During the months of winter, driving may be challenging since the days are shorter which results in many of us having to drive during the night. Night driving is usually riskier than during the day, often due to increased road hazards, the glare from traffic, and other factors especially for those of us with poor eyesight.

A road that you travel on every day can look different to when you are driving on the same road during broad daylight. One of the most common reasons that drivers have trouble seeing at night is the glare from the lights of cars from oncoming traffic.

Like most things, as we age our eyesight may worsen making night driving harder. This occurs because some of the specialised cells, called rods, are lost and it is these cells that distinguish between light and dark. Alongside this, our lenses get cloudier with age which can make it harder to focus. This combination makes night driving very difficult for many of us and it usually worsens with time.

There are a few common eye concerns that affect some of us which include:

• Myopia or shortsightedness is the inability to see objects that are far away such as road signs, cyclists and pedestrians. This is a significant risk for you and everyone else on the road if it is not corrected. This can be easily checked by your optician.
• Presbyopia which is a condition where one has trouble seeing objects close up such as the dashboard, navigation and other features in your car. This is particularly common as we age and again can be corrected by your optician.
• Astigmatism is a condition where you see increased glare, streaks around the lights or blurred lights which lends to poor vision at night. It occurs because of changes in the shape of the eyes resulting in light being focused in more than one place. Again, a quick visit to the optician is important to wear corrective lenses.

If you notice any changes in your eyesight or have eye problems which are affecting your night driving, it is paramount that you visit the optician in case you need spectacles or perhaps you may need to strengthen them.

Aside from corrective lenses, there are several things you can do if you suffer from difficulty driving at night. Wearing night driving glasses will help to reduce glare, getting sufficient quality sleep, and eating a healthy diet may all be beneficial.

Since night driving is also often associated with age related vision loss, consider taking an eye supplement containing vitamins for the eyes. According to the AREDS2 study¹, Age-Related Eye Disorder Study, certain vitamins, carotenoids, minerals, and Omega-3 essential fatty acids may help to protect our eyes against a wide range of eye health problems.

A supplement for the eyes, Nutrof Total, contains the recommended vitamins for the eyes used in the AREDS2 study, which include vitamins C, D, and E, zinc, copper, selenium, and omega-3. Whilst aimed at protecting the eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration, it is likely that these will be of benefit in offering protection against age related vision loss.

Please keep in mind that eye supplements are not a substitute for a healthy diet. To get the full benefits from eye supplements, please ensure you have a balanced diet of healthy foods. While eye supplements like Nutrof Total can support overall eye health, they are not a replacement for regular eye tests; it is crucial to visit an optician to ensure your vision is suitable for safe driving, particularly at night, as impaired eyesight can pose serious risks to both you and other road users.

1. AREDS2 Research Group; Chew EY, Clemons T, SanGiovanni JP, Danis R, Domalpally A, McBee W, Sperduto R, Ferris FL. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2): study design and baseline characteristics (AREDS2 report number 1). Ophthalmology. 2012 Nov;119(11):2282-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.05.027. Epub 2012 Jul 26. PMID: 22840421; PMCID: PMC3485447.