The days are shorter in winter, so we inevitably end up driving at night a little more. Any of us who don’t have perfect eyesight can find this a stressful adjustment to make each year, and it can be a dangerous one if we’re not taking the dangers of night driving into careful consideration.
Conditions That Cause Difficulty in Seeing Well at Night:-
- Nyctalopia (night blindness)
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Myopia (nearsightedness)
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Retinitis pigmentosa
Good Practices for Safe Night Driving:
- Prepare Your Car: Keeping your car in good shape overall is important no matter what time of day you're driving
- Take Your Time: Allow your eyes a chance to adjust to the darkness before you start driving
- Have Regular Eye Checkups: It is highly recommended to visit your ophthalmologist for an eye exam every year.
- Remove cataracts: Cataract surgery removes cloudy lenses, replacing them with clear, artificial ones. This procedure improves your overall vision, including at night.
- Don’t forget to blink: Aim dashboard air vents away from the face and eyes to avoid excessive drying of the eyes.
- Invest in anti-glare night driving lenses for your glasses.
- Avoid looking directly at the headlights of oncoming traffic
- Stay Alert and Well-Rested
- If you’re uncomfortable driving at night, it is better to stick to familiar areas if you must go out in the evening.