Corvette00Car

I went to COSTCO to get new perscription sunglasses. When I had my C5 I had tinted lenses because transitions don't work in the car and polarized lenses wipes out the HUD. Well they no longer sell tinted lenses bummer. Does anyone else have trouble with the HUD and polarized sunglasses?

gaphono

No problems with my prescription sunglasses

JLargo

I don't wear prescription glasses, but when I wear my polarized sun glasses it does mess with the HUD display.

PeterSG

Polarized sunglasses reduce the visibility -- the brightness -- of the HUD display by about half. When wearing polarized sunglasses I click up the HUD's brightness.

gerryt

No probs for me.

CaryBob

Here's the issue in simplistic terms: The light reflected off the HUD display is itself polarized. Polarized sunglasses, by design, reduce the light on a specific axis. IF the HUD's reflection is polarized opposite to the sunglasses, then the display will dim when viewed through the sunglasses. You can test this by canting your head to one side while wearing your sunglasses -- the display should get brighter when you alter the axis.

One solution is to buy a sheet or two of 3M copier transparency film from your local office supply store, and cut the film to fit over the HUD screen. That will alter the polarity of the light from the HUD so that it is not diminished by the sunglasses. (You may want to rotate the film before cutting to pick the most effective orientation.)

That said, GM has apparently changed something in the newer models, as I see no dimming in my 2012 when wearing polarized Maui Jims.

Bill Dearborn

The HUD and DIC displays are LCDs. The light coming from them is polarized. From http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-d...sses-work.html , "In order to understand the working principle of polarized sunglasses, let's discuss in brief about the reflection of light from the plain, smooth surfaces. When light falls on a flat and smooth medium, the reflected light is directed in the horizontal planes (polarized), rather than dispersing or scattering in all directions. The horizontally oriented reflected light is experienced as annoying flashes of white, known as glare. A prolonged exposure to such light intensities may result in temporary blindness.

In polarized sunglasses, a special filter is used that helps in eliminating the reflected light of high intensity or glare. In other terms, this polarized filter allows passing only a portion of light having wavelengths that are not aligned with the particles of the filter. Speaking about the composition of polarized filters, they are made up of chemical compound coated on a transparent glass or plastic lens. The chemical film consisted of tiny molecules that align in a parallel fashion with respect to one another.

If the chemical film is coated uniformly on the lens, the molecules absorb the entry of all light intensities that matches their alignment. Since glares are mostly caused by the horizontally oriented light waves, polarized sunglasses are designed in such a way that they allow passing of only vertical polarized light. With such polarized sunglasses, the texture and shape of objects become more clear, irrespective of the glare. This way, polarized lens reduces the glare effect. One of the drawbacks of polarized sunglasses is that liquid crystal displays (LCD's) may not be visible while viewing at specific angles."

Bill

TLK

I don't have problems with my Rx polarized sunglasses and the HUD. It all depends on how the two are aligned. On my M3, the center console / radio display is completely invisible with the same glasses on.

obxchartercaptain

Having spent most of my life on the water....I know sunglasses. The quality of polarized lenses goes hand in hand with the price of said eyewear. I wear "Serengeti Drivers" when on the road and have absolutely no problem with the HUD. On the water I wear "Ocean Waves" with the bi focal lense. Once again I have no problem seeing the various electronic screens on my flybridge.

I have tried almost every single type of polarized lense ever made....and there is a difference between brands.

bigblock427

I don't wear prescription sunglasses. I own a pair of RayBan polarized sunglasses and the radio and air conditioning displays, as well as the HUD display are more difficult to read when wearing the polarized sun glasses.

LucaBrasiAZ

i have a 2012 and polarized maui Jims and it definitely cuts the brightness down by at least half, but it still is acceptable to view.

jackhall99

That does not mean your glasses are polarized!

Polarized glasses play havoc with glass displays.

keyplyr

Not mine. I have two sets of prescription sunglasses; one with tinting, one with the same tinting but polarized.

I see absolutely no difference in the HUD.

Maybe it's the quality of the polarizing process. I paid an additional $100 for it to be added.



[added]

Could be my anti-glare prescription glasses are not actually polarized. I'll find out next time I talk to my optometrist.

studiovette

I was messing with mine yesterday while cruising. Whenever I wear my polarized pres. Shades I can barely see the HUD with my regular shades its fine. Also kinda on the same topic do the buttons for the HUD on left hand side of cluster chime when pressed like the right side? Am I losing my mind cause mine are not chiming. Only my DIC controls make the sound when pressed. Am i going

keyplyr

No chimes for me - left or right.

PeterSG

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My HUD controls make no sounds.

DopeyDude

I don't have any problems with my Serengeti's.

cclive

Also, there are many sunglasses that are sold as "polarized" but really are only very slightly so.

greengo

Polarized Revo's are OK on the HUD but the radio and a/c controls are a mess !