Driving glasses

jongood

jongood

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Should glasses bought for driving make your eyes hurt?

I had a shock at HGV medical time last year, unbeknown to me DVLA have made the visual requirement for driving a HGV much stricter so I have now have to wear glasses to drive any HGV.

I must admit we had a trip looming to places where they were likely to ask to see my licence so I got an appointment wherever I could ( turned out to be Specsavers) the next day. So test done and glasses ordered I got the application lodged and thankfully DVLA managed to process it in time.

Its true that the glasses have sharpened up my vision( Although I can see everything on the dashboard and the end of the vehicle perfectly well without them) The problem is that after a couple of hours I have noticeable eye strain and find myself more comfortable wearing them on the top of my head.

Is this something that I need to get used to and will improve with time or do I need to go to somewhere better than Specsavers?
 
You have to remember that you are now training your eyes to work as they should. After a while ...our eyes deteriorate with old age but when we are given glasses...we are expected to return to normal? Give them time...they will become better and far more reliable than with out them.

Kev
 
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From experience of both myself and Mrs Emmit, I would say that your
glasses are probably not the right prescription.

On more than one occasion we have both had to return to the Opticians
for them to admit (eventually that the lens' fitted to the specs. were not
the correct one for me (and her)

If your glasses had the correct prescription then you wouldn't have the
problem.

Having said that, if you have gone through life without specs and you have been
misadvised re the size of the frame, you could find yourself with pain
as a result of the weight on the bridge of your nose.
 
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jongood said:
Its true that the glasses have sharpened up my vision( Although I can see everything on the dashboard and the end of the vehicle perfectly well without them) The problem is that after a couple of hours I have noticeable eye strain and find myself more comfortable wearing them on the top of my head.
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From what you've said if you could only see as far as the end of the vehicle without glasses you shouldn't have been driving so thank goodness you've got some. :oops: As for wearing them on the top of your head, ie not using them, you are putting yourself and others at risk and also breaking the law, not to mention probably invalidating your insurance so I hope that was said in jest.

jongood said:
Is this something that I need to get used to and will improve with time or do I need to go to somewhere better than Specsavers?
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It depends how long you've been using them, eg days, weeks etc. It will take a little bit of time as your eyes adjust to them but if this goes on for more than a week I'd be inclined to go back to your optician and get them to check your sight and the prescription as it's not unknown for them to sometimes be wrong, I've had this myself.

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Minxy said:
From what you've said if you could only see as far as the end of the vehicle without glasses you shouldn't have been driving so thank goodness you've got some. :oops: As for wearing them on the top of your head, ie not using them, you are putting yourself and others at risk and also breaking the law, not to mention probably invalidating your insurance so I hope that was said in jest.
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That is not what jongood said at all! He said he could see the instruments and the end of the lorry clearly but made no comment about his further vision other than to say that the glasses have sharpened things up a bit.
 
I got glasses for driving and found it unbelievably frustrating when looking at the sat nav and dials that were closer . Probably been sold the wrong glasses but I don’t use them now unless it’s dark .
 
jongood said:
The problem is that after a couple of hours I have noticeable eye strain and find myself more comfortable wearing them on the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Emmit said:
From experience of both myself and Mrs Emmit, I would say that your
glasses are probably not the right prescription.
Click to expand...
I too initially had to wear glasses for driving Jon, but have since moved on to variofocals. I tend to go along with Derek's suggestion re possibly not quite the right prescription.
Mine never gave me any problems vision wise, but the the tension on the arms did cause pressure to the head, at the back of the ears. Much lighter frames solved that problem. (y)

Minxy said:
From what you've said if you could only see as far as the end of the vehicle without glasses you shouldn't have been driving so thank goodness you've got some. :oops:
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To be fair Mel, Jon didn't actually say that. :(
Like me, Jon drives 44 Tonne Trucks, and I just know he wouldn't be irresponsible enough to drive them if his eyesight was that bad.
It is only due to a change by DVLA to the HGV/PSV eye test requirements, since Jon's last medical, that he now needed to sort out driving glasses.

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
A couple of years ago I was advised to have distance adjustment to my glasses as it would help with driving. However I have varifocals so that when I look down, my near vision is corrected so I can see the sat nav etc. I also have them with reactolight lenses so that they adjust depending on the light levels. eg sunshine
 
Abacist said:
However I have varifocals so that when I look down, my near vision is corrected so I can see the sat nav etc. I also have them with reactolight lenses so that they adjust depending on the light levels. eg sunshine
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You and me both. They are the best glasses I have had yet. (y)

At my last 5 x year medical, the examining Doctor said, "You don't actually need to wear glasses for driving."
I replied, "I'll tell you what Doc, I wouldn't like to drive without them, especially at night." ;)

Cheers,

Jock. :)

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Its very much a question of being aware of what is possible and discussing it with your optometrist.
 
Mark and Mindy said:
What light sensitive photochromic brand of spectacle lenses works while driving in an enclosed cab or car viewing through a windscreen?
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I never knew it could be an issue if that is what you are suggesting. Personally I pay more to have Zeiss lenses which are rated the best and assume that they provide the reactolight element as part of the lenses. They are not as strong as sunglasses but quite adequate for my needs
 
Mark and Mindy said:
What light sensitive photochromic brand of spectacle lenses works while driving in an enclosed cab or car viewing through a windscreen?
Click to expand...
The ones I wear, (brand unknown), though on the way down to Spain in December/January, I did take them off and lay them in the sun on the dashboard for a couple of minutes, to activate them a bit more as the glare from the sun through our huge windscreen, was quite strong. Job done. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
JockandRita said:
I too initially had to wear glasses for driving Jon, but have since moved on to variofocals. I tend to go along with Derek's suggestion re possibly not quite the right prescription.
Mine never gave me any problems vision wise, but the the tension on the arms did cause pressure to the head, at the back of the ears. Much lighter frames solved that problem. (y)


To be fair Mel, Jon didn't actually say that. :(
Like me, Jon drives 44 Tonne Trucks, and I just know he wouldn't be irresponsible enough to drive them if his eyesight was that bad.
It is only due to a change by DVLA to the HGV/PSV eye test requirements, since Jon's last medical, that he now needed to sort out driving glasses.

Cheers,

Jock. :)
Click to expand...

Does the change also apply to the test for C1 for PHGV?

The test always used to be the same for D4 form. Is that still the case?

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I have consulted a mate who used to be my Optometrist before he retired.

He says:-

"Specs should be comfortable to wear and improve your vision. I think -

The first instance is for him to return to where he got them to give them a chance to rectify things, If he has not been used to specs he may need a "reduced" prescription to start with!
If he gets no satisfaction then indeed go to an independent"

In a high street chain you may just have seen an employee as distinct from an owner or partner who perhaps has more of a vested interest in having happy customers or may just be more experienced.
 
As another retired optometrist I couldn't spend the time to answer all the myths in the answers! But in relation to the op if they continue to cause discomfort return to your optom for a recheck.
To those who found it strange that on a second test a different prescription was found think back to the test where you found it really difficult to sometimes tell the difference. Now imagine being shown all the same lenses again what are the odds of your answers being exactly the same!
 
nicholsong said:
Does the change also apply to the test for C1 for PHGV?

The test always used to be the same for D4 form. Is that still the case?
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My question too. Also what is the change. My C1 is due again this year.
 
I have vari vocals for driving, got mind through spec saver they were very good, Ive had problems with lens dropping out 3times in fact, 🤣 they obviously fixed them straight away but was inconvenient,
But I would pop back to tell them the issues you’re having .
Im sure they can sort you out.
Also you may know this already but are you aware you should have a spare pair with you as well ?
Can be quite costly this hgv driving lark .
Good luck
 
Tombola said:
We automatically start thinking about lense problems...but quite often sometimes the arms are simply too tight soqeezing the head or too tight behind the ears.
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Its definitely not a headache its my eyes that start to water. tbf SS chap spent a bit of time making sure they fitted correctly.
 
Minxy said:
From what you've said if you could only see as far as the end of the vehicle without glasses you shouldn't have been driving so thank goodness you've got some. :oops: As for wearing them on the top of your head, ie not using them, you are putting yourself and others at risk and also breaking the law, not to mention probably invalidating your insurance so I hope that was said in jest.


It depends how long you've been using them, eg days, weeks etc. It will take a little bit of time as your eyes adjust to them but if this goes on for more than a week I'd be inclined to go back to your optician and get them to check your sight and the prescription as it's not unknown for them to sometimes be wrong, I've had this myself.
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No worries Mel. I could see perfectly well before ( although have been using off the shelf for reading for some years) its just the test that has been changed. The guy at the medical did explain to me what the changes were but I was too surprised to take it in, I think its - you ve got to go a couple of lines lower.

I am wearing the glasses for driving the motorhome and lorries but find myself automatically looking over them or pushing them up because I'm more comfortable without them.

Thanks for all the input everyone. The main reason for the post was to see what others experiences have been and whether its normal or not, but I have now had them about 6 months and done a lot of miles with them on so I think first step is back to SS see how I get on?

Jon
 
I’ve been going to an Optician for years now-not Specsavers!
I gave them a try a couple of years back as I thought they might be cheaper, the glasses they prescribed were definitely not up to scratch and with standard lenses to the prescription they decided we’re correct, made my eyes hurt.
According to my Optician I need a certain lens. No this isn’t his idea as one time someone got the order wrong and I ended up with a different lens, correct prescription, and the glasses felt like the wrong ones.
When you get the chance find an Optician, not Boots/Specsavers etc. and get checked inc the glasses, you will probably find they are too strong, maybe.
 
i went to spesavers had 2 pairs of replacement glasses I can only wear them for short periods before they make my eyes ache ,so I reverted to my originals now about 8 years old no problems at all,when I told them at specsavers they said oh your eyes haven’t altered at all then?
 
JockandRita said:
You and me both. They are the best glasses I have had yet. (y)

At my last 5 x year medical, the examining Doctor said, "You don't actually need to wear glasses for driving."
I replied, "I'll tell you what Doc, I wouldn't like to drive without them, especially at night." ;)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
Click to expand...

This ^^^^^

I didn’t realise how much my vision had deteriorated until I went for a ‘proper’ eye test after using cheapo reading glasses. Correct varifocals have sorted it all and with the BOGOF deal at Specsavers a matching pair of sunglasses means my supercool Raybans have to be passed on to the younger generation.
 
I wear bi focals I have the focal point of the near vision elongated to put the dials and sat nav in focus rather than the standard length which opticians use for reading with, I'm a drive a truck so for me is for the best.
 
I've had issues at Specsavers and had a retest at an independent opticians who reglazed the Specsavers frames.

Specsavers also missed a torn retina even though I told them I had issues with that eye. The independent optician had me referred to the eye pavilion in Edinburgh and the tear was Lasered that evening. Had I relied on Specsavers I could have lost the sight in that eye.
 
Swifter said:
got glasses for driving and found it unbelievably frustrating when looking at the sat nav and dials that were closer .
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That is because the glasses for driving are 'distance' glasses & no good for seeing the speedo or sat nav , which would be around reading distance,..
i wear prescription sunglasses here , due to the brillance of the sun & with darkest legal possible tint. I have to flip them up if I want to check the sat nav or peer over the top for the speedo.
there is no requirement for me to wear glasses driving & it is the only situation where I do wear them. Normal day to day I have no need, but prefer wearing them when driving as they improve the sharpness.
 
buzz1 said:
Sorry spare glasses requirement for france parts eu not uk
Click to expand...

True. It is not a legal requirement to carry a spare pair of prescription glasses (if needed for driving) in the UK, as it is in Spain, for example…..but…..

Recently I took a D4 medical to re-instate my C1 licence under “Grandfather rights” and my new licence shows in Column 12 the code “01” for all vehicle categories. This makes it obligatory for me to wear my prescription glasses for driving. In the event of mislaying them or breaking them, I can not legally drive.

It seems common sense to me to always have a cheap spare pair in the glovebox, especially as I no longer need to wear glasses (after 60+ years of being very short-sighted) following the cataract operations I had last year and the implantation of multi-focus lenses - an expensive choice (not available on the NHS) but I now consider worth every £££. My ”driving glasses” sharpen up the far distance and I find them an asset when driving. They have varifocal lenses so that the dash instruments and sat-nav are clearly in focus and are photochromatic so can double as sunglasses if needed when not driving.



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