Many of us drive on a daily basis and probably under many different conditions of visibility, from brilliant sunshine to night time driving. Our vision is of paramount importance to how comfortable and confident we feel with what in effect is a very complex task.

When we first get our driving licence, one  thing that is tested is our vision and for obvious reasons. The test is carried out under fairly false conditions which do not take into account all the situations we may encounter when we finally hit the open road. It is the intention of this article to outline some common problems with vision and driving and how some of them can be reduced and in some cases eliminated with the correct choice of spectacle lenses.

When considering the health of the eye, one problem that unfortunately many people encounter is the onset of cataracts. This development will cause some reduction in vision and when driving at night can also cause glare and light scatter of both headlights and street lights. This is however not a problem confined only to those with cataracts, we can all suffer from glare and dazzle at night. It is often referred to as the star burst effect as that is exactly how it can appear. It is not only uncomfortable, but can be very confusing, in fact even hazardous as we see a whole series of glaring headlights approaching, the dazzle created can even cause us to momentarily lose our sight altogether, even if only for a split second. That split second can however be enough to cause an accident.

One very effective way of reducing this problem is to have spectacle lenses made with an Anti Reflection coating. This helps in two ways, firstly by reducing glare, the coating will reduce considerably the amount of light scatter, this in turn will actually enable the driver to have clearer vision. This is helpful to all those who drive at night whether cataracts are present or not. The reduction in glare causes a reduction in eye strain and tired eyes, the increased visual clarity which ensues, helps all drivers, but is even more important if vision is reduced by the onset of cataracts.So ask your Optician about anti reflective coatings and consider this option when you make your next spectacle purchase. I know many of you reading this may have encountered problems with anti refection coatings in the past , with  the new coatings available this really is a problem now of the past. Remember, there really is no such thing as being able to see too clearly when driving, in fact I sometimes  wish I had eyes in the back of my head when I take to the highways. We all need to consider not only our own safety but that of the passengers we may also be transporting.

The next aspect of vision and driving I would like to tackle is the exact opposite, that of driving in brilliant sunshine. This is a situation which those of us fortunate enough to call Florida home, will be well acquainted with. The first thing many of us consider is a tinted lens for driving, and that will indeed help, but there are other solutions which are more effective. The tint will reduce brightness which can cause us to squint, but it does not fully tackle the problem of glare and heat haze on the roads.

One very effective solution is to consider a Polarising lens. This will reduce brightness but will also substantially reduce glare.Again there are a couple of advantages to this type of lens, the reduction in glare will increase vision and also reduce eye strain and tired eyes.The other advantage is the 100% protection from damaging UVA and UVB light. Polarising lenses are not just to improve visual clarity although it is beyond question that they do, use them to eliminate tired eyes, which can make driving so uncomfortable.Use them also to reduce reflections off the car dashboard and windshield. So why not make what is already a difficult task, a much easier, more comfortable and above all, safer one.

A couple of very simple and easily overlooked pointers , one ensure both your headlights and windshield are clean, it seems obvious but how many of us remember to check ?

Why not pay us a visit while we are offering a 20% discount on all, driving and sun lenses. We would be happy to discuss individual needs and ensure you have a pair of lenses not only custom made for you specifically, but for a price that will make you smile.