Eyesight And Driving In The Dark

[curlyperm11]

My daughter 22 and isn't short sighted and doesn't need glasses for distance etc
But she tells me driving in the dark is a major concern, rob ably because of the xenon bulbs around these days?
We mentioned to the lady in Boots opticians and she merely stated that you would need coated prescription glasses! End of!
So, I'm
Just wondering if anyone has similar problems? Or has heard of anything that can be used to help?
I've had a look online but they appear to be like sunglasses?
T I A

[Answerprancer]

I have had this in the past - particularly on motorways and particularly when an exit slip-road isn't well lit. The worst scenario is in towns when the roads are soaking wet and you cant see the markings because of reflections etc.
For me (I have astigmatism) specs were part of the solution, also making sure you're not tired and plain good old fashioned exposure ie practice, get out there more regularly in the dark until it becomes as close as dammit to second nature.

[-SharonA-]

I have the same problem. I even bought special glasses which had yellow lenses, but nothing helped. I now hate and don't drive at night.

[TWR]

Try dropping the Sun Shade so the direct light is not in / her eyes.

[Hypognosis]

@curlyperm11

Is your daughter's problem the xenon bulb users coming towards her?

This is the problem I have. My view of the road ahead of me is completely blotted out by the excessive shine of the oncoming car. If a pedestrian stumbled into the part of the road that I can no longer see and I am at country A-road speeds, they haven't a hope.

Cyclists, also, slowly emerge from the gloom as you approach them from behind and they are all but blotted out by the light of the oncoming car. Losing sight of another road user for more than a heartbeat means I can't anticipate what happens next. Sudden loss of visual cues for where the next bend is going is another concern.

My basic problem is that *my* headlights aren't as bright as I need for my driving style but, if I switch to xenon bulbs then I become as bad as the drivers I hate.

[woofgang]

Has your daughter actually had her sight tested? many years ago, my DH wanted reading glasses so he made an appointment for a sight test. As he was going and I had not had a sight test since childhood, he said that i should go too. I took the sight test and the optician said "ok where are your current glasses?" I said I hadn't got any and he said (shocked) "what, not even for driving?" and showed me my uncorrected sight. It turned out that I had been driving with vision that was below the requirement. It was amazing when I got my glasses, I honestly hadn't noticed the world going blurry. I still don't use glasses for anything but driving.

[Baldric]

I must be missing something here, how is ///dropping the Sun Shade///
(^^^ @ 19:08) going to help with the Xenon Bulbs in the car coming towards you?

[gness]

Curly.....I have the same problem made worse by wearing glasses. I bought some Night Vision Fitover Driving Glasses...not expensive and worth a try I thought.
They are not perfect but do help a great deal.....they cut down the glare from lights and make my vision slightly crisper....x

[ummmm]

Where did you get them, Gness?

[gness]

I can't remember, Ummmm....but online and maybe Amazon....as I say...not perfect but because they relax my eyes against the glare I'm not squinting my eyes at all and that in itself helps with night driving....x

[retrocop]

ummm and gness
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=amber+vision+sunglasses
My eyesight for my age is very good but the glare of sodium yellow street lighting on wet nights plus the reflection of wet roads tire my eyes on long night drives. My wife and I both wear these when our eyes get tired. As gness says they make your vision crisper.

[curlyperm11]

Thank you for all your helpful suggestions! I will look into it!
Plus will suggest she has her eyes tested
: )

[ummmm]

Cheers, Retro.

I do struggle at night especially in the rain.

[Mosaic]

I have poor night vision at the best of times. Much sympathy if your DD is same.

[ummmm]

It's tense, isn't it? Especially if you're driving on some really crappy roads.

[joeluke]

'she tells me driving in the dark is a major concern'

So she shouldn't be driving at night then

[lankeela]

I aIways thought peopIe were exaggerating when they said they didn't Iike driving at night but now I find it very hard work especiaIIy on the country roads round here when the drivers don't dip their headIights tiII they have dazzied you. I wish I had something Iike James Bond to take out their headIights if they don't dip!