Trouble Driving at Night? Tips To Reduce Glare and Stay Safe on the Road

Trouble Driving at Night? Tips To Reduce Glare and Stay Safe on the Road

Driving always presents risks, but after dark it’s harder to see potential hazards. Plus, the glow of headlights and brake lights can take your focus off what’s most important: the road. And night driving becomes even more challenging with age since our eyes change over time. Here’s how to improve your night vision naturally and stay safe on the road.  

Why night vision worsens with age

Poor night vision as we age is common, according to James Kelly, MD, an ophthalmologist and refractive surgeon specialist in New York City. Dr. Kelly says that like the rest of the body, our eyes experience various age-related changes such as:

  • Reduced pupil size. Specifically, the muscles that control the pupils weaken, making them less responsive to changes in light.
  • Poor lens clarity. The clear lenses of the eye become cloudy with age, resulting in cataracts. This scatters the light entering the eye, hampering night vision.
  • Slower adaptation. Transitioning from bright light to darkness and vice versa becomes harder.
  • Retinal changes. The retina is the part of the eye that senses light and sends electrical signals to the brain, which are then converted into images. The number of rod cells in the eye (which assist with night vision) declines significantly after age 35, making it harder to see in the dark.

Likewise, certain medical conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, can damage the structures in our eyes and impact their functioning. “All of these factors contribute to poor night vision,” Dr. Kelly explains, “but regular eye exams can help identify and manage these changes effectively.”

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