Do eyeglasses mess up your peripheral vision? Do you use your peripheral vision much when you drive?

Question

I've been wearing contacts for most of my life. But now I have an astigmatism and the lenses to correct it sometimes shift, causing blurry vision. I'm afraid this will happen while I'm driving. Laser surgery is too expensive right now, so I'm thinking of getting eyeglasses to use while driving. My concern is that the glasses will interfere with my peripheral vision. Not a problem most of the time, but will it affect my driving?

Answer 1

yeah I didn't like the contacts I had for astigmatism; felt like rocks in my eyes.  I can still see way left or wayyy right..so don't worry about your peripheral vision.  I wear regular contacts..yes toric lenses, will make your vision sharper.  But I feel as long as I can read the signs while i'm driving; when I do wear my contacts; than I'm fine!  Plus, they don't feel like bricks in my eyes.

Answer 2

Eyeglasses don't really do much for the peripheral vision because peripheral vision isn't really designed to be detailed or clearly-defined. You'll still notice lights and movement, and your natural instinct will be to turn your head towards such stimuli.

Answer 3

Your problem is related to many years of lens wear AND that your lenses move on your eyes so I'll give you 2 answers.

1. See your contact lens fitter about your contacts. If they cannot be refitted to prevent the lens movement then ask why and make sure you are happy with the answer.

2. Peripheral vision is used to detect movement and create awareness so you need it to drive safely. Your glasses will present the peripheral vision differently to you and you should adapt to your glasses in your home if you have doubts about driving in them. This should only need a day or two of you wearing the glasses full time alll day.

2a. If you still unhappy wearing specs when driving you may need spectacle lenses with thinner, flatter designs known as "Aspheric" - they present the world to you in a manner similar to your contacts.

Answer 4

I drive and wear glasses have no problems...

Answer 5

Millions of people drive with all types of eyeglasses.  Bifocals, trifocals, regular lenses, lenses for near sightedness and far sightedness.  You should be fine.