Is anyone else having issues with blurred vision/glare at night caused by the heated windscreen?

You get used to it. Low sun also causes inteference paterns.

As above.

It's more annoying if you wear glasses/contacts.

I'm used to it now but one of our guys used the car today and came back with a headache

Is anyone else having issues with blurred vision/glare at night caused by the heated windscreen?

I have never been able to drive cars with heated screens, they are too distracting. I've said this before, some don't see the elements but I, unfortunately, can't see past them.

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It's sort of comforting for me reading this since there was no heated windscreen option for my TSI engine. Was disappointed at the time of order :(  

Now that I know there is also a downside to it kinda makes me feel better  

I agree with gt40, it was the reason for not ordering it for me. I'd rather wait for it to defrost than crash!

Fords used them for years and IMHO they're not distracting in those (having had 3 with them fitted). Wonder why Skoda's seem more noticeable, perhaps the angle of the windscreen ?

Mine isn't causing me any issues.

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My last car was a focus with a heated screen and I can honestly say I have not noticed the heated screen in my 10 day old Octavia any more than I would notice it in my ford.

Then again I tend to look through the windscreen, not at it.

No problems here, but then I look through my windscreen at what's goin on ahead of me rather than look at the windscreen and then crash....

Thanks for the comments, and we're looking through the windscreen not at but, but it does tend to cause a glare, so pleased it's not in the rs4

As other commenters I used to have it on a focus so was expecting the impact, although I think the octavia is better than my old focus.

Just wait till driving through fog though. That was truly the only time I wished I didn't have a heated windscreen.

Fords used them for years and IMHO they're not distracting in those (having had 3 with them fitted). Wonder why Skoda's seem more noticeable, perhaps the angle of the windscreen ?

 

Everyone's vision is different (glasses/contacts aside) so some people can be distracted by it; others not so.

My other half would be bothered by it.

If there is light rain I tend to wipe the screen with one flick of the lever  

every so often as I drive. I can see perfectly well through the droplets of water.

She would have the wipers on for the same conditions. Her eyes just auto

focus on the water and not whats beyond it... She don't half get through wiper

blades. Lucky if a set lasts 6 months...

My other half would be bothered by it.

If there is light rain I tend to wipe the screen with one flick of the lever  

every so often as I drive. I can see perfectly well through the droplets of water.

She would have the wipers on for the same conditions. Her eyes just auto

focus on the water and not whats beyond it... She don't half get through wiper

blades. Lucky if a set lasts 6 months...

Mine is the same - she gets through screenwash at the same rate as petrol!  I'm fine driving with the odd bit of drizzle etc; she's wiping/cleaning the screen every 2 seconds!

It would seem I'm not alone in preferring a screen completely clear of distractions. I discussed this with the Skoda salesman and I learned two things:

1. About one in five really dislike heated screens

2. Ford own the function and tech patents so it's unlikely that we'll see a better solution soon.

As for those clever people who look through the screen rather than at it, thanks for the advice. Empathy is not your best asset though, is it?

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I thought the Ford patent expired about 10 years ago - hence why other manufacturers are now using them?  Might be internet folklore though..

If you're having trouble with your eyes autofocusing on the wires and you've not been to one, it may be worth going to see an optician and getting your vision checked. Before I had my eyes lasered, being short sighted, they would naturally try and focus on the wires but after correction, I can see straight past them without trying.

I have it on my TSI VRS and it really doesn't bother me. It does indeed create a glare-like effect from lights from other cars/stop lights and so on, but not enough to be a problem for me.

 

As I got to use it for the first time this morning, I'm extremely happy I went for it. I'll probably be ecstatic by winter's end.

Edited 27 November, 201312 yr by TudorM

If you're having trouble with your eyes autofocusing on the wires and you've not been to one, it may be worth going to see an optician and getting your vision checked. Before I had my eyes lasered, being short sighted, they would naturally try and focus on the wires but after correction, I can see straight past them without trying.

I first tried a heated screen on an Escort in the late 80s, when I had uncorrected vision. I've since gone from glasses to correct short sightedness to varifocal specs and multifocal contact lenses but heating elements still remain an irritant. A bigger irritant than manually clearing my windscreen half a dozen times a year.

I do, however, appreciate other people's enthusiasm for the function, especially if they benefit at no cost.

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I noticed this with my Yeti last year, as the first time having a car with a heated screen. As Gadgetman says it's even more noticeable if you wear glasses. I found it annoying but have acclimatized to it, so it hasn't been as much of an issue as last year.

 

I'd still rather have the heated screen than not. This morning was typical, with lots of cold damp air filling the car (waiting for the kids to put in their schoolbags) which all descends on the windscreen 300 yards up the road approaching a mini roundabout with the low sun directly ahead. The screen can be clear when setting off but turning completely opaque in a few seconds just when I need visibility most Putting the heated screen on before leaving solves that - it gets switched off once past the roundabout.

The heated screen in our Yeti does my head in, I can constantly see them and at night they effect my vision.

I wear glasses and my prescription is correct.

Andy

I thought the Ford patent expired about 10 years ago - hence why other manufacturers are now using them? Might be internet folklore though..

I think you're right.