Sunglasses in fog !

pragmatist

pragmatist

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Today on the Brendon Hills the weather was foul - rain and fog. HWMBO had left his driving glasses behind and so had decided to wear his polaroid prescription sunglasses. As we left the coast road and decent weather we considered swapping drivers - cos I don't wear glasses. However he then discovered that he could see better WITH his glasses than without ! So I tried my polaroid sunglasses and got the same result. It didn't work very well with mine (which are quite dark) when we went down a tree-shrouded lane. But we were very surprised. I think it could be useful on the boat in fog. Has anyone else experienced this ?
 
Fascinating. Must try it. I suppose the glasses were cutting out some of the polarised glare that was reflected off the water droplets
 
Its a trick that skiiers have used for years...

The sunglasses cause greater contrast between dark and light area, and thus create better perception of visibility than the overwhelming light volumes entering your eyes with ordinary glasses or with no glasses at all

For a real shock, try a pair of very lightly tinted orange lensed sunglasses in poor vis... the difference is remarkable.... available from any specialist skiing outlet...
 
I too wear prescription polaroids when driving and agree they are much better in fog than my regular Reactolite prescription glasses, both of these have brown tinted lenses. I only wear these glasses for driving as my eyesight isn't that bad that I need them otherwise, but on the boat I wear non-prescription polaroids also with brown tinted lenses and the same effect is true. Grey tinted polaroids do NOT work IMO and give a gloomy look to the day anyway whereas the yellow/brown tints make it look 'sunnier'. It does seem to be an increased contrast effect mainly, and looking alernately with/without at a ship just visible in the fog confirms it to me.

In my yoof, I seem to remember you could buy yellow tinted glasses supposedly for fog driving.
 
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I've got yellow tinted glasses for skiing - they are quite good for some road conditions too ...

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Don't you have to own a scooter and wear a parka to wear these?:)

I know, showing my age again.
 
It certainly seemed that one could see further - about 2 white central strips more - but assume you are probably right. However, if the ski-ing glasses are so good why aren't we all using them at sea ? Altho we now have radar (after a terrifying experience in fog in the Solent 10 yrs ago - the w/end a Red Funnel ferry ran down a dredger) I would still like to be able to see better in fog. Has anyone tried the ski glasses at sea ?
 
Sets of tinted shades were standard issue with old style binoculars. My old Russian pair came with two sets for different conditions......in fact I have just checked the case and they are still there, untouched, after 30 years.
 
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