Do you find yourself squinting when driving at night? Maybe headlights seem unusually bright, street signs are harder to read, or everything just feels a little blurrier once the sun goes down.

If your vision seems noticeably worse at night, you’re not imagining it. There are several reasons why seeing clearly in low-light conditions can be more difficult—and some may be worth discussing with your eye care professional.

Why Is Night Vision Different?

Our eyes work differently in low-light conditions. During the day, your pupils are smaller and there is plenty of light available to help you see clearly. At night, your pupils naturally dilate to allow more light into the eye.

This can make certain vision issues more noticeable.

For example, a prescription that feels perfectly adequate during the day may not provide the same clarity at night. When your pupils are larger, more light enters the eye, which can make certain types of blur or focusing issues more apparent.

Headlight Glare and Halos

One of the most common complaints about nighttime vision is difficulty with headlights.

Bright headlights from oncoming vehicles can create glare, halos or starbursts that make it harder to see the road. This can be especially noticeable with newer, brighter LED headlights.

Glare can also become more bothersome if you have dry eyes, an outdated prescription or certain eye conditions. If you regularly find yourself avoiding driving at night because of glare, it’s worth bringing up at your next eye exam.

Your Prescription Could Be Changing

If road signs look blurry or you’re squinting to see things clearly at night, your prescription may have changed.

Even a small change in your vision can become more noticeable in low-light conditions. Regular eye exams help ensure your prescription is up to date and allow your eye care professional to check for other potential causes of nighttime vision changes.

Dry Eyes Can Play a Role

Dry eyes can affect the quality of your vision, and symptoms may become more noticeable after a long day of looking at screens, working indoors or spending time in dry environments.

When the surface of your eye isn’t adequately lubricated, your vision can fluctuate or appear blurry. This can make nighttime driving and other low-light activities feel more difficult.

When Should You Get Your Eyes Checked?

Occasional difficulty adjusting to darkness isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. But if you’re consistently experiencing blurry vision, glare, halos, difficulty seeing road signs or trouble driving at night, it’s a good idea to have your eyes checked.

An eye exam can determine whether an updated prescription, dry eye treatment or another vision concern could be contributing to your symptoms.

See Clearly, Day or Night

Your eyes shouldn’t have to work overtime just to get you through your evening commute. If nighttime vision has become more difficult lately, don’t simply chalk it up to getting older or being tired.

At Beyond Vision, we can help identify what’s affecting your vision and find the right solution to help you see clearly and comfortably.

Book an eye exam with Beyond Vision and get a clearer view of your nights.