Commentary by Dr. Matthew Clark, O.D.
Winter driving can be hazardous. Not only is there potential for ice and snow on the roadways, it’s also very dark during otherwise conventional “daylight” hours. Many of us commute to work before the sun rises and return after it’s set during wintertime. Here are a few simple tips to complete your moonlit commute more safely.
- Reduce glare –The most important addition to your everyday glasses is anti-glare coatings on the lenses. These coatings reduce the haloes and “starbursts” around headlights and streetlights. Dim any ambient lighting inside your car, including your dashboard, to reduce reflections. Consider an artificial-tear eye drop before driving, and keep your heating vents from blowing toward your face and drying out your eyes. Dry eyes are one of the most common causes of glare because a dry ocular surface will scatter light instead of focusing it. Make sure your wiper fluid is full and clean the muck and salt from your windshield regularly.
- Update your glasses prescription – So, your glasses are a little out-of-date, but they’re generally good enough to get by. When the sun goes down and your pupils widen, this small blur can become debilitating. You should visit your eye doctor every year to make sure they’re tuned up. At the same time, the doctor will check for signs of cataracts, macular degeneration and various other eye conditions that may affect your night vision.
- Don’t look at headlights – It sounds like common sense, but I do it, too. When someone is passing with headlights blaring, and I can’t help but look closer to see if this fool has his or her high beams on. When a bright light like a headlight hits the center of your vision, the photoreceptors in your eyes become “bleached,” which may reduce your vision for several minutes.
Stay safe out there and have a wonderful holiday season.
