Driving always comes with risk. But one thing you never want to risk when driving at night is driving with less than average eyesight.
You want to be able to use the full force of your vision and see through glares, be aware of drunk drivers, and be able to drive with confidence. Yet, so many people often ask if it is okay to be driving at night with astigmatism.
A recent study indicated that one in three people is affected by astigmatism eye disease. So either you or someone else you know is living with astigmatism.
If you have this eye disease, you will know that you are often impacted with blurry vision that is significantly enhanced at night, thanks to the glares of the beam lights from other cars. But the good news is that you do not have to dive up driving if you suffer from this eye condition. In fact, after talking to your doctor and agreeing that one of the below solutions could work for you, you will be able to confidently hit the road with a clear vision and confident driving any time of day or night.
How Does Astigmatism Impact Your Driving
This eye disease causes your actual eye to change shapes. Usually, the eye is shaped in a sphere. But as a result of astigmatism, your eye shape changes to be somewhat similar to an actual football.
The change in shape impacts how your eye can absorb light and refract light. So with this eye disease, the light will cause your eyesight to become blurred and could even cause small halo effects. While there are usually only mild cases of this that do not require surgery, you will want to find a solution to make driving at night with this condition easier.
If you try to drive at night with astigmatism without any additional support, you will likely struggle. You will find it hard to focus with blurred vision and halo effects from the oncoming traffic. You will also find squinting a lot more and working to avoid roadblocks. The risk of an accident will increase dramatically—which you do not want to gamble with!
That is why we have rounded up the top ways to make driving at night easier and ensure you also chat to a medical professional about this.
Top Tips to Drive at Night Better with Astigmatism
Tip #1: Visit Your Doctor
First and foremost, if you think you have astigmatism or are at risk of developing it visit your doctor to get an eye exam as soon as you can. This will allow them to test whether it is astigmatism or something else. In general, you should be getting at least one eye exam a year anyway—so why not go in and check it out as soon as you can.
Tip #2: Get Special Eyeware That Treats Astigmatism
Nowadays, some eyeglasses and contacts can help treat astigmatism. This would need to be prescribed by a doctor. But, you will be able to see better. Talk about a win-win situation.
Tip #3: Get Non-Glare Glasses
In addition to prescription glasses, you can also get special non-glare glasses to wear—especially at night when you are driving. These are specifically designed to combat the glare dilemma people with this eye disease battle. Not only do these non-glare glasses deflect glare significantly, but they are equally very scratch resistant to enhance the clarity these lenses provide.
Tip #4: Take Driving Classes
You should also consider taking special driving glasses to learn how to drive with this eye disease. It does not feel like a stressful affair. The driving classes will be with a specialized instructor who will give tips and build confidence as confident driving is the key to avoid accidents. You will learn how to prevent headlight glares, decrease distractions, maintain your car properly, and plan trips in the dark.
Other helpful tips you’ll likely learn are how to manage your headlights to optimize the clarity on the road. Often, you can control a lot of the glare distractions yourself simply by learning to manage your car better.
Conclusion
Don’t let your eye disease prevent you from driving safely at night. Try these top tips today.
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