The aging process spares no part of the body, including the eyes. Drivers who are middle aged and older will find their night driving vision isn’t what it used to be. Glare becomes more of a problem and reading signs becomes more difficult. If this is affecting your ability to drive at night, don’t ignore it because the problem increases your risk of a car accident. However, there are things you can do to improve your night vision:

See an Eye Doctor

Your vision problems could merely be a case of presbyopia, which occurs when the aging process causes the eye’s lens to lose its elasticity. This results in farsightedness. If so, then your doctor will prescribe a pair of corrective glasses or eye contacts. Sometimes, vision problems indicate more serious health issues, which is another reason for getting your eyes checked.

Keep Your Windshield and Headlights Clean

Dirty headlights put out less light, which provide less illumination of the road. A dirty windshield blocks light and creates glare. Keep your headlights clean and wash both the outside and inside surfaces of your windshield. Have the alignment of your headlights checked and adjusted as needed.

Dim or Turn off All Lighting Inside the Car

Internal lighting reduces your night vision, which makes seeing the road more difficult. Turn off all reading lights and dim your dash lights as much as possible.

Avoid Looking at Oncoming Headlights

Instead, look at the right side of the road (or your lane) while the car passes by. The roadside will direct your steering while your peripheral vision can track the oncoming car.

Avoid All Tinted Glasses

Tinted glasses have their uses during the day, but a tint of any color blocks some light. At night, your lenses should allow as much light as possible to your eyes, and only clear lenses do this.

Choose CR-39 or Trivex Lenses Over Polycarbonate

Trivex has the same impact resistance and UV blocking properties of polycarbonate but has superior optical quality. This means there’s less distortion. Standard plastic lenses also have a better optical quality than polycarbonate. Glass has the best optical quality but is heavy and doesn’t resist shattering as well as plastic.

Use an Anti-Reflective Coating on Your Glasses

For strong prescription glasses, an anti-reflective coating will dramatically reduce nighttime glare. This one change will make a noticeable difference and will increase your night driving safety.

Eat a Healthy Diet

You are what you eat, and this includes your eyes. Dietary deficiencies will impact your vision especially at night. Make sure your diet includes beta carotene and vitamin A.

If you’re in need of legal services because of a car accident, get in touch with the skilled and experienced lawyers at Hogan Injury. Contact us today.