OK this is a wierd one.

**kcount** · 08-26-2010, 04:52 PM

I have a patient who purchased a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses (414-02 this is a rimless polycarbonate lens in grey with ~20 degrees of wrap) a month or so ago who walks in with a complaint. He states that the sunglasses are only polarized in the center. That the top and bottoms of the lens are less polarized and brighter. States that it's because of the mirror coating.

Of course we all know the mirror would make things darker not brighter and polarized is polarized everywhere, unless there is stress on the lens causing aberations. I chock it up to a bad product and order a new one. Here's the rub, the new one does it too.

Here's how it breaks down.:
Plano Grey polarized lens with bigradient flash mirror
Wrap sunglass
increase pantoscopic tilt while gazing at a stationary object with glare and the glare increases.
Return to a normal head position glare is reduced/eliminated.
increase retroscopic tilt glare increases.

Any ideas?

**Striderswife** · 08-26-2010, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by kcount

increase pantoscopic tilt while gazing at a stationary object with glare and the glare increases.
Return to a normal head position glare is reduced/eliminated.
increase retroscopic tilt glare increases.

I've noticed the same effect in my sunglasses, which are a regular ophthalmic frame but I put in polarized lenses in my Rx (a super-cute black mild cateye with little white polka dots on the temples--precious!!). They've been sitting a little crooked, so of course I'm fudging with them in the car. I see the same thing happening, if I tilt them panto or retro-wise, so I don't think your pt's issue has anything to do with the curve of the lenses. Beyond that, I don't think I have much explanation as to why they lighten. I'm curious to find out the answer!

**kcount** · 08-26-2010, 05:31 PM

How odd! I have tried my rx polarized drive wears, All the Kaenon Product in my office and several more Maui Jim's. This only seem's to happen in the 400 series of Maui Jims. The anomoly is greatest in the grey lens but does appear in the green and brown lenses to some degree. My thought is that the lighter lense allow more light through and the effect is lessened by this.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 08-26-2010, 06:25 PM

Try a full mirror instead of a flash.

**uncut** · 08-26-2010, 07:08 PM

Hey, KC! Step away from the bong!

Seriously, what Dragon_______WV says will probably do the trick, in at least reducing/plateauing the phenomena. As an experiment take one of those slip-behind polarized clip-ons and put it in front of a LCD computer screen, and you will see some weird, interesting polarization effects. I like to explain to customers that looking through a polarized lens is like looking through microscopic venetian blinds, spaced and tilted. Curving them, would induce a variance in light leakage phenomena, a light tint, mirror, would induce reflections, and vary the effect. I would also venture a guess that there is a difference in qualities of polar production from different sources. Time to dust off that electron microscope in the basement. LOL

**Striderswife** · 08-27-2010, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV

Try a full mirror instead of a flash.

(Not to start some kind of argument, but. . .) Then how come we don't get complaints from everyone who's ever bought a Maui Jim sunglass about the same thing? Most, if not all, of their lenses have that bigradient mirror. :/

**optical24/7** · 08-27-2010, 11:51 AM

I wear a 407 in gray and don't notice any less effect no matter the tilt. (panto/retro)

**kcount** · 08-27-2010, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by optical24/7

I wear a 407 in gray and don't notice any less effect no matter the tilt. (panto/retro)

The guys down at Maui Jim are sending a call tag for the piece. They're stumped on this one too.

**kcount** · 08-27-2010, 12:16 PM

I notice it when looking at the wood floors in the office or at windshields approaching the corner near the office. It's not subtle either.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 08-27-2010, 12:16 PM

Tell the engineer to call Maui Jim and say that.

**kcount** · 08-27-2010, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by optical24/7

I wear a 407 in gray and don't notice any less effect no matter the tilt. (panto/retro)

just tried the 807 and the 805 which is a 407 and 405 with a reader. no anomolly. Maybe it's only happening in this style or maybe the lot.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 08-27-2010, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by kcount

just tried the 807 and the 805 which is a 407 and 405 with a reader. no anomolly. Maybe it's only happening in this style or maybe the lot.

Maybe it's only happening in his mind.

**edKENdance** · 08-27-2010, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by dragonlensmanwv

maybe it's only happening in his mind.

ding ding ding!

**EdgeOptical** · 08-27-2010, 02:01 PM

maybe because of the angle of the glare, the angle of the lens, and the angle of the gaze it has a different effect?

throwing ideas out there at this point, thats weird.

**kcount** · 08-27-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by DragonLensmanWV

Maybe it's only happening in his mind.

Only one problem, I see it, my wife see's it, The guy in the bike shop next door see's it. We can't all be crazy... unless fezz has been spiking my coffee again.

**DragonLensmanWV** · 08-27-2010, 04:31 PM

OK, hadn't seen the multiple observers part. Have you tried looking though them upside down or sideways?

**BobK** · 08-27-2010, 08:43 PM

Kev, could the polarizing axis be off? Not on the 180. Just a thought.
Bob

**DragonLensmanWV** · 08-27-2010, 09:14 PM

Yeah, check it out with a polarized plano.

**kcount** · 08-28-2010, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by BobK

Kev, could the polarizing axis be off? Not on the 180. Just a thought.
Bob

Yeah, but these are plano suns direct from the Manufacturer and happens on more than one pair.

**uncut** · 08-28-2010, 11:50 AM

Hey KC! Had a thought...do you stiil get the same phenom when you remove the lens from the frame? I'm thinking slight distortion/pressure?

**BobK** · 08-28-2010, 12:06 PM

I'd still check the polarizing axis. It could have been a manufacturing problem.

**rdcoach5** · 08-28-2010, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by BobK

I'd still check the polarizing axis. It could have been a manufacturing problem.

Yeah, are they out of phase? I had a pt with some Maui Jim polar planos who could not stand his expensive suns. I checked them, they were out of phase and he returned them to Maui jim for replacement

**kcount** · 08-28-2010, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by uncut

Hey KC! Had a thought...do you stiil get the same phenom when you remove the lens from the frame? I'm thinking slight distortion/pressure?

Good thought! took the lenses out of the frame, yes, still get it oddly if you place them parallel to the reflective surfase, the phenomenon does not occur. at the wrap angle (or an approximation of) the phenomenon happens again. I also tried BobK's idea of axis of lens interestingly there is a change at the wrap angle. So, my thought is that Maui Jim has a bad batch of lenses running around that are off axis. This and the normal wrap angle of the lens is causing the resultant glare phenomena.

Follow up: confirmed axis off with second Polarized lens placed at 90.

**kcount** · 08-28-2010, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by rdcoach5

Yeah, are they out of phase? I had a pt with some Maui Jim polar planos who could not stand his expensive suns. I checked them, they were out of phase and he returned them to Maui jim for replacement

I'm already on my second pair with the same problem... maybe I should go down to MJ in Peoria and try a bunch. Can we say ROAD TRIP!