It is an all too common misconception that yellow tinted or yellow polarized night driving glasses are beneficial for night time driving. The thought is, the yellow or amber color reduces glare and improves contrast. However, in reality, when driving at night or dusk in already limited lighting conditions, ANY tint further reduces the amount of light transmitted to the eye, and consequently, further impairs vision. The problem is compounded as the yellow tint gives the wearer the impression they are seeing better, when in fact the reverse is actually true.
“Yellow ‘Night Driving’ lenses have been shown to provide no benefit in seeing ability at night. They are even hazardous, because they give the driver a feeling of seeing better, which no one has yet been able to explain. Studies have shown that they actually impair visual performance and retard glare recovery. Many promoters have made unfounded claims for the ability of amber to improve night vision. They have employed mass solicitation, usually by mail. The Federal Trade Commission has correctly ruled that such practices are illegal since the lenses do not perform as claimed.” – Forensic Aspects of Vision and Highway Safety”, Merrill J. Allen, O.D., Ph.D., Et al.
While yellow lenses can be effective for foggy or hazy daylight conditions, they are not effective against headlight glare and should not be worn at dusk or night. If glare from headlights is a problem, the first step should be a thorough eye examination, as this could be an early indication of cataracts or other medical conditions.
“So-called night driving glasses are generally amber tinted eyewear meant to reduce the glare of oncoming headlights. While they may make the driver feel more comfortable, they also reduce the wearers visibility of the darker portions of the roadway.” – Sunglass Association of America
The best option for night time driving is a pair of spectacles with clear lenses and an AR coating. The AR coating is beneficial in two ways. First, it minimizes internal reflections within the lenses, reducing halo problems, and second, it increases the transmittance of light through the lens to the eye. However, it is important to note, if a patient does not normally wear spectacles, AR coated lenses, or any other type of night driving glasses will not improve night vision, as AR coatings only minimize aberrations that are inherent in ophthalmic lenses and night driving glasses will simply serve to introduce those abberations to the wearer’s vision.
Tips for optimal night time driving vision:
- Make sure eyes are examined regularly
- Always wear an up-to-date prescription
- Lenses worn should be clear with an AR coating
- Ensure lenses are clean
- Ensure windshield is clean
- Ensure headlights are clean and properly aligned
Responsible dispensers of ophthalmic lenses should discourage the use of tinted, polarized, or photochromic lenses in night time or dusk driving conditions and not participate in solicitation or marketing of so-called night driving glasses by irresponsible manufacturers.
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3 Responses to “The Dangers of Night Driving Glasses”
So let us evaluate the usefulness of your advise:
* Make sure eyes are examined regularly
* Always wear an up-to-date prescription
- The usual, “consult a doctor” cop out, notably coming from a service provider.
* Lenses worn should be clear with an AR coating – Actually useful advice.
* Ensure lenses are clean
* Ensure windshield is clean
* Ensure headlights are clean and properly aligned
Common sense here. You might as well add Tip #7 – Don’t be stupid. By the way, most modern vehicles do not require headlamp alignment, and even if they did, it’s the other drivers’ improper lights that cause most of the problem. You are better served having your headlamp lenses polished such that you have a clear beam yourself to focus upon, being less likely to be visually lured into glare.
Also, you fail to explain how night driving glasses will not improve night vision if the patient does not normally wear spectacles.
G.T.,
Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet, that I am aware of, when it comes to helping people with problems seeing while driving at night. This is why companies are able to make money selling “magic” night driving glasses that likely do more harm than good. This is also why we need to address the basics. While these points may seem stupid, its not all that hard to imagine people with dirty lenses, dirty windshields, and dirty headlamps complaining of night vision difficulties.
You are 100% correct about polishing headlamps. I recently had this done and difference was astounding.
Regarding drivers that do not normally wear corrective lenses, night driving lenses present the same set of problems. Any lens (clear or tinted) you put in front of your eye reduces the amount of available light and introduces aberrations.
-Keith
Great comments all. I am 62 year old male with good eyesight, no glasses, however i do no enjoy driving at night , the glare from todays extremely powerful headlamps is most annoying and dangerous and fatiguing.To help with you own eye fatigue i have found that by turning down your own interior dashboard lights , including your radio,(satellite or standard ), cd player, gps , well you get the picture,it reduces the amount of glare into your eyes dramatically, similar to having someone shining a light at you. You will find you are not squinting and your eyes feel better rested…………works for me and i was free.
Gordo