truck driver eye careThough you may not always think about it, truck drivers need to be in excellent health, and this includes your vision. Truck drivers need to be able to see clearly, no matter what time of day or night, to be able to effectively do your job and stay safe. Your ability to see can be a matter of life and death - if your vision isn't as good as it should be, you could end up in an avoidable trucking accident. Because of this, it is important that all truck drivers take proper care of their eyes and wear eyewear when necessary. 

remember that eyewear is a tool

Successful truckers must be in the right mentality in order to spend hours and days on the road. Small details are essential when it comes to truck driving. You must pay attention to your surroundings and notice little things like brake lights or people getting too close to your vehicle. 

This also pertains to your health, including their eyes and eyewear. There are different types of eyewear for different situations. Plus, truck drivers need to take care of their eyes and eyewear so that it helps them throughout their entire career. 

Because of this, you may want to invest in multiple types of sunglasses to keep in your truck. You may need different tints, depending on the lighting and time of day. If you have prescription glasses, you should always have one or two spare sets, plus some prescription sunglasses in several tints so that you can always see clearly. These tools help you to be a better, safer trucker.

You should use sunglasses for long-term eye health

Though most people don't think about it, your eyes can become damaged due to exposure to bright sunlight over a long period of time. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause a lot of problems including vision problems, macular degeneration, and much more. 

Because your eyes are so important to keep you (and others on the road) safe, you need to make sure that you are protecting them. Whenever you notice yourself squinting due to the brightness, you need to pick up your sunglasses. The best types to wear are the ones that protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. 

If you have a prescription, Always wear your glasses or contactS 

If you need to have prescription eyewear in order to see properly, you need to be wearing them when you are driving. In many states, this is mandated by law. If you are caught driving without your prescription, you will be fined. You may even lose your CDL.  

Make sure that you have a yearly Vision checkup

As a truck driver whose vision is of utmost importance, you need to make sure that you have your vision checked once a year. This will make sure that your eyes are healthy. If you wear prescription glasses or contacts, you can make sure that your prescription hasn't changed and if it has, you can get updated glasses or contacts so that you are able to see as well as possible. 

By visiting your eye care professional, you will be able to drive easy knowing that you are able to see properly. It will also help you if you are having headaches and other problems that may be caused by bad vision.

It is best to avoid frames that restrict your peripheral vision. 

There are many different types of glasses, ranging from practical to stylish and trendy. However, as a truck driver, you are going to need to focus on finding a good pair of practical, comfortable glasses. You need to make sure that you can see out of them with a complete range of vision.

If you get a pair that restrict your peripheral vision, you may struggle to see your semi-truck mirrors and other people on the road. You will have to move your head in order to see what is going on around you, so you won't be able to see as much at once, causing your reaction times to be slower. 

DOT Guidelines for Truck Drivers and Their Eyes 

All truck drivers need a DOT physical every year. This will ensure that you are healthy enough to be able to put in the long hours needed to get your commercial vehicle from one point to another.  

During this physical, they will check your vision. In order to pass, you must have a distant visual acuity of at least 20/40. This can be with or without prescription glasses. You also need to be able to see at least 20/40 with both eyes together, the right eye alone, and the left eye alone.

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Authored By:

Kate Williams

CDLjobs.com has been a leader in the trucking industry since 1999, connecting truck drivers with companies hiring drivers. Kate Williams is the company EVP and CFO with over 30 years experience in finance.