Night Driving Glasses: Do They Really Work?

Older people sometimes experience age-related vision changes that make driving at night difficult or even unsafe. Night vision glasses are marketed to help with this, but are they really effective? The short answer is: probably not–and they’re certainly not a replacement for undergoing an eye exam with an optometrist. Read on as Vienna Eyecare Center, explains why night vision glasses aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

What Night Driving Glasses Do

Night driving glasses can supposedly reduce glare from headlights, streetlights and neon signs on the road, but they’re problematic for several reasons. The biggest problem with these glasses is that they reduce the total amount of light that reaches your eyes, which actually makes driving more dangerous.

Simple Precautions You Can Take

If you’re having trouble seeing at night, start by checking your car and headlights first. Here’s a short checklist to help you get started:

1. Clean your windshield—it tends to get smudgy, especially when driving in wintery conditions. And don’t forget to check your windshield wipers as well.
2. You might be having trouble seeing the road because your headlights aren’t working properly or are covered in grime. Make sure to have this checked as well.

The Importance of Routine Eye Exams as You Age

You might also be having difficulty driving at night because your current eyewear prescription needs to be updated or the scratches on your lenses are making your vision cloudy. To make sure your glasses aren’t the problem, see your eye doctor for an eye exam. 

Seeing at night is a common symptom of several age-related eye conditions, most notably cataracts. Luckily, cataract-related vision loss can be minimized if treatment begins promptly. 

Vienna Eyecare Center offers a wide range of professional eye care services, including prescription eyeglasses. To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained optometrists, call us at (703) 938-7633 or leave us a message leave us a message here. We serve patients in Vienna, Reston and Mclean, VA.