Night time sight is affected primarily by glare, lack of light, reduced depth perception and peripheral vision. These issues can affect your driving at night time. Once you feel that your night time vision is deteriorating, it is important to have a check-up with your eye doctor. Once your eye doctor has determined that there are no serious issues with your vision, there are eyewear options that should help you with your night time vision.
Since glare from lights, whether its street lights, other vehicle’s lights or illuminated street signs, causes most of the problems for those experiencing deterioration in night time vision, it is important to use no-glare or anti-glare lenses on your glasses. By cutting down the glare, your night time vision will significantly improve. Keep in mind that If you do not cut down the glare, your eyes will naturally squint, which will impair your vision further, making driving or other night time activities dangerous.
A real fundamental and easy issue, but one that many people ignore is: if you usually wear glasses, make sure your prescriptions are up to date. Out of date eyewear is exasperates vision issue at night. So, one easy way to improve your night time vision is to make sure that your existing eyewear prescription is up to date.
Beware that some people are recommending sunglasses or yellow tinted eyewear for better night time vision for driving. However, this is incorrect and is actually dangerous advice. Yes, tinted eyewear can reduce glare and help visibility during the day time, but at night time the amount of light available is already reduced and further reducing this light with tinted glasses can be dangerous. If unsure, seek advice from an eyewear specialist.
Another issue people struggle with are sensitive eyes. This usually refers to people, who are experiencing increased sensitivity to light. This can occur due to age, such as macular deterioration or glaucoma or other eye conditions, or can be simply an existing condition. As eyewear technology advances, there are more options available to those with sensitive eyes. Work together with an eyewear professional to find the most appropriate colour or tinted eye wear to help your sensitive eyes. Tinted eyewear reduces the amount of light that gets into your eyes, without reducing visibility. Also, make sure that your eyewear protects you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Most eyewear nowadays do provide protection against both UVA and UVB, but double check when purchasing your glasses.
