How to pick polarized sunglasses
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When protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays, sunscreen is likely at the top of your list. And while it’s undoubtedly important to guard your skin, it’s not the only part of your body you should protect. It’s equally important to shelter your eyes from the sun. Exposure to UV rays can cause several issues, including cataracts and photokeratitis, which is an eye sunburn, says Dr. Amy Steinway, an optometrist and an assistant clinical professor at SUNY College of Optometry.
One of the best ways to guard your eyes is to wear sunglasses with UV protection. Want to go a step further? Consider polarized sunglasses, which protect your eyes from glare — especially around water. To help you find polarized sunglasses that protect your eyes from the sun, we spoke with experts about what to look for when shopping.
SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best polarized sunglasses | The best polarized sunglasses of 2024 | What to consider when buying polarized sunglasses
How we picked the best polarized sunglasses
To help you find a pair of polarized sunglasses, we asked optometrists and eye experts what key factors to look for when shopping — here’s what they said.
Polarization: Polarization is important because polarized lenses block out glare and increase contrast to make things appear sharper and clearer — they can also reduce eye strain, says Michael Vitale, a licensed optician and the vice president of membership, government relations and technical affairs at The Vision Council.
UV protection: All experts we spoke with recommend looking for sunglasses that offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. This blocks any light that bounces off the back surface of the lens and into the wearer’s eyes. Often, sunglasses will be marked as UV400, which means that the sunglasses block all UV light, says Steinway.
Lens size: The larger the lens, the better, says Steinway. ““Keep in mind that sunglasses only offer as much protection as the physical coverage of your eyes,” says Sheena Taff, a licensed optician at Roberts and Brown Opticians.. “Without adequate coverage, you can’t achieve proper UV protection.” Ideally, you want to choose sunglasses with lenses that more than cover the perimeter of your eyes.
The best polarized sunglasses of 2024
In rounding up a list of polarized sunglasses worth your consideration, we kept the above criteria from experts in mind. We also prioritized options with at least a 4.0-star average rating from at least 1,000 reviews and tried to offer a variety of styles and shapes to appeal to a wide variety of people.
Goodr OG Sunglasses
Goodr OG Sunglasses
Goodr OG Sunglasses $25.00 at REI
Goodr OG Sunglasses $25.00 at Goodr
Goodr OG Sunglasses $27.92 at Amazon
Affordable? Check. Available in lots of fun color combos? You bet. According to Goodr, these sunglasses have a lightweight, grip-coated frame so they won’t slip when you sweat. The lenses are scratch-resistant, polarized and offer UV400 protection. Though experts told us that polarized lenses don’t always have a mirrored finish, these do for an extra bit of fun and style. These sunglasses have a 4.6-star average rating from over 3,350 reviews on Amazon.
Lens width: 53mm | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Square
Roka Phantom Titanium Sunglasses
Roka Phantom Titanium Sunglasses
Roka Phantom Titanium Sunglasses $310.00 at Roka
My husband and I are devoted to these unisex lightweight aviators, intended for use when running or working out but also make a great casual style. The frames and lenses are on the larger side, making them a good option for those with wider faces. They also slightly curve around your face to offer more protection from the sun. These sunglasses have polarized lenses and are also available in a polarized mirrored version. Also helpful: The site has a try-on feature allowing you to see what you’ll look like wearing their various styles before you make a purchase.
Lens width: 57mm | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Aviator
Oakley Men’s Oo9102 Holbrook Square Sunglasses
Oakley Men's OO9102 Holbrook Square Sunglasses
Oakley Men's OO9102 Holbrook Square Sunglasses $174.00 at Amazon
Oakley Men's OO9102 Holbrook Square Sunglasses $224.00 at Oakley
According to Oakley, these classic black men’s frames are modeled after sunglasses that leading men wore in the 50s and 60s. The polarized lenses offer UV400 protection and the plastic frames are made to be durable and withstand high impact, according to the brand. These sunglasses come in 17 colors and have a 4.5-star average rating from over 3,200 reviews on Amazon.
Lens width: 55mm | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Square
SOJOS Round Classic Sunglasses
SOJOS Small Round Classic Polarized Sunglasses
SOJOS Small Round Classic Polarized Sunglasses $12.74 at Amazon
SOJOS Small Round Classic Polarized Sunglasses $19.99 at Sojos
These sunglasses, which have a 4.4-star average rating from over 15,820 reviews on Amazon, are ideal for those with narrow faces. The frames are available in 8 different colors — including tortoise, black and clear — and you can choose from polarized or mirrored polarized lenses depending on the frame color you select.
Lens width: 48mm | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Round
Sunski Dipsea Sunglasses
Sunski Dipsea Polarized Sunglasses
Sunski Dipsea Polarized Sunglasses $58.00 at REI
Sunski Dipsea Polarized Sunglasses $58.00 at Zappos
Sunski Dipsea Polarized Sunglasses $58.00 at Sunski
Made from lightweight, recycled plastic, these sunglasses have a medium frame, which means they’ll work on most people’s faces. They slightly wrap around your face to give your eyes better coverage and come in 10 colors. The polarized lenses help reduce glare and the round shape has a classic vibe. These sunglasses also come with a lifetime warranty and have a 4.7-star average rating from over 1,860 reviews on the Sunski website.
Lens width: 49mm | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Round
Knockaround Premiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses
Knockaround Premiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses
Knockaround Premiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses $38.00 at REI
Knockaround Premiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses $38.00 at Dick's Sporting Goods
Knockaround Premiums Sport Polarized Sunglasses $30.40 at Knockaround
As the name implies, Knockaround sunglasses have frames made from polycarbonate material intended to withstand a lot of wear and tear, according to the brand. Along with polarized mirrored lenses that offer UV400 protection, the frames have rubber nose pads to prevent slipping during high-intensity activities. These sunglasses have a 4.8-star average rating from over 1,500 reviews on REI.
Lens width: 51mm | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Rounded square
Tifosi Sanctum Sunglasses
Tifosi Sanctum Sunglasses
Weighing less than 26 grams, these lightweight sunglasses have a shield-style frame to offer maximum eye protection. According to the brand, the frames have an integrated hinge so they won’t pull hair and nose pad grips to help them stay put. The lenses are also polarized and scratch — and shatter-resistant.
Lens width: 129mm total width | Polarized with UV400: Yes | Frame style: Shield
What to consider when buying polarized sunglasses
You now know polarized sunglasses that offer UV400 protection are the most protective choice for your eyes, but here are a few other things to keep in mind as you shop.
Consider where you’ll be: “While polarized lenses are especially great when you’re near a body of water,” says Sheena Taff, a licensed optician at Roberts and Brown Opticians. “Even if you’re in a city environment, polarized lenses will offer a superior visual experience because they work to reduce reflective light as well as direct light.” Both Steinway and Taff say polarized lenses can be particularly great when you engage in water sports since light can reflect off water and cause a lot of glare.
Price: When it comes to cost, sunglasses pricing varies wildly. You can find pairs under $20 or well over $200, according to Steinway. But as long as your sunglasses are labeled with the proper information above, they should adequately protect you — no matter how much you buy them for.
Style: Sunglasses tend to be purchased differently than eyeglasses because the experience is “overwhelmingly self-guided by the consumer, who can be very influenced by styles they see on celebrities and friends,” says Taff. Since you pop them on and off, it gives you more freedom to try more fashion-forward and trendy styles — so go ahead, and have some fun with your choice, adds Taff.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Dr. Amy Steinway is an optometrist and an assistant clinical professor at SUNY College of Optometry
Michael Vitale is a licensed optician and the vice president of membership, government relations and technical affairs at The Vision Council.
Sheena Taff is a licensed optician at Roberts and Brown Opticians.
Why trust NBC Select?
Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed two podiatrists.
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