Two things that bug me about polarized lenses

[VHB]

The first thing is that they often are minus .12 off power. If they're not within tolerance, I send them back, of course. But why is it that they are always off in the minus direction? This has been something I've noticed from every lab I've ever used.

The second thing is the light "halo" that shows around the front of the bevel. A few years ago I bought Stormin' Norman's edge color pens for polarized lenses, and found that they were a lot harder to use than when Norman demonstrated them. But why do manufacturers make polarized lenses that aren't consistent in color from front to back?

[DragonLensmanWV]

As for the power, that's the lab's problem. Personally, if all my lenses were .12 strong to the minus side, I would be quite content.

As for the other, it's because the lenses are essentially clear wafers in the front and behind the polarizing layer, which has the tint. If they were to make the rear portion tinted, the lenses would then be too dark everywhere and you could end up with lenses that are lighter in the center and darker at the edges like Grey 3 glass, or vice versa for plus lenses.
If the clear portion bothers you, and the pens are a mess (they are) you can apply some model paint around the edges of the lenses.

[scriptfiller]

Finishing polarized lenses is an art. In my 6E I have the bevel placed ~1.10 mm from the front. That way the polarizer is incorporated into the actual bevel thus creating a lense that is flush mounted with the front of the frame. No "ring-around-the polarized". My RX work looks just like plano from the front.

The power issue is a lab error. I don't get concerned over a 12th.

[Judy Canty]

I found that the easiest way to apply those edge colors was to clamp the lens in my groover and hold the pen against the lens edge while it rotated in the groover.

[fjpod]

We try to move the bevel forward a bit on polarized lenses...but there is a third thing that really bugs me about polarized linses. That is the bubbly distortion you see when you look at windshields or certain digital gauges in a car.

[DragonLensmanWV]

Be like Kurt Russell in Big Trouble In Little China - you can see things others can not.:D

[gemstone]

We try to move the bevel forward a bit on polarized lenses...but there is a third thing that really bugs me about polarized linses. That is the bubbly distortion you see when you look at windshields or certain digital gauges in a car.

That is not the lenses. That is the stuff in car windows and gauges.

[FVCCHRIS]

That is not the lenses. That is the stuff in car windows and gauges.

I think if you weigh the pros and cons on polarized lenses they are worth every penny spent. Try to get a long time polarized wearer to give it up.;)

[gemstone]

I think if you weigh the pros and cons on polarized lenses they are worth every penny spent. Try to get a long time polarized wearer to give it up.;)

I love mine.

[Barry Santini]

Off power by -0.12d?

Not such a bad thing, IMHO:

1. Polarized means outdoors, which meansuse is *far* DV
2. Testing people at 20 feet = +0.16D eyeballs
3. "-0.12D" plus "+0.16D" = +0.04D for DV...

Like I said, NOT such a bad thing.. . (if they do have to be "off power", that's the right direction).

IMHO

Barry

[AWTECH]

The first thing is that they often are minus .12 off power. If they're not within tolerance, I send them back, of course. But why is it that they are always off in the minus direction? This has been something I've noticed from every lab I've ever used.

The second thing is the light "halo" that shows around the front of the bevel. A few years ago I bought Stormin' Norman's edge color pens for polarized lenses, and found that they were a lot harder to use than when Norman demonstrated them. But why do manufacturers make polarized lenses that aren't consistent in color from front to back?

You have 2 problems that have nothing to do with the fact they are polarized lenses.

The power issue is a surfacing problem.

The front bevel if placed to the front of the lens and edged on a 4 or 5 axis edger will not be an issue. (If you edge a polarized lens with the bevel in the middle the polarized film will be at the very front of the lens and the clear lens behind it will show slightly.)

[KStraker]

That is not the lenses. That is the stuff in car windows and gauges.

The medicine?

[sharpstick777]

I tint polarized lenses all the time after edging. Edge pens wear off, and often come out uneven.

The better brands of polarized lenses say their lenses are tintable.

I have never had one delaminate in many years but its possible if you leave it in the tint too long though, so be mindful of that.