What Causes Glare at Night? Why Headlights Look Too Bright

Do headlights look too bright at night? Do you see halos, starbursts, or streaks around headlights and streetlights?

You're not alone. Nighttime glare is common, but it can sometimes be a sign that your eyes need attention.

Why Do I See Glare at Night?

Several eye conditions can make nighttime glare worse.

1. Outdated Glasses or Contact Lens Prescription

Even a small change in your prescription can make it harder to see clearly at night. An incorrect prescription may cause blurred vision, glare, halos, or eye strain, especially while driving.

2. Dry Eyes

A healthy tear film helps create a smooth optical surface on your eye. When your eyes are dry or irritated, light can scatter more easily, making headlights and streetlights appear brighter or blurry.

3. Astigmatism

Astigmatism can cause light to focus unevenly. This may result in halos, streaks, or starbursts around lights, particularly in the dark.

4. Cataracts

Cataracts cause the normally clear lens inside your eye to become cloudy. One of the early symptoms can be increased glare from headlights, difficulty seeing at night, and halos around lights.

Cataracts become more common as we get older, so new nighttime vision problems should not simply be considered a normal part of aging.

5. Previous Eye Surgery

Some people experience increased glare or halos after procedures such as LASIK or cataract surgery. These symptoms may improve over time, but persistent or worsening symptoms should be evaluated.

Is Nighttime Glare Affecting Your Driving?

If you're avoiding driving at night because headlights are uncomfortable or difficult to see around, it's worth having your eyes checked.

A comprehensive eye exam can help determine whether the problem is related to your prescription, astigmatism, dry eye, cataracts, or another eye condition.

At Focus Vision Care, we provide comprehensive eye exams and evaluate the causes of blurry or uncomfortable vision, including nighttime glare.

If headlights look unusually bright, you see halos around lights, or you're having difficulty seeing clearly at night, don't ignore the problem.

Visit us at 2260 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314

Call us at 718-448-1622

Book your eye exam: Focus Vision Care

Clearer vision can make a difference, especially when you're driving at night.