Night Driving Glare: When to Get Your Eyes Checked

If you could once read your street sign from a block away but now lose sight of it when a car approaches, it’s time for an eye exam. At our Nacogdoches office, we can check what’s causing that glare, even if you still see clearly in daylight.

Why Headlights Can Look Streaky or Hazy

Several eye conditions can make bright lights harder to see past. What you notice on the road gives us clues about where to look.

• Astigmatism. When the eye focuses light unevenly, headlights may look stretched or streaky. You might also notice that the letters on road signs look blurred, even with your glasses on.

• Dry eye. Your tears form a smooth surface that helps focus light. If that surface dries out between blinks, your view may turn hazy, then clear briefly when you blink.

• Cataracts. A cataract clouds the lens inside your eye and scatters light. You may notice halos around streetlights or find that a pair of headlights washes out your view of the lane ahead.

When to Call and When to Seek Emergency Care

Call for an eye exam if night driving glare keeps happening, gets worse, or has you planning errands around sunset. If you can’t see lane markings or pedestrians clearly while driving, pull over when it’s safe and arrange another ride.

If you suddenly lose vision or develop new halos along with severe eye pain, a red eye, or nausea, seek emergency care right away. Have someone else take you to the emergency department.

What We Check During Your Eye Exam

Bring the glasses you use for driving and tell us when the glare started. We’ll check how clearly you see with your current prescription, look at how evenly your tears coat your eyes, and examine each eye’s lens for clouding. Depending on what we find, we may update your prescription, recommend dry eye treatment, or discuss whether a cataract evaluation would help.

If headlights are making a familiar drive feel uncertain, call Texas State Optical in Nacogdoches, TX, at (936) 296-2600 to schedule your eye exam.