While super bright headlights may help the driver who has them see better at night, said headlights can be blinding to on-coming drivers and the people the person with the super bright headlights is driving behind. 

This can cause other drivers to not be able to see the road, as well as have blind spots in their vision that take a few minutes to go away if they look at the headlights straight on. These lights can even light up the cabins of cars that pass them or are in front of them.

As such, while super bright headlights may seem great for the person who has them, they can be downright dangerous to everyone else on the road. Many people are afraid to drive at night in general, but these lights make it even worse.

As such, you may be wondering whether or not there are glasses that help with these super bright headlights. 

About Night Driving Safety

About half of car crash fatalities occur at night, with 3/4s of these fatalities being pedestrians. As such, it’s no wonder that people often try to avoid driving at night.

Cars need brighter headlights than they’ve had in the past for safety reasons. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that low-beam lights should illuminate the road at 325 feet, as this is how far a person would need to see an obstacle and stop when traveling at 60 mph.

Headlights can help to prevent night accidents when drivers follow traffic regulations. However, now, many people complain that other peoples’ headlights are so bright that they actually make driving at night even more dangerous.

Are Headlights Brighter Than They Used To Be?

If you feel like headlights are brighter than they used to be, you’re not crazy. Car headlights have switched from sealed-beam to halogen bulbs. This matters because halogen bulbs use reflectors to spread light outward, which makes them seem brighter than they are.

Many cars now use LEDs instead of halogens. LEDs seem brighter than halogens. This is because LED lights cause more light to reach eye level as they cast a wider beam of light. They also typically have a blue tinge to them.

Blue-tinged light feels brighter to people than warm yellow does because it is difficult for human eyes to process blue wavelengths. Blue light focuses just ahead of the retina, rather than on it. 

Additionally, lights have gotten smaller over time, which makes emitted light seem brighter. Thus, even though these lights meet headlight requirements, like standard headlights, they don’t seem that way to the human eye. Instead, you see super bright headlights.

How Tall Cars Are Matters

SUVs and pickups have lights that are higher up due to taller bodies. This makes them more likely to shine in people’s eyes and is why they can light up the cabins of cars that they are driving behind. 

Combine a taller body with light that is difficult for the human eye to process, and then you have headlights that seem super bright and blinding.

Are Super Bright Headlights Really Dangerous?

Car manufacturers and people with super bright headlights argue that these lights aren’t as bright as those complaining about them make it seem. However, complaints of super bright headlights continue to increase. Many people think that such lights should be illegal, though laws are slow to change. Some say that lights are so bright, it physically hurts their eyes. 

Trying to find a balance to make the road safe for the person driving and the other drivers on the road is still in the works. In Europe, adaptive beam technology is widespread. A bipartisan bill in the United States passed designating that cars have this to avoid other drivers by 2023. This automatically switches high-beam lights to low-beam when the car senses an oncoming car.

Is It Your Eyes?

We’ve talked about how certain types of light are harder for human eyes to process. However, if you are struggling to see at night, it could be because of other reasons.

Astigmatism can make it harder to see at night because your cornea is irregularly shaped. As such, you may struggle with night-time driving and feel unsafe going out at night.

Are There Glasses That Can Help?

You can get both prescription and non-prescription night driving glasses. These have a yellow tint to them which filters out the blue light that causes that glare. Non-prescription ones can be purchased over the counter. Prescription ones can be ordered for you. Anti-reflective coatings can be added to your lenses in order to reduce glare.

Night-driving glasses create a contrast that makes it easier to make things out at night. They can also help in hazy or foggy conditions.

However, yellow lenses reduce the amount of light that enters the eye, which can lead to vision reduction. Studies show night driving glasses do not improve night vision. Some people say that these glasses help while others do not notice a difference.

If you think that you might benefit from night driving glasses, talk to your eye doctor.

Wolcott Optical provides all sorts of glasses, including blue light glasses. If you think you could benefit from night driving glasses, please don’t hesitate to contact us today to learn more about your options.

Glasses are an easy, cost-effective way to correct your vision. Whether you’re squeamish about contacts, you like to alternate between contacts and glasses, or you simply prefer glasses, one thing many glasses wearers have in common is the annoying red marks they can leave on your nose. Said red marks can take makeup and skincare off and can even be downright painful, depending on the cause.

Fortunately, you don’t have to grin and bear it. Depending on the cause, you may be able to prevent your glasses from leaving red marks on your nose.

Should Glasses Leave Red Marks On Your Nose?

In many cases, if your glasses are leaving red marks on your nose, this means that they don’t first properly and need to be adjusted. If your red marks are accompanied by pain or discomfort, definitely have them adjusted, as glasses should not be painful to wear.

However, this is not always the case. If you are someone who wears makeup, you may notice red marks on your nose even if your glasses fit correctly. If you have any concerns about the red marks your glasses are leaving on your nose, it’s best to talk to your optician. 

Common Reasons Why Your Glasses Leave Red Marks On Your Nose

#1. They Do Not Sit Properly

If you have nose bridge pain from your glasses, this can be because they are not sitting properly. You will want to have them adjusted so that they fit correctly. If you have pain behind your ears in addition to red marks on your nose, this is likely because your glasses are too small for your face.

#2. They Are Heavy

If you have red marks on your nose that disappear overnight, they are likely light pressure marks. This can mean that your glasses are just heavy. Picking a lighter frame can resolve the problem. Heavy frames can also leave indents on your nose.

#3. They Are Not Made Properly

If your glasses are giving you headaches from eye strain in addition to red marks, this means that either you need to adjust to them, as can happen when people first start wearing glasses. It can also mean that your glasses are not made properly to the prescription. 

#4. You Are Having An Allergic Reaction

Another reason why your glasses can leave red marks on your nose is if you are allergic to the material the nose pads are made of. Nose pads are typically made of plastic or silicone. If you have an allergic reaction, your optician will work with you to find a solution that works for you.

This could also happen if you don’t clean your glasses’ nose pads on a regular basis. Oil, dirt, and bacteria can build up on them, leading to adverse reactions. 

#5. They Do Not Fit Correctly

If your red marks are indents, this likely means that your glasses don’t fit correctly and need to be adjusted. The bridge width could be too narrow or the frame could not be correct for you. The weight may not be evenly distributed. The nose pads may sit too high or too low on your nose bridge.

Adjusting your glasses is something that needs to be done by a professional, as trying to adjust them yourself can cause damage to the frame. They can adjust the pads to either a different type or to distribute the weight more evenly. They can also adjust the frame or recommend a new frame. 

#6. It’s The Nose Pad Material

Harder plastic materials are more likely to leave marks than silicone. If the material of your nose pads is causing the red marks, you can talk about this with your optician.

How To Prevent Red Marks On Your Nose With Makeup

Even if your glasses are a perfect fit, they can still leave red marks on your nose from taking your makeup off. There are a few things that you can try in order to prevent this. 

• Apply eyeshadow primer to your nose, let it dry, then powder it.
• Soak your beauty sponge in long-lasting setting spray, pack setting powder over concealer/foundation, then brush off once set – aka, bake your nose.
• Put a mattifying primer around the sides of your nose and powder your foundation, as creating more dryness prevents slippage.
• Use blotting sheets to help with oil, then powder.
• Wipe down the nose pads of your glasses, then lightly dust with setting powder.
• Use less makeup in that area. Apply from the outside of the face in.

Are You Struggling With Your Glasses?

Wolcott Optical is here to help! We can ensure that your glasses fit correctly and that the frame is right for you. Contact us today with any questions you may have about the fit of your glasses or any problems you’re experiencing.

Progressive lenses are an alternative to bifocals that many people prefer, since the seamless progression of one prescription to another makes them feel younger than having a line through the lens. However, if you hate your progressive lenses, you’re not alone. Many people get them thinking that they will like them more than bifocals, and hate them so much they go to return them.

If you hate your progressive lenses, this doesn’t automatically mean that there is something wrong with them or you. There’s a learning curve with progressives and it is an art in order to ensure that they fit correctly. Many people come to love their progressive lenses while others cannot tolerate them. If you have any concerns about your progressive lenses, it’s best to talk to your eye doctor, as they will be able to provide you with personalized advice.

Here are some common questions about progressive lenses answered, as well as some information to know if you currently hate your progressive lenses. 

Are Progressive Lenses Supposed To Be Blurry On The Sides?

With glasses in general, people adjust to being able to see clearly in front of them through the lens while having the blurriness of their real vision along the sides. However, with progressives, people find that the sides of the lenses themselves can be blurry. They struggle to find focal points and get frustrated, because your lenses are supposed to bring the world into focus, not blur it. 

Initially, you may notice blurriness on the sides of your progressive lenses. This is because of the change in lens strength across the lens. It takes time to adjust to this, but in time, you won’t notice it. It’s similar to how when your prescription changes, the tops of the walls might appear to be curving in for the first few days, and then you don’t notice it anymore. 

If your progressive lenses are blurry on the sides, give yourself a week or two for your brain to adjust to them. If they’re still blurry after a couple of weeks, you can go to your eye doctor and have them looked at. 

Adjusting To Progressive Lenses

In the adjustment period, you may find that you hate your progressive lenses a great deal. You may feel like your vision is blurry or fuzzy. You may get headaches or feel dizzy. Initially, this may seem like there’s something wrong with the lenses. However, most people adjust to their progressive lenses within a couple of weeks. Your eye doctor should have warned you about this and advised you on what you can do to make the adjustment period easier.

Some of the things that you can do to help yourself adjust to progressive lenses include:

• Wearing them as often as possible.
• Pointing your nose in the direction you’re looking.
• Making an effort to look through the correct section of the lens.

What Is The Usual Adjustment Period For Progressive Lenses?

Typically, it only takes one or two weeks for people to adjust to their progressive lenses. It can take up to a month in some cases. However, if you have not adjusted to your progressives after two weeks of consistent wear, then you should contact your eye doctor or the provider of your glasses. You may also need to switch to a different lens design. 

In some cases, progressives simply may not be a good fit for you. If you’ve given them your all, done everything you were supposed to, and they were fitted correctly, you may be better off with bifocals or other types of glasses. 

How To Tell If Your Progressive Lenses Fit Correctly

If you hate your progressive lenses, it could very well have nothing to do with you and adjusting and everything to do with how they were fitted. It’s an art to ensure that progressives fit correctly, as your pupillary distance, the correct height, the frame, the design, and the corridor length are all needed to ensure they work well.

If your eyewear provider skipped a step or did not fit them correctly, this could be why you hate your progressive lenses. If you go back and the eyewear provider tells you there is nothing wrong with the fit, it could be worth getting a second opinion in order to determine whether or not they are fitted properly. 

If your progressive lenses fit correctly, you should be able to adjust to them and they should be comfortable to wear. 

What If You Still Hate Your Progressive Lenses?

Have you done everything your eye doctor told you to, waited the two weeks, and still hate your progressive lenses? Come to Wolcott Optical. We will ensure that your lenses fit correctly. If you decide that progressives aren’t for you, we can provide you with other options. Contact us today to learn more about our services.