7 Tips for Driving at Night with Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a common eye problem that affects 1 in 3 people in the United States. If you’ve already been diagnosed with astigmatism, you know this condition can cause blurry vision and make it difficult to see at night, especially when driving.
If you’re seeing beams of light or light halos when driving at night, astigmatism may be the cause—and you should consult your eye doctor. In this article, our Visionworks team explains the effects of astigmatism on vision, what it’s like driving at night with astigmatism, and seven tips for clearer vision when driving at night.
What Is Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a refractive error in the eye caused by a misshapen cornea or lens. The eye naturally has a spherical shape. However, in the case of astigmatism, the eye is shaped more like a football. As light enters the eye, it is refracted and bent to create the object’s image in front of you. Astigmatism causes this light to refract in favor of one direction over the other, resulting in blurry vision and light halos.
If you are experiencing vision changes, it is always best to consult your eye doctor. In this piece, we will discuss some tips for coping with the condition, but we want to emphasize this point: Astigmatism is a medical issue that requires proper diagnosis and treatment by an eye doctor.
How Does Astigmatism Affect Vision?
Astigmatism has effects during the day, but it’s a condition that becomes much more noticeable when the light starts to dim. Astigmatism at night vs. normal vision takes a lot of getting used to.
The reason for this is that the pupil dilates in low light to allow more light into the eye to see. When more light enters an eye affected by astigmatism, more light is refracted in the wrong direction, causing more blurring and glare than during the day.
If you’re wondering how to tell if you have astigmatism, the table below may help—but this isn’t the time for self-diagnosis. See an eye doctor as soon as you can to benefit from their expertise and discuss treatment options.
| Lighting Condition | Normal Vision | Astigmatism |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight | Clear, sharp vision | Blurry vision, especially at a distance |
| Indoor Lighting | Generally clear, unstrained vision | Focusing may be difficult, especially under dim or harsh lighting; may experience extra shadows or light double vision |
| Low Light | Reduced image sharpness, but objects and color are still discernible | Significant blurriness; difficulty discerning details; increased strain |
| Nighttime Driving | Clear vision, especially for illuminated objects like signs; other headlights aren’t an issue | Starburst effect and halo effects around headlights and street lighting make it difficult to see signs; distance may be blurry or obscured |
| Twilight | Slightly reduced vision clarity | Harder to focus due to blurriness or vision distortion |
| Bright Glare | Might need to squint; some discomfort; shapes and colors are still visible | Halos, streaks, and starbursts surround strong light sources; heightened sensitivity to brightness |
| Screen Light | Comfortable viewing in most circumstances; may experience eye strain with overuse | Increased eye strain and trouble focusing; light halos may appear |
What Does Driving at Night with Astigmatism Look Like?
Driving at night with astigmatism looks different for everyone, but there are a few common symptoms. Some of the effects of astigmatism at night include:
- Blurred or fuzzy vision
- Light halos surrounding traffic lights
- Starburst effects on lights
- Light beams from headlights
- Increased glare
- Squinting to see more clearly
The above image shows what it’s like to drive at night with an uncorrected astigmatism. If you notice any similarities between this image and your vision at night, make an appointment with your eye doctor. That’s the only clear path for proper treatment.
If astigmatism doesn’t seem like the issue based on the information here, you may have another condition such as night blindness. An eye doctor can help you figure it out.
7 Tips to See Clearly When Driving at Night with Astigmatism
If astigmatism is affecting your vision at night, don’t worry. Almost all cases of astigmatism can be easily corrected with the proper eyeglasses or contact lens prescription. So while we’re happy to provide some tips for dealing with astigmatism at night, there’s no life hack or advice that’s going to do you nearly as much good as seeking treatment from an eye care professional.
1. Schedule an Eye Exam
If you know or think you have astigmatism and notice changes in your vision at night, it’s time to schedule an eye exam with your doctor. Astigmatism can worsen over time, so it is essential to keep up with your annual eye exams to monitor any vision changes and adjust accordingly.
2. Ask About Treatment Options
Most cases of astigmatism can be easily corrected with the proper eyeglasses or contact lens prescription. Ask your eye doctor about the options available to you. At Visionworks, we have one of the largest selections of glasses and contacts from top brands, making it easy to fulfill all your vision care needs.
3. Look into Non-Glare Lenses
Non-glare lenses can help reduce the amount of light entering your eye, helping people with astigmatism see better at night. Visionworks Elite Non-Glare lenses reduce reflections from glare by as much as 90% and offer 10x more scratch resistance than the standard lens. Look at the corresponding image to see the amazing difference non-glare lenses can make when driving at night!
4. Avoid Looking Directly at Headlights
Protect your vision by looking past the headlights from ongoing traffic. Those bright lights can exacerbate your astigmatism, so avoid looking directly at them. Once you start training your eyes to look down and to the right, muscle memory kicks in and you’ll start doing it automatically.
5. Dim Interior Lights
Honestly? There are enough challenges to deal with outside when you drive at night with astigmatism. You don’t want to add to it by having bright lights on the dashboard or radio. Keep the cabin lights off and update your settings to minimize brightness and protect your eyes.
6. Don’t Drive Tired
The symptoms of astigmatism can feel magnified if you drive while tired. Even people with normal vision can experience blurry vision and feel greater eye strain when they’re exhausted, so it’s no wonder that it would also impact those with astigmatism. Additionally, your reaction time is delayed when fatigued—it’s not a great combination with a vision condition.
Driving tired is a big problem for all drivers. It’s dangerous, and it puts you and your passengers at risk. Adding astigmatism to an already volatile mix just takes a bad situation and makes it worse.
7. Follow Basic Nighttime Driving Tips
This may sound obvious, but you don’t want to skimp on some basic tips for driving at night, especially when dealing with astigmatism. Don’t neglect basic maintenance or commonsense guidelines that can help. For example, it’s helpful to keep your windshield and mirrors clean. You can also take some pressure off by giving yourself extra time to reach your destination. Adding the temptation to speed won’t help matters at all.
With these easy tips, you will see more clearly and be driving with confidence in no time!
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
