Trouble seeing at night -- night blindness? Or something else?

[TrixieB]

I hate driving at night. All lights (headlights, tail-lights, streetlights) look like expanding stars. I don't know how to explain this very well... like rays of light come out of all sides of the headlight, tail-light, etc. and the lights look smeary at the same time, like there's a film of oil over them. It also seems to me like my surroundings are very dark and the lights are blinding. It is difficult to tell how far ahead/behind me the other cars are since all of the lights are starry blurs.

 

I recently got new glasses and the problem seems worse, but it had been noticeable for a while before this.

 

Is this what night blindness is like? Or is this something else?

 

I will add that I am VERY nearsighted. Is night driving like this for others of you who are very nearsighted?

[AK_Mom4]

I have some type of anti-glare coating on my glasses that makes a HUGE difference!

 

Last winter, I could hardly drive in at night because of the glare around the lights - which is a real problem when you only have 6 hours of daylight! I complained about it to my eye dr. and she gave me the prescription for the anti-glare coating. I would go ask about it wherever you got your glasses made.

[kalanamak]

It turns out I had one eye that was losing distant vision. A pair of driving glasses made me a happy camper.

[TrixieB]

I have some type of anti-glare coating on my glasses that makes a HUGE difference!

I have anti-reflective coating on my glasses (both my new pair, and on the previous pair). Maybe there are different types? I can call the optician this week and ask.

[Alicia64]

I won't drive at night unless it is just down the street. I have the same problem.

 

Me too. I'm 47 and have had this issue for at least the last five years. I'm also near sighted.

 

Alley

[MaMa2005]

I have the same problem. The anti-glare coating on the glasses helps a bit, but I HATE driving at night.

[JFSinIL]

My poor tired hubby has to do the night driving here - when dd works at the mall (Sears) and closes he has to pick her up as I can't make it up the two-lane, dark road to get there. I can do local if I have too, since I have the route memorized. I, too, have the star-halos around any bright lights - plus my depth perception seems to go at night. If I am facing more than one traffic light in a row on a road I can not tell until I am very close which one is the closest to me!

[chicagoshannon]

If you have prescription sunglasses try wearing those. Sounds silly but I've heard it helps.

[Chocolate Rose]

I also had this problem. Driving at night was like being in a science fiction/space movie.

It turned out I had cataracts.

[KidsHappen]

I have the same problem. I have anti-glare coating on my glasses and it doesn't help. I am also very prone to motion sickness and the visual distortions of night driving makes it even worse, so I try to not even go in the car at night if I don't have to.

[Serenade]

Well, this is a comforting thread to me. I'm sorry that others have this same problem, too, but I'm glad I'm not alone. I hate driving at night. Don't know how I'm going to make it to those winter cub scout meetings this year. Sigh.