If you spend time outdoors you probably understand just how beneficial a high-quality pair of polarized sunglasses are.

But have you ever stopped to think about what polarized lenses are, how they actually work, or if they actually protect your eyes? Let’s take a look at polarized lenses to better understand how they work, their benefits and drawbacks, and whether or not they really provide an increased level of protection for your eyes.

The eye is one of the most complicated organs of the body, perhaps, the most complicated. Composed of many intricate parts, the eye bends light rays to stimulate nerve cells in the retina and by way of the optic nerve, send messages for interpretation by the brain. The brain uses the information from both optic nerves, and combines it to create one, clear image.

The connection between the eyes and brain is the reason for headaches when your vision changes and a loss of your peripheral vision due to stroke or tumor.

The eye can be divided into two segments: anterior and posterior segments.