Night driving glasses are especially useful for older drivers (those over the age of 60), because when one gets older, pupils don't dilate as quickly or as widely as they do in younger people. By the time you're 60, in fact, your pupils can admit only about a third of the light at night that they can when you were younger. This can make driving at night dangerous, but this effect can be offset if you wear night driving glasses. It's also true, by the way, that younger drivers may also find night driving glasses useful, especially if they have a problem with glare from oncoming headlights.

Night driving glasses with anti-reflective coating, can reduce the glare which will make seeing at night easier. These glasses are usually clear but have anti-reflective coating. It's a misconception that amber or yellow lenses make good night driving glasses.

Prescription, or non-prescription?

If you don't need glasses or contacts at all for daily sight, you can sometimes find night driving glasses that have clear lenses with anti-reflective coating at drug stores or online.

If you wear contacts, it's important to note that you shouldn't drive in your contacts at night, especially for long distances or in places where you're not familiar with the terrain. This is because even with anti-reflective coating on your night driving glasses, your contact lenses themselves can cause some glare. If you normally wear contacts to drive during the day, get prescription glasses specifically suited to night driving, again with anti-reflective glare coating.

See your doctor regularly, to get your eyes checked. Even if you currently have perfect vision, as you get older, your vision is going to change. Whether or not you notice any vision problems, however, get your eyes checked at least every couple of years. This will catch any problems with the health of your eyes (not just your vision) before anything becomes serious.

Night vision driving tips

In addition to keeping up on your eyes' health by visiting your doctor regularly and wearing anti-glare lenses, make sure that you keep your glasses clean and that your prescription is current. Also keep your car's windshield and windows clean. Headlights should be properly aligned for best vision. If you don't have to drive at night don't, but if you do don't drive when you're tired and take breaks often, especially if you are driving long distances.

Wearing the proper glasses for night driving, in addition to following the tips already mentioned, will keep you and your family safer.