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Choosing the ideal sunglass lenses for water sport

How to select sunglass lenses that enhance your performance.

21 November 2024

When it comes to engaging in water sports, selecting the appropriate sun lens is crucial for both performance and eye protection. ZEISS Sunlens offers a variety of lens options tailored to the specific needs of different aquatic activities. Here, we explore the polarised light and how it works, the role of innovative technologies like LightPro Technology^®, and how to choose the ideal sun lenses for your water-based sunglass collection.

Understanding polarised light

When light strikes a shiny surface, such as water or glass, much of it becomes polarised. This means that the light waves align in a particular direction, often causing a visual effect known as glare or reflection. Factors like the time of day, environmental conditions, and lighting can influence the intensity of this polarised light. In some cases, intense glare can be overwhelming, even blinding. However, reflections also play a crucial role in our natural visual experience, helping us perceive our surroundings with greater depth and clarity.

Infographic illustrating the concept of non-polarised light

Infographic illustrating the concept of polarised light

Differences between polarised lenses and non-polarised lenses

Polarised lenses are designed to reduce glare caused by sunlight reflecting off surfaces like water. This can enhance visual clarity and comfort by filtering out intense reflected light. However, the necessity and effectiveness of polarised lenses can vary depending on the specific water sport.

Non-polarised lenses allow light to enter your eyes without altering the natural alignment of light waves. Unlike polarised lenses, they don’t block horizontal glare, making them suitable for situations where reflections provide useful visual information, such as “reading” the waves when sailing or reading digital screens. These lenses provide consistent protection from harmful UV rays while maintaining a balanced view of your environment. They are ideal for general use in various lighting conditions, offering visual comfort without altering your perception of reflective surfaces.

Is polarisation always necessary?

While polarised lenses are beneficial in many situations, they are not universally ideal for all water sports. Here’s a breakdown of their advantages and limitations in various activities:

Sailing: For skippers, evaluating the state of the water is essential. This includes observing currents, wave intensity, and wind direction. Polarised lenses might hinder this by removing significant visual information necessary for reading the environment accurately. Therefore, non-polarised lenses or specially designed lenses are preferable.

Sports Requiring LCD Screen Viewing: Many modern water sports involve equipment with LCD screens. Polarised lenses can make it difficult to read these screens, potentially leading to missed critical information. In these cases, non-polarised lenses or lenses with a specific polarisation suitable for LCD screens are recommended.

Fishing in Shallow Water: Polarised lenses are extremely advantageous for shallow water fishing. They reduce surface glare, allowing anglers to see through the water more clearly and locate fish with greater ease.

Offshore Fishing: Spending extended hours in the open sea subjects the eyes to intense light conditions and glare. Polarised lenses can help reduce eye strain and fatigue in these extreme conditions, making them an essential tool for offshore anglers.

Infographic illustrating Lightpro Technology developed by ZEISS Sunlens

LightPro Technology^® by ZEISS Sunlens

In situations where reading the environment is important, as well as having a clear view of LCD screens, ZEISS Sunlens offers LightPro Technology^®. This advanced solution utilises a new generation of ultra-light polyamide lenses, carefully engineered to reduce the potential downsides of polarisation while still retaining its beneficial qualities. The result is enhanced visual comfort and clarity without sacrificing the advantages that come from filtering polarised light.

Benefits of LightPro Technology^®:

Glare Reduction: reduces annoying glare generated by polarised light.
Realistic Vision: Allows transmission of reflected light, providing a natural and realistic view of the environment.
Digital Device Compatibility: Ensures excellent viewing of digital devices, crucial for sports requiring screen interaction.
Enhanced Contrast and Depth Perception: Maintains realistic perception of contrasts and environmental depth.


Non polar lenses	Polar lenses	LightPro Technology
Sailing: Opt for non-polarised lenses to ensure you can accurately assess water conditions.	Shallow water fishing: Polarised lenses are ideal to reduce surface glare and improve underwater visibility.	Yachting: LightPro Technology^®lenses are the ideal choice, offering the right balance of polarisation to allow clear reading of the water environment and the visualization of the digital screen on the dashboard.
Kayaking: Non-polarised lenses can be advantageous for kayakers who need to be aware of their surroundings both above and below the water.	Offshore fishing: Polarised lenses are recommended to reduce glare and eye fatigue from prolonged exposure to intense sunlight.	LCD screen sports: Use non-polarised lenses or LightPro Technology^® lenses to maintain screen readability.

Our suggestions

When selecting sun lenses for your water sport, consider the following tips:

Choosing the right sunglass lenses is important for enhancing performance and protecting your eyes during water sports. Whether you need the glare-reducing benefits of polarised lenses or the balanced advantages of LightPro Technology^®, ZEISS Sunlens provides tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of your request.

Non-polarised lenses can be an excellent choice for those who prefer to maintain natural environment perception while still benefiting from UV protection and overall eye comfort.

By understanding the demands of your chosen sport and the available lens technologies, you can make an informed decision that enhances both the safety and enjoyment on the water of your final client.

Contact us and let our experts guide you to find the best sun lens solution to create your own water sunglass collection.