What can I do about poor night vision?
Ask the doctor
Q. I have trouble seeing clearly at night, especially when I drive. Should I change my glasses, or could it be a more serious eye problem?
A. Trouble seeing at night becomes a common issue as people reach age 60 and older. The problem could be with your glasses or your eyes. Let’s start with your eyeglasses. Your eyesight might have changed since your last lens fitting, and the change may be most noticeable at night. If so, an updated prescription may correct the problem. Also, ask your optometrist about adding an antireflective coating to your lenses, which can reduce the glare of bright lights like car headlights.
Poor night vision may also be related to a specific eye problem, so it’s ideal to get a complete eye exam. For instance, dry eye irritates the cornea (the clear surface at the front of the eye), causing blurry vision. You could be developing cataracts, in which the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, allowing less light to reach the retina at the back of the eye. Your eye doctor will also examine your retina for signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In AMD, damage to the central part of the retina impairs its ability to focus images.
Image: © Dimitri Otis/Getty Images
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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