8 Tips to See Better
When Driving at Night
If you find it hard to see when driving at night, you’re not alone. Many of us have night vision problems that make driving after sunset a lot harder. At night, depth perception, color recognition, and overall vision are all compromised. When driving, these issues are compounded by light glare, traffic, and road hazards.
If you’re experiencing trouble when driving at night, don’t worry. We are here to assist with 8 tips that can help you see better on the road after dark. We’ll also discuss some myths along the way—for example, do you need night vision glasses for driving?
Why Am I Having Trouble Seeing at Night?
Before we reveal our 8 tips to see better when driving at night, let’s discuss a few reasons you might be having trouble with night vision.
Astigmatism
People with astigmatism may struggle to see when driving at night. Astigmatism is a refractive eye issue that occurs when the cornea is misshapen and doesn’t reflect light correctly. This refraction can result in blurry vision and light halos, especially at night.
Advanced Age
As we get older, our eyes change. Children can see much better than adults in low light levels. After 30, it becomes even more important to schedule your yearly eye exam to check for vision changes and any underlying eye conditions.
Night Blindness (Nyctalopia)
When you have difficulty seeing clearly in dark or dim conditions, it might be classified as night blindness. While nyctalopia isn’t a condition that’s treated on its own, it can have multiple causes that need to be addressed, including cataracts, side effects from LASIK, glaucoma, genetic conditions, and vitamin A deficiency.
Other Eye Issues
If your night vision problems have a sudden onset, there may be another eye issue at play. Whenever you experience sudden vision changes, it is best to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible.
Try These 8 Tips to See Better and Avoid Light Glare When Driving at Night
1. Clean Your Car’s Windshield, Windows, and Mirrors
First things first: Make sure your car’s windshield, windows, and mirrors are all clean before you set out on the road at night. During the day, a dirty windshield may go unnoticed. However, at night, dirt, smudges, and grime can reflect light, cause glare, and distort your view of the road. Adopt a regular car washing schedule to make sure your car is ready to go when you are.
When you’re in a pinch, wipe down the windshield, windows, and mirrors with a clean cloth or paper towel and window cleaning solution.
2. Double-Check Your Headlights
Before you blame your eyes for poor night vision, check your car’s headlights. If your headlights are dim, burnt out, or clouded, it can impair your view of the road. Make sure to practice regular car maintenance and get your headlights professionally cleaned if they start to fog. A car in good working order is the first step to better night driving.
3. Dim Your Car’s Cabin Lights
Bright lights inside the cabin of your car can cause vision trouble when driving at night. Glowing lights on the dashboard, GPS, or cabin roof can be distracting and take your focus off the road ahead.
Make sure to turn off all cabin lights and dim interior lights on the dashboard or navigation systems. If you use your phone as a GPS, put the screen in night mode. Limiting light inside the car’s cabin helps your eyes focus on the light outside the car and makes it easier to see better when driving at night.
4. Don’t Look at Headlights in Oncoming Traffic
In order to see clearly when driving at night, avoid looking directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Bright lights can be distracting, and it’s difficult for our eyes to adjust from bright to low-light environments quickly.
When faced with bright headlights coming at you on the road, remember to look down and to the right. To avoid direct headlight glare in your eyes, focus on the white traffic line on the right-hand side of the road.
5. Plan for Extra Driving Time
If you experience trouble driving at night, don’t make it worse by rushing. Make the drive more manageable and less stressful by allowing extra driving time. Plan ahead so you can decrease your speed on the road and account for the additional time it takes to get to your destination. If a drive across town usually takes you 10 minutes during the day, give yourself 20 minutes to get there at night. It may not take double the time, but feeling safer because the pressure is off is worth it. Plus, it never hurts to arrive early!
6. Don’t Buy Yellow-Tinted Night Vision Glasses For Driving
If you’ve seen ads for yellow-tinted night vision glasses for driving, resist the urge to impulse buy. Studies have shown that special night driving glasses may actually hurt your vision and not help it. These glasses work by limiting the amount of light that can enter the eye, which can reduce glare but also reduce your range of vision. Don’t fall for the night driving glasses hype!
7. Get Glasses with Non-Glare Lenses
Instead of nighttime driving glasses, get prescription lenses with a non-glare coating. Our Visionworks Elite Non-Glare lenses help reduce eye strain and reflections by 90% both at night and during the day. Anti-reflective glasses for night driving are the easy solution to clearer vision and better visibility. Plus, anti-glare coatings work to prevent scratches, smudges, and dirt buildup.
8. Watch for Warning Signs in Your Vision
If you find yourself having difficulty seeing while driving at night, the best time to take action is yesterday. Having to get from A to B in the dark, but not feeling comfortable in your ability to get there safely, is not a pleasant situation.
How do you avoid it? Pay attention to your eyes. If you have the slightest vision concern, schedule an eye appointment to discuss the issue and get checked out as soon as possible. Be proactive by eating eye-healthy foods and engaging in positive vision habits.
By the same token, if concerns arise while you’re driving at night, don’t assume it’s an aberration. Get checked out. You don’t want to put yourself or your passengers in an unsafe situation because you ignored the clues that there might be a problem. Eye health is always a better-safe-than-sorry situation.
Schedule an Eye Exam
If you try all these tips and still have trouble with reduced night vision and driving after dark, it may be time to schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor. Vision changes can reflect a larger underlying concern—and to prevent worse issues down the road, it’s always better to address eye problems as soon as they happen.
Remember to drive safely and protect your eyes for what lies ahead!
Related Articles
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
