To ask you why I might struggle to drive in the dark?

[heyomayo]

Had an eye test a month ago and told 20/20 vision… not even a slight prescription. I am surprised and feel really fortunate.

Anyway, I thought this last winter and I’m now noticing it again, I have to pay so much more attention driving in the dark. I’m not squinting but all the white lights really seem to dazzle me and makes it really hard to concentrate, or at least I feel that way. It just feels like a much harder experience than driving in the day. This is my fifth winter driving, so I am an experienced driver and never remember being like this prior to the end of last winter. I’m not sure if it’s the ultra-white streetlights or maybe the running lights on some cars now? Does anyone have any ideas?

I have the same thing. It's horrible. I have astigmatism and apparently that makes it much harder. I've put it down to this.

I feel the same.

I'm exactly the same and I stopped driving at night ages ago.

How old are you? Unfortunately, it could just be age. My eyesight is fine with glasses according to the optician, however I don't like driving at night as the contrast is less than it once was and I don't feel that I can see as well.

I'm mid 50s.

I wear glasses but I struggled with glare last year and got anti glare tints on my glasses that have made a huge difference. I think it’s brighter headlights on newer cars.

You can get night driving glasses to cut down on headlamp glare, FYI.

The newer headlights make it much worse than it used to be. I hate it these days and stick to lit roads when possible.

I have the same.. I’m squinting trying to concentrate. The other lights dazzle me. Had my eyes tested no issues apparently. No idea what it is but maybe I’m more sensitive to the light.

Same here ... never used to worry me but I really don't like driving at night now. Mid 60s.

There are various eye conditions which can impact your night vision. Having 20/20 vision in daylight doesn't rule that out. I'd make an appointment with an optician to get it checked out.

Same - I hate driving in the dark. It's almost overwhelming at times - especially in poor weather. I

I’m mid 50s very rarely drive at night now, the dazzle from the lights is sooo annoying 🙁

Do you have specs? I find my driving night vision much better (less starring of bright lights etc) if I have my contacts in.

I’m early twenties!

I am finding this too. I spotted these night driving glasses on a website the other day and have been thinking of ordering them.

Several things contribute to this for me

Astigmatism
Im getting older, peri menopause eyes, eyes cant see as well even though my prescription is correct
Cars are higher/more SUVs, so their lights are at an angle where they dazzle
Lights are now white
Many cars appear to have their lights angled wrong, either the car hasnt been for an MOT yet or they just dont understand how to adjust the beam
Lots of pot holes which means cars are bouncing up and down as they approach you, flashing you without meaning to

My particular favourites are the ones with one very bright, badly adjusted beam shining right in your eyes while the other side of the car barely works.

For those saying they are impacted by light blur please get checked out. It can be caused by cataracts and glaucoma.

Personally Ive had regular yearly checks for decades and its not that

I also have astigmatism and night driving is a real issue. You may or may not need glasses with this condition but the coating helps a bit.

I'm amazed there's not more being done to regulate the increasing brightness of car headlights. Also the automatic full beam on new cars which don't always register a car is coming towards them.

Bloody hate driving at night and if it has the audacity to rain I’m screwed and really struggle. I just put it down to age. 43, short sighted glasses wearer, checked annually.

I'm the same, for me it's astigmatism. Not all opticians seem to pick up on it so you could try a different optician. It also doesn't mean your vision is poor or need glasses, just that light gets bounced around the eye differently and can cause light sensitivity and dazzling at night.

As you say you've had your eyes tested recently, you could get some glasses made up somewhere cheap like selectspecs or glasses direct opt for the anti glare coating and see if they help.

It's the stupidly bright white headlights for me. No eye problems, the lights just wash everything out so you struggle to see past them.

Hopefully nothing to do with age then. You won't remember, but in the old days, headlights were dimmer halogen things. I think it was easier to see with those. These days, there are super bright headlights. These are great if you are the only car on the road, and the driver, but not when they are coming towards you.

Astigmatism. I can’t drive at night without my glasses but am completely fine in the day. It’s quite common.