Many people, especially as they grow older, can start to have trouble driving after dark. It is relatively common for this to happen and most will put it down to ‘oncoming headlights being too bright’ or weather conditions. Then, they simply put up with it and carry on driving, or opt for refresher driving lessons to help them drive better in the dark.
Unfortunately, too many of us fail to realise that the reason we are having such difficulty driving in the dark is because of failing eyesight. A recent study carried out by Direct Line found that around 13.3 million people in the UK are driving with defective eyesight with around a fifth of people who need glasses for driving actually drive without them.
It goes without saying that this can increase the risk of accidents and could void any insurance claim.
Medical reasons for driving difficulties
There are several eye conditions which can cause difficulties when driving particularly at night. These include:
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Dry eyes
- Presbyopia
Most of these conditions are slow to develop and changes to your vision can be gradual. Some are hereditary such as glaucoma and macular degeneration so anyone with family members with degenerative eye conditions should have regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist.
Other signs to be aware of and what to do
One of the first signs you are struggling to drive in the dark is when the glare from oncoming headlights, high beams and fog lights seems ultra-bright. This can be a serious distraction and is a common cause of accidents. If you already wear glasses for driving, ask your optician about having lenses with an anti-glare or anti-reflection coating.
Seeing a ‘halo’ around oncoming headlights is often a sign of a serious eye condition such as glaucoma. If you notice this happening, you should make an appointment with an optician without delay. The sooner this is caught the better it can be treated.
If your vision has become blurry – during the day as well as at night – this can be a sign of a cataract, which is a progressive clouding of the lens. Cataracts can also cause the ‘halo’ effect around lights. Your optician should be the first port of call if your vision has become blurred.
There is a condition called Presbyopia which occurs most commonly in people over 40. It occurs when one of the lenses in the eye stops focussing correctly and causes difficulty in seeing things up close. For drivers this shows up in being unable to focus on the dashboard, centre console or satnav screen for example especially after focussing on the road ahead. This can lead to added difficulties when night driving including being unable to correctly monitor speed or navigate directions. Presbyopia is a condition which is fairly easily rectified with glasses so a visit to the optician is advisable.
Double vision, or Diplopia, is a serious condition which should be investigated immediately and of course you should refrain from driving at all if this happens.
Shortsightedness, or Myopia, makes it difficult to see objects and signs which are far away. Hazards such as a pedestrian stepping into the road, cyclists or road-side signs are much harder to see especially at night.
Don’t risk it
If you notice that your eyesight is getting worse when driving at night do not delay in visiting an optician to get your eyes tested. Certain conditions such as Glaucoma, Nyctalopia (night blindness) and Retinitis Pigmentosa, among others, must be reported to the DVLA who could withdraw your driving licence for any notifiable condition left untreated.
For those who simply need a little more confidence when night driving, extra support in the form of specialist lessons could be the answer.
