Polarized lenses with ultraviolet coating improve vision by making colors appear deeper and bolder and eliminating uncomfortable and often dangerous glare. Darkly tinted sunglasses without UV protection can potentially do more harm than good, as the darkness of the lens can cause the pupil to dilate, allowing damaging ultraviolet rays into the inner parts of the eye.

Tinted sunglasses may reduce brightness and improve wearer comfort, but they do not remove glare like a polarized lens. Polarized lenses can play an important safety role for drivers, particularly in morning and late afternoon sun. The dangerous, vision obscuring light reflected off bright, flat surfaces such as water, wet roads, sand, snow, car hoods, and windshields can be virtually eliminated by wearing polarized lenses.

For fishing and other watersports, polarized lenses eliminate the burden of eye strain and squinting that are magnified on the water. They also give anglers the edge for sight fishing and for safety by allowing you to see objects below the surface of the water.

Polarized sunglasses won’t improve your golf swing, but from the fairway to the tee box, polarized sunglasses will help your game by reducing glare from water hazards and by helping you spot your ball more easily.

When wearing polarized lenses, you may notice patterns in certain materials that are not visible otherwise. This can most often be seen in the tempered safety glass of car windows as a cross hatch pattern. This has no effect on the sharpness of vision, but often surprises first-time wearers of polarized sunwear.

Another consideration when selecting prescription sunwear, is adding an anti-reflective treatment to the back surface of the lens. This helps to reduce the amount of light that can be reflected off the lens surface and into the eye.  Reducing these reflections results in the wearer experiencing an even greater level of visual clarity than they would with polarization alone.   Anti-reflective treatments, when added to the front side of polarized lenses, can sometimes be used to create an attractive mirrored look, as well!

What is Polarization?

Light waves coming directly from the sun vibrate in all directions and are considered non-polarized. When vibration is restricted to a single direction or plane, the light is considered to be polarized.

The concept behind polarized lenses is perhaps best illustrated by thinking of the lens as containing a microscopic Venetian blind. The slats in a Venetian blind block the transmission of light from certain angles while allowing it from other angles. Polarized lenses have a special layer that creates the effect of horizontally aligned “blinds” to absorb the reflected light that impairs vision.

Through May 31, 2026, buy one pair of complete prescription glasses, get a pair of sunglasses of equal or lesser value half off! Walk-in or schedule an appointment at the Optical Shops at any of our four convenient locations. Mention the offer or print a coupon.

The post What are the benefits of polarized sunglasses over traditional tinted lenses? appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Buy any complete pair of prescription glasses, get 50% off a pair of prescription sunglasses!

Learn about the benefits of lenses with UV protection, polarization, and anti-reflective treatment.

Offer valid at any of our four optical shop locations through June 30, 2023. Some restrictions may apply.

Walk-in or schedule an appointment at 803-779-3070.

The post Protect your eyes from the summer rays appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Through June 30, 2021, buy one pair of complete prescription glasses, get a pair of sunglasses of equal or lesser value half off!

May not be combined with other offers (value packages, coupons, discounts, and insurance.) Not valid for Maui Jim, Costa del Mar and Enchroma.

Walk-in or schedule an appointment at the Optical Shops at any of our three convenient locations. Mention the offer or print a coupon.

The post Buy One Pair, Get Sunglasses 50% Off! appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Columbia Eye Clinic now carries DIFF Eyewear, a popular brand that combines style and generosity to create “charitable eyewear.”

With a mission to use fashion as a force for good, DIFF Eyewear gives one pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair sold. Since 2015, DIFF has donated more than 1 million pairs of reading glasses to individuals around the world. Their buy one, give one campaign helps provide the gift of sight through eye exams, glasses, medicine and surgery.

DIFF Eyewear has other charitable initiatives including Project DIFF, a fair-trade program that sells sunglass pouches made in Africa to help build the Little Angels School in Arua, Uganda.

They also partner with the charity Tribe Alive to provide women in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with a sustainable wage to support their families.

Not only is DIFF passionate about giving back, but they care deeply about the materials used to make their eyewear. Each pair of frames is hand-cut from a single piece of acetate, allowing for more comfort and flexibility compared to other glasses. With more than 35 unique prescription glasses designs, DIFF Eyewear has something for everyone.

Columbia Eye Clinic is proudly offering DIFF Eyewear at all three of their conveniently located optical shops in downtown Columbia, Northeast Columbia and Lexington.

The post Buy a Pair, Make a Difference: Columbia Eye Clinic Now Carrying DIFF Eyewear appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Excess sun exposure can put people at risk of short-term and long-term eye problems. If eyes are exposed to strong sunlight for too long without protection, UV rays can burn the cornea. Long-term sun exposure has also been linked to an increased risk of cataracts and cancerous growths on or near the eye.

Here are five things people can do to cut their risk of eye damage from the sun:

• Wear the right sunglasses – Look for those labeled “UV400” or “100 percent UV protection” when buying sunglasses. Darkness or color doesn’t indicate strength of UV protection. UV rays can go through clouds, so wear sunglasses even on overcast days. Adding polarization can reduce glare coming off of reflective surfaces like water or pavement. It can provide clearer vision for activities like driving or being on the water. And while contacts may offer some benefit, they cannot protect the entire eye area from burning rays.
• Check your medication labels – One in three adults uses medication that could make the eyes more vulnerable to UV ray damage according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. These include certain antibiotics and birth control pills. Check the labels on your prescriptions to see if they cause photosensitivity. If so, make sure to protect your skin and eyes or avoid sun exposure when possible.
• Put a lid on it – In addition to shades, consider wearing a hat with broad brim. They have been shown to significantly cut exposure to harmful rays. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
• Don’t drive without UV eye protection – Don’t assume that car windows are protecting you from UV light. A recent study found that side windows blocked only 71 percent of rays, compared to 96 percent in the windshield. Only 14 percent of side windows provided a high enough level of protection, the researchers found. So when you buckle up, make sure you are wearing glasses or sunglasses with the right UV protection.
• Don’t stare at the sun – Sun worshippers take note: directly gazing at the sun can burn the retina, the light-sensitive layer of cells in the back of the eye needed for central vision. This condition is called solar retinopathy. While rare, the damage is irreversible.

An associate in our Optical Departments can give you more information about how you can protect your eyes from excess sun exposure.

The post Protect Your Eyes from Sun Damage appeared first on Columbia Eye.

Tinted sunglasses may reduce brightness and improve wearer comfort, but they do not remove glare like a polarized lens. Polarized lenses can play an important safety role for drivers, particularly in morning and late afternoon sun. The dangerous, vision obscuring light reflected off bright, flat surfaces such as water, wet roads, sand, snow, car hoods, and windshields can be virtually eliminated by wearing polarized lenses.

For fishing and other watersports, polarized lenses eliminate the burden of eye strain and squinting that are magnified on the water. They also give anglers the edge for sight fishing and for safety by allowing you to see objects below the surface of the water.

Polarized sunglasses won’t improve your golf swing, but from the fairway to the tee box, polarized sunglasses will help your game by reducing glare from water hazards and by helping you spot your ball more easily.

When wearing polarized lenses, you may notice patterns in certain materials that are not visible otherwise. This can most often be seen in the tempered safety glass of car windows as a cross hatch pattern. This has no effect on the sharpness of vision, but often surprises first-time wearers of polarized sunwear.

Another consideration when selecting prescription sunwear, is adding an anti-reflective treatment to the back surface of the lens. This helps to reduce the amount of light that can be reflected off the lens surface and into the eye.  Reducing these reflections results in the wearer experiencing an even greater level of visual clarity than they would with polarization alone.   Anti-reflective treatments, when added to the front side of polarized lenses, can sometimes be used to create an attractive mirrored look, as well!

Ask an associate in our optical department about how you can have it made in the shade this summer with a FREE polarized lens upgrade. Purchase two complete pairs of glasses, including frames and lenses, and get free polarization to make the 2^nd pair sunglasses. Offer valued at $110 and valid through September 30, 2016.

What is Polarization?

Light waves coming directly from the sun vibrate in all directions and are considered non-polarized. When vibration is restricted to a single direction or plane, the light is considered to be polarized.

The concept behind polarized lenses is perhaps best illustrated by thinking of the lens as containing a microscopic Venetian blind. The slats in a Venetian blind block the transmission of light from certain angles while allowing it from other angles. Polarized lenses have a special layer that creates the effect of horizontally aligned “blinds” to absorb the reflected light that impairs vision.

The post What are the benefits of polarized sunglasses over traditional tinted lenses? appeared first on Columbia Eye.