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Vision & Voice
“How can drivers tell when
it’s time to get a new eyewear
prescription and what should
they look for in a lens?”
“Some signs of vision change while
driving include difficulty seeing
road signs, reading license plates
or having more difficulty seeing at
dusk and nighttime. These signs
may indicate you need to update
your eyeglasses and your eyecare
professional can assist with select-
ing appropriate tints and coatings.
However, not all visual symptoms
can be corrected by a new eyeglass
prescription and using vision
changes as a sole prompt for an
eye exam is not advisable. Many
eye conditions are silent and may
be quite advanced by the time
they produce symptoms. Regular
assessments by your optometrist
are recommended.”
Dr. Tammy Labreche,
Clinical Associate Professor and
Dr. Shamrozé Khan, Assistant
Clinical Professor, University of
Waterloo School of Optometry
& Vision Science.
8 Optical Prism | March 2020
“IF IT HAS BEEN A YEAR or more since
your last in-person eye exam with an eye
doctor, you are due! Driving is one of the
most visually demanding tasks we do, so
it’s critical to verify on an annual basis
that our eyes are healthy and our vision
is optimal. Some people falsely assume
that if they can see ‘fine’ they can skip
their annual exam, however, often times
changes to ocular health and vision are
gradual so we are not fully aware that
our driving is compromised.
Driving requires clear distance and near
“Most drivers will become aware
of changes in eyesight when night
driving; headlights and street
lights can become blurred and/
or distorted. Driving-specific
lenses, which adapt to your pupil
size as it enlarges in the dark, are
the ultimate option for driving.
Alternate options are quality blue
light-filtered lenses or anti-reflec-
tive coatings, allowing signif-
icant reduction in glare and
reflections from street lights and
especially LED headlights.”
Tara Leger, Contact lens licensed
optician, Manitoba
vision, full peripheral vision and our eyes
to move in optimal co-ordination, which
can only be confirmed at an annual
in-person comprehensive eye exam with
your eye doctor. The best eyewear is
that which is customized to your needs
by your eye doctor and optician. After
your exam, they will work with you to
provide the best driving solutions.”
Justin Bazan, optometrist and medical
advisor, The Vision Council.
“If you start to notice blur or eye strain when staring at street signs
at the distance or your dashboard/navigation system up close, it’s
definitely time to get your eyes examined by a licensed optometrist.
High-performance anti-reflective coatings on your lenses help
to reduce unwanted reflections such as glare from oncoming
headlights and traffic signals. Finding a lens design that allows you
to easily switch focus from your mirrors, dashboard and the road
ahead will optimize your field of view, which is crucial for feeling
safer on the road.”
Jocelyn Leung, Ontario Association of Optometrists.