This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine. I feel like I run errands from day to night. There always seems to be something to pick up. I’m either fetching my kids from after school activities or making last-minute grocery purchases. I am no stranger to night driving. I’m often out and about so it’s not unlikely that I’m on route when the sun goes down.

Staying Safe While Night Driving

I consider myself to be a safe driver. I am attentive and aware of my surroundings. My husband and I made sure to teach our kids to drive the same way. Driving at nighttime proves to be a lot more challenging. As a family, we try and avoid being on the road when it’s late, but sometimes, it’s inevitable.

It is important to stay as safe and alert as possible when driving in the dark. Did you know that traffic death rates are 3x greater at night than during the day? Just because you’re a confident driver, doesn’t mean you can ever let your guard down. Nighttime driving can be a different game. Here is an interesting video on why you are uncomfortable driving at night from the folks at FabOverFifty:

Five Surprising Facts About Night Driving

We Depend On Our Vision: Did you know that 90% of a driver’s reaction depends on their vision? Our vision at night is strongly diminished. When it’s dark, our eyes have a harder time with depth perception and color recognition.
Bright Glare: 25% of drivers are affected by glare while night driving. Usually, glare is caused by high intensity light, such as those coming from headlights. This is why it’s important to use the “night” setting on your rearview mirror when possible. It dims any light coming from behind you, causing less distraction.
Lack Of Light: While bright lights may be distracting for night drivers, so is the lack of light. Many young drivers find it hard to identify pedestrians and potholes when it’s dark out.
Prevent Distractions: Driving at night is more difficult so it’s important to prevent any type of distractions. One useful tip is to make sure that your headlights and windshield are clean. This prevents dust and residue from blocking your line of sight. Who would have known that a cleaner car meant a safer drive?
Our Aging Eyes: Did you know that as we age, our pupils shrink and don’t dilate as much in the dark? It’s no wonder that 40% of people over 40 feel uncomfortable driving at night. As we age, our corneas and lenses become weaker and less clear. Because of this, our vision suffers an increase in glare. This makes it difficult to identify important road markings, signs and other objects.

Let’s Keep Our Vision As Healthy As Possible

Zeaxanthin is the primary pigment in the macula in the back of the eye. It can help improve and protect your central vision. Luckily, EyePromise has a powerful product called Vizual Edge, which helps your visual acuity when driving at night, as well as protect your long-term eye health. Highly effective, Vizual Edge produces a denser macula that can protect and enhance your vision, as well as help protect against age-related macular degeneration. The zeaxanthin found in Vizual Edge helps decrease eye stress coming from bright lights.

It helps to improves your overall eye health by supporting the natural function of the eye. This is a product that has been trusted for many years: EyePromise has been backed by more than 20 years of research. Vizual Edge is available both in soft gels and as chewables. Bottles start from $35.95 USD. You can stay connected with EyePromise on social media on Facebook, and Twitter. Make sure your eyes are in shape! Join Night Driving Nancy with EyePromise and be confident behind the wheel – day and night!

Which of the facts about night driving did you find most surprising?

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine. When she was 11, my sister was just starting middle school. Do you remember that age? I remember how much I wanted to fit in. About halfway through her 6th grade year, my sister learned she needed glasses. I remember how difficult it was for her to adjust to her new glasses. It was as much of a struggle getting used to wearing the glasses, as it was how they looked. Back then, the options for kid’s glasses was minimal. My mom struggled to help my sister feel more comfortable and self-confidant in her new glasses. As they say now; the struggle was real.

The Struggle To Fit In Is REAL!

Today, the struggle is just as real, as my daughter found out. She was just starting high school when she found she needed braces AND glasses. Poor thing! The dreaded double whammy, right? And believe it or not, they still call kids “four eyes” when they wear glasses in school! Now the options are more plentiful when it comes to choosing the right glasses for your child. Before you make the leap to find the perfect pair of glasses for your kiddo, I have some great tips for you!

If your little one needs glasses, read my tips on How To Choose The Right Glasses For Your Child #ad

Photo Credit: (GraphicStock.com)

Helping Your Kid Choose The Perfect Glasses

Consider Their Age: A child of 12 is more likely to care for their new glasses than a child of three. For those kids under the age of four, choose the silicone, wrap-around style. This takes the worry about losing their glasses off the table. Another option are cable temples, which is the piece that wraps over the ear. These temples wrap all the way around the back of the ear, making them more likely to stay on.
Consider Their Lifestyle: Another area of consideration is your child’s lifestyle. Are they active in sports? If so, you will probably choose a different pair of glasses than a child like my daughter who is in Chorus and Robotics.
Plastic or Metal: When it comes to kid’s glasses, this has been a topic of much debate. In the past, it was recommended children opt for plastic frames rather than metal. The school of thought was the plastic frames were lighter, more durable, less likely to bend or break and were less expensive. For Caitlin, even at age 15, she had the worst time with her metal frames bending. That said, she is tough on everything, so this was not a surprise.
Bridge Fit: This is how the glasses fit on the bridge of your child’s nose. For younger children, their bridge is not developed, so plastic glasses slide down. Metal frames have adjustable nose pads, making it a great choice for just about any age! Although with Caitlin, she complained of the adjustable nose pads irritating her nose. I think each kid is different and they will need to try on a few pair to see what is most comfortable for them.
Lenses: Be sure to ask for polycarbonate lenses, whatever your child’s age. These lenses are more lightweight and the least likely to break, crack or shatter on impact. If you have the extra money, or if your insurance covers it, ask for the anti-reflective coating. Caitlin said it makes all the difference in the clarity of her vision.
Looks Count: To keep the teasing to a minimum, choose frames that are fashion forward. Just about anywhere you shop, there are many cool styles and frame colors for kids to choose from. Caitlin was so worried about the kids teasing her. She chose a pair of pretty purple frames and got many compliments.
Back Up Pair: Be sure to ask if your insurance covers an additional pair of glasses for your child. Even if they don’t, many places you can purchase glasses from offer a second pair at a discount. Trust me when I tell you; get the second pair!!

How To Choose The Right Glasses For Your Child's Face kid

Photo Credit: (SmartBuyGlasses)

Choosing The Best Place To Shop For Glasses

When we were choosing glasses for Caitlin, all the above tips were helpful. Just as important was choosing the best place to shop for glasses. You want to find someone trustworthy, a wide range of products, and of course, the best price. My friends at SmartBuyGlasses are here to help. They offer a huge selection of glasses and contact lenses. The Optical Centre covers many topics in the eye health industry. They also offer advice for first time glasses/contact lens wearers and the seasoned aficionado.

The Best Selection At The Best Price

At SmartBuyGlasses, they make shopping for your eye wear a painless process. They have a dazzling selection of eyeglasses, sunglasses and sports sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses. You can shop for glasses by gender, sport, frame material, shape, brand and price. You can choose from name brands like Gucci, Carrera, Ray-Ban, Versace, and Acuvue, just to name a few! For contact lenses, you have a ton of options from type, color, extended wear (daily, weekly or monthly), color, brand and more.

Which Glasses Are Best For YOUR Face Shape?

SmartBuyGlasses even offers this cool way to choose the best glasses for your face! You first choose your face shape and then click! The next page will show you several options for your oval, square, round or heart shaped face! Here is a great video to illustrate:

Do you have a favorite celebrity and covet their trendy glasses? Click on the “Latest Spotting” page and see who is wearing what. Then click on that celeb and you will be directed to the same, or very similar pair available from SmartBuyGlasses. Isn’t that fun?! With prices starting at $38, including lenses, you cannot afford to shop for your new eye wear from anyone else! Stay social with SmartBuyGlasses and like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Does your child wear glasses? If so, which style worked best for them?