Night Driving - reducing glare from oncoming headlights?

rag top · 13-10-2006, 12:31 PM

At a recent family dinner, my brother's girlfriend commented on how she has trouble driving at night, due to the glare from headlights. It was part of a post op. eye surgery.

This also brought back the memoris of the debate on here regarding driving lights and fog lights being used at night, and that some find them bright, whilst others don't seem to mind at all.

I looked into it on the internet, and there are driving glasses advertised that can reduce the effect of glare from oncoming headlights whilst not impacting on vision like general sunglasses would. I've seen some with yellow lenses and others with orange.

Has anyone on here seen them or used them whilst driving at night, and how well did they work??

brenx · 13-10-2006, 12:39 PM

What was the post op eye surgery? 20/20 vision should recieve minimal glare. If the eye surgery was to correct vision? It's best she wait till her eye settles.

Does she wear glasses? If not? She probably needs them. I'm short sighted myself. I didn't know till I had a welding accident (flash burn). Went and had my eye tested and I needed glasses. Without glasses I can see bugger all at night due to glare. Mainly as the glare is blurry without my glasses. Wack the glasses on and its fine. I don't get any glare during the day without glasses. I can drive without them during the day although my eye specialist has stated I shouldn't be.

I was supposed to have laser eye surgery myself this year but I spent the $ on the XB. Whoops!

4.9 EF Futura · 13-10-2006, 12:42 PM

I used to work in a lens factory and I think that the night driving lenses we used to make were just basic polycarb lenses with a yellow/orange tint.

However there is a shool of thought which argues that tinted lenses actually make it harder to see at night, and are not good for your eyes. Should really ask an optom this question

You can also have a lens AR (anti reflection) coated if person already wears glasses?

A good tip is to keep the windscreen crystal clear - inside and out. This will have a HUGE improvement in terms of halos and glare!!!

BlueRaven · 13-10-2006, 12:48 PM

Surely it would be possible to get some kind of polarised tint that was clear?

rag top · 13-10-2006, 12:54 PM

Brenx - she doesn't wear glasses now. Not sure as to why she had the surgery.

4.9 EF Futura - was there much demand for the night driving lenses? I think there are some legislative requirements in some states that require the driver to have a perscription from an optomotrist to use them at night. Thanks for the tip on anti relection coating.

RSgerry · 13-10-2006, 01:44 PM

Also check the condition of teh windscreen. If it is dirty inside or out or even damaged, it can be very hard to see out of. I had a 'sandblasted' windscreen which looked lik it was dusty when driving during the day, but was impossible to see out of driving into the sun and really difficult with oncoming headlights.

4.9 EF Futura · 13-10-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rag top

4.9 EF Futura - was there much demand for the night driving lenses? I think there are some legislative requirements in some states that require the driver to have a perscription from an optomotrist to use them at night. Thanks for the tip on anti relection coating.

Well we used to pump about 500 to 600 pairs of specs out per day, maybe 2 or 3 pairs would have an orange tint... with a dozen other colours. But usually the orange/yellow lenses were for shooting (i.e. lens was cut for a sports frame and had no optical correction),

As for legislative requirements, im not sure sorry. I know that classes of licences exist where you may be required to wear corrective lenses (and you're in trouble if you're pulled over without them on) but not sure about the opposite scenario.

**thefargo** · 13-10-2006, 04:22 PM

years ago I had some "night driving glasses". they were a yellow lens. from memory they cut headlight dazzle and seemed to "brighten" up the road. I don't know what happened to them (it was the 80's). I have also heard that the amber vision glasses that were popular a few years back were supposed to be good at night. These days I go for natural vision and don't bother with any of that sort of thing.

Gibson · 13-10-2006, 05:10 PM

Before I had my eyes lasered i asked my doctor about the glare after reading that it can be one of the side effects, He told me that it had to do with being short sighted and that it occurs even before the surgery.

I used to see glare/halos around cars headlights before i had the surgery, now i have no problems at all.

peedee · 13-10-2006, 05:12 PM

there was the ambervision for daytime and nitevision for night driving, have two unopened packs of nightvision here found them the otherday while cleaning up, I think they were being given away at one stage during the 80,s with smokes or burbon cant remember now (musta been burbon then) LOL. I remember the nitevision did cut glare and were for use during rain as well, although I think the shape and the amount of mis aligned headlights is more the prob
peter

fmc351 · 13-10-2006, 09:25 PM

AFIK, it is illegal to wear night vision glasses at night.

Rayban used to make a pair of driving glasses, yellow lens for professional drivers. They still do, but no longer call them night driving for legal reasons.

The lights of some cars are badly adjusted, those driving lights in the bottom of the bumper often get over watt globes put in. Theres many reasons for them blinding oncoming traffic. My windscreen is brand new, and some cars driving lights get me too.

Orbit · 13-10-2006, 09:36 PM

yellow tinted glasses for night driving is the go...i use them, and they are great.

broken_suave · 14-10-2006, 01:39 AM

Perhaps get your whole windscreen tinted yellow..

angelwithinvisiblewings · 15-10-2006, 09:21 AM

I have the same problem. I think sometimes as fmc351 said it can been badly adjusted headlights. I have a real problem with people having their fog lights on too. Not to mention that it is illegal to drive with them on when its not foggy. ;p

They are really bright and my eyes often hurt. Wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I am slightly short sighted. I also have a problem with bright light during the day...can't cope without sunglasses.

pertuan · 15-10-2006, 11:19 AM

I suffer from glare as well. I find myself slowing down when it happens. Obviously I dont want to be going at speed if I can't see anything. Also find the worst offenders to be Camrys of all ages... followed by BMWs with the Xenon lights. Its like the Camry has their lights aimed at my head.

Bill_R · 15-10-2006, 11:24 AM

yeah. I've definitely heard of these and though about geting some. I'd want quality .

AshMan · 15-10-2006, 06:44 PM

If the pain/vision probs from glare is a permanent thing (and not just a temporary side effect of the surgery) you should be able to get a medical certificate and get a tint put on the window, IMO its not much but every little bit helps ey?