Why Shorter Days and Night Driving Make Cataract Evaluation Even More Important

The combination of shorter days and the need for more night driving makes the visual symptoms of cataracts more apparent and potentially hazardous. A cataract causes the lens of the eye to gradually become cloudy, scattering light instead of allowing it to focus clearly on the retina.

This effect is why driving after dark, especially with the glare from oncoming headlights, becomes one of the most common and dangerous symptoms:

• Increased Glare: The clouding in the lens causes light from headlights or streetlights to scatter, creating blinding halos and intense glare. This can temporarily obscure your vision, making it hard to see pedestrians, lane markings, and road signs.
• Reduced Contrast: In dim light, it becomes much harder to distinguish objects from their background. Lane lines, curbs, and even road hazards are less visible when your eye’s lens is cloudy, compromising driving safety.
• Blurry Vision: Nighttime conditions highlight any loss of visual acuity, making already slightly blurry vision from a developing cataract seem much worse.

If you find yourself constantly straining, squinting, or avoiding driving at dusk or after dark, it’s a critical sign that your cataracts may be affecting your daily function and safety. Cataract surgery is a common, highly successful procedure that can restore clear vision and eliminate this dangerous glare.

Don’t wait until the long North Dakota winter nights make driving unsafe.