Polaroid sunglasses carry the name of a company founded in 1937 by the American inventor Edwin Land. He developed filters that polarise light and laid the groundwork for polarised lenses. Here you will learn the history and origin of Polaroid, who invented polarised lenses and what to look for in a pair of Polaroid sunglasses.
Key points at a glance
- Polaroid goes back to Edwin Land, who founded the Polaroid Company in 1937. The company also became famous for instant cameras.
- Polarised sunglasses reduce glare from reflections, for example on water or a wet road.
- The brand name is no substitute for the product description: it tells you whether a model has polarised lenses and UV400.
- Polaroid Eyewear is now part of the Italian Safilo Group and offers sunglasses for women, men and children.
What is Polaroid? Origin of the brand and its name
Polaroid is the name of an American company that Edwin Land founded in 1937. The name points to the polarisation of light, the subject Land worked on. The brand later became world famous for instant cameras whose photos develop by themselves after you take them.
The brand’s sunglasses are a business of their own, separate from the camera business: Polaroid Eyewear now belongs to the Safilo Group in Italy. The name also turns up in pop culture. In 2010, the singer Lady Gaga was announced as creative director for Polaroid.
Who invented polarised lenses? Edwin Land and the polarising filter
Edwin Land was an American physicist and inventor. He left his studies at Harvard and carried on researching the polarisation of light. His breakthrough was an inexpensive polarising filter in the form of a film. Filters like this could be used in cameras and in sunglasses.
In 1937 Land founded the Polaroid Company. In 1939 the company presented 3D glasses at a World’s Fair. One of the brand’s early sunglasses was the “Cool Ray”, whose lenses were meant to reduce glare from reflections.
Who invented sunglasses? What Land had to do with it
There is no single inventor of sunglasses, and tinted lenses existed long before Polaroid. Land’s contribution was the polarising filter that could be built into lenses. How eyewear came about in the first place is told in The History of Glasses.
What are Polaroid sunglasses? Polarisation explained simply
Polaroid sunglasses are sunglasses of the Polaroid brand. Polarisation is the brand’s core theme: a polarising filter in the lens reduces glare from reflections, for example on water, a wet road or snow. How the filter works and how to test with a screen whether lenses are polarised is explained in Polarised Lenses: How They Work and When They Help.
Good to know: polarisation, tint and UV protection are three separate features, so also look for UV400 and a CE or UKCA mark. The brand name alone is no guarantee for every single model. Whether the lenses are polarised is stated in the product description.
Are Polaroid sunglasses good? What to look for
There is no blanket verdict on sunglasses. A good pair is one that suits how you use it and your face. These points help you compare:
- Polarisation: Does the product description say “polarised”? That helps most on the water and on wet roads.
- UV protection: Look for UV400 and a CE or UKCA mark.
- Filter category: Category 3 is the usual standard for bright days, category 2 suits changeable weather.
- Fit: Check lens width, bridge width and temple length in the product description.
- Screens: A sat nav, phone or dashboard display can look dark through polarised lenses.
Polaroid glasses for women, men and children
Polaroid reinterprets retro shapes in a modern way. The brand offers sunglasses for women and men, models for children (Polaroid Junior) and also reading glasses. If you want to wear sunglasses over your own glasses, you need a noticeably larger frame. Sunglasses in your own prescription are often more comfortable.
Current Polaroid sunglasses in the shop
Models available at the moment include the Polaroid PLD 4139/S, PLD 4195/S, PLD 2164/S, PLD 6250/S/X and PLD 9010/S. Not every colour is always in stock. The module shows the current selection:
Polaroid PLD 4191/S 086/UC£39.18 PPolaroid PLD 6250/S/X 003/MU£41.26 PPolaroid PLD 4139/S 09Q/C3£39.18 PPolaroid PLD 4139/S 807/M9£39.18 PPolaroid PLD 2170/S/X SMG/M9£41.26 PPolaroid PLD 9010/S 003/M9£37.79 PPolaroid PLD 6042/S 086/SP£39.18 PPolaroid PLD 9003/S DL5/Y2£37.79 PFrequently asked questions about Polaroid sunglasses
What does Polaroid mean?
Polaroid is the name of the company Edwin Land founded in 1937, and of the brand. The name goes back to the polarisation of light.
What is special about Polaroid sunglasses?
The brand is closely tied to polarising filters and their history. Whether a particular model has polarised lenses, though, is stated on its product page, so check there.
Is there a Polaroid sunglasses review or a test winner?
We do not name a test winner. More useful than a blanket verdict are the points above: polarisation, UV400 and CE or UKCA, filter category and fit.
