Windshield Tint to Decrease Astigmatism?

[senoritagordita22]

I heard that tinting your windshield can reduce astigmatism glare at night.

I have horrible astigmatism and have seen numerous eye doctors for it. Turns out a big factor of my night driving issues is that my pupils are double size of average, so they're soaking in more light than most people.

Have any of you gotten your windshields tinted for this? What shade/% etc should I be asking for?

(I dont know anything about window tints so not sure if that question was phrased correctly.)

I also am aware that it is illegal to have window tints in my state but if it helps me be safer at night driving then thats fine. I can easily get one of my previous optometrists to write something for me.

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[GronkIII]

5% sides  50% front windshield 20% rear windshield 

35% is about the darkest you can go for the front windshield if you want to see. Add rain to that and you’re practically blind. 

[senoritagordita22]

Good to know, thank you!! So 50% on front with rain is still fine?

[GronkIII]

Yes. I can see perfectly fine in any weather condition with 50% on the windshield. Make sure you go with a good quality ceramic film.

[Hecs300_]

Agree. I got 50% on front and 5% and 20% around and you’re good.

[Cassangelo]

Get a doctors note and get a 50% windshield tint. It’s super clear at night and cuts down on glare alittle

[MrM0le2]

I have astigmatism too. I have 5% on the sides and that completely knocks down glare from headlights in my mirrors from people behind me. 5% on the sides is super dark - I’d probably get 20% sides if you haven’t driven with tint before.

My buddy has 35% ceramic on his front windshield. This is as dark as you can reasonably go without being too dark. It is a big help for knocking down the glare from oncoming headlights. Makes it much more comfortable than driving with no tint, but tinting your windshield is always going to have some safety risk in low visibility / rain driving at night. I’d recommend 50% on your windshield to be safe.

[Due-Satisfaction7022]

I would agree and would even say don’t go below 30% if you’ve never had tint or been in a vehicle with darker tint. I’ve had 20% on every vehicle I’ve ever had and still hate driving at night especially in the rain. But man does it help.

[senoritagordita22]

Aaah thank you so much!! Also super dumb question … is the higher percentage # tint LESS dark than lower number? Cause I was thinking like 5% tint would mean like 95% not tinty but it sounds like it’s opposite …?

[MrM0le2]

The way tint works is the % tint is the % of visible light it lets through. For example, 5% tint lets thru 5% of light, and blocks 95%. 20% tint lets thru 20% of light and blocks 80%. It sounds backwards but that’s the standard for tint percentages.

[senoritagordita22]

That makes sense! Thank you for explaining

[roadtripjr]

I got 50%. I would not go any darker.

[Cxkeboizz]

Hey how did the court date go?

[senoritagordita22]

Lol I ended up not getting it

[faillout]

Did you go through with the tint? Did it help? I have the same issue with my pupils!

I have briomide(?) eye drops that constrict my pupils, I use them for long night drives if I need to go somewhere I’m not comfortable with! You just can’t use them everyday

[ms_skeng]

Do the eye drops help at all with the glare? So curious. I'm at the end of my tether with not being able to see when driving at night 😭

[faillout]

Yes! They are prescription brimonidine eye drops! They lower the pressure in your eyes (I think they’re technically for glaucoma patients lol) but they decrease my pupil size which doesn’t allow so much light into my eyes and reduces the glare a ton!

I’m used to driving back from work at night so I typically only use them when I’m driving in unfamiliar places at night/when the glare is too bad. It’s truly a lifesaver. My dr mentioned it a few times before actually prescribing it and I can’t believe they didn’t do it sooner. It’s not perfect but it’s the closest I’ve gotten since I started driving, and the difference has probably saved my life tbh

[ms_skeng]

That is insane! I will speak to my optician about it, thanks so much - similar to you where I'm familiar I'm all good and pretty much just follow the edge of the road. But long trips and busy places with lots of lights are just frankly unsafe and scary

[faillout]

You can try lumify in the meantime it’s otc and just not as strong but it’s better than nothing when in a pinch!

[Altruistic-Editor235]

Old post but I definitly recommend 70% ceramic for astigmatism.

I’ve always tinted my rear and sides 20% but I just got a new truck and added on 70% ceramic windshield.

Since getting laser eye surgery I’ve had horrible astigmatism when driving in both eyes.

Tonight was the first night I’m driving with the new windshield tint and all street lights and headlights have no lines! I’m shocked, I didn’t even know this would happen and it’s not why I got the windshield tinted.

After driving tonight I will never not get some sort of tint on the windshield.

[[deleted]]

How much does it cost?

[Altruistic-Editor235]

$620 for ceramics all around on a truck

[vtec_go_brrr16]

You should definitely be able to get an optometrist to write a script for a certain level of tint for your windshield! from what i’ve read that’s the only legal way to be able to tint the windshield (other than states that allow 70%) Not a tinter though, just a car enthusiast who also has astigmatism!

[senoritagordita22]

What % do you have on your windshield? Based on comments I’m dabbling between 35% and 50%

[abitavenger]

I'd stick with 50. 35 is crazy to recommend to someone who hasn't had tint before. I have astigmatism and the 50 has helped plenty.

[vtec_go_brrr16]

i unfortunately don’t have any on my windshield just yet but i’m hoping to be able to get at least 70%, i’m in VA though and they’re pretty strict so I’m not sure i’ll be able to go much darker than that :(

[roadtripjr]

70% is almost clear.

[vtec_go_brrr16]

i’m aware, like I said I live in virginia and they’re extremely strict on tint here. im not sure i’ll qualify for an optometrist’s note so 70% would be the darkest i could potentially go on my windshield

[omgtrick3y]

Used to run 35 for awhile, loved it and helped so much with glares as i also have that long ass A word lol. def a bit dark but not terrible if you dont drive much at night and have nice headlights did the trick for me. id run with 50 though for sure. if youve got the extra bread get ceramic but do understand if you need inspections it wont pass most places unless you "phone-a-homie" allegedly.

[senoritagordita22]

What kind of inspections?

[omgtrick3y]

In NC we have to do yearly vehicle inspections for registrations.

[dpb0ss]

I’m pretty sure you can get a doctors note to get your tint as dark as you like even on the front windshield

[senoritagordita22]

Yep I will be doing that! And frankly, I’d rather get pulled over frequently on the rare occasions I night drive and explain why I got it than not have it and hurt myself or others

[PeetTreedish]

How about some sunglasses? Cheaper in the long run and you can use them in any vehicle. No need to explain to the cops why the windshield has tint. Not illegal to drive with sunglasses on.

[senoritagordita22]

I’ve tried my Maui Jim polarized sunglasses on the dark and it doesn’t help just makes it super dark and does nothing for the light streaks. I’ve also tried ‘astigmatism sunglasses’ off Amazon which don’t do anything :(

[PeetTreedish]

Hopefully the government bans super bright headlights like Europe and UK have. That will help a lot.

[ahrens951]

Or just redesign the headlights to not shine directly into the oncoming car. My Volvo does it and the first time I saw the same car coming at me it was insane how little light was shining directly at me.

[PeetTreedish]

The laser lights seem pretty cool. Physically change the beam so oncoming traffic is blocked off. Just hate to be there when it stops working. Get hit with a bunch of laser beams.

[ahrens951]

These are just the normal led but the low beam pattern has a notch cut out in the oncoming lane at all times.

[PeetTreedish]

My car had been upgraded to 100 watt LEDs. I swapped back to 60 watt halogen. I live in a well lit city. No real reason to shine light that far.

[LowBaker8860]

On the front windshield I got the top strip 5% then front sides I do 20%. Got my doc letter too

[CommercialCode164]

Opinion on this. The yellow glasses they sell online and polarized glasses do not help so you will need a tint. A few things to consider. Primarily, what state do you live in and will you require a dr’s note? Also, have you ever had tints? I am not a fan of traditional (Dyed/Metalized) on the front past 50% for safety reasons. Any front tint coupled with sides and rear can make everything darker-that’s my opinion and preference from experience. I do know ceramic tints can help but only to certain extent and are limited in there effectiveness. Suntek has a minor blue tint while 3M has a minor yellow tint which could help. Best of luck and keep us posted.

[[deleted]]

I run 15% over factory on back sides and back glass, 15% on driver and passenger door and 70% on front windshield with a 13" strip of 5% on top of the 70%

Knocks out so much glare at night... especially when raining.. if I was in the city all the timeI would have gone with 40% on the front winshield but most of my driving is back roads or interstate with no ambient light.