Eye health on long distance trips

Eye Care Awareness Month was recently marked and serves as a timely reminder of the importance of caring for your eyes while driving during holiday travels as the Festive Season concludes, as well as beyond that. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s glare without eye protection can have long-term consequences.

Additionally, the Vision Council of America says the sun is one of the most overlooked dangers on the road. The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, expands: “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.

“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,” says Herbert.

Follow some simple steps to protect both your eyes and your safety on the road:

• Use polarised sunglasses to reduce both the effect of the glare on visibility and 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, not only on the outside. But from the inside as well.
• Scratches, cracks and chips on your windscreen can also catch the sun’s glare and further hamper visibility.
• Taking regular breaks when driving for extended periods is also important to prevent eye fatigue and strain.
• The sunnier the conditions, the more strain it places on your eyes.
• Undergo eye tests every year, if possible; otherwise, every two years.
• Passing the eye test when renewing your driving license is a confirmation that your vision meets minimum requirements and 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.
• Additionally, glasses with a nonglare coating can assist with nighttime glare, but do not wear sunglasses or yellow lenses at night.

Following these simple steps can play a significant role in keeping you safe on the roads and, in the long-term, care of your eye health.

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