Why Polarized Fishing Sunglasses Matter

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One of the most useful tools an angler can own for fishing would have to be polarized sunglasses. While any pair of polarized sunglasses are better than no sunglasses, a good pair of polarized sunglasses specifically made for fishermen can be absolutely invaluable. 

Reading the water serves as skill number one to master as an angler, so being able to see into the water and fish's environment better becomes paramount to that endeavor. Polarized lenses provide that ability to your average angler. But there are a lot more nuances of polarized fishing sunglasses that make some pairs far superior to your run-of-the-mill, style-mimicking sunglasses you find on the end cap at your local gas station. 

Understanding how polarization works, knowing the advantages of these types of sunglasses as well as the things that make some sunglasses more suitable for fishing will help you choose the right pair of sunglasses. Then finding a good value in your budget and matching that to your own eyesight will grant you a powerful weapon in your angling arsenal.

Island Optics Sunglasses

Polarized Fishing Sunglasses for Anglers

A good pair of polarized sunglasses specifically made for fishermen can be absolutely invaluable. 

Shop Island Optics Sunglasses

We spoke with Allen and Josh Alovis from the new sunglasses company Island Optics to better understand what makes a quality pair of polarized fishing sunglasses.

Polarized Fishing Sunglasses for Anglers

To understand how polarized lenses work on sunglasses you need to understand what polarization actually refers to in terms of light transmission. Light is made up of electromagnetic waves that vibrate in all directions. Normally sunlight is unpolarized meaning its waves reverberate in every direction. But when these lightwaves reflect off of water or snow, something changes and the light is now polarized as the lightwaves now vibrate horizontally which our eyes perceive as glare. It's more intense and blinding which can skew our visual perception.

To combat this, polarized lenses employ a special film that filters the polarization. Generally this film is made from a special polymer called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The film is stretched and aligned in a uniform direction forming a sort of grid that lets certain lightwaves through while absorbing horizontal glare from reflective surfaces. The filtered grid allows only the vertical oriented light through while greatly reducing the horizontal reflection of the light. Giving you a much better view under the surface of the water.

How Polarized Lenses Work

So, while the filtering of polarized light remains the main function of good polarized sunglasses, this is not the only advantage to these types of sunglasses. With the filtering of light, quality polarized sunglasses often also provide UV filters that block out UVA and UVB light transmission which is very harmful to the eyes over prolonged periods. Anglers gain enhanced visual acuity that they would find problematic otherwise in the brightest conditions. In other words, you see colors, contrasts and movement better with the light filtered in this manner. 

Sunglasses do a good job of protecting your eyes as well from dust, pollen and even flying objects like jerking that Texas rig or fly back when it lands over a branch on an errant cast.

And polarized lenses often have color options that you can match to the types of waters you most fish. Blue mirror lenses on a grey base work better for open, deep waters like the ocean or the Great Lakes while brown based or green based lenses with green mirror tints work much better in freshwater environments where moss, vegetation and such give waters more greenish hues that can be enhanced with this combination. 

"Newer lowlight offerings like the OX2 Low Light Lenses from Island Optics feature an amber base with a silver mirror that gives you much enhanced vision early in the morning, late in the evening, on rainy, overcast days and in shady areas," said Josh Alovis. 

Or, as we say as anglers, the times when fishing is often the best. 

Advantages Beyond Glare Reduction

The best fishing sunglasses with polarized lenses offer anglers options like comfortable fits, side-light-blocking frames, coatings to protect the lenses, durable materials made to last in harsh environments and much more. 

The first thing is to make sure you are covering your eyes as much as possible and that the frames feel comfortable on your face. Then you want to make sure they fit snug to your face and block out as much top light and side light that is unfiltered to give you the absolutely best vision. 

A lot of savvy anglers will buy bigger frames to make sure they have as much side and top coverage and the largest viewing angles through their lenses. They never want any other light peaking through anywhere that will diminish the polarization in their lenses.

Good companies like these offer oleophobic and hydrophobic coatings as well as scratch resistance coatings, knowing anglers will be faced with harsh conditions like water spray on boats or from the wind, rain, and they will constantly have to take their sunglasses on and off throughout a day of fishing leading to potential for scratching, fingerprints, and more. So anything they do to enhance the durability and reduce the things that impede vision for anglers should be considered in your choices.

"We are new to the industry, but not new to polarized sunglasses as we are a 5th generation eyewear company," said Allen Alovis. "Our family has been in the vision and eyewear business for generations. So, we have extensive eyewear and vision knowledge to build comfortable frames with high-end optics at affordable prices using the best and latest materials and technologies that not only protect but enhance your vision."

Key Polarized Fishing Sunglasses Features

A good pair of fishing sunglasses should have at minimum the following features:

• Polarized lenses that also filter out harmful UV rays
• Coatings to reduce fingerprints, oils, water and scratches from impeding vision
• Color options to match the types of waters you fish
• Comfortable frames with optional fits for various sized faces

Also, anglers can choose between glass and polycarbonate lens options in fishing sunglasses. Polycarbonate lenses will be lighter and more indestructible than glass offering a more comfortable fit and maximum eye protection from injury. While glass lenses will offer the clearest vision of the two mediums at just slightly more weight and cost.

Affordable Options for Anglers

While some of the big names in polarized sunglasses make incredible fishing sunglasses for anglers, there are more affordable options coming onto the market every year. There used to be a wide chasm between good sunglasses and cheap sunglasses. But new companies have significantly closed that gap. Because they don't have massive entities and staffing overhead, they can offer top tier materials and craftsmanship without the added cost and overhead of big brands.

These smaller companies are offering quality sunglasses at half the cost of some of the top brands in the fishing space. While a ton of sunglasses options exist at all budget levels, brands like Island Optics are offering high-end sunglasses at a much reduced cost to the consumer. They don't have to add in a brandname up-charge. And, because they are fifth-generation eyewear and vision professionals, they have longstanding relationships that provide access to all the best options and materials.

"Affordable brands like Island Optics can offer polycarbonate or glass, prescription or non prescription and even glasses with readers built into them so you don't have to carry an extra set of eyeglasses to tie knots or see small details up close as we get older and our eyes begin to fail us," said Allen Alovis.

Prescription Polarized Sunglasses

If you wear prescription lenses, you know how hard and expensive finding good sunglasses can be. Most of us had to invest in contacts just so we could have a good pair of sunglasses while on the water. But now more prescription options are being offered for anglers. 

"We are probably most proud of our industry-leading options for high-end prescription sunglasses," said Allen Alovis. "With us, you can get a pair of prescription fishing sunglasses for hundreds less than you've likely priced with other fishing sunglasses makers because we have decades of resources and connections at our disposal as longstanding eye care professionals." 

Having prescription sunglasses can be so much better for your eyes in the long run. They can greatly reduce irritation, eye disease and fatigue-induced complications over the long run. So the investment in quality prescription sunglasses spreads over many years.

Your eyes offer one of the best tools when it comes to finding and catching fish. Reading water, spotting fish, their forage, likely holding spots under the surface and more will all lead to you being a better angler. Because of that, we find quality fishing sunglasses to be one of the better investments you can make in your fishing. But that doesn't mean you have to spend $300 to get quality sunglasses. 

Seek out the best fits, color combinations, and features that fit your budget. More wide ranges of budgets are covered with today's fishing sunglasses makers. So, choose a quality frame with great lens options that fit how you fish, and make sure you give yourself maximum coverage while on the water to protect your eyes and enhance your fishing. 

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