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Mail Online, 3 October 2014

“Motorists face ‘twilight terror’ as sunrise and sunset fall in rush hour before the clocks go back” – Mail Online, 3 October 2014

Glare presents challenges for all drivers whether it’s bright sunshine on summer days or beaming headlights on winter nights. However, there might be a risk that we’re less aware of – low-lying autumn sun is putting drivers at risk, even those with good vision. See the figures from the AA here.

That being said, we’ve come up with a list of 5 top tips to reduce the sun’s impact on your eyes:

1. Go to a car wash

If your windscreen is dirty then the sun’s reflection will scatter through, making it even harder to see so it’s important to make sure your windscreen is clean, both inside and out.

2. Sunglasses aren’t just for summer

It would be wise to wear sunglasses when driving during periods of low lying sunlight. Polarised sunglasses are particularly helpful as they are able to cut out reflected light such as from another car windscreen or even wet road surfaces.

3. Pull your visor down

Visors help to reduce the amount of sunlight you get in your eyes so you should make a habit of regularly having it down during the winter months.

4. Get rid of glasses smears

If you are a glasses wearer then it’s also really important that you make sure your lenses are clean. Invariably the lenses on our glasses will have smudges and grease on them – if they are dirty then this can exacerbate the scatter of the light shining on to them so make sure you clean them in advance of any journeys you make.

5. Go see your optometrist

It’s also really important that people over the age of 40 ensure they have regular eye examinations as the health of your eyes can also contribute to the impact of the sun’s glare. For example, if you have cataracts, even the early beginnings of the condition, then this can exacerbate the dazzling effects of the sun. Cataracts are like a frosty or cloudy lens and when low lying sunlight shines into the eye it can often cause sunlight to scatter more and increase the impact of the glare.

October 3, 2014