polarized glasses & lcd screens

[Bill Verburg]

Anyone have experience w/ using polarized sun glasses and lcd screens in newer vehicles?

Any issues?

[Scott Douglas]

Not sure if my screen is LCD or not, but I can't usually read it with my sunglasses on.
'11 Honda Accord if that matters.

[masraum]

It depends upon the orientation of the lines in the lenses of the glasses.

I think normally, the glasses are set what I think of as "horizontal". So when you look at cell phones, laptop screens, etc.... you can see everything. If anything is not oriented correctly, then you'll have to tilt your head. I've even had a pair of glasses where the glass in one lens was off by a bit and that eye saw screens as darker unless I tilted my head which caused the other eye to go darker. I think that's pretty rare. The problem often comes if you're looking at something obliquely instead of head on, then you may be at an angle.

I used to only wear polarized sunglasses, but I eventually stopped because screens are EVERYWHERE these days, and having to adjust the tilt of your head for some screen that's in a weird spot or pick up your phone so you're looking at it at the correct orientation is a pain.

[pavulon]

When wearing polarized sunglasses, had the screen appear to black out in a 2005 vehicle (until tilting my head ~90 degrees left or right). Continue to wear polarized sunglasses but no more issues with lcd screens in any of the more modern cars since. Can't imagine that car manufacturers weren't quickly made aware of the issue and adjusted orientation of problematic screens--especially since screens in new cars now being almost ubiquitous.

[look 171]

Word glasses my entire life. Have all my prescription glasses all polarized. Its worth it weight in gold for driving under the bright sun. I only have some issues with looking on my phone but normal in newer car's gauges.

[TimT]

Polarized glasses drive me crazy when I'm looking through the Polycarbonate windshield of my track car..The windshield flexes in and out

Looks like the start of an acid trip...Ooops lol

The windshield flexes a lot depending on speed

[Superman]

Steve is right. Again. And the quote below describes my perspective. It's not the brightness that gets ya. It's the glare. Polarized glasses cut that glare. Others do not.

Originally Posted by look 171

Word glasses my entire life. Have all my prescription glasses all polarized. Its worth it weight in gold for driving under the bright sun. I only have some issues with looking on my phone but normal in newer car's gauges.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Superman

Steve is right. Again. And the quote below describes my perspective. It's not the brightness that gets ya. It's the glare. Polarized glasses cut that glare. Others do not.

Just don't order from those large touch screens at MacDonalds with it on. Press for coffee and you will get a burger

[Arizona_928]

The phenomenon is called birefringence…

Which is just the different between refractive indices for light polarized in different directions. When polarized light passes through certain materials or films, it is split into two components that travel at different speeds, causing phase shifts and interference…. This is the rainbow-like colors that you’ll see with polarized glasses on.


Alternatively, wearing s polarized glasses and viewing a screen that has a p polarized film, will block the light… Why? Because it’s orthogonal….

[chuckr]

BMW heads up display very hard to see with polarized sunglasses.
Just ordered new, un polarized prescription sun glasses.

[Brian 162]

The hvac lcd screen in my C6 looked like it was broken when wearing polarized sunglasses. When I took the glasses off the screen looked normal. I can’t wear polarized glasses, my eyes play tricks on me. Nothing appears as it seems.

[A930Rocket]

I’ve never seen this issue before. Funny how I was looking at face plant and this popped up…

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Auo5DCggUE8NPw1G/?mibextid=UalRPS

[Pazuzu]

Crappy engineers install screens that are blocked by polarized glasses. GOOD engineers design screen that are not blocked.

Every pair of polarized sunglasses on the planet is polarized at the same angle, to remove the linearly polarized glare from the Sun reflecting off of the ground, water, buildings, etc. Every single one of them (well, maybe not **** ones...)

So, since every pair is polarized sunglasses is oriented the same way, should engineers put any consideration into that?
Heck, why bother, I'm just engineering it! Why should *I* think ahead just a tiny tiny bit and spec a screen that is sunglasses friendly?

[cabmandone]

With the newer OLED screens I haven't had any problems. In my truck with an older Kenwood HU it's BRUTAL.

[stevej37]

I wear polarized glasses in my Civic and never noticed anything.

[wildthing]

Works fine on my Toyota Highlander. It doesn't work on those restaurant TV screens for menus. As someone pointed out, I think it's the angle. Or... some of these TVs use a different (cheaper?) tech.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

.....Every pair of polarized sunglasses on the planet is polarized at the same angle.....

This is good news to me since I have no plans to abandon polarized sunglasses. This means engineers can and likely will stop designing screens that conflict with common optics (polarized sunglasses are quite common)

Sure, I see the orientation problems but my car does not have an lcd screen and I can tilt my head on those rare occasions where a screen conflicts with my sunglasses. I have a suggestion for those who have trouble with McDonalds' ordering screens: Don't eat their food.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by look 171

Word glasses my entire life. Have all my prescription glasses all polarized. Its worth it weight in gold for driving under the bright sun. I only have some issues with looking on my phone but normal in newer car's gauges.

Me too. My glasses and clip on sun glasses are polarized. Makes a big difference.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Every pair of polarized sunglasses on the planet is polarized at the same angle, to remove the linearly polarized glare from the Sun reflecting off of the ground, water, buildings, etc. Every single one of them (well, maybe not **** ones...)

I have had a pair (only one) where the angles of the 2 lenses were off. One lens was perfect (what in my mind is "horizontal"), but the other lense was a bit off (less then 45º, maybe at little as 5-10º) which was enough to cause issues when looking at screens.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Works fine on my Toyota Highlander. It doesn't work on those restaurant TV screens for menus. As someone pointed out, I think it's the angle. Or... some of these TVs use a different (cheaper?) tech.

Tilt your head side to side, and you'll eventually find that you can see. It may be as much as 90º that you have to tilt.