Why no polarized lenses?

[MrBarraclough]

I've been wondering, why does it seem like no one offers a polarized lens? There's a vast array of colors, tints, fades, etc. But you never see a "polarized" label slapped on there like you do with sunglasses. Is it just that much more expensive to do, or is there some technical limitation that makes producing polarized lenses for paintball masks either infeasible or unprofitable? The industry usually doesn't pass up an opportunity to upsell us on one gimmick or another, so it seems curious that we don't see polarized goggle lenses with some price premium attached.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I would pay for it. I love my polarized sun glasses.

[Ecapnation]

Iirc kingman tried this with the Raven masks and it didn't hold up to a hit

[StaticShocked]

I would buy them for sure. I always seem to be on the side of the field that faces the sun...

[Grendel]

Most likely, due to the increased cost of applying polarizing film to curved polycarbonate lenses, which our masks have. It is challenging to add polarisation to deep curves.

[JohnB]

So there is no UV A or UV B protection on all these lenses? I imagine the smoke and hd lenses may have some. But that could be worse for our eyes as they are wide open thinking the light is diminished. Clear may be the “safest” way to go, as we would naturally squint.

[Grendel]

UV protection does not imply polarization, or vice versa; they are two different things. Almost all paintball lenses have UV protection, particularly thermal lenses from top manufacturers, and it is chemically built into the polycarbonate used.

[JohnB]

Good to know. Thanks! I have had eye issues and continue to, so I kinda try to protect them now to a degree.

[Grendel]

Most of the leading suppliers list 100% UV protection if you feel you can trust them.

[Chuck E Ducky]

I feel like the HD amber lens and Mirror finish definitely offer glare protection. I know the mirror lenses are great when you’re dealing with a bunch of Spray.

I won’t buy a pair of Sunglasses without polarization.

Some knowledge drop (I looked it up)

How Polarization Works in Sunglasses

Polarization in sunglasses reduces glare by filtering out specific orientations of light waves.

1. Light Is a Wave That Vibrates in All Directions
Ordinary sunlight is unpolarized, meaning its electric field vibrates in all directions perpendicular to its travel path (up-down, left-right, and everything in between). When this light hits rough or uneven surfaces (like grass or trees), it scatters randomly and remains unpolarized.

2. Glare Comes from Horizontally Polarized Light
When light reflects off smooth, flat surfaces—like water, roads, snow, or car hoods—it becomes partially or fully polarized horizontally. The reflected light waves mostly vibrate horizontally, creating intense glare that can strain your eyes, reduce contrast, and obscure details.

3. Polarized Lenses Act Like a Vertical Filter
Polarized sunglasses have a special chemical filter (often a thin film of aligned molecules, like polyvinyl alcohol with iodine) applied to the lenses. This filter is oriented to allow only vertically polarized light to pass through while blocking horizontally polarized light.

- Think of it like vertical blinds on a window: Vertical light waves "slip through" the openings, but horizontal ones are blocked.
- The molecules in the filter absorb or dissipate energy from horizontal vibrations, preventing that light from reaching your eyes.

This selectively eliminates most glare from horizontal surfaces while letting useful vertical light (e.g., from objects or the sky) through, improving clarity and contrast.

4. Why It Works So Well for Glare Reduction
- Regular tinted sunglasses reduce overall light intensity equally (cutting brightness but not specifically targeting glare).
- Polarized lenses target the problematic horizontal component, often blocking 99%+ of glare without darkening everything excessively.

Polarization doesn't inherently block UV rays (harmful for eye health), so look for sunglasses labeled with 100% UV protection.

[Chuck E Ducky]

It’s fragile but I wonder if it could be applied to the inner lens of the thermal lens. It would not take direct shots.

[Grendel]

From what I understand, the issue with applying it to a curved surface using polarised film is the distortion of the polarising lines, which are 3-dimensional as they curve away from the center. I sent an email to a friend who works in QA for a major sunglasses manufacturer.

[Chuck E Ducky]

What about like a JT lens it’s an inner lens is about what you see on Sunglasses.

[zenmic]

I had the old Ravens from YEARS ago. The photo-chromic was neat, and it was sort of polarized. I loved them for as long as they lasted. They were thermos so I ruined them dunking them to clean. The Javas that came after were terrible.

[Trbo323]

Polarizing is great for reducing glare. But how much glare is there on an average field?

Sure it would sell as a "feature" but it's not really useful.

Sent from my motorola edge 2024 using Tapatalk

[Chuck E Ducky]

True sunglasses lens are likely superior in clarity due to better lens design than the Polarization effect. Most everything on a paintball field is covered in a matt overspray film it doesn’t refract light all that much.

I do see a big difference with “HD” blue light blocking lens for sure.

[$L!mBo]

just wear your polarized shades under your goggles?
or get those frames that hold them there without the ......
arms? so your still comfy without getting your temples squished

[MrBarraclough]

Since I don't wear corrective lenses, it wouldn't be worth the hassle to get Youzee inserts just for polarization. I was just curious and figured there must be an explanation as to why the goggle makers aren't upselling us on polarized lenses.

[SignOfZeta]

This is a good question and you bring up an interesting point; it must be *really* hard to do if nobody sells them since this is an industry where people will in fact get all up in your grill if you suggest that a headband isn’t worth $100.

My guess is that it’s a combination of several factors:

High quality eyeglass lenses are made as a blank (3M, BASF, etc make them) with all optical qualities in place and then they cut out whatever shape they need to fit whatever frame. The lens in a Dye i5 is absolutely huge compared to any eyeglass lens and extremely complicated and curvy. When they injection mold it the polarization could never follow that shape. It would follow the stress lines of the lens and be all over the place. Probably not as bad as a JT Prism lens but still pretty bad. I think they can only make circles, basically. You’d have to design the whole mask around it and it would probably be a $400 lens.

Also I think if you got hit it would probably produce some kind of optical artifact from the plastic slightly flexing.

[SignOfZeta]

just wear your polarized shades under your goggles?
or get those frames that hold them there without the ......
arms? so your still comfy without getting your temples squished

I have Youzee inserts in my mask. It’s an absolute life changer but not in any way “comfy”. I can’t imagine anyone enduring that just for polarization.

[Spaghetti Overdrive]

I hate wearing glasses, but a lot of mfgrs make sunglasses or rx glasses that you can replace the temples (sticks?) with straps so that it's snug to your face. the gasketed ones help prevent sweat from getting in your eyes too, which is nice. pair that with a good headband and you shouldn't have fogging or glare, etc, issues nearly as much. having a visor also helps