There’s no question that driving at night can be hard. The glare from oncoming headlights, reduced visibility in the dark, and a higher risk of accidents can make night driving a challenge. Is there a solution? Some drivers have found that night driving glasses help.
Night driving glasses have amber or yellow lenses to create contrast, which may seem to help you see better. These lenses also filter some high-energy visible (HEV) light. This is beneficial because HEV light may cause you to experience more glare than other types of light.
Glasses for night driving often have an anti-reflective (AR) coating on the lenses to help reduce reflections from headlight glare, streetlights, and other light sources.
Some also have polarized lenses to reduce glare from light reflected light off surfaces such as water, snow, and cars. However, polarization is more likely to come with sunglasses and darker lens tints that are not safe to wear while driving at night.
You don’t need a prescription to get night driving glasses.
If glare is a big problem for you, it’s possible that night vision glasses may help. But before you buy a pair, it’s a good idea to have an eye exam with your eye doctor to find out why you’re having trouble seeing at night. You could have a condition such as night blindness.
Night blindness, or nyctalopia, is an eye health problem that makes it hard to see in dark or low-light environments. Symptoms of night blindness can include:
Night blindness is often a symptom of another vision problem, such as:
Interestingly, glasses with amber or yellow lenses may help you drive better during the day. This is because these lens colors increase contrast when you’re looking at bright objects against a blue background like the sky.
Night glasses work for some people but they aren’t for everyone. The main reason you may not want a pair is because the yellow lens may block too much light from entering your eyes. At night, this can actually impair your vision and make it unsafe to drive.
It’s important that your glasses allow the right amount of light to enter your eyes so you can see clearly.
If you wear prescription glasses, getting an AR coating on your clear lenses may help you see better at night. Here are some reasons why an AR coating may be right for you:
Here are some other things you can do to help you see better when you drive at night:
Whether you wear night driving glasses or not, nighttime driving doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Taking precautions — like keeping your eyes healthy, your vision clear, and your car’s windshield clean — can help you navigate the roads more confidently and safely.