Eyeglasses best for night driving

November 22, 2010

A new study has found that wearing eyeglasses may be the best way to correct vision for night driving.

HealthDay News reports that a recent study of individuals aged 45 to 64 found that people who wear multifocal contact lenses have more difficulty driving at night, compared to those who wear glasses.

Participants in the study drove on a closed circuit driving track at night. Researchers found that those who wore multifocal contact lenses, which are generally prescribed to treat presbyopia, often drove more slowly, were less likely to see road hazards and had to be closer in order to read road signs.

"For those patients who drive long distances and hours at night, practitioners should consider the best form of correction of presbyopia," the study's author, Byoung Sun Chu, said. "One alternative is to prescribe the multifocal contact lenses for daytime use and a different correction for driving at night."

According to the American Optometric Association, presbyopia is a natural part of the aging process of the eye and usually becomes noticeable when people are in their mid-40s.

Individuals who may be suffering from the condition should see their optometrist for a thorough eye exam.