Can you get glasses for night driving?

Driving at night can be a daunting experience for a lot of drivers, regardless of whether they're new behind the wheel or not. Because driving at night reduces your visibility and depth perception, it can make you more susceptible to risks and impact your reaction time. If you have vision problems and are looking for glasses for night driving, stick around to learn more about these types of prescription glasses below.

Prescription night driving glasses

If night driving is something you find difficult, prescription night driving glasses may be the answer you're looking for. Night driving glasses typically fall under the two categories below:

Night vision glasses

Night driving glasses help reduce glare in your vision by reducing blue light in the environment, which can help you adjust to low light conditions more easily. Most of the time, these types of night driving glasses are non-prescription lenses, meaning you don't need to go to an eye doctor to get a prescription before purchasing them.

Keep in mind that these models have non-prescription yellow-tinted lenses that may contribute to poor visibility by blocking more than blue light, which could reduce your night vision. These may come in a wraparound frame that fits the top of your prescription glasses.

Anti-reflecting coating glasses

Another way to enhance your night vision is by using prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating. These coated lenses can minimize light reflections when driving at night, making it easier to adapt to bright lights in dim conditions. If you have astigmatism and struggle with night driving, it's highly advisable to get an anti-reflective coating for your prescription glasses.

Do blue-light glasses help with night driving?

Blue-light glasses are popular for reducing eye strain, but they might not be the best choice for driving at night for a couple of reasons:

1. Reduction of light intake: Yellow-tinted lenses block blue light, but they also reduce the overall light intake going into your eye. This will make dark environments even more difficult to see in, worsening your visibility instead of improving it.
2. Mixed scientific study results: Many of the scientific articles available have mixed results on whether blue-light glasses help with reducing glare and contrast at night. While some suggest minimal advantages or say there is no improvement.
3. Better options available: There are better options like prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating, which reduce glare from head and streetlights without diminishing your light intake, which will help maintain your visibility at night, making it safer for you to drive.

Ultimately, if you're having difficulties driving at night, consulting an eye doctor is recommended.

Medical conditions that could affect your driving at night

Certain medical conditions can make it difficult for some individuals to drive at night, including the following:

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is an eye condition that stems from an irregularly shaped cornea that causes blurry vision, which can worsen when driving at night.

Vitamin Deficiency

A lack of vitamin A can impede your retina's ability to process information, leading to difficulty adjusting to light changes when driving at night.

LASIK Surgery

Some individuals may experience unwanted halos around objects or increased sensitivity to bright lights, such as a headlight glare, after undergoing LASIK surgery.

Cataracts

Cataracts are known for causing blurry vision and a cloudy lens in each eye. It can also cause traffic lights to flood your vision field, creating a glare or halo. To remove cataracts, you can get cataract surgery, which replaces your lens with an artificial lens to improve vision loss.

Poor night vision (night blindness)

Night blindness can encompass numerous different vision problems or health concerns like high blood sugar that essentially worsen in low light conditions.

How night vision changes with age

As we get older, our ability to perceive low-light conditions naturally declines due to changes in the eye. Specifically:

• Pupil shrinking: The pupil will begin to shrink, which allows less light to enter the eye. This leads to difficulty adjusting vision in dim environments, reducing your visibility at night.
• Lens becomes less transparent. Your eyes' lens will also become less transparent. As a result, your eyes will become more sensitive to the glare of headlights and streetlights, which will make driving at night more difficult as the bright lights can create discomfort.
• Slow adaption to darkness: As your eyes' ability to adapt to darkness slows down, it will take them longer to adjust when moving from a bright environment to a dark environment.
• Age-related health conditions: Presbyopia, which is a medical condition that causes difficulty focusing on nearby objects, along with cataracts, can further affect your ability to drive at night.

Tips for driving at night

To improve your night vision, here are some tips for driving at night you can use beyond getting prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating:

Stay awake

Night driving can make you fatigued, given the low light conditions. To ensure you remain aware of your surroundings, drink a coffee, listen to some loud music or have someone drive for you.

Drive slow

When visibility is poor, drive slowly and remain cautious of your surroundings at all times.

Use the right light settings for your headlights

To improve your visibility, use your windshield wipers to clear debris off of your windshield. Next, turn on your high beams during stretches of road where there is no light at all. Keep in mind that high beams can affect drivers travelling toward you. You should only turn them on when needed.

Get your eyes checked

Eye health is important for all human beings. If you suffer from poor vision or eye strain, getting a routine eye exam from a doctor is recommended. They can give you prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating to improve your night vision, making night driving a breeze.

How to reduce glare from headlights at night

Glare from oncoming headlights can make driving at night challenging. But, with a few adjustments, you can drive with confidence and without vision problems:

Look to the right

Looking slightly to the right of oncoming headlights instead of directly at them can help reduce the strain on your eyes while keeping your eyes on the road ahead of you.

Keep your windshield clean

Make sure your windshield is clean. Smudges and debris can scatter incoming light, increasing glare and reducing your overall visibility.

Adjust your rearview

If possible, set your rearview mirror to "night mode." This will dim reflections from cars behind you.

Avoid looking at dashboard lights

Avoid looking at your dashboard as much as possible, as the lights can affect your night vision, making it harder for you to adjust to low-light environments.

Choosing the right night driving glasses

Not all night driving glasses are made the same, which is why picking the right pair can make a world of difference. Here's how to choose the right night driving glasses:

• Polarized lenses: Glasses for night driving with polarized lenses will reduce glare from different surfaces like wet roads, but they are not good for driving at night. Opting for prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating is a better choice as it will minimize glare without darkening your vision.
• Avoid cheap night driving glasses: Night driving glasses with yellow-tinted lenses are poorly made and do not enhance contrast, which will reduce your visibility by blocking out too much light. Avoid these at all costs.
• Photochromic lenses: Photochromic lenses adjust to different light settings, which can be helpful but may not adjust fast enough during the evening.

Following an eye exam, talk to your eye doctor about the best night-driving glasses for your unique needs.

How your diet affects night vision

Did you know that what you eat can affect your overall night vision abilities? Here's what you need to know:

• Vitamin A: Eating carrots and sweet potatoes is key to keeping your retina functioning correctly. A deficiency of vitamin A can lead to night blindness.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids support your eye's tear production, which prevents dry eyes that can cause discomfort in low-light conditions.
• Leafy greens: Leafy greens are great sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, which improve contrast sensitivity and enhance clarity at night.
• Reduce sugar and alcohol intake: Reducing sugar and alcohol is key as both can impair blood circulation to the eyes, impacting your visibility at night.

Protect your vehicle with high-quality car insurance

In Canada, all drivers on the road must have valid car insurance. However, depending on the province or territory you live in, the minimum coverage you need and the policies themselves may differ. Here's a closer look at some of the most common types of auto insurance Canadians have:

• Third-party liability car insurance (mandatory)
• Accident benefits coverage (mandatory)
• Uninsured automobile insurance (mandatory)
• Collision car coverage (optional)
• Comprehensive car coverage (optional)
• Accident forgiveness (optional)

Contact BrokerLink for affordable car insurance

Are you up for a car insurance renewal? Do you have questions regarding an insurance claim? Do you need help shopping around for coverage options? BrokerLink has got your back!

With years of experience partnering with Canadians just like you, we've got access to some of the top insurance providers and policies available, allowing our brokers to customize your coverage to your unique driving needs and budget.

If you're interested in working with a broker in person, don't hesitate to visit us at one of our many locations across the country. If we're not in your neighbourhood, give us a call over the phone! You can also get a competitive insurance quote for free by taking advantage of our online quote tool!

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