The board certified eye doctors at Island Eye Surgicenter regularly meet with patients who struggle with poor night vision, something that can be especially problematic when driving. If you experience problems seeing at night, read the following tips for driving.
1. Keep Your Eyes Moving
Staring or focusing on one area when driving for extended periods of time can cause eye fatigue. You can avoid this by moving your eyes regularly, scanning your field of vision. If you plan on driving a long distance, it is a good idea to pull over every 90 minutes or so, to give you and your eyes a break.
2. Use Anti-reflective Coating on Eyeglasses
You should never wear glasses at night unless they are prescription glasses. For night driving, get a pair of eyeglasses that have anti-reflective coating to avoid glare. Be sure to keep your prescription up to date to avoid straining your eyes when driving.
3. Adjust the Lighting on Your Dashboard
Looking at bright lights makes your pupils dilate and contract, which in turn makes it difficult to see in the dark. Lowering or dimming the lighting in the interior of your car (i.e., your dashboard and instrument panel) makes it easier for your eyes to adjust to the dark roads at night.
4. Keep Your Car in Good Shape
Dirty windows and mirrors can create glare and hinder your ability to see and drive properly, especially at night. Make sure to clean your windows and mirrors regularly, especially during and after bad weather conditions (e.g., rain and snow). Keep your car in good working condition by having fresh windshield wipers and properly aligned headlights and taillights.
5. Schedule an Eye Exam
The best way to address your vision problems is to seek professional help. A board certified eye doctor can conduct a thorough eye exam in order to determine the cause of your poor night vision and recommend the proper solution. If you are experiencing night vision problems, or wish to learn more tips for safe driving, schedule a consultation with the experienced eye doctors at Island Eye Surgicenter. Contact us today by calling (516) 877-2400.
