Selecting the Right Eyewear for Driving

Selecting the Right Eyewear for Driving

It may seem like a simple task, selecting a pair of glasses for driving. If the only thing that you need glasses for is to operate a vehicle safely, it’s important to get the right glasses for the driving you do. There are so many options for frames and features on lenses that can significantly improve or hinder your vision while driving. It’s important to know what features will give you the best vision while driving and those that can create additional vision issues.

Daytime Driving

The biggest issue that drivers face with daytime driving is reflections from the windshield. In today’s cars, windshields are tilted back, to decrease wind resistance and increase gas mileage. While this positioning is good for your car, it’s tough on your eyes. The reflection from your dashboard causes secondary images that can cause eye fatigue and are often distracting. Besides strange reflections from your windshield, prolonged time in your car on sunny days can also cause fatigue for your eyes. Many people don’t want to invest in sunglasses AND regular glasses just for driving. Some good solutions for daytime driving include:

• Polarized Lenses – Polarized lenses are the perfect solution for driving glasses. They do a great job of cutting the glare and reflection that come from your dashboard and windshield. Polarized lenses are also great for cutting the glare from things like snow, wet roads, and other vehicles.
• Tinted Lenses – Tinted lenses can be a great benefit for some patients in reducing eye fatigue while driving. Photochromic lenses are a great option for drivers who need corrective lenses for daytime and night driving, but don’t want two pairs of glasses. New advancements in the technology for photochromic lenses now allow for darkening, even with the UV protection provided by your windshield. It is, however, important to remember that if you have tinted lenses that are not photochromic, you should avoid wearing them during dusk and dawn since they will decrease your vision.

Nighttime Driving

If you do a lot of driving at night and need to wear glasses, there are lens options that will improve your vision while driving at night. Many adults find that as they get older, it becomes more difficult to see at night. This change is more pronounced for individuals who are nearsighted. Patients that notice a difference in vision at night can benefit from anti-reflective lenses that reduce the glare from headlights and taillights, improving distance vision. One product that is particularly good for night driving is the Zeiss DriveSafe lens. This lens is coated in a unique anti-reflective coating that not only reduces glare and reflections, but also reduces light at the blue end of the spectrum, which sharpens vision, and reduces impacts from myopic shifts at night.

The Right Frames

This is really an important consideration when you are shopping for driving glasses. First, if you suffer from conditions like dry-eye, you may want to consider a frame that has wrap around lenses. This will give you added protection from breezes from your heater and air conditioner. Wrap frames are actually a great option for any patient that needs to wear glasses for driving only. Many of today’s fashion frames have wide temples that can limit peripheral vision. Reduced peripheral vision can cause accidents, or may hinder your ability to renew your driver’s license. If you aren’t sure what frames work well for driving, take time to ask your optician.

I Need Help Finding the Right Glasses for Driving!

Oakland Optometry knows that it can be a challenge to find the right frames and lenses to correct your vision for driving. However, it’s important that you get the best product for your vision, and your driving needs. If you need new glasses to help with driving, our optometrists and opticians are ready to help explain the lens features that will work best for your correction, and help you find frames that not only look great, but keep you driving safely. To schedule an eye exam or to learn more about our full range of vision services in Rochester Hills, MI, please call us today at (248) 373-6500.