Low winter sun, bright reflections from a wet road and oncoming headlights can all make driving more tiring than it needs to be. The right lenses and coatings can make a real difference to how comfortably you see the road, by day and after dark.
There are several ways to improve driving comfort, from polarised prescription sunglasses to specialist varifocals. But one of the simplest options is Essilor Crizal Drive: a premium coating that can be combined with a wide range of the everyday prescription lenses we supply. You don’t need a specialist pair of driving glasses to benefit from it.
Driving in bright sunshine: controlling glare
On bright days, polarised prescription sunglasses can make a huge difference. They reduce dazzling reflections from wet roads, vehicle bodywork and other shiny surfaces, helping you see more comfortably in strong sunshine. They’re an excellent choice for people who spend plenty of time behind the wheel. Some car displays can look different through polarised lenses, so we can help you check what works best with your vehicle.
If you’d prefer one pair that adjusts to the light, Transitions XTRActive New Generation is well worth considering. Unlike standard photochromic lenses, XTRActive darkens behind the windscreen, so it can help with bright daylight even in the car. There’s also an XTRActive Polarised version, which adds polarisation when you’re outside in strong sunlight. For more detail, see our guide to Transitions GEN S and XTRActive.
The XTRActive lenses we supply return to a sufficiently clear state in low light for night driving, so you can continue wearing the same prescription pair after sunset. Dedicated sunglasses are for bright daylight driving.
Night driving: why can it feel harder?
Headlights, streetlights and bright road signs stand out sharply against a dark road. Reflections on spectacle lenses can add to the distraction, particularly if your lenses are scratched or smudged. A high-quality anti-reflection coating helps keep your view clearer and makes driving after dark more comfortable.
Crizal Drive: a coating designed with drivers in mind
Crizal Drive is Essilor’s premium anti-reflection coating developed with drivers in mind. It reduces reflections from the surfaces of your glasses, making bright lights less distracting and helping your vision feel clearer, particularly when driving at night.
What does Crizal Drive actually do?
- Fewer distracting reflections: Helps keep unwanted reflections from headlights, streetlights and illuminated signs off your spectacle lenses.
- Clear lenses for night driving: The benefits come from the coating, not from darkening your view.
- Easier cleaning: Resistance to smudges, dust and water helps your lenses stay clear and easier to look after.
- Durable protection: Strong scratch resistance, backed by Essilor’s two-year scratch guarantee.
In Essilor’s tests, Crizal Drive reduced reflections from the lenses by up to 90% compared with basic hard-coated lenses. Fewer reflections mean less distraction when headlights, streetlights and bright road signs catch your glasses — especially useful after dark.
You can choose Crizal Drive instead of an everyday anti-reflection finish. If appearance is your main priority, Crizal Natural Look is another excellent Essilor coating: it makes lenses look remarkably clear, with very little residual reflection colour. Crizal Drive puts the emphasis on comfortable vision when driving. We’ll help you choose the one that best suits your lifestyle.
Varilux Road Pilot: varifocals designed for driving
If you wear varifocals and spend a lot of time driving, Varilux Road Pilot offers something more specialised. It is a varifocal lens designed to give you a particularly comfortable view of the road and everything you need to see around the car.
Road Pilot gives priority to a generous distance and intermediate field of vision, making it easier to look between the road, mirrors, satnav and dashboard. Compared with general-purpose varifocals, it places less emphasis on close reading — a sensible trade-off when the main job of the glasses is driving.
Combine Varilux Road Pilot with Crizal Drive and you have a pair of glasses designed around comfortable driving, with the added benefit of reduced lens reflections. Selected XTRActive options are also available for people who want help with bright conditions during the day.
For everyday driving, your usual varifocals with Crizal Drive may be all you need. If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, however, Road Pilot with Crizal Drive could be an ideal specialist second pair — giving you lenses designed specifically for the demands of driving, while keeping your everyday glasses for everything else.
How we decide what is suitable
Tell us when driving is most difficult for you. Is it low sun, wet-road glare, headlights at night, or switching between the road and dashboard through your varifocals? Those details help us recommend the right combination of lens design, coating and sun protection. Sometimes a new coating is enough; sometimes a specialist second pair offers a bigger improvement.
If your night vision has noticeably deteriorated, an eye examination is a sensible first step. We can check your prescription and eye health before discussing the lens options that will make driving more comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Crizal Drive only available with Road Pilot? | No. Essilor offers Crizal Drive with a range of other suitable prescription lens designs, including selected single-vision and varifocal options. |
| How does Crizal Drive help at night? | It reduces distracting reflections on your spectacle lenses, helping keep your view clearer when you encounter headlights, streetlights and illuminated road signs. |
| Can I have Crizal Drive with Transitions XTRActive? | Yes, with selected Essilor designs, materials and prescriptions. We would confirm the exact combination when ordering. |
| Are XTRActive Polarised lenses polarised inside the car? | They darken behind the windscreen, but do not achieve their full outdoor polarising effect there. For strong reflected glare, dedicated polarised sunglasses may be preferable. |
| Is Road Pilot intended as a second pair? | It can be. Road Pilot prioritises the road, mirrors and dashboard, so it makes an excellent specialist driving pair alongside everyday varifocals. |
| Do I need separate glasses for night driving? | Not always. Crizal Drive can be chosen with many everyday prescription lenses. A specialist Road Pilot pair is worth considering if you drive a great deal. |
Would different lenses make driving more comfortable for you?
If you are considering new spectacles and can visit Actons in Worcester, we can talk through Crizal Drive, specialist driving varifocals and suitable sunwear alongside your prescription and everyday needs. We will help you decide whether a different coating, an everyday pair or a dedicated second pair makes sense.
