Glare

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The term “glare” refers to the presence of excessive visible light that causes discomfort and often difficulty seeing what needs to be seen. Glare comes from various sources, including oncoming car headlights, intense overhead sun, or light reflected off shiny surfaces such as rain, snow, or other cars on the road.

Some people are naturally more sensitive to glare than others. Cataracts, which are generally present in at least their early form beyond age 40 or 50, can significantly increase sensitivity to glare. To decrease the effects of glare and improve both visual comfort and clarity, various ophthalmic lens options are available.

Following are descriptions of different lens treatments that your doctor may recommend to reduce glare:        

• Anti-reflective Treatment (AR): lenses with AR treatment are known as non-glare lenses, and they greatly decrease the amount of visible reflected light. This results not only in an improved cosmetic appearance – as other people are able to see your eyes instead of reflected light – but it also increases contrast for the wearer by up to 10%. Non-glare lenses improve visual quality in both light and dark situations and are especially recommended for patients with cataracts, those who report difficulty driving at night, or those who frequently use a computer or work in an office environment.
• Transitions® Lenses: also known as photochromic lenses, Transitions® products employ patented technology that allows them to darken when exposed to increased light levels. Traditional Transitions® lenses remain clear when indoors and darken according to ambient light levels when outside; however, a recently expanded product line includes other options with specialized tints and darkness profiles that assure optimum visual performance for specialized tasks and lifestyles. Transitions® offers lenses that are appropriate for both light and dark situations.
• Polarized Lenses: light reflected from surfaces such as water or a flat road becomes polarized, meaning that all the light particles are aligned in a specific direction. Polarized lenses work to selectively block this polarized light, thereby eliminating glare and improving visual comfort and contrast. In general, polarized lenses are recommended exclusively for outdoor activities; however, patients who frequently move from indoors to outdoors or whose indoor setting includes large windows with heavy sun exposure may benefit from this technology as well. Polarized lenses should not be worn at night.
• Drivewear® Lenses: Combining the advantages of Transitions® and polarized technologies, Drivewear® lenses offer excellent protection against glare, as well as optimized light levels in any setting. Indoors, or in low light levels outdoors, Drivewear® lenses retain a mild, contrast-enhancing tint. When exposed to more intense light, these lenses darken accordingly, thereby maintaining healthy and comfortable light exposure for the wearer. In general, Drivewear® lenses are recommended for outdoor use; however, patients who frequently move from indoors to outdoors or whose indoor setting includes large windows with heavy sun exposure may benefit from this technology as well. Due to their polarized technology, these lenses should not be worn at night.