Introduction
Glare during night driving can make it difficult to see clearly and increases the risk of accidents. It is caused by various factors related to both eye health and environmental conditions:
1. Headlight Glare (External Cause)
- Oncoming high-beam headlights from other vehicles.
- Mismatched or overly bright LED or HID headlights.
- Dirty or foggy windshields that scatter light.
- Wet roads reflecting headlight beams into the driver’s eyes.
2. Eye Conditions (Internal Cause)
These affect how the eye handles light:
a. Cataracts
- Cloudy lenses scatter light, causing halos and glare.
- Very common in older adults.
b. Refractive Errors
- Uncorrected myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism can cause light to scatter more, increasing glare.
- Wearing outdated or no glasses can worsen glare.
c. Dry Eyes
- Tear film instability causes scattered light and blurry vision, making glare worse at night.
d. Post-LASIK or Other Eye Surgery
- Changes in the corneal surface may cause halos, starbursts, and glare.
e. Glaucoma
- Some people with glaucoma or on certain glaucoma medications report glare and light sensitivity.
3. Age-Related Changes
- The eye’s lens becomes less transparent and more rigid with age, increasing glare sensitivity.
- Pupil size decreases with age, reducing the eye’s ability to adapt to changing light conditions.
4. Poor-Quality Eyewear
- Scratched lenses scatter light.
- Non-anti-reflective lenses increase reflections from headlights and streetlights.
- Wearing tinted glasses at night can reduce visibility and increase glare.
How to Reduce Night Driving Glare:
- Keep windshields and mirrors clean (inside and out).
- Use anti-reflective coated glasses.
- Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights.
- Use your car’s night mode rearview mirror.
- Get regular eye exams to detect and correct vision problems early.