The first thing to grow tired of on the road is your eyes, which is why sunglasses and glasses designed for night driving are such important tools for truck drivers.

As I drive along the highway, I have often wondered which are the best sunglasses to cut the glare while driving, or if yellow glasses help improve vision while night driving.

There are three main types of driving glasses:

• Sunglasses
• Night driving glasses
• Prescription glasses

I have spoken with many truck drivers, and one thing that’s been made very clear is that cheap glasses are a waste of money. They either break or simply just don’t work at cutting the glare, so they essentially do nothing to ease tired eyes or help you see the road more clearly.

Tired eyes are one of the most common causes of fatigue for drivers, which is why it is so important for long-distance drivers to find the right pair to help make the long miles less stressful on the eyes.

Let’s take a look at each.

Sunglasses

First up, let’s consider truck driving sunglasses. The most important thing is to make sure they fit properly. A good fit ensures that your sunglasses are comfortable enough to be worn for long periods of time. It’s important to find glasses that are polarized and offer 100 percent UVA/UBV protection from the sun’s rays. Polarized lenses cut reflected glare – which is the sunlight that bounces off smooth surfaces such as pavement, car windows, metal objects, or water. When glare is blocked or reduced, there is less eye strain, therefore, less fatigue.

There are several frame options, including nylon, acetate (polished plastic) and even metal, and lenses ranging from small styles to full wrap-around designs. Small lenses such as flat lenses are lightweight enough that they will provide a comfortable fit and more casual look, but they offer less coverage and protection. Wrap-around designs, however, block sunlight from all angles, making them a more popular choice for driving glasses.

Night driving glasses

If you’ve never heard of night driving glasses, you’re likely not alone, but many truck drivers use them to help prevent eye strain at night. A typical pair of night driving glasses features non-prescription lenses with a yellow tint. They will also usually have some sort of anti-reflective coating to help cut down the reflection from street lights and oncoming headlights.

There have been several studies to determine whether night driving glasses actually improve visibility, including one 2019 study that appeared in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology which found that eyesight was actually diminished by night driving glasses because the tinted lenses prevented the amount of light that reached the eye.

For the best vision while driving at night, the best bet is seeing an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. Prescription glasses may be a necessary tool while on the road, or your existing prescription might need an update.

Prescription glasses

There are several options available when looking for prescription glasses, and finding the best one usually comes following a comprehensive eye exam.

Lenses are available in several different styles, including:

• Plastic. This is the most popular option because lens are both lightweight and affordable. Lenses are a bit thicker than other styles, however, which might make them uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.
• Polycarbonate. These lenses are even more lightweight than plastic, and are 10 times stronger.  Polycarbonate lenses are becoming increasingly popular.
• High-index plastic. These are the thinnest lenses available, and are designed for improved comfort.

Next, you and your ophthalmologist will determine whether single vision, bifocal, or trifocal lenses will be necessary. Single-vision lenses correct one field of vision (either near, intermediate, or distance). Bifocal lenses are for distance and near vision, while trifocals address all three fields of vision.

In addition to lens material and correction type, you can also add lens enhancements to improve comfort and protection.

Some options include:

• Scratch-resistance, a clear coating that protects lenses against light scratches.
• Anti-glare coating, a coating that increases light transmission while reducing light reflection from surfaces to help reduce glare.
• Transitions lenses, which are light-sensitive lenses that darken when exposed to sunlight and lighten when sun exposure is reduced.
• UV protection, a lens treatment the absorbs portions of the harmful UV light found in sunlight.

Having the right eyewear on the road is pretty vital because better vision reduces the risk of eyestrain, a serious risk factor for truck-related accidents.