How to Buy The Right Glasses for Driving

Getting behind the wheel is nerve-wracking enough for plenty of people, let alone if you’re vision-impaired. Annoyingly, even your regular prescription might not be the right choice while driving in many cases. If you’re not entirely comfortable looking through the windscreen, it’s time that you put some money aside and buy some purpose-chosen glasses for driving.

This article will offer some insights into how you can source the right driving glasses with ease, from the start of the searching process to final purchases.

Step 1: Determine why you need glasses for driving

Before you start seeking day or night glasses for driving, determine why it is that you think you need the support. Are you struggling with:

Sun glare
Seeing the sat nav up close
Peripherally viewing hazards from the sides
Seeing traffic signs and other vehicles up ahead
Contrast perception

Understanding these issues will make it easier to speak to your optician and determine the proper solution.

Step 2: Book an eye exam

Whether seeking driving glasses for night missions or all-day cruising, you should start with an eye exam. The NHS recommends you get one of these every two years anyway to see how your vision has developed, so you’re probably overdue a visit. Use this time to bring up your driving habits and issues, as this will guide the optician’s suggestions.

Step 3. Search for the right driving glasses lenses & features

After you’ve spoken to your optician, you should have a better idea of whether you need night driving glasses, anti-glare driving glasses or anything specific in between. That’s when you can really start the search for your perfect pair.

Some important features, lenses and glasses for driving to remember include:

Anti-reflective coatings

AR coating and MAR coating are thin layers applied to lenses to eliminate reflections and glare, ideal for neutralising headlights, streetlights, reflections and sunlight. This feature is an essential in any light condition.

Polarised & transition lenses

Polarised and transition lenses are two sides of the same coin. The former uses a special filter that blocks horizontal light waves, meaning blinding glare is significantly reduced. The latter darken when faced with UV rays, essentially acting as prescription lenses and sunglasses in one package. Both are great options for people trying to maintain confidence in the daytime, while neither are effective for reducing glare from diffused light sources.

Different coloured tints

Tinted prescription lenses can be effective for day and night time driving glasses if trying to block glare. However, you must remember that the colour of your tints will significantly impact the efficacy in different light settings.

Good colour options for the daytime include:

Grey tints – these offer the most natural colour perception experience
Brown/amber/copper tints – increase contrast and depth perception

If you’re driving at night, you should only wear very light yellow tints, as you need full awareness of the road. On the other hand, you should avoid blue, pink or red tints as they’re known to distort views of traffic signals and headlights.

Step 4: Pick glasses for driving as you usually would

Once you’ve determined the suitable additions or lenses that you need for driving, you can simply pick your frames the same way you would with any prescription or shades. Choose frames that suit your face shape and skin tone and have your prescription fitted!

Now you should feel more confident getting behind the wheel and going about your everyday life! Having the right glasses for driving is essential, whether driving is an important part of your working life or something you tolerate to get from A to B – follow this guide to find the right set.