While driving, we know that sunlight during the day and headlights in the dark evening hours contribute to road glare. What can compound the effects even more are now, during the winter season, with snow, wet, or icy pavement.
Many conditions can also lead to blurry vision, which further exacerbates the impact of road glare.
The following conditions, some temporary, and some more permanent, can lead to blurry vision:
- Eye strain resulting in tension headaches
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Medications
- Dry eyes
- Near- and farsightedness
- Astigmatism
- Aging
- A dirty windshield, inside and out, or a buildup of haze
Various forms of eyewear can also be extremely helpful in reducing glare:
Use Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized sunglasses are treated with a chemical that reduces glare from the sun and reflective “horizontal” surfaces, such as the hood of your truck, rear windows of vehicles, snow, wet, or icy pavement. This results in a reduction in glare and eye strain, and an improved clarity to see with more precision.
Use an Anti-Reflective Coating for Your Prescription Glasses
The benefits of an anti-reflective coating are the same as the benefits of polarized sunglasses.
Use Tinted Sunglasses
When choosing tinted sunglasses, the best color to choose is neutral gray because it doesn’t distort colors such as traffic lights. Never use sunglasses while driving at night.
The Best Bet: Use Non-Prescription Night Driving Glasses
Non-prescription night driving glasses are a great adjunct to reducing night time glare and improving your safety by enhancing “crisper”, clearer views. Most will fit over any prescription eyeglasses. Below is a link rating the top five night driving glasses: