There are many glasses marketed to help people see better at night and glasses purported to help with night driving. The optimal eyeglasses for night driving have anti-reflective (AR) coating. These glasses can let more light in and also help to reduce glare from oncoming traffic and other light sources.
Table of Contents
- Types of Glasses for Night Driving
- Glasses for Driving at Night
- Which to Avoid
- Tips
Advanced technologies have designed specialized high-definition lenses that are designed to improve vision in every lighting condition, including night driving.
While often marketed specifically for night driving, polarized or UV (ultraviolet) lens glasses can actually be hazardous when used at night, as they can block too much light coming in.
There are several things you can do to enhance your vision at night in addition to specialized glasses.
Everyone’s eyes are different, and your eye care professional can help you find glasses best suited for vision clarity at all times, even driving at night.
Types of Glasses for Night Driving
Night blindness, or nyctalopia, can make it really hard for people to see in low-light conditions like nighttime. Night blindness does not mean you can’t see at all at night, just that it may be more difficult to see in dim light.
It is often a symptom or side effect of another vision issue, such as myopia (nearsightedness), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) explains. Prescription glasses can improve vision in all lighting conditions. On their own, they may improve night driving.
Adding an anti-glare, or anti-reflective (AR), coating to your eyeglasses can allow more light in and also cut down on glare. Both of these things can improve night vision and improve vision for driving at night.
Regular glasses lenses block about 8 percent of the available light, only allowing about 92 percent through to the lens. Glasses with AR coatings allow nearly all the light in, 99.5 percent, a vast difference when you are dealing with low-light situations.
Glasses with AR coating promote sharper vision. They can also appear more invisible and seem less obtrusive than regular glasses.
Glasses Designed for Driving at Night
New and advancing technologies are improving glasses regularly. New technologies involve high-definition eyeglass lenses that are specially designed to correct vision issues and higher-order aberrations.
These glasses enhance and sharpen vision in every lighting condition. As such, they can improve night vision and therefore night driving.
High-definition glasses can sharpen vision, reduce glares, and let in maximum amounts of light. Examples of high-definition eyeglass lenses include free-form and wavefront lenses.
- Free-form lenses: These lenses are highly customizable and fabricated with computer-controlled equipment. This level of technology allows them to sharpen vision-related issues that are specialized and more difficult to treat with standard lenses. They can provide some of the highest level of vision clarity during the day and at night.
- Wavefront lenses: These lenses are created with some of the same technologies used to perform wavefront-guided customized LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) surgeries. These lenses are customized for each person and extremely specialized to enhance vision across all lighting fields.
High-definition and glare reducing lenses are more advanced, specialized, and typically about a quarter to twice as expensive as traditional eyeglasses.
Glasses to Avoid While Night Driving
Many glasses are marketed that claim to enhance night driving, most without a prescription. These typically include polarized or UV (ultraviolet) lenses.
These glasses are often initially designed as sunglasses meant to block out harmful sun rays and help people to see better in the sunshine. UV and polarized glasses usually have a yellow or blue tint to them. Headlights and streetlights are not the same as sunlight, however, and these glasses may actually be dangerous to wear at night.
Polarized and darkened lenses can block out too much light at night and make it harder to see. They will not just decrease glare, but they may make it even more difficult for your eyes to adjust to faraway lights or changing light conditions.
At night, your eyes need to be able to make as much use out of low light as they can. Polarized and UV lenses just serve to block the light, not enhance it.
Tips for Driving at Night
Your eye doctor can help to ensure that your prescriptions are up to date. They can help in choosing glasses and lenses that can help you to see better at all times as well as improve night driving.
There are some things you can do to improve your ability to see clearly while night driving.
- Ensure your glasses lenses are clean.
- Make sure your car headlights are working properly, free from dirt, and aligned correctly.
- Be sure your car’s windshield is clean on both sides.
- Keep your eyeglass prescription updated.
- Rest your eyes when needed. Eyestrain can decrease night vision.
Trouble driving at night can be indicative of an eye-related health issue that needs to be addressed. Talk to your eye doctor about any changes to your vision or issues with night vision and night driving.
References
- Shedding Light on Night Blindness. (September 2016). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
- Anti-Reflective Coating: See Better and Look Better. (April 2018). All About Vision.
- High-Definition Eyeglass Lenses. (August 2017). All About Vision.
- Night-Driving Glasses May Hurt Not Help. (January 2018). American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
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As a vision expert with a deep understanding of the topic, I can assure you that choosing the right glasses for night driving is crucial for optimal visibility and safety on the road. The article you provided covers various aspects of night driving glasses, including the types, features, and technologies involved. Let me break down and elaborate on the key concepts mentioned:
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Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating:
- Importance: AR coating is crucial for night driving glasses as it allows more light to enter the lenses, reducing glare from oncoming traffic and other light sources.
- Benefits: Glasses with AR coating can promote sharper vision by allowing nearly all available light (99.5 percent) to pass through, a significant improvement over regular glasses that block about 8 percent of light.
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Types of Glasses for Night Driving:
- Prescription Glasses: Prescription glasses, with or without anti-reflective coating, can improve vision in all lighting conditions, including night driving.
- High-Definition Lenses: Advanced technologies have led to the development of high-definition lenses, such as free-form and wavefront lenses, designed to correct vision issues and enhance clarity in various lighting conditions, including at night.
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Glasses to Avoid for Night Driving:
- Polarized or UV Lenses: While often marketed for night driving, polarized or UV lenses can be hazardous as they may block too much light at night, making it difficult to see. These lenses, initially designed for sunglasses, may have a yellow or blue tint and are not suitable for nighttime use.
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Tips for Driving at Night:
- Clean Glasses: Ensure your glasses lenses are clean to maintain optimal clarity.
- Proper Headlights: Check and maintain your car headlights to ensure they are working properly, free from dirt, and aligned correctly.
- Clean Windshield: Keep your car's windshield clean on both sides to avoid distortions in vision.
- Regular Eye Checkups: Visit your eye doctor regularly to update your eyeglass prescription and address any vision issues.
- Rest Your Eyes: Avoid eyestrain, which can decrease night vision. Rest your eyes when needed.
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References:
- The article provides references to reputable sources, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and All About Vision, reinforcing the credibility of the information presented.
In conclusion, the article offers valuable insights into selecting the right glasses for night driving, emphasizing the importance of anti-reflective coating, cautioning against certain types of lenses, and providing practical tips for enhanced night vision and overall eye health.
