Driving at night can be challenging when you have astigmatism. Headlights, streetlights, and cars approaching you may cause a glare that can make it difficult for you to see clearly, even with corrective lenses on. You are not alone if you have a problem with this condition—many individuals with astigmatism struggle to see comfortably during nighttime driving. However, the positive news is that you can employ several strategies to make your nighttime driving less hazardous and more comfortable.
What Driving at Night with Astigmatism Looks Like
When you have astigmatism and need to drive at night, it can be very uncomfortable and challenging. The condition causes blurry or distorted vision, especially in low-light scenarios, and is particularly prevalent during nighttime driving. When you drive, you might see the following visual problems if you have astigmatism:
1. Glare and Halos Around Lights
Oncoming car headlights or streetlights may appear as blurry shapes or even halos, making it difficult to determine the source of the light. These strong lights can disperse and create a blinding effect, which impairs your vision and hinders navigation.
2. Difficulty Focusing on the Road
Your vision may also be hampered at night when you want to see distant objects (e.g., road signs, traffic lights) because of the uneven shape of the cornea or lens in your eye. This may leave you struggling to see what lies ahead and hinder your ability to respond to potential hazards in a timely manner.
3. Blurry Vision and Decreased Contrast
The absence of light during the night may also aggravate blurriness and low contrast. Dark environments and blurred vision can cause difficulties in recognizing objects, pedestrians, or road marks, and hence lead to accidents.
4. Eye strain and Fatigue
It may cause eye fatigue and strain due to the constant effort to concentrate and/or see more clearly (i.e., with distorted or blurred vision). This may increase the difficulty in maintaining the driver’s alertness, especially in poorly illuminated areas or on congested roads.
Tips for Driving at Night with Astigmatism
Following are the eight tips that can help you drive at night with astigmatism safely.
1. Get the Right Prescription Glasses
Right prescription glasses are one of the most important things to do when you are driving at night with astigmatism. Astigmatism affects the way you see things, blurry and distorted image, at night in particular. The normal spectacles cannot correct the problem unless they are made to correct astigmatism.
How to Choose the Right Glasses for Night Driving
Do not forget to get the corrective correction of astigmatism in the prescription when selecting the glasses to drive during the night. When you do not have lenses that are specially designed to do this, then you can consult with your optometrist regarding toric lenses or special glasses to wear at night.
- Toric Lenses: These are special lenses that correct astigmatism by being differently curved in various parts of the lens.
- Anti-Reflective Coating: Ensure the lens features an anti-reflective coating to minimize reflections from headlights and streetlights.
2. Consider Contact Lenses
If glasses don’t suit you or you don’t feel comfortable wearing them, you can opt for contact lenses instead. Astigmatism contact lenses, also known as toric contact lenses, provide a wide field of vision and do not cause discomfort when driving at night without wearing glasses.
Advantages of Toric Contact Lenses for Night Driving
- No Frames in Your Way: Your peripheral vision is not blocked by contact lenses, so you have a broader and clearer field of view.
- Stability: They stay on your eyes and eliminate blurriness due to the movement of glasses.
3. Use Anti-Glare Lenses
Anti-glare glasses are a revolution in night driving. They minimize halos and headlights, as well as streetlights’ glare, which are frequent annoyances for people with astigmatism. These glasses offer the advantage of improving your vision, especially in low-light conditions.
Why Anti-Glare is Vital to Night Vision
The light of oncoming cars without the protection of anti-glare may spread and form halos around the headlights, making it difficult to concentrate. Glasses with an anti-reflective coating avoid this scattering effect, allowing you to see better.
4. Clean your Windshield
An unclean windshield may even complicate driving in the dark, especially for those with astigmatism. Glare caused by headlights and streetlights may be increased when your windshield is covered with dust, smudges, or streaks, and you can therefore not see clearly.
How to make a Cleaner Windshield
- Apply a microfiber cloth: This will prevent streaks during the cleaning process.
- Regularly clean both the inside and outside: Dust on the interior of your windshield can be equally troublesome.
- Look out for chips or cracks: A broken windshield may lead to further visual disturbance.
5. Adjust Your Car’s Interior Lights
In some cases, the interior lights on your car can produce a contrast that is quite distracting, making driving at night with astigmatism even more challenging. Your dashboard or other interior lights may be too bright, which can impair your concentration on the road.
How to Adjust Your Interior Lights for Better Night Vision
- Dim your dashboard lights: Make them not too bright, so they do not conflict with other cars’ headlights.
- Avoid direct light in your eyes: Use map lights and other interior car lights with caution or alter them to eliminate a glare in your eyes.
6. Use Your Car’s Night Mode
Most new cars have a night mode for the headlights and the displays. This could help dim the surrounding light, making it easier to drive at night.
Benefits of Using Night Mode
- Reduces glare: It diffuses light from both inside and outside sources within the car.
- Enhances contrast: Helps you see better in low-light situations.
7. Drive Slower at Night
Driving at night with astigmatism, it is essential to drive at a speed that is both comfortable and safe. You may also experience problems with glare and blurred vision, which means that moving more slowly can help you avoid hazards or obstacles on the road in a more timely manner.
Why Slower is Safer for Night Driving
- Increased Reaction Time: You will have more time to notice potential dangers and respond to them.
- Better Focus: Lower speeds minimize the severity of visual distortions due to glare.
8. Take Frequent Breaks
When a person is driving at night, astigmatism may be more tiring than driving during the day. Your eyes are already straining more to see, and the further complication of low light might lead to eye strain and fatigue.
How Taking Breaks Helps
- Relieves eye strain: When your eyes feel tired, take a break and rest them.
- Prevents drowsiness: It is pretty challenging to travel when you are feeling sleepy, and in some cases, it can even be hazardous to your eyes.
Take a break every 30-45 minutes to stay alert. Your safety must be first.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. How do you fix astigmatism while driving at night?
To increase visibility, wear prescription glasses or contacts with astigmatism, anti-glare lenses, and clean a windshield.
2. Can you drive at night when you have astigmatism?
Yes, but it may be challenging. Safety can be enhanced by the use of corrective lenses and driving carefully.
3. What glasses are good for night driving with astigmatism?
Anti-reflective-coated glasses and toric lenses made to be worn specifically by astigmatism are perfect.
4. Do glasses correct astigmatism?
Yes, the focus and clearness of the vision are made to normalize with the help of toric glasses.
Conclusion
Driving at night with astigmatism may be a challenging task but with appropriate tactics, you can make the experience more comfortable and safe. First, having the right prescription glasses or contacts, anti-glare lenses, a clean windshield, and properly set interior car lights are the way to start. Also, use the night mode of your car and drive at decent speed. Remember to rest your eyes to avoid straining them.
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