WITH winter now upon us, and the hours of daylight reduced, are you blinded by the night when driving?
At Swan Hill and Kerang Optical, we know that road safety starts with good vision, and that means seeing well at all distances, in all conditions – particularly at night.
While reduced visibility at night poses additional risk to all drivers, people with uncorrected vision are at an even greater risk due to an impaired ability to detect and respond to potential dangers.
Did you know?
- One in five drivers can’t see the road clearly due to uncorrected poor vision;
- Twenty-two per cent of Australians squint to see better while driving at night;
- Night vision typically deteriorates from about the age of 40, and;
- The World Health Organisation has declared poor eyesight among the main risk factors for road crashes.
Safe driving really does start with safe vision. Reduce your crash risk by following three simple steps:
1. Check your vision regularly: A regular eye examination allows us to monitor any changes in your vision and eye health. While vision can be corrected with prescription eyewear, common eye conditions like cataract, dry eye, glaucoma or macular degeneration can also play a role. Early detection is key to preventing avoidable vision loss.
2. Protect your eyes from glare: A high-quality, anti-reflective coating reduces glare, light streaking and distortion from oncoming headlights, which is especially important in low-light conditions such as night-time driving. An antireflective coating will give you clearer, and more comfortable vision while driving.
3. Wear your glasses on the road: Recent research shows that many Australians are getting behind the wheel without their corrective eyewear, endangering themselves and others. Wearing your glasses as prescribed improves your depth perception and vision clarity, so that you can better judge your surroundings and make safer decisions on the road. Multifocal lenses improve your vision at every range of distance, allowing a smooth transition from reading distant road signs to viewing the dashboard in front of you.
Have you experienced:
1. Visual sensitivity to oncoming headlights?
2. Haloes or flaring around headlights, street or traffic lights?
3. Squinting to see better at night?
4. Difficulty judging the distance of oncoming vehicles?
5. Trouble reading road signs and number plates?
6. Difficulty seeing lane markings?
7. Difficulty seeing in changing light conditions (dusk to night)?
8. Needing to drive slowly or reluctant to drive at night?
If you answered yes, it’s time to book in for an eye test.
At Swan Hill or Kerang Optical, we are passionate about helping you enjoy a lifetime of healthy sight.
If you start to notice any changes in your vision while driving, or simply have a question, do not hesitate to contact our team on 5033 1424 or book an appointment online at www.swanhilloptical.com.au.
