Night driving nightmare

Blinded by the light? 

 A very common problem which has become more prevalent over the last few years is glare from oncoming headlights, especially at night. I struggle with it and so do a great many of my clients. I thought I’d take a look at why this is getting worse and what we can do about it. 

 

Why has this become more of a problem?  

Well, for years cars had halogen headlights fitted which were okay but inefficient. These were superseded by Xenon bulbs which are much brighter but need more complicated electronics. We are now moving on to cars fitted with LEDs. These electrical gadgets emit very bright light using little energy and can be made in many shapes so are great for car styling. They are effectively lots of little lasers bundled together. This is great if you’re in the car looking out but can be awful if you’re looking towards the car. This is worse on dark country lanes with inclines or if they’re fitted to a 4X4, so the lights are higher off the ground and they’re pointing right into your eyes.  

 

So, we’re stuck with it? 

The next generation of LED lamps are adaptive. Sensors will detect oncoming vehicles and switch off the section of light that glares the other driver. They will also detect when you’re going round a corner and move the beam accordingly. My wife’s car has these and they work very well. They will be far safer, but it will take some time for them to become widely used.  

 

I didn’t have this problem before.  

Unfortunately, the ageing eye is more susceptible to this glare as even very mild cataract and changes in corneal transparency cause light to scatter more within the eye. The problems are caused by the new LED lights and the changes in your eyes. 

 

What can you do about it? 

So, what can you do to minimise the glare? 

• Make sure your windscreen is clean
• Don’t look directly at the headlights (you’re not a moth!) Try to look at the white line at the side of the road
• Keep your own headlights clean
• Ensure your glasses have the up-to-date prescription; are clean, unscratched and, preferably, have a Road Clear Coating (See below)

 

How about these tinted driving glasses? 

No, no, no, no, no!!! Am I making myself clear? 

These significantly reduce the ability to see darker objects such as a cyclist or pedestrian in dark clothing. Potentially lethal—if I thought they were safe I’d sell them, but they are not.  

 

Lens coatings 

Several labs have developed lens coatings which significantly reduce the discomfort from headlamps. They appear clear but they take out the intense glare by filtering out the strongest light. I wear these myself and they do make a big difference. Oncoming headlights still appear bright but not too bright, if that makes sense. My eyes don’t feel strained and uncomfortable by the time I get home. I don’t want to go too far into these here but if you’d like to find out more about them then give us a call. 

 

Would you like to read a little more information on night driving and what you can do to make it safer and more comfortable?  Here is a link to a Comparethemarket article that looks at the subject of night driving a little more broadly.

At Bellamy Eyecare opticians in Leicester and Irthlingborough we are always ready to help. If you would like any more information on eye care, designer glasses, orthokeratology or anything else then please feel free to get in touch.