In the previous article, we discussed “What are prescription sunglasses?”. In this article, let’s talk about “Can pilots wear polarized sunglasses?”.
We often see the pilots dressing up with a pair of sunglasses, and there are also aviator sunglasses named after them. Are the aviator sunglasses polarized? Can pilots wear polarized sunglasses?
What is the difference between polarized sunglasses and non-polarized sunglasses?
As we knew, sunglasses are used to block the sun, with ordinary colored lenses. Ordinary sunglasses can only reduce the intensity of the light, and cannot effectively remove the reflection of the bright surface and the glare in all directions. In addition to ultraviolet light, irregular diffuse reflection, commonly known as 'glare', will be produced when the light passes through uneven roads, water surfaces, and other places in our daily life. The appearance of glare will cause discomfort and fatigue of the eyes and affect the clarity of vision. And it brings a lot of trouble to people's lives, especially to the drivers.
The polarizer can effectively filter out all kinds of glare and ultraviolet rays up to 0% due to its high-effective filter layer. It can not only reduce the intensity of light but also block the glare in order to increase the visual contrast and visual clarity. In the past, due to the manufacturing process, polarized lenses were only used as lenses for high-end cameras, and sunglasses rarely had polarized lenses.(https://www.koalaeye.com/collections/polarized-sunglasses)
Aviator Sunglasses
In fact, the sunglasses worn by pilots are not just for cool and handsome. They are top polarized sunglasses made of advanced materials such as TAC or PHOENIX. In addition to the softer and clearer vision, aviator sunglasses can also prevent glare, radiation, and ultraviolet rays. The importance of aviator sunglasses is to protect pilots’ eyes. The pilot’s vision must be above 5.0, and the pilots will be sifted out if their vision is reduced. Other personnel in the army are not issued with glasses, while only these top polarized sunglasses are issued to pilots to protect their eyesight.
Fighter Pilots
Pilot glasses are eye protection equipment specially produced for pilots to wear during grounding. They are mainly used for pilots to act as a buffer for the eyes to adapt to strong light before they put on the helmet while driving the aircraft and after the aircraft is stopped and take off the helmet. When flying a fighter jet, a pilot wears a special helmet for the pilot. The black lens on the front of the pilot helmet is a combination of polarized light and anti-glare function. Under normal circumstances, just put it on. It will feel suddenly dark in front of you. When the helmet is worn for a long time and taken off, the eyes are often stabbed by direct sunlight in the open air of the airport. Therefore, this situation can be improved to a certain extent with pilot glasses.
Civil Aviation Pilots
When the aircraft is above the stratus clouds, the light outside the cabin is very strong. And the strong light will pass through the portholes and cockpit windows. Human eyes can only adapt to strong light and dim light at the same time. Therefore, if the light outside the window is too strong, it will be difficult for the pilot to see the instruments and data in the cockpit. If the plane is flying against the sun, strong light will cause visual fatigue, the same as driving a car. So wearing polarized sunglasses can alleviate the fatigue problem of pilots.
Therefore, fighter pilots do not need polarized sunglasses when flying, while other pilots need polarized sunglasses when flying. In our daily life, if you are exposed to strong sunlight for a long time, it is best to wear polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Thank you for your time in reading our passage “Can pilots wear polarized sunglasses?”. For more information about sunglasses and eyeglasses, please continue to follow KoalaEye Blog. Also, it is welcome to share and forward to Facebook and Twitter.
