It’s no surprise, then, that yellow-tinted “night driving glasses” are so widely advertised, promising less glare and sharper vision after dark. But do night driving glasses work? Here’s what the evidence says, and what can make driving at night easier.

What Are Night Driving Glasses?

Night driving glasses usually have yellow- or amber-tinted lenses. They’re sold on the idea that the tint filters out some blue light, reduces the dazzle from headlights, and makes the road ahead look brighter and sharper.

They’re often sold online and in shops without a prescription, and some come as clip-on lenses that fit over your normal glasses.

Do Yellow Night Driving Glasses Work?

The short answer is no. Any tint, however light, reduces the amount of light reaching your eyes. In daylight, that can make things feel more comfortable. At night, when there’s already very little light, it makes dark parts of the road look even darker.

The yellow tint can make the view look brighter, but that’s an effect of the colour, not more light reaching your eyes. It doesn’t help you see more.

The research backs this up. In 2019 a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers at Harvard Medical School’s Schepens Eye Research Institute tested three makes of yellow-lens night driving glasses in a driving simulator. Drivers spotted pedestrians no sooner with yellow lenses than with clear ones, and the yellow lenses did nothing to reduce the effect of glare from oncoming headlights. The researchers also warned that the glasses could make drivers feel more confident in their night driving than they should.

The College of Optometrists, the professional body for optometrists in the UK, advises drivers to avoid yellow-tinted lenses for night driving, because they’re not proven to help and can make it harder to see dark areas of the road.

What Does the Highway Code Say?

Rule 94 of the Highway Code is clear: “At night or in poor visibility, do not use tinted glasses, lenses, or visors if they restrict your vision.”

Optometrists use a technical measure for this. The College of Optometrists recommends that lenses letting through less than 75% of light aren’t suitable for driving at twilight or at night. Sunglasses, including polarised lenses, fall well below that, so they should only ever be worn for driving in daylight.

Why Does Glare Feel Worse at Night?

When it’s dark, your pupils widen to let in as much light as possible. That helps you see in low light, but it also means bright lights, like headlights, scatter more inside the eye and dazzle you for longer.

Glare can also be a sign of an eye condition, especially if it’s new or getting worse:

• Cataracts: Clouding of the lens inside the eye scatters light, causing glare and haloes around headlights and streetlights.
• Astigmatism: An uncorrected or out-of-date prescription can make lights look streaky or smeared.
• Dry Eye: An uneven tear film on the surface of the eye can blur vision and make glare worse, particularly with the car heater blowing.

Age plays a part too. As we get older, our eyes let in less light and take longer to recover from glare. In the 2019 study, glare slowed older drivers’ reactions to pedestrians by 1.5 seconds, compared with 0.3 seconds for younger drivers.

What Actually Helps When Driving at Night?

Keep Your Prescription Up to Date

Even a small change in your prescription can make a noticeable difference after dark. If you need glasses to drive, you must wear them every time you drive. Yet the same College of Optometrists survey found that 24% of drivers who’d been told to wear glasses for driving admit that they don’t always do so. If it’s been more than two years since your last eye test, or you’ve noticed night driving getting harder, book an eye test.

Ask About an Anti-Reflection Coating

Rather than a tint, an anti-reflection coating on clear prescription lenses reduces the reflections bouncing around your lenses from headlights and streetlights, without darkening your view of the road.

Don’t Look Straight at Oncoming Headlights

If you’re dazzled, look towards the left edge of your lane rather than into the lights, and slow down if you need to until your vision recovers.

Keep a Spare Pair in the Car

If you only need glasses for driving, keeping a spare pair in the glove box means you’re never caught without them.

Night Driving Glasses FAQs

Are Night Driving Glasses Legal?

They’re legal to sell, but the Highway Code says not to use tinted glasses at night or in poor visibility if they restrict your vision. Because any tint reduces the light reaching your eyes, they’re best avoided after dark.

Can I Wear Polarised Sunglasses to Drive at Night?

No. Polarised sunglasses are excellent for cutting glare in bright daylight, but they let through far too little light for driving at dusk or in the dark.

Do I Need to Tell the DVLA if I Struggle to See at Night?

Not just because night driving feels harder. But you must meet the eyesight standard for driving, and you must tell the DVLA about certain eye conditions. Our guide to whether you need to tell the DVLA you wear glasses explains the rules.

When Should I See an Optometrist About Night Driving?

If glare is new, getting worse, or you’re seeing haloes or starbursts around lights, book an eye test. Your optometrist can check for cataracts, astigmatism, and dry eye, and make sure your prescription is right for driving.

See Clearly After Dark

Yellow night driving glasses might look like a quick fix, but the evidence shows they don’t help you see better at night, and they can make the darkest parts of the road harder to see. Clear, up-to-date prescription lenses with an anti-reflection coating, clean glasses, and a regular eye test do far more to keep you safe on the road this winter.

If night driving is getting harder, book an eye test at your nearest D.I. Blow Opticians branch.

The post Night Driving Glasses: Do Yellow Lenses Actually Work? appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

We can experience glare from looking at screens for too long. Driving at night. Or even looking at bright lights.

But those aren’t the only places where glare can manifest. In fact, glare can intensify during the Winter months.

Whilst Winter eye care is essential for optimum eye health, it’s also important that you invest in polarised sunglasses. Polarised sunglasses aren’t like any other lenses on the market as they work to protect your eyes from blinding glare which can cause permanent damage over time.

Interested in learning more? Here’s everything you need to know about polarised sunglasses and how you can utilise them to protect your eyes during the colder months.

What Are Polarised Sunglasses?

In order to understand how polarised sunglasses work, we first need to understand a little bit more about light.

Light reaches your eyes in vibrating waves that moves in all directions. When the vibrations from light waves become aligned in one or more direction, the light becomes polarised and matches the angle of the surface. For example, when you look at the surface of a lake in bright sunshine, you might notice a reflective glare. This is polarised light.

Unlike standard sunglasses, polarised sunglasses are laminated with tiny vertical stripes that only allow vertically angled light to enter the eyes. By wearing polarised sunglasses, glare is eliminated almost immediately as the light waves cannot bypass the vertical filter.

Is There Much Difference Between Polarised Sunglasses And Regular Sunglasses?

You’re probably thinking polarised sunglasses do the same thing as standard sunglasses, but that’s not the case. Standard sunglasses offer basic protection against bright light and UV rays which is why many opticians recommend UV400 sunglasses at the bare minimum. However, these lenses aren’t always able to reduce glare.

Polarised sunglasses block blinding glare and can also enhance visual acuity, colour contrast, visual comfort and blocks 100% of harmful UVA/B light.

If you’re trying to decide which is right for you, our full polarised vs non-polarised sunglasses comparison breaks down exactly when each option makes more sense, including a side-by-side look at cost, driving, screens and low-light performance.

What Are The Different Types?

Polarised sunglasses are available in nearly all lens types, materials, coatings and designs. There are two main types – polarised varifocal sunglasses or polarised high index sunglasses. These can be added to any frame type such as rimless glasses.

Just ask one of our opticians in store who can advise you further.

How Can Polarised Sunglasses Protect My Eyes During The Winter Months?

There are various ways polarised sunglasses can protect your eyes during Winter. They can:

• Reduce glare from light-reflecting surfaces such as water, glass and snow
• Improve contrast, visual comfort and acuity
• Block blinding glare that sunglasses and standard sunglasses would otherwise struggle to block
• Be particularly useful for people with certain eye conditions that make them more sensitive to light such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
• Help prevent eye strain and fatigue
• Sharpen the contrast between light and dark surroundings

Can I Wear Polarised Sunglasses All The Time?

There are certain situations where it’s not a good idea to wear polarised sunglasses. For example, it’s difficult to see LCD screens or displays through them. People who work in high-risk or critical work (like pilots or machine operators) should avoid wearing them.

Finding The Right Pair For You

Interested in polarised lenses? The good news is you can add them to nearly all of our sunglasses.

For the complete picture on choosing sunglasses lenses — UV ratings, tints and lens types — see our Sunglasses Lens Guide.

Why not visit us in one of our stores to try on our extensive range of sunglasses? We have styles to suit all fits, styles and personalities so you’ll never be short on choice. Remember, regular eye exams can detect any eye conditions early so it’s important you attend them when necessary. Your optometrist will also be able to discuss potential options for polarised sunglasses with you.

Find your local branch by using our store locator.

The post Everything You Need to Know about Polarised Sunglasses appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.

Keep Your Eyes Moisturised

We all have a natural tendency to neglect our eyes during the winter months, especially with cold winter winds and central heating playing havoc with our eyes. Winter air is drier than that of other seasons, and indoor heating only adds to the problem, as heaters and radiators strip moisture from the air, leaving none for your eyes. It’s important that you keep your eyes hydrated when temperatures start to plummet, as dehydrated eyes can feel dry, gritty, and sore.

Invest in some quality moisturising eye drops to keep your eyes moist and reduce irritation. Using a humidifier indoors will also help regulate air moisture. You can further minimise symptoms by keeping yourself hydrated, reducing the setting on your central heating, and protecting your eyes from cold winds and heaters at face level, particularly in the car.

When Dry Eyes Don’t Get Better

If your eyes still feel dry, gritty, or sore after a few weeks of eye drops and the changes above, it’s worth getting them checked. Ongoing dry eye is often caused by blocked oil glands in the eyelids, which drops alone won’t fix. A dry eye assessment find the cause, and treatments such as IPL dry eye therapy can help where drops haven’t. For more on causes and treatments, read our complete guide to dry eye.

Wear Your Sunglasses

Sunglasses aren’t just for the summer months.

In fact, they can be worn all year round to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Snowfall, ice and the sun sitting lower in the sky can create reflective surfaces that dramatically increase the amount of bright light your eyes are exposed to.

Unfortunately, some people can develop new light sensitivity during winter due to a condition known as snow blindness (photokeratitis), where UV glare from snow, water or other bright surfaces can cause the cornea to become inflamed. Whilst UV400 sunglasses can protect your eyes with the highest level of protection, you may also want to consider polarised lenses.

Related: Do I need UV400 protection for my eyes?

Eat a Healthy Diet

Maintaining healthy eyes isn’t just about what you put on them; it’s also about what you eat. Focus on eating leafy greens such as kale, and keep yourself well hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. A balanced diet supports your overall eye health, not just during winter but all year round.

Monitor Your Screen Usage

We naturally spend more time indoors during the winter months, but that doesn’t mean your screen usage should increase. As tempting as it can be to spend more time scrolling on your phone, watching endless hours of TV, or gaming, remember to take regular breaks, especially if you work on a computer screen all day. The more time we spend looking at screens for extended periods, the more likely we are to blink less, which can cause dry, irritated eyes and even pain and redness.

Practise the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This will help reduce any discomfort from digital eye strain and prevent your vision from deteriorating.

Wear Your Glasses

If you wear contact lenses, you might notice that they cause irritation during the winter months, which is perfectly normal.

Instead, try switching to spectacles, which will help alleviate any irritation. If you’re a contact lens wearer but don’t own any glasses, book in with us today and we can help.

Stay Safe While Driving

The reflection of light off icy roads can cause difficulty when driving, so ensure your windscreen is clean inside and out. Keep an extra pair of sunglasses in the car to protect you from low winter sun glare. Additionally, avoid pointing your car heater directly towards your eyes, as this can dry them out further. Do not use “night driving glasses” or yellow-tinted lenses; our guide on night driving explains why.

Practise Good Hygiene

Winter is notoriously cold and flu season, which can affect your eyes through inflammation. Keep on top of hand washing and avoid touching or rubbing your eyes where possible, to limit the number of bacteria and viruses you come into contact with.

Lighting Is Important

As the nights draw in, lighting is even more important during the winter months, with natural light becoming significantly lower.

Poorly lit conditions can cause unnecessary eye strain, redness and headaches, all of which can be prevented with the correct lighting.

When choosing lighting in your home for the winter months, consider the following:

• Opt for warm light bulbs to create a more natural feel in your home.
• Ensure you have multiple light sources in a room without relying on a bright overhead light.
• Shade any bulbs so that they do not shine directly into your eyes.

Still Concerned About Your Eye Health?

If you have any concerns about your eyes or you’re due a check-up, book an eye test at your local D.I. Blow Opticians branch with us today. Our team are there to help.

The post Winter Eye Care Tips for Healthy Eyes appeared first on D.I.Blow Opticians.