Does driving at night feel more exhausting than driving during daylight hours? Do street signs seem dull, headlights blinding and everything feels like it takes more effort to focus on? You’re not imagining it, seeing at night really is harder!
If night-time vision has been bothering you, here we’ll explain what’s going on inside your eyes, why it matters and when it’s time to book a thorough eye examination with a trusted Perth optometry practice.
Human eyes are designed to work best in bright conditions.
When daylight fades, your visual system has to switch gears and that transition isn’t always seamless.
Inside your retina are two types of cells, cones and rods. Cones are responsible for sharp detail and colour vision, which makes them ideal for daytime tasks. Rods take over in low light, but they’re much less precise. At night, this shift means colours appear muted, fine details can be harder to pick up and depth perception can become less reliable.
Glare is one of the most common night vision complaints, especially when driving. Oncoming headlights that feel almost blinding are often the result of light scattering inside the eye rather than focusing cleanly where it should. This scattering can be influenced by dry eyes, small prescription changes or early lens changes that aren’t noticeable during the day. Even something as simple as an outdated prescription can make glare feel dramatically worse after dark. Many people assume it’s normal but persistent glare is often a sign that your eyes need closer attention.
Small vision changes matter more after sunset.
One reason night vision issues creep up unexpectedly is because pupils behave differently in low light. At night, pupils dilate to let in more light, but that also allows minor focusing errors to become more noticeable.
This is why mild short-sightedness or astigmatism that seems manageable during the day can suddenly cause trouble at night. A thorough eye examination can identify these issues and fine tune your prescription to improve clarity when lighting conditions aren’t ideal.
Screens can make night vision worse.
Long hours on laptops and phones reduce how often we blink, which contributes to dry eye symptoms. Dry eyes increase light scatter, making glare and halos around lights more pronounced at night.
If you spend your days on screens and your nights squinting at headlights, your eyes may be under more strain than you realise. Addressing dryness and digital eye fatigue can significantly improve comfort and clarity at night.
While some difficulty seeing at night is normal, ongoing problems shouldn’t be ignored.
If you’re noticing increased glare, struggling with driving at night or you’re feeling eye fatigue after sunset, it’s worth having your vision properly assessed. A thorough eye examination can uncover issues early, before they begin to interfere with safety or daily life.
At Abernethy Owens, our Perth optometry team looks beyond basic vision checks. We assess how your eyes perform in real world situations, including low-light environments and night driving conditions.
Book a thorough eye examination online now or call 1800 411 744 to speak with our friendly team.