I’ve been obsessed with night vision glasses for driving… well, driving, spying, and everything else Tom Cruise and his Mission Impossible crew get to do with them!
I do wonder, though, are these glasses for real, or are they just in the movies? Let’s take a look!
Hype vs. Reality
Does night vision technology like what’s seen in action movies even exist?
The good news is, yes, the technology does exist. Night vision glasses are depicted in the movies as using advanced thermal imaging systems. In real life, this technology is used in military and high-end automotive applications.
The bad news is that commercially marketed night vision glasses for driving do not use thermal imaging systems, advanced or otherwise. Instead, these glasses give you “night vision” using two strategies: polarization and light amplification.
Through polarized lenses, night driving glasses reduce glare from street lights and oncoming traffic. These pretty much work the same as if you wore them in the day and had to deal with the glare of sunlight.
Some manufacturers also claim that their night vision glasses can amplify ambient light. Their glasses are said to make dimly lit spaces seem brighter. In actual use, however, this amplification may be so small that you don’t really notice it, especially in extremely dark conditions.
So, maybe night vision technology in the form of driving glasses is hyped-up—99% marketing and 1% technology that actually works. But does this mean they’re worthless?
Benefits vs. Limitations
While night vision glasses for driving are mostly hype, there are benefits to these glasses:
Reduced Glare
Polarized lenses are effective in minimizing glare from oncoming nighttime traffic. Bright headlights can be disorienting, especially on poorly lit roads. Through glare reduction, you can focus and drive safely.
Improved Contrast
It’s harder to see the road at night. There’s less light. Objects appear more subdued. Quality polarized lenses can improve contrasts, which makes it easier to discern one object from another, even with bad lighting.
Reduced Eye Strain
You strain your eyes if you have to struggle to see. With night vision glasses that reduce glare and improve contrast, you can also enjoy reduced eye strain. This can help you make it through long nighttime drives. Your eyes feel more alert and comfortable.
Who Might Benefit from Night Vision Glasses for Driving?
- People with mild light sensitivity: These glasses can help tame bright headlights. You can also just squint, of course.
- Drivers in areas with bad street lighting: The light amplification capabilities of some night driving glasses can help on roads with minimal lighting. But again, don’t expect miracles.
- People who want a placebo effect: Sometimes, you just need the extra boost of confidence these glasses can give you. They can make you think you see better at night. If you think it, you become it.
- People who want to look cool while driving at night: These glasses look cool. You can look cool by extension.
Let’s acknowledge their limitations, as well:
- Limited effectiveness in complete darkness: These glasses rely on ambient light in order to work. They do not create light; they only enhance it. They become useless if it’s completely dark.
- Distorted color perception: Some night vision glasses for driving can mess up your color perception. This could mean seeing green instead of the red stoplight, as well as missing other visual cues at night.
- Potential misinterpretation: If you’re not used to enhancements in contrast and brightness, using night vision glasses for driving can lead you to misinterpret what you see. It presents an unnecessary risk to your nighttime drives. For example, your night vision glasses may successfully amplify street lights as you drive. But this can lead you to not see the shadow of an object in the street.
- Cost: With all the money companies spend to market these glasses, they need to sell them at a hefty price tag—a few hundred dollars, at the very least. This is where you need to weigh the benefits against the cost.
Who Should Probably Skip Them?
- Anyone expecting Hollywood-level night vision: You’ll be disappointed.
- People with existing eye conditions: These glasses can’t substitute for your corrective lenses. Use your real glasses instead.
- Budget-conscious drivers: You may not find any night vision glasses that are super cheap. You’re better off investing in better headlights, regular eye checkups, and improving your eye health.
How to Get Night Driving Glasses
Technically speaking, you can make any pair of eyeglasses into night driving glasses! For instance, on EZContacts, all you need to do is upgrade the Lens Color section to either solid yellow or polarized.
When going the polarized route, choose light gray polarization. For color, yellow is the best because it reduces blue light and glare from night light.
If you want specific glasses that are marketed as night driving glasses, consider the Optix 55 Polarized Glasses or the Xiyalai Vipers. These have gotten good reviews from auto driving blogs and Amazon buyers.
These night vision glasses stand out for their polarized lenses, looks, and price. Optix 55 is a Brooklyn-based company, while Xiyalai is a Chinese brand.
The Verdict
While night vision glasses for driving are not totally worthless, you need to think long and hard about whether you want to invest in them.
Consider your typical driving conditions and budget. If you lean toward giving these a shot, try to find ways to test a pair first. Maybe you can borrow a friend’s night driving glasses. Maybe you can find a cheap pair. Check out how you feel driving with these on.
If you’re convinced that you can benefit from these glasses, do your research before you buy a good pair. Check out product reviews and actual user comments. This helps narrow down your choices to night driving glasses that perform according to your expectations.
TL;DR
- Realize that the majority of the claims around night vision glasses are hyped up.
- There are some benefits that can help people who are sensitive to light and those who drive on badly-lit streets.
- Limitations of these glasses include not aligning with Hollywood-level expectations.
- These glasses can also be detrimental to people with existing eye conditions.
- While night vision glasses for driving are not totally worthless, you need to weigh the cost against the few real benefits.
- You can make all eyeglasses into nighttime driving glasses by upgrading the lenses to solid yellow or polarized.
