Driving glasses: what are the best sunglasses for driving in different light conditions?

As drivers we encounter many different light conditions on a daily basis that cause visibility problems.

In the summer, the intense glare from the sun increases eye fatigue, while in the winter, drivers can easily get temporarily blinded from intense morning or evening sun at low levels, especially when combined with reflection on wet or icy roads. Driving at night or in poor light conditions also causes potential hazards and the combination of rush hour traffic levels with dusk conditions can cause a dangerous increase in potential accidents.

What makes a good pair of driving sunglasses?

A spokesperson from the Eyecare Trust said: “We’d like to encourage everyone to keep a sensible, practical pair of sunglasses for driving at hand in their glove box, free of scratches and smears. Wearing unsuitable sunglasses is just as dangerous as wearing none at all when driving in bright conditions.”

The trouble with relying on a standard pair of “fashion” sunglasses for driving is that they simply won’t have the versatility to optimise your vision in a wide range of driving conditions. Most commonly, a pair of ordinary sunglasses will be in the filter category 3 which is OK for bright sunlight, but may darken your vision too much in moderate sunlight.

Therefore it is well worth considering a pair of quality sunglasses with interchangeable lenses that can help your visibility in different light conditions.

Dixon RX2 are available with mirrored or polarized lenses

Look for polarized lenses

Polarized sunglasses have a filter that significantly reduces glare from strong reflected light on tarmac or from wet or icy roads, making them the best choice for daytime driving in sunny conditions. Mirrored lenses can also help to reduce glare.

Wrap around design helps block peripheral glare

Look for sunglasses with a wrap around design as these reduce the amount of glare that may penetrate the eyes from the sides which can cause eye strain and headaches while driving.

Are light reacting sunglasses are good idea for driving?

Most photochromic sunglasses react to a combination of visible and UV light and their effectiveness is significantly reduced when driving because the windscreen absorbs much of the UV light. Light reacting sunglasses that go to clear when inside will not therefore offer much protection while driving.

However, you may wish to consider the innovative Sunwise Chromafusion, which combines the benefits of polarized and light reacting lenses and inside a car it will remain tinted to filter category 2, while the polarized lenses will block reflected glare. It is also compatible with the wide range of Sunwise interchangeable lenses, further increasing its versatility.

Sunwise Chromafusion have innovative polarised light-reacting lenses

Which lenses are best in hazy light conditions?

The best lenses for driving in hazy light conditions are high definition mercury (amber colour). They absorb most of the blue and green wavelengths in sunlight that are the chief components of glare and haze. These lenses provide 100% UV protection. They meet European guidelines for daytime driving and won’t affect the way you see colours of traffic lights and signs.

Our top 4 choices for driving glasses

What if I need an optical prescription for driving?

Pro Performance prescription sunglasses come with both cat 3 and cat 2 polarized lenses

Eyewear Accessories specialise in cost-effective optical solutions for spectacle wearers and a number of the models we stock are particularly suitable for driving. Our top three picks in Rx driving glasses are:

Rapid Eyewear Pro Performance: at around £85 it comes with three interchangeable lenses including both cat 3 and cat 2 polarized lens sets that are suitable for blocking glare in very bright and average light conditions.

Sunwise Austin: at under £70, it has three interchangeable lenses, included smoke grey mirrored lenses that are also good at reducing glare while driving. A clever feature of this model is that you can easily flip up the tinted lenses if for example you enter a tunnel or other dark area.

Dixon RX-2: at around £95, it has a wide choice of interchangeable lenses, including polarized and amber.

Eyewear Accessories have more information on choosing the best driving glasses on their website.