Driving At Night With Astigmatism?

Table of Contents

Do you have astigmatism? A blurry or distorted vision while driving at night with astigmatism can present unique challenges. While this situation is typical for astigmatism, there are still several ways to improve your night vision. If you’re having trouble seeing while driving, taking another look at your vision correction choices might be the first step toward feeling more confident on the road. This article will discuss all you need to know about night driving and how astigmatism affects our vision. Continue reading to find out more.

What Is Astigmatism?

You’re here because you or someone you know is experiencing ways that astigmatism may impact your night vision. For people with astigmatism, driving at night can be pretty tricky. Glares and light streaks from other cars’ headlights or halos around lights may affect your performance. But how do people develop this condition?

In a Canadian Optometrists’ Association study, astigmatism is one of the most common vision disorders. It causes the eyes to bend or refract light improperly, leading to blurry and distorted eyesight. This visual impairment brings about serious concerns, especially during the night when street lights are open. Whether it is at a distance or up close, people with astigmatism can experience discomfort and headaches.

What Causes Astigmatism?

Generally, astigmatism happens when there are minor variations in the development and alignment of the eye’s components. Genetics plays a role in this development, often resulting in refraction errors. Because the issue can begin in the early years, everyone must get frequent checkups with their eye doctor or optometrist. On the other hand, astigmatism can also be due to pressure build-up from the cornea’s eyelids.

How Does Astigmatism Affect Night Vision?

Light has the potential to be a source for both a benefit and a concern. Perhaps one of the most frequent concerns for someone with astigmatism is having trouble seeing properly at night, especially if you’re driving. We need light to see. However, it may be a bit overpowering when it comes at us at sixty miles per hour on a foggy night. In individuals over the age of forty, there is a magnification of the visual impressions created under the circumstances. This change can happen for a variety of reasons.

At night time and other low light conditions, the pupil dilates to allow more light to come in. As a result, more peripheral light reaches your eye. This circumstance produces increased glare and blurring, as well as making lights look hazy.

What Happens When Driving At Night with Astigmatism?

Suppose you’ve ever wondered why it is difficult to see at night while driving and notice how the lights intensify your vision. In that case, you may have astigmatism. Glare and halo are the visual consequences of these circumstances. The brilliant rings that encircle headlights are known as halos. Meanwhile, glare is a kind of light that scatters and decreases visual contrast.

You may have astigmatism if you’ve had the following experiences:

Vision appears blurry and scattered, especially with lights
Objects with light have streaks surrounding them
Increased irritation and glare from a light source
Squinting eyes to see more clearly

If you start having problems with your night vision or observe any of the symptoms listed above, contact your eye doctor as soon as possible.

What Can I Do to Improve Night Vision When Driving?

Suppose you’re having difficulties seeing lights and objects clearly, especially when driving at night. It is the best time to consult with your eye doctor. An eye exam might help you figure out if you have astigmatism o if you have another eye concern that’s affecting your vision.

If you already wear astigmatism-correcting glasses or contact lenses, you should keep them on when driving during the dark. However, if you’re still having trouble seeing lights and objects clearly, your prescription may need to be changed.

How Do I Correct Astigmatism?

You can naturally adjust your eye’s focus between far and near distances. However, as you get older, seeing clearly gets less possible, and your eyesight becomes more prone to a fixed point of focus. If your astigmatism falls under mild to moderate levels, your eye doctor may recommend corrective lenses. Corrective lenses come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as the following:

Eyeglasses

Eyeglasses, otherwise known as prescription lenses, can help your eyes receive the correct light refraction. You can also wear glasses for other vision concerns, including farsightedness and nearsightedness. Many people choose this option as it is more affordable and easy to use.

Contact lens

Contact lens is another option to improve your eyesight. It corrects the way that light bounces into your eyes. However, a contact lens requires more effort to maintain as it consists of sensitive materials. You might also need to use eye drops for contact lenses to avoid dry eyes.

Orthokeratology

Orthokeratology is an innovative eye treatment that involves the use of rigid contact lenses for astigmatism. Your eye doctor may suggest this treatment to correct the shape of your cornea. Typically, the patient should wear this corrective lens when sleeping.

Toric Lenses Implant

Toric lenses implant surgery involves a surgical replacement of your eye’s distorted lens with a particular type of lens that adjusts the shape of your eye. It is a standard treatment for those with astigmatism and cataracts.

What Are Night Driving Glasses?

Experts continue to develop ways to aid people who have them because night driving with astigmatism might lead to severe accidents. Today, night driving glasses are available to ease poor vision. These are yellow-tinted lenses that are said to filter out some light. Therefore, it reduces glare and helps you see better as you drive at night. Additionally, some reports claim that these glasses are also ideal for reading.

Final Thoughts

Astigmatism is a common eye concern that causes fuzzy vision and has a detrimental influence on poor vision at night while driving. It might be challenging to navigate the roadways if lights look streaky, blurry, or surrounded by haloes.

Night driving has its own set of difficulties. Your eye condition should not be one of them. Therefore, if you suspect you have astigmatism, it is best to make an appointment with your optometrist as soon as possible.