I can’t see my digital gauge with polarized sunglasses

[Klutch9]

In my 2016 Explorer, if I have my sunglasses on (polarized), I can’t see the digital screen on my gauge cluster. Oddly, the screen for the radio looks the to be the same exact screen, but it’s not affected by my sunglasses; I can see it clearly at any angle. Is there anything I can do to make the gauge cluster screen visible with my sunglasses? Maybe some sort of film? I use it to display the MPH and it’s a huge bummer that I can’t see it with sunglasses.

 

[Nick1994]

That’s the way it is for some screens with polarized sunglasses.

I can’t see my HUD in my Genesis with my sunglasses on.

 

[eljefino]

Rotate your head?

It's an oversight on Ford's part... Polarized sunglasses are an excellent driving accessory.

 

[Quattro Pete]

I can’t see my HUD in my Genesis with my sunglasses on.

Same in wife's NX, unless I tilt my head sideways.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

The polarizers are crossed, meaning the only way to see the screen is to reorient the light from the screen. There may be a diffusing film you could put over the screen to eliminate it.

 

[jhellwig]

Turn your glasses 90 degrees. If that works try to find glasses that have the polarization turned that way.

 

[redbone3]

I found I can't see the screen at some gas stations with my polarized sunglasses.

 

[Klutch9]

This really seems like something that should be easy to avoid. Polarized sunglasses are super common. Thankfully our Carnival does not have this problem. My last work vehicle before the Explorer was built before screens existed so this was never a problem

 

[tbm3fan]

Polaroids are designed to pass vertical waves of light. Glare off of wet roads, glass, snow, and so on is caused by horizontal waves of light hence a polaroid will block them. Either you turn your polaroid to pass horizontal waves or take them off. No film on a display would work. As to why displays choose to use horizontal waves I can't find an answer. Google is fallible on many searches.

 

[DemoFly]

Unfortunately the majority (if not all) of backlit digital displays have a polarizer. History is repeating itself again.

 

[Kira]

Polarized sunglasses are an excellent driving accessory.

Another one is yellow lenses to cut fog and pierce twilight.
I have yellow "post-op over-glasses" and they're life savers. They fit over any regular glasses.

 

[eljefino]

Turn your glasses 90 degrees. If that works try to find glasses that have the polarization turned that way.

Unlikely to find them, as they're oriented to keep sunshine from reflecting off wet roads to keep glare down.

Ford screwed up putting their LCD in 90 degrees from how they should have.

You can't "re-polarize" something with a filter, you just can't see through. You've got this now with 1) your sunglasses and 2) the polarization of the LCD screen. Example, in the hands of Edward Land, the founder of Polaroid. Get it? Polaroid, polarizer....

 

[Skippy722]

I found I can't see the screen at some gas stations with my polarized sunglasses.

Same here… usually followed by “woah those sunglasses look crazy! How do they get them frosted like that?!”

 

[vavavroom]

The only good solution is non-polarized sunglasses. You could place diffraction grating film over the display but this may cause a rainbow effect. In my BMW the lamination film in the safety glass windshield caused iridescent ripples when I was wearing polarized sunglasses. Interestingly, I can see my Garmin screen fine with my polarizing driving glasses. Another common problem are polycarbonate cockpit windows in planes and boats that are incompatible with polarized sunglasses. And modern panes have of course LCD screen so polarizing glasses are a no-go.

The small digital displays in the Mini are interesting. They are backlit LCD screens that look like but are not LED displays. In medium bright conditions the numbers/letters look bright red but in bright conditions the numbers/letters look flat paper-white. Polarized Sunglasses are okay with those displays.

 

[Propflux01]

Most pilots wear non-polarized glasses for this very reason. For a good pair, I would look at Randolph.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Most head up type displays are hard to read with polarized glasses. I can see the head up display in my Corvette with polarized glasses but it's pretty dim looking.

 

[Astro14]

Most pilots wear non-polarized glasses for this very reason. For a good pair, I would look at Randolph.

Yep. LCDs put out polarized light. Polarized glasses can make radio frequency panels, and other cockpit displays, impossible to read.

Get rid of the polarized sunglasses. Save them for your boat. They’re great when you’re on the water.

 

[Sayjac]

My take, I'm very glad I don't own a vehicle that has any such an issue with the use of polarized sunglasses. They are the only type of sunglasses I purchase for driving use and otherwise. That will not change.

As mentioned, seems you'll have to go to non-polarized for driving said vehicle.

 

[Jetronic]

Yep. LCDs put out polarized light. Polarized glasses can make radio frequency panels, and other cockpit displays, impossible to read.

Get rid of the polarized sunglasses. Save them for your boat. They’re great when you’re on the water.

They're great on the road aswell, just not in that car. No issues in my MG, slight dimming in the Alfa Romeo but that one has a mechanical speedo and RPM gauge.

 

[vavavroom]

Unpolarized sunglasses with a double gradient tint and/or gradient mirror coating are good for reducing glare from the sky and the hood/road/water by reducing brightness and reflections. The horizontal central section has less tint. You'll be able to read your screens.