When to See a Doctor About Your Bad Nighttime Vision

Poor nighttime vision can be a sign of cataracts or an outdated prescription.

Driving at night can be challenging, even under normal circumstances. There are the lights from oncoming traffic, the reduced ability to see important landmarks, and the risk of impaired drivers. However, although driving at night is harder, if your nighttime vision is especially bad—or if it has gotten worse in recent months—you should get it checked out by a doctor, as it can be an early warning sign of a more serious issue.

“When nighttime happens, our whole optical system changes a little bit,” said Sumitra Khandelwal, an ophthalmologist at Baylor College of Medicine. At night, our pupils dilate in order to take in additional light. As a result, our vision becomes more sensitive to a number of issues that may not be noticeable during the day. 

When to See a Doctor About Your Bad Nighttime Vision