THE OPTICS OF SALT.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes polarized lenses better and why you need them, you’re not alone. In fact, when shopping for sunglasses you’ve most likely seen a slew of marketing buzzwords trying to get you to buy into polar, but the reality is not all polarized lenses are created equal. Like with anything in today’s market, there are vastly different levels of quality, and polarized lenses are no exception. At SALT. we’ve spent a lot of time developing our proprietary polarized lenses, with thorough research conducted, and no expense spared. In this article we are going to dive a little deeper into polarized lens technology. We promise not to bore you with too much detail, and you can always reach out to us to learn more or ask specific questions. Okay, let’s jump in!
What is a polarized lens?
At their most basic, polarized lenses filter light. That’s an oversimplification, but it’s the essence of their purpose.Every day we consume a world of reflected light. The light entering our eyes is constantly in flux after being bounced off our surroundings. This moving light can cause damaging eye strain, creating what we perceive as glare. Polarized lenses stabilize this reflected light, eliminating glare and allowing you to see more clearly and comfortable. With less glare, we can now establish an optimized viewing field with increased contrast to highlight details.
The process of making a lens polarized requires a filter to be laminated to the lens. This filter contains molecules that control the amount of light passing through the lens, and stabilizes the orientation of that light. By controlling the amount of light that hits your eye, and the orientation of that light, we achieve a balance of less glare, more contrast, reduced eyestrain, and optimal visual information. Like we mentioned earlier though, not all polarized lenses are created equal. At SALT. we only use the absolute highest quality Japanese light filters, with the most precise molecules that filter out harmful light and provide the most optimal light situation.
Harness the power of color.
Now that we’ve established what polarized lenses do, let’s talk about customizing color to optimize performance in any situation. By incorporating a depth of knowledge of how the human brain interprets visual information taken in by the eye, SALT. has engineered lenses that deliver the perfect balance of color, contrast, and light transmission. The color of the lenses you choose can differ depending on the performance advantage you’re looking for. Let’s look at a few of the proprietary SALT. polarized colors.
SALT. G-15
Perhaps the most iconic and functional lens color in sunglasses, G-15 has been the go-to contrast lens choice of everyone from race car drives to aviators for more than 50 years. The 15 literally refers to the amount of light that is transmitted through the lens, so in simple terms 85% of light is being blocked while 15% is allowed in. The even values of the Green/Gray lens allows for a true balance of natural color tones, and when paired with our high end polarization process, you get a lens that is incredible for driving activities in the bright sun.
SALT. Redwood
When you’re surrounded by blues, you need a contrast lens to pull out that dominate color and enhance the details in your environment. Red lenses do a great job of filtering the blue color tones, which comes in handy when in the water or on the snow. By cutting down on the strength of the blue environment, SALT. Redwood is able to create a much greater depth of field, as well as maintain the visual information needed to see all the details.
SALT. Autumn
SALT. Autumn is perfect for cloudy, hazy or broken light situations. Imagine bright shafts of sunlight coming through trees on a trail. In this situation, the brown tint filters the intensity of the green light, while at the same time brightening the dark areas and toning down the intensity of the bright spots. This makes for an incredible viewing experience while in the woods or dense cities where there is a constant change between light conditions.
So what about Anti-Reflective (AR) coatings?
Now, just for good measure, let’s talk about coatings. At SALT. Hydrophobic, Oleophobic, and Anti-Reflective coatings are added to every lens to enhance optical clarity, promote eye health, and strengthen your lens. Our proprietary wellness focused anti-reflective coating acts as a last line of defense against any harmful UV rays that make it past your polarized lenses, and defuses any UV rays that would otherwise bounce back into your eye. Our hardcoating holds this all together, and has the added benefit of protecting your lens from scratches, extending the life of your SALT. frames.
Are they Impact Resistant?
In the USA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires proper certification of all lenses, stating that lenses shipped to the U.S. meet requirements for impact resistance using a standardized method called a “Drop Ball Test.” This is exactly what it sounds like. A 50mm steel ball, weighing 500 grams, is dropped from a standardized height onto the geometric center of the lens. All SALT. lenses are put through a rigorous quality control process to ensure the best optics and protection for a lifetime.
SALT. invests in eye health and superior optics.
Hopefully, we’ve shed a little light on the technology and quality of our polarized lenses. At SALT. we strive for the highest level of optical performance and protection. By constantly exploring new technologies and working closely with our partners we take pride in providing absolute best lenses on the market today. If you every have any questions about our technology of fit, please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help. Learn more about the materials we use by clicking here.
Polarized lenses are not all the same. I show you the difference between high and low quality lenses.
There are things I do to stretch my dollar. I use free launches, avoid live bait and apply monofilament backing to fill part of the spool I don't use when casting.
I can make a dollar scream if it means fueling my fishing addiction!
But some things I do not skimp on. One of those things would be polarized sunglasses.
Note Before I get started I need to point out that I'm not pushing any one brand. I'm just showing you one way I discern a good polarized lens.
Some people get a free pair of sunglasses and all the sudden become very passionate for that brand.
That's why I photoshopped the logos out in these pictures.
Knowledge is more important than gear, and being honest goes further than brand-standing.
In order to understand the method, one must understand how polarized lenses work.
A polarized lens is more than a tinted lens. It is a special lens that reduces glare seen on horizontal surfaces, like roads and water.
It's an easy name. Polarized lenses are not really "polarized". They are filters that only let in one kind of light, depending on their orientation.
Light waves travel in different orientations: vertically, horizontally and everything in between .
Our naked eyes perceives vertically polarized light as glare.
Glare hurts our eyes and keeps us from seeing fish.