With the nights getting longer, more motorists are finding themselves having to drive in the dark, especially if they’re on their way to and from work. National Eye Health Week estimates there are now nine million drivers on the Britain’s roads with vision that falls below the legal standards of vision for driving, with road crashes involving a driver with poor vision estimated to cause 2,900 casualties.

This is why we’re supporting Road Safety Week and the Association of Optometrists’ Don’t Swerve a Sight Test campaign, so drivers are fully prepared for driving in low light conditions or at night, and have regular eye exams to ensure their vision complies with the legal standards of vision for driving. Eye exams can also detect early signs of conditions like macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma & diabetes, all of which can also affect your driving vision if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Before you head off on your journey, it’s important to ensure that you’re fully equipped for your travels to see the roads more clearly – not only with your specs, but your vehicle too. Here’s our list of essentials to check before hitting the road:

1. Make sure your windscreen is clean both inside and out
2. Check that your wiper blades are clean
3. Have a look to see whether your screen wash is topped up
4. Ensure your headlights and tail lights are clean and smear-free
5. Choose well-lit roads to drive on wherever possible and avoid poorly lit areas
6. Drive slower than usual and keep your distance from the car ahead when driving at night or in adverse weather conditions
7. Have your vehicle fitted with good quality light bulbs and make sure they are working before starting your journey
8. If you wear glasses or contact lenses for distance and/or driving, make sure they are in your most up to date prescription – if you feel your vision is not as clear as it should be then book an eye exam as soon as possible
9. Make sure your prescription driving glasses are clean by using a microfibre cleaning cloth and cleaning spray before starting your drive
10. Consider investing in Road Pilot driving glasses with Crizal Drive coating

Having the right night time driving glasses is also vital to reduce the risk of accidents and discomfort caused by glare from reflections of bright headlights, street lamps or traffic lights, which can hinder your ability to react to hazards quickly and safely.

The innovative Road Pilot glasses from one of our trusted lens suppliers, Essilor, offer high-resolution vision, improved contrast sensitivity, a wider field of vision (particularly for varifocal wearers) and up to 90% reduction in reflections. Available with single vision and varifocal prescriptions, it comes as no surprise these glasses lenses are considered market-leading.

Single vision Road Pilot lenses can also be customised with Eyecoding, which produces personalised measurements using our advanced Essilor Visioffice system to give you better contrast for the most natural vision possible.

What’s more, the Essilor Crizal Drive lens coating, which also works to reduce reflections by up to 90%, can be added to Road Pilot lenses, helping them to work even harder to provide crystal clear vision whilst on the roads.

Here at Feltham Eyecare Centre, we always test our products before offering them to you, our valued patients, so you can be assured of their quality and effectiveness before investing in them.

Our very own optometrist and owner, Mohamed Kasmani, and his wife and dispensing optician, Fermin Kasmani, wear Road Pilot glasses with the Crizal Drive coating themselves, while Mr Kasmani’s mother also uses lenses with Crizal Drive following her cataract surgery. She absolutely loves them for driving, and all 3 family members have noticed the immense difference they have made to reduce oncoming glare, helping them to see with more ease during the day and at night.

For more information on our range of night time driving glasses or to book your thorough 40 minute eye examination, call us on 020 8867 0406.