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Tips to improve eye health on the road

How to keep your eyes healthy to ensure your safety on the road

Eye care is an incredibly important yet underrated aspect of safe driving, especially when it comes to long-distance drives and sub-optimal driving conditions.

The Vision Council of America says the sun is one of the most overlooked dangers on the road.

“Eye care within vehicles should be given as much attention as any other risk. Long-term, it can significantly impact your vision while also posing a daily danger to driver safety,” says CEO of MasterDrive Eugene Herbert.

“Think of a time that you rounded a corner to be suddenly blinded by the sun. In this scenario, it can take up to five seconds to recover your full vision. To place this in context, this is the same amount of time that one is distracted after looking at their phone.”

Tips to protect your eyes on the road

Use polarised sunglasses to reduce the effect on your visibility from the sun’s glare, as well as long-term damage to your eyes.

If you require prescription lenses, invest in prescription sunglasses too.

If you drive the same route every day, be prepared for sections where the glare creates difficulty driving and adjust sun visors ahead of time.

Clean your windscreen, both inside and out.

Scratches, cracks and chips on your windscreen can catch the sun’s glare and hamper visibility – try to get these seen to.

Take regular breaks when driving for extended periods to prevent eye fatigue and strain.

If possible, undergo eye tests at least every two years, if not every year.

Passing the eye test when renewing your driving licence is confirmation that your vision meets minimum requirements, not that your eyes are at the best possible level to reduce risk on the road.

Regular health screenings are also important for early detection of health conditions that can impact your vision.

At night, look slightly to the left of oncoming traffic to prevent being blinded by headlight glare.

Do not wear sunglasses or yellow lenses at night. Glasses with a nonglare coating can assist with night-time glare.

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