Lenses and Glasses for Better Night Driving

If you are an older driver, what can you do to keep yourself and liked ones safe on the road at night? First, examine your ability to drive securely.

Each time we drive, our eyes are gotten in touch with to do some heavy lifting: seeing in poor light, blinding sunshine, fog or on wet or reflective roadways – not to forget the numerous other roadway users, signs and info they have to keep in mind. However, the right lenses or eyeglasses can turn even long and frequent drives into enjoyable and, most importantly, safe journeys, especially during night driving.

Tips for Better Night Driving: Glasses, Contact Lenses, Safety

Likewise take these actions:

• Ensure you visit an eye care professional at least once every two years, or even more regularly if you have a considerable eye condition or visual problem. Inform your optometrist about any issues you experience on the road in the evening so that you can go through specific screening, such as examination of your visual field or contrast level of sensitivity.
• If you have diabetes, get your eyes examined at least as soon as annual, and closely follow your doctor’s recommendations concerning diet, blood glucose control, insulin and self-care to lower the dangers of diabetic retinopathy, which can progress to severe vision loss without caution.

• Look for instant care when you find symptoms of sight-threatening eye diseases. Keep in mind that lots of symptoms of eye problems appear late in the disease process, so your immediate action is extremely essential.
• Ask your eye care professional to recommend special spectacles that may help you see much better on the roadway at night. Anti-reflective coverings can reduce glare. Lenses established with wavefront diagnostic technology can reduce halos, star bursts, glare and other distracting aberrations.
• If you are a candidate for cataract surgery, ask your surgeon about changing your natural lenses with an aspheric intraocular lens. These artificial lenses are engineered to offer much better contrast level of sensitivity and crisper vision than would be possible with the implantation of traditional, round intraocular lenses.
• Be additional mindful when approaching crossways, where 40 percent of fatal accidents involving older vehicle drivers take place, according to a March 2007 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The most common factor for these crashes was a failure to yield, specifically when making a left turn.
• Follow professional guidance for driving safely during the night (see below).

See also: Anti-glare (Anti-reflective) Coating for Your Glasses

Also, consider passing along these standards to a loved one who reveals signs of needing some extra assistance.

Specialist Advice For Driving Safely

The following tips for safe driving were prepared by the National Institute on Aging, U.S. National Institutes of Health:

Lessen the threats of driving at night as you get older by planning your journeys before you leave home. Own just on streets you know, and prevent dark, unlighted streets. Limitation your journeys to places you can easily reach and that are close to home. Avoid risky spots like ramps and left turns.

Plan for additional driving time if conditions are bad, and do not drive if you are stressed or worn out. Stay concentrated on driving only, avoiding distractions.

Always drive defensively. Leave a minimum of two car lengths in between you and the car in front of you, and even more space in bad weather or when driving quick.

Keep your windows clear, and drive a car with functions that make driving much safer, such as power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission and large mirrors.

Keep your car in good repair, preserving fresh windshield wipers and clean, lined up headlights. Consider hand controls for your gas pedal and brakes if you have leg issues.

Restore skills with a driving class every few years. Some car insurance provider will lower your expense for finishing such a course.