How can I tell if my sunglasses are polarized

[ArmenK]

I bought some cheap sunglasses on Ebay. They guy has around 1000 feedback and only 1 negative so I thought they should be ok quality. I got them today and I am not sure if they are really polarized. I always thought that LCD screens look messed up when viewed through a polarized lens but these glasses dont seem to have such an effect. Does anyone know any other way to confirm if these are polarized?

 

[TheChort]

A lot of sunglasses advertised as polarizing actually are not. There's a simple test you can perform before you buy them to make sure. Find a reflective surface, and hold the glasses so that you are viewing the surface through one of the lenses. Now slowly rotate the glasses to a 90-degree angle, and see if the reflective glare diminishes or increases. If the sunglasses are polarized, you will see a significant diminishing of the glare.

http://travel.howstuffworks.com/sunglass4.htm

 

[MrYAK]

polarized takes out the glare. that might help.
this might help

 

[TuxDave]

Look at the sunlight reflecting off a calm lake. If your sunglasses are polarized (correctly), almost all the light reflecting should be blocked by your glasses.

 

[Shawn]

those glasses are pretty ugly.

 

[HyTekJosh]

Another way to check is to look at a tinted window on a car. I don't know how to explain what you are supposed to see but its obvious.

 

[ArmenK]

Originally posted by: TuxDave
Look at the sunlight reflecting off a calm lake. If your sunglasses are polarized (correctly), almost all the light reflecting should be blocked by your glasses.

Yup, they are polarized.

Just tried this with a swimming pool and it worked. Looking at it directly through the glasses I see no reflection but when I turn my head 90 degrees I can see the reflection of the sun.

 

[ArmenK]

Originally posted by: Shawn
those glasses are pretty ugly.

I just wanted some cheap glasses for mountain biking, I don't really care how they look.

 

[Joemonkey]

look at an LCD screen, watch, etc.

if you rotate the screen around (or the glasses) you should find a spot where you can't see anything

 

[jsbush]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Another way to check is to look at a tinted window on a car. I don't know how to explain what you are supposed to see but its obvious.

You see like different shades of colors and such. Same with water puddles and such. Was kind of weird when I first got my Ray-Ban sunglass's, I thought they were broken lol.

 

[Mo0o]

put the glasses in front of an LCD screen. Then start rotating. eventually it should completely black out.

 

[ArmenK]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
put the glasses in front of an LCD screen. Then start rotating. eventually it should completely black out.

Yup, this works.