If you’ve been driving for some time now, you’ll understand the role it plays in daily life. Whether you’re commuting to work, planning a road trip, or picking up friends and family, having clear vision is absolutely essential when it comes to driving. If you’ve recently noticed your vision becoming blurred, you may have astigmatism, which poses a challenge when it comes to driving.

In this blog post, we will explore the signs of astigmatism, how it affects your driving, and what you can do to ensure you’re driving safely and comfortably. 

What is astigmatism?

Astigmatism is a common refractive error that causes blurry or distorted vision. Astigmatism is usually a minor problem, but it can affect your driving. The main symptoms of astigmatism are: blurred vision, eye strain, and headaches.

How it affects your driving

Astigmatism can affect your night driving in particular, as it can cause halos and glare from vehicle or street lights. This is made worse at night in low-light conditions. If you find your vision becoming distorted when driving at night, it’s important to visit your local eye care professional for corrective treatment.

Another way astigmatism can affect your driving is that you may struggle to see crucial information such as road signs. This can put you and other road users in danger. 

Additionally, astigmatism can also cause eye strain, which results in a lot of discomfort when driving. This is why it’s important to have astigmatism corrected, as it can affect your ability to drive safely and comfortably. 

How astigmatism is treated

If you suspect you have astigmatism, it’s important to seek treatment to keep yourself and others safe on the road. Below are a few of the ways astigmatism is managed. 

Corrective lenses: This is the most common treatment for astigmatism. Corrective lenses help you see clearly again, ensuring your driving is safe.

Anti-glare coatings: Anti-glare lens coatings can be very helpful for those driving with astigmatism. These coatings help to reduce glare and halos.

Regular eye exams: Visiting your local optician regularly is important. Your eye care provider will check to see if your prescription needs to be updated or not.

Tips for struggling with night driving 

Whether you have astigmatism or not, night driving can be a challenge for some drivers. If you find driving at night challenging, our team at Beverly Slater can help. We offer a pass plus course, which is designed to boost your confidence in specific areas, such as night driving.
Please contact our team for more information.