Best Nighttime Driving Glasses

Driving at night can take its toll on your eyes. From the street lamps and traffic lights to the headlights from oncoming traffic and the light on your dashboard – all these sources of light can put your eyes under immense strain and sometimes even temporarily blind you if you look into the brights of an oncoming car. This strain on your eyes is even worse if you wear prescription glasses as the lights create reflections that beam directly into your eyes.

If you are a driver that suffers from eye strain when driving at night, a pair of nighttime driving glasses may be the solution.

Night driving glasses can take the strain off your eyes. Safety Glasses Yellow Lens by Team Omega Racing / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

What Are Night Driving Glasses?

Night driving glasses are non-prescription glasses with yellow-tinted lenses that are used while driving to minimize strain placed on the eyes from surrounding lights such as the headlights from oncoming traffic, street lamps, and traffic lights. These glasses have an anti-reflective coating to eliminate reflections that cause eyeglass glare.

Night driving glasses are non-prescription glasses with yellow-tinted lenses Glasses with black frame and yellow lenses 

Things to Consider When Shopping for Nighttime Driving Glasses

There are several factors to take into consideration when shopping for a pair of nighttime driving glasses. Bearing in mind that everyone’s eyes vary, so it’s best to try a few pairs before purchasing. You may also want to consult an optometrist for specific advice on the best night vision glasses for your eyes.

1. Materials

You want to get a pair of nighttime driving glasses that are durable and sturdy so it’s important to take note of the materials that they are made from. Frames are usually made from plastic or metal. TR90 plastic is a flexible, lightweight option that will allow your glasses to fit more comfortably, while metal frames may last longer but might not be as comfortable. Regular plastic frames may be somewhat heavier and less durable.

The lenses of the glasses are usually made from glass or plastic such as polycarbonate and resin. Polycarbonate lenses are designed to be shatter-resistant, very thin, and super lightweight. Glass lenses are typically heavier and more expensive.

2. Anti-Reflective Coating

The anti-reflective coating on the lenses of nighttime driving glasses is a chemical coating that lessens glare while allowing plenty of light to pass through the lens. Also known as AR coating, this coating can reduce the glare from oncoming headlights or street lights without blocking any light. Glasses with AR coatings can let in over 99% of the available light, allowing you to see well even in low light.

3. Polarization

Polarized glasses are chemically coated to reduce or completely get rid of glare, which is caused by the sun shining on water or other surfaces. Polarized glasses have UV ratings that determine how much UVA and UVB ultraviolet light is let through. A rating of UV400 means that the glasses block 99 to 100% of ultraviolet light.

4. Regular vs Wraparound Lenses

Nighttime driving glasses are available with regular frames and wraparound frames. Wraparound lenses are designed to fit over your prescription glasses, allowing you to wear vision-correcting lenses and night vision glasses at the same time.

Blupond Knight Visor night driving glasses using MS Paint by Brand Critic / Wiki Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

We tried and tested a variety of nighttime driving glasses and listed the best on the market at the moment.

Best Nighttime Driving Glasses

Best Overall: Optix 55 Day/Night Driving Glasses

The Optix 55 Day/Night Driving Glasses are designed to provide anti-glare and UV-light protection for both day and night driving. They have a polycarbonate frame with a flexible polycarbonate polarized lens that is covered with a UV protective coating. The frame is large enough to wear over prescription glasses with a lens width of 62mm.

Comfortable and durable, these one-piece driving glasses specs have side lenses for complete coverage and holes on the sides to thread a chain or eyeglass string. The glasses come with an Optix 55 branded microfiber pouch and a glasses holder bag with a drawstring that doubles as a cleaning cloth.

Pros

•         Polarized polycarbonate lenses
•         UV protective coating
•         Wraparound design to prevent side glare
•         Can be attached to a neck strap  
•         Comes with a carrying case and a microfiber pouch

Cons

•         Bulky when worn over prescription glasses
•         May turn objects yellow

Best Value for Money: Luff Polarized Clip-On Eyeglasses 

The Luff Polarized Clip-On Eyeglasses are great value for money and help reduce glare and eyestrain when outdoors or driving at night. Designed to clip onto prescription glasses, these driving glasses are designed to help reduce glare and eyestrain when outdoors or driving at night. 

They have polarized polycarbonate lenses that are designed to reduce eye fatigue, prevent glare, and offer better vision while driving. The lenses are available in a variety of coatings and come with a one-year warranty.

Pros

•         Great value for money
•         Polarized polycarbonate lenses
•         UV protective coating
•         Lightweight and comfortable
•         Comes with a carrying case and a microfiber pouch

Cons

•         Size may be slightly smaller than other glasses
•         Fragile design

Blupond Semi Polarized Night Driving Glasses

Designed to block and reduce harsh blue lights from oncoming headlights and lamps, the Blupond Semi Polarized Night Driving Glasses have a plastic frame and shatterproof polycarbonate TAC polarized lenses with a seven-layer composite system and 100% UV400 coating.

Boasting a classic and timeless Italian design, these glasses are intuitively designed to fit as seamlessly over your prescription eyewear with a functional flip-up feature. Weighing in at just 35 grams, these lightweight glasses have anti-Glare technology that provides high-definition clarity and extra levels of safety for the wearer.  

Pros

•         Stylish Italian design
•         Polarized polycarbonate lenses
•         Anti-glare HD vision from Knight Visor technology
•         Lightweight and comfortable

Cons

•         Bulky when worn over prescription glasses
•         They may be slightly tight at the temples

Bircen HD Night Vision Driving Anti-Glare Glasses

The Bircen YSJ8587 Driving Anti-Glare Glasses are another top pick for nighttime driving. Reasonably priced, stylish, and durable, these glasses are designed to enhance night vision, improve color clarity and optical definition. They have fully polarized lenses with a rating of UV400 that provide good blue light neutralization and polarization.

The Bircen YSJ8587 Driving Anti-Glare Glasses have yellow anti-shatter resin lenses and slim frames, adjustable arms, and nose pads to fit any face shape or size. These flexible and very durable glasses come with a cleaning cloth, a case, a fabric glasses bag, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

•         Ultra-light and ultra-thin
•         Anti-shatter polarized resin lenses with UV400 rating
•         Adjustable arms and nose pads
•         Includes cleaning cloth, case, and bag
•         30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

•         Heavy and quite bulky
•         They may not work as well against starbursts or strong glares
•         They may not fit over prescription glasses

Lumin LUM-180 Night Driving Glasses

The Lumin LUM-180 Night Driving Glasses are a high-end, sporty option of driving glasses with several great features. Boasting an athletic design, these glasses have polycarbonate lenses that incorporate anti-radiation technology and are hydrophobic, scratch-resistant, and polarized, with a 100% UV400 rating. They also have an anti-slip nose design and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The Lumin LUM-180 Night Driving Glasses are ideal for poor weather conditions as well as night driving and help cut through poor driving conditions such as rain, mist, fog, and smog. They also offer protection from intense glare in the day or at night and help reduce eye fatigue and prevent headaches.

Pros

•         Stylish, sporty design
•         Polycarbonate lenses with a light-yellow tint
•         Hydrophobic, scratch- and shatter-resistant
•         UV400 rating
•         Anti-slip nose design
•         30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

•         Expensive
•         Heavier design than other models
•         May not improve glare or starbursts

Pro Acme PA1004A Night Vision Glasses 

The Pro Acme PA1004A Night Vision Glasses are another good value-for-money option, coming in at a low price and offering a sturdy metal frame and polarized, blue-light-blocking plastic lenses that offer protection from intense glare in the day or at night and help reduce eye fatigue and prevent headaches.

The Pro Acme PA1004A Night Vision Glasses come with a leather case, a microfiber pouch, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a gift box, and include a 30-day 100-percent satisfaction guarantee.

Pros

•         Good value for money
•         Sturdy metal frame
•         Polarized, blue-light-blocking plastic lenses
•         Includes leather case, microfiber pouch, microfiber cleaning cloth, and gift box
•         30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee

 Cons

•         Not very durable
•         Lenses are not tightly secured
•         May not fit smaller faces
•         Not as good against the glare as other models

 

Ideal Eyewear Night Driving Wear Over Glasses

The Ideal Eyewear Night Driving Wear-Over Glasses are low-cost driving glasses that are designed to fit over prescription glasses while driving in poor weather and at night. The glasses have UV400-rated polycarbonate plastic lenses that cut out glare from oncoming and bright lights and they come with a microfiber pouch.

Pros

•         Great value for money
•         Polarized polycarbonate lenses
•         UV protective coating
•         Comes with a microfiber pouch

Cons

•         Bulky and not very stylish
•         Feels flimsy for their bulky design
•         Not many included accessories

Feirdio HD Night Driving Glasses

The Feirdio HD Night Driving Glasses are lightweight and stylish with a choice of metal frames. The glasses have polarized, anti-glare, and blue-light-blocking lenses, however, the nose pads are fairly uncomfortable.

The glasses come with a screwdriver, a cleaning cloth, a bag, a gift box, and a piece of cardboard to test the polarization. They also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

•         Lightweight and low-cost
•         Fairly stylish, with a choice of metal frames
•         Lenses are polarized, anti-glare, and blue-light-blocking
•         Includes screwdriver, cleaning cloth, bag, gift box, and polarizing test piece
•         30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

•         Uncomfortable short arms and nose pads
•         Not very durable

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of night driving glasses?

1. Night-driving glasses reduce light glare from passing vehicles, street lamps, neon signs, or other forms of light that might momentarily distract and temporarily blind you.
2. Night-driving glasses reduce stress on your eyes while driving at night. Leaning over the wheel or squinting into the night when lights are distracting can lead to watery eyes and having to dry them. Night driving glasses can help prevent straining your eyes by eliminating the amount of light that gets through to them.
3. Night-driving glasses can help fight against headaches and fatigue. Eyes become more sensitive in low-light conditions, at night, and during storms, and driving in conditions with poor light or at night can lead to a condition known as photophobia: a symptom or intolerance to light that often leads to headaches, vertigo, or dizziness. Wearing night driving glasses is a way to prevent this condition.
4. Night-driving glasses offer peace of mind. Wearing driving glasses at night will help you to see clearer, possibly prevent headaches and watery eyes, and generally give you peace of mind while driving.

Can night-driving glasses be worn during the day?

polarized eyewear such as night vision glasses, binoculars, goggles, and monocles should never be worn during the daytime as the polarized lenses light intensifier system, when exposed to daylight, could become damaged.

Will glasses help with night driving?

Glasses on their own may improve night driving. Adding an anti-glare, or anti-reflective (AR), coating to your eyeglasses can allow more light in and also cut down on glare. Both of these things can improve night vision and improve vision for driving at night.

Are there any other ways to reduce glare while driving at night?

•         Clean the windshield, windows, and glass surfaces.
•         Clean the car’s headlights.
•         Adjust the car mirrors properly.
•         Have your vision checked regularly.
•         Avoid looking directly at the headlights of oncoming traffic.
•         Flip the rearview mirror.
•         Take frequent breaks if you’re driving at night for long periods.