Why Do Lights Look Blurry and Stretched at Night? An Optometrist Explains Astigmatism

Have you ever driven at night and felt like every oncoming car had its high beams on? Maybe the headlights looked fuzzy, stretched, or even blurred your vision. If this sounds familiar, it could be a sign of astigmatism – a common eye condition that affects how you see lights, especially at night.

Why do lights look so blurry and stretched at night? I can see clearly during the day, but at night, they appear to have streaked lines and halos on them, which makes it hard for me to see.

This is one of the most common concerns patients bring up during eye exams.

 

What is Astigmatism? | The Optometrist’s Answer

Astigmatism is a condition where the cornea – the transparent, dome-shaped layer covering the iris and pupil – or the lens inside the eye has an irregular shape.

Instead of the cornea being perfectly round, it’s uneven, looking less like a basketball and more like a rugby ball. This uneven curve makes it difficult for light to focus on the retina; the part of the eye that converts light into signals for the brain, so we can see.

The result? A blurry, distorted vision that is especially noticeable in bright lights on dark backgrounds – like headlights in the night.

 

What Causes Astigmatism?

Astigmatism does not have a single, clearly identified cause. For many, it is hereditary – being passed down from generation to generation. For others, it is due to an illness, injury, or an eye surgery. It can also occur due to Pterygium, a fleshy growth that covers the white part of the eye and can change the curve of the cornea.

People with astigmatism may sometimes also suffer from conditions like near-sightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia).

Symptoms of Astigmatism

Common symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision, seeing streaked lines, a glare or haloes around lights, frequent headaches, and eye strain. Many people even find themselves squinting to try to bring things into focus. Astigmatism symptoms can be mild during the day, but at night, the glare from bright lights against the dark makes it worse. This is because in low lighting, your pupils dilate to allow for more light into your eyes, which in turn highlights distortions. Allergies – you are constantly rubbing your eyes, which changes the corneal curvature over time. 

 

How Astigmatism Can Affect Everyday Lives

Living with astigmatism makes everyday tasks challenging. The simple act of driving yourself around, which is so easy to do in the daytime, can prove to be almost impossible at night. The glare from the headlights of oncoming cars can be blinding, which can increase the risk of accidents. Reading road signs and seeing correct distances can get harder as your vision gets distorted. This makes driving less safe for you and others around, and more stressful.

Other activities, such as scrolling on your phone, working at a computer, or reading a book at night, can also feel tiring. The extra effort to focus often leads to strained eyes and headaches.

What Can You do About it?

The first thing to do is not to diagnose yourself based on what you’ve read or seen online; Book an Appointment with your optometrist as soon as possible, especially if you spend a lot of time reading, working on your computer or driving at night. Your optometrist will conduct tests that can determine if you have astigmatism or other eye conditions, and to what extent.

 

Treatment Options

If tests confirm that you have astigmatism, your treatment options may include prescription glasses, toric contact lenses, or eye surgery for permanent correction.

·       Prescription Glasses: This is the simplest way to correct astigmatism. Prescription glasses with anti-reflective coating work by bending the light that enters your eyes. This causes it to focus on the retina, reducing glare and correcting other refractive errors. 

·       Toric Contact Lenses: Are specialized contact lenses designed to correct astigmatism. They have a varying thickness, which can compensate for the uneven curvature of the cornea. 

If you already wear prescription glasses or contact lenses for astigmatism, always wear them at night when driving, reading, using your phone or working on your computer.

·       Eye Surgery: Wearing glasses or contact lenses can help you see clearly, but it won't fix the shape of your cornea. Eye surgery, however, is a permanent corrective measure for astigmatism. The most common surgeries are LASIK (Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and PRK (Photorefractive keratectomy) which use laser beams to reshape the cornea’s uneven curve.

·       Always Keep Eyedrops Near You: People with astigmatism may be prone to dry eyes, which can exacerbate their symptoms. Using eyedrops may help ease eyestrain and reduce discomfort, but it will not make your blurry vision go away.

If you suspect you may be suffering from astigmatism, Book an Appointment with your optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam today.