Many Aussies and Kiwis enjoy a good road trip. Dedicated driving glasses can make such a trip safer and more enjoyable, as they do for many other everyday uses and applications.

WRITER Alan Saks

Drivers in Australia and New Zealand experience diverse conditions, among them disturbing glare from snow, desert sand, beaches, concrete highways, and reflections off wet roads. Driving into tunnels, bright LED headlights, taillights and signs, digital dashboards, heads-up displays and, of course, the dreaded sunstrike, are further challenges. And then there is night driving.

To cope with these situations and more, manufacturers have developed sophisticated driving eyewear and lenses that provide advantages well beyond regular sunglasses.

Such driving specific lenses may include clear lenses with special coatings, light tints, specific photochromic qualities, polarisation, and even aberration control.

The options are not limited to drivers of cars and trucks; the needs of cyclists and motorcyclists – who have many visual challenges – have also been taken into consideration. Of course, frame fit is equally important for cyclists and motorbike riders – we need to test fit any choices to ensure they sit comfortably under a full-face helmet. Some riders prefer a rimless frame with fine temples for this purpose. Cyclists may look for wrap frames and those designed to prevent disturbing, extraneous light ‘leaking’ between the frame, brow, and cheeks.

The category of ‘driving lenses’ was popularised by Serengeti with its Corningdeveloped ‘Drivers’ lenses, and stylish frames. Now part of the Bollé group, these brands continue the driving category and are also big in the cycling field. Porsche Design, Carrera, Cébé, Scott, and Rudi Project are some of the many other brands that have leveraged our passion for driving and cycling, harnessing specific eyewear, styling, and lens options.

DRIVEN BY TECHNOLOGY

As mentioned, it’s not all about sunglasses. Cyclists might have a clear pair for protection and low illumination. Truck drivers, and other long distance night drivers, might choose lenses that keep their eyes more relaxed, manage glare, help them see their GPS and instruments, and see what they’re doing on breaks when eating, reading, paying for fuel and so on.

For some years now, Zeiss has offered its DriveSafe lenses, Rodenstock its Road lenses and Hoya its EnRoute driving lenses in progressive and single vision form, with or without tinting or polarised options.

Rodenstock Road2 can be enhanced by DNEye-derived higher order aberration (HOA) correction. Zeiss also offers its i.Scription aberration technology, as does Essilor with its W.A.V.E 2.0 technology.

Some companies promote ‘night driving glasses’, sometimes with a light-yellow tint. Vuarnet even had a range of Formula 1 legend, Alain Prost, branded frames and lenses for driving and night driving. When it comes to yellow filters for night driving, it seems the jury is still out on the pros and cons.

“ …driving specific lenses may include clear lenses with special coatings, light tints, specific photochromic qualities, polarisation and even aberration control ”

There is also debate as to the benefits of including HOA control in spectacle lenses, but some people swear by it. The benefit for night driving (as the pupil dilates in low light), is that these aberrometers measure – and lenses then correct – the potentially increased HOAs.

Many patients love their photochromic glasses that adapt to the conditions.

For drivers, some of the best options are Transitions Driveware and XTRActive, as these specific versions darkens behind car widescreens.

Polarised lenses, which reduce glare off dashboards, bonnets, bright concrete, and wet roads, are always in demand. To avoid comebacks, always test polarised lenses with a wearer’s screens and heads-up displays.

Oakley ’s Prizm Road, available in many plano and Rx combinations with the company’s specialised tints and polarised options is popular, as is Maui Jim’s high-tech Rx-able driving sunglass, featuring PolarizedPlus2 technology with enhanced colour contrast, and exceptional clarity. mivision’s September 2022 article explored this brand’s labs and culture in great depth.

There are also drivers’ sunglasses with a veritable kaleidoscope of fantastic, cool, reflective mirror coatings – from bright orange to cobalt blue, double mirrors, and rainbow gradients – in the plano market as well as in single vision and progressive Rx forms.

Special lens designs reduce distortions, while base curve options cater for ‘wrap’ style eyewear – helping to minimise the effect of the peripheral light focussing effect, which has been linked to pterygium.

All sunglasses in the ANZ region block UV, by law, and specialised clear pairs for cycling, etc. also include UV blocking.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Some companies offer a one-stop option with complete, proprietary driving frames and lenses. Other companies, like Australia’s own Ugly Fish, partner with leading multinational and local lens labs to provide complete frame and lens Rx packages.

Spotters – another home-grown company – has been providing sunglasses designed for harsh conditions for over 23 years. Part of the philosophy that drives Spotters is manifest in the company’s statement, “We fish, hike, bike, and camp. If it has an engine, we’ll drive it, on road or off road. We thrive on long weekends, spending time with family and hanging out with friends. We love nothing more than experiencing the wonders Australia has to offer”.

All these considerations are worth discussing with patients. Some smart practitioners have developed a thriving business catering for specific categories, like cyclists. It particularly helps if you have an enthusiastic optometrist, dispenser, or staff member on board, who wears driving or cycling eyewear, and can demonstrate and speak about the styles, technology, and options, from personal experience.

Regardless, ensuring your team is well informed about the options is a critical step.

Check out some of the myriad options in the following product section.