Unusual visual phenomenon with polarized lenses

[rolandclaur]

So I purchased and mounted some aftermarket polarized lenses in some sunglasses of mine .. gray/brown base with full reflective blue mirror coating ..

i noticed when i drive with the sun directly positioned in front of me there is a blueish hue on my black dashboard... when I tilt my head left or right it disappears... when I look move my head left or right it disappears.. when I drive in a different direction where the sun isn’t straight ahead it disappears..

i also noticeed if I’m walking on black asphalt with the sun directly ahead and I look at the ground there again is a bluish color straight ahead on the ground but as soon as my head deviates away the blueish hue goes away..

this also happens with some other sunglasses with a rose tint and polarized.. anybody have any ideas?

[Lab Insight]

It's the combination of the polarization and blue mirror reflecting the light on certain angles. Backside AR will help to alleviate but not completely.

[CME4SPECS]

It is possible that they are off axis

[rolandclaur]

I thought the mirror might have something to do with it but my secondary pair that is rose colored does not have a mirror coat...

[Tallboy]

I thought the mirror might have something to do with it but my secondary pair that is rose colored does not have a mirror coat...

And that other pair does the same thing?

[Uncle Fester]

The TV show "Nature" last night had a great episode about gemstones and why their colors vary.

From google search this is why the Hope diamond is blue-

It is blue to the naked eye because of trace amounts of boron within its crystal structure, and exhibits a red phosphorescence under exposure to ultraviolet light.

Makes me wonder if, at the right sun angle, the red end of the spectrum is being affected through these lenses

[fjpod]

One of the reasons I don't love polarized lenses.

[Tallboy]

One of the reasons I don't love polarized lenses.

Really doc? I don't doubt your opinion is reall but I LOVE really good polarized lenses, makes me feel like I have cyborg eyes or something.

[rolandclaur]

And that other pair does the same thing?

Yep.. I’ll try and take a pic through the lens to show you guys...

[fjpod]

Really doc? I don't doubt your opinion is reall but I LOVE really good polarized lenses, makes me feel like I have cyborg eyes or something.

Really. I will avoid wearing them.

[AngeHamm]

Really. I will avoid wearing them.

I won't wear sunglasses that aren't polarized. Different strokes...

[lensmanmd]

So let me get this straight. Asphalt and dash produce some blue effects through your polarized lenses, even the non-mirror. I am assuming that your dash is black as well. Black has a tendency of looking blue to those of us with color challenges. The glare produced by flat surfaces do not always reflect back at a perfect 90. Thus, when you tilt your head slightly, it goes away.
You are most likely seeing the effects of stressed birefringence. Your lenses may be smidge big and/or the polarization may be a few degrees off the 180. Nothing to be overly concerned about IMHO.

[AngeHamm]

So let me get this straight. Asphalt and dash produce some blue effects through your polarized lenses, even the non-mirror. I am assuming that your dash is black as well. Black has a tendency of looking blue to those of us with color challenges. The glare produced by flat surfaces do not always reflect back at a perfect 90. Thus, when you tilt your head slightly, it goes away.
You are most likely seeing the effects of stressed birefringence. Your lenses may be smidge big and/or the polarization may be a few degrees off the 180. Nothing to be overly concerned about IMHO.

It's amazing how much trouble is caused by edging polarized lenses a touch too big.

[CME4SPECS]

Yep.. I’ll try and take a pic through the lens to show you guys...

Did you check the axis on them?