Light sensitivity and night driving

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Do you experience light sensitivity to oncoming vehicle headlights while driving at night time?
Is there anything you do/use to reduce the discomfort?

Each year at the beginning of winter I experience difficulty driving at night time, the lights of oncoming cars in the darkness causes a sharp pain in both my eyes, it is particularly intense in my left eye. When I was learning to drive I asked my instructor how did other people cope with the glare, and he told me that it wasn't an issue if I focused my eyes on the road ahead, and not on the lights on the opposite side. Generally in the past when I complained about it, people were dismissive.

Its not as uncomfortable when there is overhead lighting, or on roads with a crash barrier, but I am not driving on those types of roads anymore, I drive a significant distance regularly on narrow single lane roads, that have many bends and turns and of course heavy traffic.
I will be visiting an optician soon, for a check up, but also to inquire if there are anti glare glasses or something else I can use to reduce the discomfort.

When I moved from a city with no car to the suburbs this drove me nuts at first to the point where I tried to wear sunglasses briefly (but couldn't really see the road). I was so nervous driving at night; but this is a good thing - the more cautious you are driving, the better.

It doesn't bother me anymore (I'm back in a city so I don't quite remember) - but:
1) focus on the road right ahead of the car
2) use that tab on the rearview to make sure you're not getting lights from behind you in your eyes
3) turn off the radio when you feel overwhelmed!

Let me know if that works for you, but I think it's just something you have to get used to every year again when driving in the winter.

I was told by a driving instructor to look at the right edge of the road. That will help you to keep where you are supposed to be while averting your eyes from the lights of oncoming traffic. When I asked the question, it was in response to someone not turning down their high beams, but I used this technique whenever the oncoming lights bother me.

I'm in the US. If you drive elsewhere, you might need to look to the left edge of the road.

I look to the left (for those of us who drive on the left) and focus on the white line on the side of the road until the car passes.
That, and wearing my Irlen lenses.

This seems to be something vehicle makers don't understand as they are making headlights brighter.

I don't drive that much. I find it's best to follow the line of the side of the road closest to you so your line of sight is slightly away from the opposite lane. In past I have used my hand to block the glare from oncoming traffic.

I use safety glasses at work and for cycling, many now come with various levels of tint to the lenses. I usually buy Uvex or Bolle and you can get them on Amazon or in hardware/tool shops. I can find some links if you are interested?

Have you thought about sunglasses with reactive lenses?
EDIT - I'm not sure the above will work with headlights as they react to the UV in sunlight.

Last edited by neilson_wheels on 15 Nov 2015, 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

No kidding! And the brightest of all are the new police car lights. A police car could pull over a car a mile way and the lights will bother me the whole time until I pass by!

The flashing lights? Yes, they are stupidly bright and distracting.

There is this new light they are making for headlights and it's a different color and I hate that color. It makes it hard for me to see and sometimes it bothers my eyes. I hate driving at night and try to avoid it and it's nice when there are hardly any cars. I just focus on the lines of the road and not look at the cars and I drive slower.

Some cyclists here also use flickering lights and when I lived in Montana, the school buses in my town would have these flashing lights on top and those always bothered my eyes. They would use them in the day time while cyclists here only use them at night. They aren't bright for my eyes but the flashing just bothers them. I don't know if that is normal and if they are supposed to annoy you because how else are they supposed to get your attention? But it's like torture and I cant wait until it's gone. It also makes it harder for me to drive because it's very distracting. Very dangerous.

Flickering lights bother me a great deal, too. However, the color of the lights bother me more than the flicker. If it is more of a dull light, it's not so bad. But these new lights everyone is mentioning - terrible!

Yes, I have this issue while driving. I notice it the most near dusk, right after leaving my house. My solution is to step outside and allow my eyes to become accustomed to the light sources first before driving. It is not perfect, but does help somewhat.

Thanks for the responses

iateadonut -great user name!
It takes a few weeks but I slowly become accustomed to it each year.

Nerdygirl - I found myself looking at the verge today, but as there was an almost constant stream of oncoming traffic I could not drive in that manner for the whole journey. It definitely provides a relief from the pain when I can do it though. On the stretches where the road is wide enough to have a hard shoulder it is more comfortable as there is a painted line which is even easier to look at.

Raleigh - I think I will be investing in Irlen lenses, do they dim your ability to see clearly at night?

Neilson_W - The safety glasses suggestion led me to discover that an indoor/outdoor lens with a mirror coating could give the best results, but I would have to be cautious about this route because anything that dims the glare of lights at night, also dims vision generally.

League_Girl - I especially hate the custom led halo/projector ones (a circle around the headlight), they give off a white/blue piercing light.

QuantumC - I think in a few weeks I will be able to prepare before I start, but for now, my eyes do not adjust for the entirety of a three hour journey.

I don't feel they impede my vision at night.
They make it clearer because I'm not seeing a huge halo around every light.
But that could depend on the colour of lens you need.
Mine are an amber colour.

After experiencing this for years, OP, by chance I found a surprising solution. Last year at sundown I started a 2 hour drive home, as the sun was low and in my eyes, I had my prescription sunglasses on. Concentrating on the road for the next 2 hours, I acclimatised to the darkness and forgot that my sunglasses were still on - and discovered that there was suddenly no problem with light distortion blinding me. They are very good quality glasses so I don't know if cheap ones would have the same effect. Best accidental discovery for ages!

I can't imagine that wearing sunglasses at night is a good idea; even if it works well, it seems like there could be legal ramifications if someone else hits you?

Doubt it, my vision was better, and it is not illegal here to have darkly tinted windscreens. The clarity of vision and no glare or refraction coming into my eyes made driving much much safer.