What Is Night Blindness?

Finding it difficult to see when driving at night or adjusting to dimly lit environments can be frustrating and sometimes dangerous.

This difficulty is known as night blindness (nyctalopia). Despite the name, night blindness does not mean complete blindness, but rather a reduced ability to see in low light.

Night blindness is not a condition in itself. Instead, it is usually a symptom of another underlying issue with your eyes. Some causes are minor and easily corrected, while others may signal a more serious eye condition that requires ongoing care.

What Can Cause Night Blindness?

Several factors may contribute to night vision difficulties, including:

• Uncorrected vision problems such as short-sightedness (myopia).
• Cataracts, which cause clouding of the lens and scattering of light.
• Glaucoma and glaucoma medications, which can restrict peripheral vision or affect how your eyes adjust to low light.
• Macular degeneration, which affects central vision.
• Diabetes-related eye disease, which can damage the retina.
• Vitamin A deficiency, though this is rare in developed countries.

Because night blindness can stem from a range of causes, it’s important to have a thorough eye examination to determine what is affecting your vision.

Why Regular Eye Exams Matter

Vision loss often happens so gradually that many people don’t realise until significant changes have occurred.

An optometrist can detect early signs of eye conditions well before you notice symptoms, which allows for earlier treatment and better outcomes.

If you’ve started to notice that night driving has become harder, or that you take longer to adjust when moving between bright and dark environments, it’s worth booking an eye test.

Those at higher risk, including people with a family history of eye disease, diabetes, or other health concerns, should be especially vigilant about keeping up with their check-ups.

At Optometrist Parramatta, we generally recommend:

Yearly eye examinations after the age of 65.

Comprehensive eye exams every three years if you’re under 65, unless otherwise advised by your optometrist or GP.

The Role of Lens Coatings

For people who wear glasses, lens technology can make a noticeable difference to vision at night.

One of the most effective options is an anti-reflective coating, also called a multi-coat.

This specialised coating reduces reflections from headlights, streetlights, screens, and other artificial light sources. The result is sharper vision, improved contrast, and fewer distracting halos or glares at night.

If you’ve purchased glasses online or from a budget retailer, your lenses may not include this coating — which can explain why lights look smeared or distorted.

At Optometrist Parramatta, we use only high-quality lenses from trusted manufacturers such as Hoya, Nikon, and Essilor, and we always recommend a multi-coat unless there’s a specific need for a different lens type.

For people who work in environments where stronger hard-coated lenses are required, we often suggest keeping a separate pair of multi-coated glasses specifically for driving at night to maximise safety.

Special Lenses for Safer Night Driving

Beyond coatings, there are also lenses designed specifically for night driving.

Hoya’s EnRoute range is engineered to reduce glare, widen visual fields, and minimise ghost images from headlights.

The EnRoute Pro option goes a step further by enhancing contrast and colour perception in a variety of weather conditions.

These lenses can provide extra confidence and comfort on the road, particularly for people who spend a lot of time driving at night.

Take the Next Step

If you are experiencing difficulty seeing at night, don’t ignore it — it could be an early sign of something that needs attention.

Book an eye examination with Optometrist Parramatta today and talk to us about the best options to keep your vision clear and safe, day or night.