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If you’ve been driving at night and found things to be blurry but are clear while driving in daylight, you don’t have to worry. It may happen because you have a form of nearsightedness. This is referred to as night myopia. Myopia simply means nearsightedness. As most people with nearsightedness, you may wear corrective lenses to cope with this. It can be treated but it should not be ignored.
Myopia, by definition, is a visual weakness that causes objects in the distance to become blurred. Night myopia will cause the same effects, but only during low light conditions. This will typically affect younger people, such as teens and people in their twenties but it can affect many in their thirties as well. In daylight conditions, normal vision would be experienced normal vision. In low light conditions like driving at night with just headlights to light up the road, they would have night myopia.
Drivers would typically be able to refocus on most objects near them in low light conditions, but if you have any difficulty, you should have your vision tested by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. There is no need to panic about this though, as long as you address it once you realize this is happening.
If your vision is somewhat blurred in low light conditions, you would probably have to wear glasses while driving at night. No problem, right? It can be an easy fix. Some people have tried an easier fix, which turns out not to be a fix at all.
Some people may wear a pair of glasses with a yellow lens that can sharpen your vision. That may not always work. A yellow lens may brighten your surroundings using the small amount of light that is available to make things appear sharper. You should be aware that these yellow lenses require some light to work properly. The benefits of these glasses are gone once it’s fully dark. Once it’s dark, they can’t help improving your visibility. Save your money and put it towards regular glasses.
Don’t confuse the poor visibility of driving at night with having night myopia. It’s normal to see fewer things while driving at night compared to driving in daylight. Let a professional assess your vision if you are concerned. There are a few things you can do to help you see as well as possible while driving at night:
- Keep your glasses or contact lenses up to date
- Keep the headlight working properly and the lenses are clear
- Avoid using a tinted lens at night
- Clean your windshield clean, including the inside
- Have an eye exam every 2 years
- Have an additional pair of glasses in the vehicle if needed
Driving is done with your eyes. Without proper eyesight, driving can become difficult for you. Look after your visibility and address it once you realize you need to.