Its not even a question!!
I learnt the hard way several years ago after not listening to the skipper of a pro game boat i chartered. It was fkn horrific
Dont make the same mistake as i did. 
But, but... I read all the sunnies threads on seabreeze from years back, and to summarize:
Polarized one are better for seeing into water (and sometimes you don't want to know what's there), and cutting down the glare from the low sun on flat water. But they make it harder to spot waves and chop.
(The only reason I'm asking is that I'm about to get prescription ones before I go on my big windsurfing noob vacation, and they are expensive. Otherwise I'd try a cheapies of each type (polarized and not). FWIW, my prescription is quite mild (-0.75, -1.25). I only wear glasses when driving at night somewhere I haven't driven before. But even then I often forget to wear them. Maybe I shouldn't bother with prescription ones at all.)
^^ that may be so, but I jump on a board and plane thru chop, putting on the sunnies does not reduce the visibility of the chop to such a degree that it makes sailing harder. So I think it is still all positives for polarized
Been using Polarized for years, inc surfing
Only change was from sunnies was to Polarized safety glasses as they handle impacts better
Mmm I always wear polarized sunnies..maybe that's why I suck at chop hops.
..I haven't really noticed any problems re chop.I can't hop like I used to but I think that;s more likely to be the + 23 years of age rather than the glasses..
No question - polarised! As a fisho, it's not worth having sunnies unless they are polarised - you can see deep into the water.
As for not seeing the waves & chop...you should be able to see it regardless of 'glare'. I've found that the polarised cuts down the glare so that they are easier to see.
Polarised lenses tend to make the wind on the water
Look stronger... Maybe 5knots more..
I tend to wear 2 pairs for formula and 3 pairs
If I want to use an 8.6
One benefit of polarised lenses is you can clearly see rip tides, although this is more for surfing on a beach break...works well for the north devon coast in the UK where you park at the top of a cliff and can see the whole beach.
Select to expand quotesnides8 said..
Polarised lenses tend to make the wind on the water Look stronger... Maybe 5knots more.. I tend to wear 2 pairs for formula and 3 pairs If I want to use an 8.6
Yep..good reason to get a wind meter or decide sail size before putting polaroids on..
Are Barz Arfa goggles the go? They fit my huge head, but I'm skeptical about the anti-fog. They pretty much fogged up the moment I put them on. Supposedly when it's windy, it shouldn't be a problem, but I'm still skeptical about airflow through the holes in the gaskets.
Traditional sunglasses rest on the nose. Barz goggles rest on the eye sockets via a gasket. What's worse in case of a face plant?
I race sailboats and I find it more difficult to "read" the incoming gusts from afar with polarised.
I find myself constantly taking them off - annoying. Something about the contrasts me reckon.
I don't have this problem windsurfing, as we are much lower to water and need only see a few feet behind us to read the conditions...
Without polarised sunnies, I'm effectively blind outdoors. I can't even imagine why there is a choice in the shops. Polarised are sunglasses and non-polarised are nothing more than dress ups accessories for kids.
Not sure about the sunnies. But looking back my inability to chop hop for years was partly technique, but mostly because I was pretending I wasn't blind (prescription now -1.5 and -2.25 , but a couple points less at the time). Started wearing disposable contacts and what do you know - could see the ramps...
How do you keep any sort of sunglass on while windsurfing, especially if you stack it?
I use the polaroid safety specs from 'big' hardware store ($10) which have a hole at end of arm - attach elastic cord...
... no wuckers
Select to expand quoteJohn632 said..
How do you keep any sort of sunglass on while windsurfing, especially if you stack it?
I have prescription sunnies and used to use the glass holders that slip over the arms but catapulted and $500 went to the bottom 
.
I have now drilled a hole in the arm of one ( you could do it to both if you wanted and put fishing line through to then tie onto the loop in the glass holders.The other then snaps ( with a $1 small plastic hook) onto either the wetsuit strap or a line attached to my my NP vest.I only use the sunnies to drive or sail so no hassles leaving the glass holders on attached at one end or looking daggy..
.Only problem is I sometimes come in to rerig and the sunnies are only single focal so no good for fine work..I put my usual multifocals on and sometimes forget and get out and realise they aren't tied on.. I used to use contacts but an allergy to my horse wrecked my eyes for that..
I tried Barz Arfa goggles, Dirty Dog something or other and Oakley Water-something (jackets?) last week. All very expensive, the Oakleys ridiculously so. Today I tried a bunch of $10-20 safety glasses at Bunnings. All were much more comfortable than the $$$ frames. Now to get them in prescription...
Mr. C,
What about an older prescription set of glasses to which you add Polaroid slip-ons?
Select to expand quoteWindmanV said..
Mr. C,
What about an older prescription set of glasses to which you add Polaroid slip-ons?
Well, I hardly wear the glasses I have, so the are all pretty ancient. The youngest pair is 10 year old. They are also metal and look pretty flimsy. I wouldn't want a face plant in them.
Mr. C,
Try this: http://www.specsavers.com.au/special-offers/complete-glasses-39/
then add the Polaroid slip ons.
Nobody cares about the frames when you're windsurfing, so they can be clunky. Of course, you can always go for the $200 frames, if you're worried about fashion.
Or, for $2400 per eye, you can get surgery to bring you back to 20/20 vision, but you still have to buy polarised sunglasses ($50 from the Anti-Cancer Council).
When i was 28 I had a pterygium removed from my left eye.
Due to 20 years of sailing, surfing and general WA weather (salt and wind) my eye began feeling like sandpaper everytime i closed it.
I found the operation quite traumatising because you have to be awake when the doctor fillets the pterygium off with a scalpel and tweezers.
Since then, the only type of sunnies i use are polarised and i've even started using the ones like they sell on this site when wind surfing.
Can't recommend polarized sunnies enough.
So I assume with that prescription you're not after prescription sunglasses. Polaroid or not doesn't really matter. What matters is UV protection and they all do that.
Don't spend too much money on them. You will scratch them and you will lose them. I use Seaspecs at 3 pairs for $100. They're identical to the Seabreeze ones.
Don't stuff around with anti-fog or anti-drop coatings. None of them are particularly effective. The best thing you can do is clean them with a little detergent (dish washing or hand soap) and warm water. Dry and polish them well and they'll last ok for a few sessions.
If your glasses fog up or get too many droplets then just dunk your face in the water. Holding them away from your face for a few seconds when riding will also clear them quickly.
The hand band is almost useless. You must use a second leash. I put a little loop of ribbon on the back of the head band and hitch it onto the zip puller on the wet suit, then tie a knot in the zip puller. I haven't lost any glasses since I have been doing that. Just tying on to the zip puller is not so good. The fabric they use is usually a little stiff and knots come undone. Ribbon is soft and knots better. For a chest zip wet suit put a longish loop of ribbon on the adjuster for the shoulder.
I am a big fan of peaked caps. You can tilt your head and block out most of the direct glare from the sun. It does nothing for reflected UV but it's pretty good.
For prescription sunglasses I highly recommend Silverfish in California - I have a couple of pairs.
www.silverfish.com/sunglasses/Rx.html
They are polarized and designed for water sports - proper hold on straps and a leash, anti-fog frames and only about $200 delivered.
They are pretty bullet proof although I did have a lens pop out once as a result of a big stack.
I got Silverfish to drill little holes in the corner of the lens in the last pair I bought - I tie the lens to the frame as a backup.
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
So I assume with that prescription you're not after prescription sunglasses. Polaroid or not doesn't really matter. What matters is UV protection and they all do that.
Don't spend too much money on them. You will scratch them and you will lose them. I use Seaspecs at 3 pairs for $100. They're identical to the Seabreeze ones.
...
Thanks for the tips. I don't really need glasses to get around. No need in urban areas. But it would be nice to have perfect vision outdoors. No way would I pay hundreds for non-prescription sunglasses.
Well, prescription glasses and sailing., let me tell you..
I have windsurfed for 30 years and always in glasses, - shortsighted, tried contacts but allergic to them ---- bummer
i have lost maybe 20 sets of glasses. Often it does not matter if they are tied on or not-- crash hard enough face first and the lense will pop out !!!! happenned lots, jumps/ freestyle etc.
These days i wear a gath so that helps them stay on a bit, i also have a rubber style band around the back that slips over the arms of the glasses.
I used to have this and a 'safety leash' attached to my wetsuit zipper. ( not used anymore due to gath)
I use sunglasses with Transition lenses ( change shade -- light to dark etc-), I obviously have to wear them summer and winter sailing. It does not effect any spotting of waves/ lumps, sharks !!!! etc.
It would be nice to sail without them but putting contacts in for a half hour sail sometimes is not my thing...
I dont call myself a backwards and forwards sailor as i crash alot with wavesailing and freestyle.
Perhaps the glasses are a good thing all this time as i read in a British mag years ago about the potential for long term damage on the water from not having sun protection , i.e sunnies.
note the cost of prescription lenses can vary a lot, i wish i could buy suunies for $200.00!!! complete. the worse your eyes are usually the more the lenses cost.
The cheapest i can buy a set of lenses for myself are $200 then plus the sunnies of say $150.
Note also that high prescription lenses will not go into any sunnies with any sort of 'wrap' / 'bend' ( i think it is measured in something called base curve). The result would be distortion on the edges of your vision, definately not good with sailing, trust me it has happenned to me when i tried a pair of Oakleys years ago that were only slightly wrap.
Perhaps one day i will have the eye op. but at 45 and having worn glasses for 35 years i think it is not high on my priority.
cheers guys.
