This time of year, we find ourselves with shorter days, longer nights and lots of gloomy weather conditions to contend with. For those of us without perfect eyesight, it can be difficult to navigate safely in the dark. Deep shadows and glare from oncoming headlights can make it hard to notice upcoming curves and obstacles. Additionally, the older we get, the worse our night vision tends to become.

A few of the more common causes include:

1. Changing prescription – After the age of 40 we experience more frequent changes to our prescription. The lens of the eye loses flexibility and its ability to bring near objects into focus decreases. There can also be increases in astigmatism as we age. The muscles which regulate the size of our pupils also get weaker leading to reduced pupil response to poor lighting. When we are younger, our pupils get larger in dim light allowing more light to enter giving us better vision, but as we get older the muscles which regulate the size of our pupils get weaker leading to reduced pupillary response to poor lighting. Our pupils actually look smaller which can cause halos around light and decreased vision in low light conditions.
2. Cataracts - Another age-related issue that can influence night vision is the development and worsening of cataracts. As we age, the natural lenses inside our eyes become cloudy. This can make low light conditions and glare more challenging. Eventually the cataracts can be resolved by surgery to have the cloudy lens replaced with a clear, artificial lens.
3. With age we also gradually lose some of the rods (or photoreceptors) in our eyes which help us to distinguish between light and dark.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms: cloudy, dim, or blurry vision, halos around lights or increased glare or eye fatigue, call to schedule an eye exam. Usually, a pair of driving glasses with an updated prescription and Anti- glare lenses will help a great deal to mitigate these difficulties.

It is also important to be sure to keep your windshield and headlights clean, try to be sure you are well rested before getting on the road, and always remember to eat plenty of eye healthy foods.

If you find yourself struggling to drive at night, don’t despair. We are here to help. Schedule your exam and bring us your questions and concerns. We are happy to help you discover the cause and find the best solution for all of your vision related issues.