Question about Polarized Sunglasses

[Clinty76]

I just bought a pair of Oakley's with Polarized lenses and when I look through the front windshield of my RTS there's a really bad rainbow effect. It's like I'm driving into a psychedelic LSD trip! :roflblack:

I know this happens when looking through side windows on cars that have been tinted, but I really didn't expect this to happen on the stock windshield!

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[ARtraveler]

I believe its the nature of the beast. I have a pair that I wear in my car--and the same thing happens when reading the gauges.

 

[Clinty76]

I believe its the nature of the beast. I have a pair that I wear in my car--and the same thing happens when reading the gauges.

Do you have the same issue with the windshield on your Spyder?

 

[ARtraveler]

I don't wear polarized glasses inside my helmet--the car ones are over the regular glasses type and would be to bulky in the helmet. I have Nolan helmets with the inside sunshade and I use a smoke tinted face plate on one helmet and a clear on the other helmet--depending on sun conditions. I have no reflection problem with that system and the spyder.

 

[NancysToy]

It is not uncommon for this to happen, but the effect is usually minimal with a clean windshield. The biggest problem comes from using any kind of wax or polish on the windshield. Even an invisible coating of Lemon Pledge, a molecule or two thick, will cause this polarizing effect. Fog-free coatings and other polishes do much the same. Cleaning the windshield on both sides thoroughly, with a cleaner that does not leave a residue but removes wax (like water with a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid), may help. You will still get some polarizing effect where the windshield is curved more, but it should be less distracting.

 

[jnt]

Noticed this years back. True on most bikes with shields. Helmets can be worse. So, when riding or ryding, no polarized glasses - tinted, only.

 

[BajaRon]

The wrong medication will give you the same effect.... with or without the glasses :roflblack:

 

[Marker]

I just bought a pair of Oakley's with Polarized lenses and when I look through the front windshield of my RTS there's a really bad rainbow effect. It's like I'm driving into a psychedelic LSD trip! :roflblack:

I know this happens when looking through side windows on cars that have been tinted, but I really didn't expect this to happen on the stock windshield!

Has anyone else had this problem?

Yes the same thing happens to me and it gets worse when you look through your visor and the windshield together:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes: I am going to buy replacement non polarizing lens for my Oakleys . I use to have black irridium lens and no problems so I will be going back to them

 

[Lamonster]

Yes the same thing happens to me and it gets worse when you look through your visor and the windshield together:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes: I am going to buy replacement non polarizing lens for my Oakleys . I use to have black irridium lens and no problems so I will be going back to them

:agree:
My Ray Ban's do the same thing and I hate it. I'll be going back to stock on those. nojoke

 

[bone crusher]

Yes the same thing happens to me and it gets worse when you look through your visor and the windshield together:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes: I am going to buy replacement non polarizing lens for my Oakleys . I use to have black irridium lens and no problems so I will be going back to them

Get a helmet with a visor and use the oakleys when you're not riding...no need for non-polarized lenses...

 

[Marker]

Get a helmet with a visor and use the oakleys when you're not riding...no need for non-polarized lenses...

I have light sensitive eyes and wear contact lens to be able to see so I use my sunglasses when most people do not need them. I have a helmet with a visor and use the visor quite often and wham double the rainbows:yikes:

 

[mxz600]

I only use polarized sunglasses while fishing.

 

[GeoffCee]

I just bought a pair of Oakley's with Polarized lenses and when I look through the front windshield of my RTS there's a really bad rainbow effect. It's like I'm driving into a psychedelic LSD trip! :roflblack:

The light passing through plastic is refracted at its surface in all directions so the unaided eye sees a clear image when looking through it. Polarising lenses in sunglasses only pass light vibrating in a horizontal plane so the distortions and stresses typically inherent in a shaped plastic screen become visible which is the rainbow effect you've noticed. This can also occur in windscreen glass which has been through a toughening process, the toughened areas are areas of stress and so they also become visible when viewed through polaroid lenses. Polaroids are great for fishing in that they tend to greatly reduce the light reflected off the surface of the water, allowing you to see down to where the fish are ignoring your bait. :roflblack:

 

[bone crusher]

I have light sensitive eyes and wear contact lens to be able to see so I use my sunglasses when most people do not need them. I have a helmet with a visor and use the visor quite often and wham double the rainbows:yikes:

I wear contacts when I ride...you have a visor (sunshield variety)? Helmets like the HJC IS-16 have an internal sun visor that drops down inside of the normal clear outside visor. I find this all that I need when I ride...I have light colored eyes that are sensitive...I wear sunglasses when outside in the bright sun...however, on the bike, the shaded inside visor is all I ever need.

Check out this helmet...

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/motorcycle-helmet/hjc/is-16/

 

[FANG]

I wear progressive lenses when I ryde. I recently had a pair of progressive lenses put into my Oakley frames - they are polarized too. I wear a ZymaxII helmet that has the drop down sunvisor. I have found that at times I want to use the clear lenses and the drop down and at other times the polarized sunglasses are the way I go -- depends on if I want to see a rainbow that day -- always looking for the pot of gold -- haven't ever found it.

 

[bikeguy]

The light passing through plastic is refracted at its surface in all directions so the unaided eye sees a clear image when looking through it. Polarising lenses in sunglasses only pass light vibrating in a horizontal plane so the distortions and stresses typically inherent in a shaped plastic screen become visible which is the rainbow effect you've noticed.

I didn't have a clue as to what caused the condition, but I think GeoffCee explains it very well. This explains the rainbow effect when I look through the RT's windscreen wearing cheap polarized sunglasses. I can't afford Oakleys. I've never used anything other than water to clean the windscreen. The effect is very noticeable but not severe enough to cause a problem.

Cotton

 

[Clinty76]

My problem is that my eyes are so sensitive I can never find a pair of sunglasses dark enough! I thought I found a miracle in this pair of Oakly's but when I saw the rainbow I knew it was too good to be true!

I'm going to see if I have my prescription lenses installed if they can do it without being polarized. I know I will find the perfect combination, it just may take a while....ray:

 

[bone crusher]

I didn't have a clue as to what caused the condition, but I think GeoffCee explains it very well. This explains the rainbow effect when I look through the RT's windscreen wearing cheap polarized sunglasses. I can't afford Oakleys. I've never used anything other than water to clean the windscreen. The effect is very noticeable but not severe enough to cause a problem.

Cotton

I love it when people say they can't afford sunglasses like Oakleys yet ride a $20,000+ bike...no, I'm not pickin' on ya...I just think it's funny when I hear that...decent Oakleys cost far less than most mods you will buy for your bike...

 

[Eraser]

Overall, polarized sun-glasses are a gimmick that just do not work as well (if at all)as the manufacturers claim.Sure there is an effect but it is far from true polarization of light.
Have you ever used a polarizing filter on a camera?If you have then you know what polarization is.As far as sun glasses go,one would be better served to buy a Quality set which offers a high density of neutral grey.

 

[bone crusher]

Overall, polarized sun-glasses are a gimmick that just do not work as well (if at all)as the manufacturers claim.Sure there is an effect but it is far from true polarization of light.
Have you ever used a polarizing filter on a camera?If you have then you know what polarization is.As far as sun glasses go,one would be better served to buy a Quality set which offers a high density of neutral grey.

I have a few pair of Oakleys as I LOVE them! The polarized lenses do give more sun protection. As far as true needs, I find them to be too dark for most uses. However, at the beach, they are great. I actually prefer the SOLFX lenses now...they are really, really cool...and very functional...