Is polishing cloudy headlights a permanent fix?

Many drivers trust that polishing headlights restores them to like-new condition permanently. This assumption is false because the polishing process achieves clarity by stripping away the damaged factory protective layer to reveal the raw plastic underneath. While this looks good immediately, it leaves the lens material completely largely unprotected against the environment. Without the original barrier, the plastic will degrade and fade rapidly, often worse than before. MOD5 TopShield headlight protection film is frequently applied immediately after a restoration service to replace the lost sacrificial barrier and lock in the clarity.