If you wear glasses for vision correction, or sunglasses for protection of your eyes, you’ve probably heard about polarized eyeglasses. But how much do you know about this advancement in eye care, and are polarized eyeglasses for you?

To help you figure this out, here are five facts about polarized eyeglasses you should know.

1. Polarized lenses are made specifically to protect eyes from glare coming off of surfaces such as water, glass, and cars. These lenses do not allow horizontally polarized light to come through, which means it will restrict sunlight that bounces off horizontal surface.

2. Polarized eyeglasses are not the same as regular sunglasses. Sunglasses dim all light which passes through the lenses. Polarized lenses act only on horizontally polarized light, reducing glare in certain situations. This can be helpful when driving, doing anything on or around a body of water, or while playing sports near or on a refractive surface.

3. Wearing polarized sunglasses can be a safety precaution while driving. Sudden glare from other cars can be distracting, and at times can even temporarily blind a driver to oncoming traffic. Wearing glasses which reduce this glare means you see things you may not otherwise notice while driving.

4. If you need prescription glasses for vision correction, you can purchase prescription sunglasses with polarized lenses in order to obtain the glare reducing benefit.

5. Glasses used to watch 3-D movies and television are often polarized both vertically and horizontally in order to provide the sense of depth a 3-D image provides. However, these glasses should not be used in the same way polarized sunglasses are. They will not provide the same glare benefit and may even cause damage to the eyes.

Overall, there are many reasons why someone may want to wear polarized eyeglasses. If you want to protect your eyes in a safe, proven way, these glasses are for you!