter conditions: the shine off an icy patch can be a useful warning. Polarised lenses can make it harder to spot.
- Price: polarised lenses usually cost more.
Every Yume frame comes with non-polarised UV400 lenses, which suit this kind of everyday wear, and most are Category 3 for bright sunlight. The soft square Lucid and the straight-browed Somnia are easy places to start.
How to tell if sunglasses are polarised
Hold the sunglasses in front of a computer screen and slowly turn them through 90 degrees. If the screen goes noticeably darker at some point, the lenses are polarised. If nothing changes, they probably aren't. Some screens don't show this effect clearly, so try more than one if you're unsure.
FAQs
Are Yume sunglasses polarised?
No. All Yume lenses are non-polarised. They are all UV400, so they block 100% of UVA and UVB.
Are polarised sunglasses better for driving?
They can reduce glare from wet roads, but they may make dashboard displays hard to read and icy patches harder to spot. Whatever you choose, avoid Category 4 lenses for driving, and don't wear tinted sunglasses at night.
Do polarised sunglasses protect your eyes better?
Not from UV. Polarisation only cuts reflected glare. UV protection comes from a UV400 lens, which non-polarised lenses can have too.
Are non-polarised sunglasses worth buying?
Yes, if they're UV400. For city life, screens and everyday wear, non-polarised lenses do the job well and keep the world looking natural.
Want UV400 sunglasses for everyday life? Browse our best sellers or see all Yume sunglasses.
