Why Is It Harder to See at Night? Common Causes and When to Get Your Eyes Checked

Having trouble seeing in the dark or driving at night? Learn about common causes of poor night vision and when an eye exam is a good idea.

24 de agosto de 2026 · 7 min ·por Welleness Guide

Many people notice that seeing clearly becomes more difficult after the sun goes down. Driving at night may feel more stressful, headlights may seem painfully bright, or it may simply take longer for your eyes to adjust when you walk into a dark room.

A little difficulty adjusting between bright and dark environments can happen for many reasons. But ongoing or worsening trouble seeing at night is worth paying attention to.

Poor night vision is not a diagnosis on its own. It is a symptom that can have several possible causes, ranging from a change in your glasses prescription to an eye condition that needs professional care.

What does poor night vision feel like?

Night vision problems can look different from person to person.

You might notice that:

It takes longer for your eyes to adjust when you enter a dark room
Driving at night feels more difficult than it used to
Headlights from oncoming cars create strong glare
Street signs or objects are harder to see in low light
You need brighter lighting to read or move around safely
You feel less confident walking in dim places

Some people describe this as “night blindness,” although that term does not necessarily mean a person cannot see anything at night. It generally refers to significant difficulty seeing in low-light conditions.

The important question is whether the problem is new, getting worse, or interfering with everyday activities.

Sometimes the problem is as simple as an outdated prescription

Your eyes have to work harder in low light. When lighting is poor, small focusing problems can become more noticeable.

If you already wear glasses or contact lenses, an outdated prescription may make night driving or other low-light activities more difficult. Nearsightedness, astigmatism, and other focusing problems can all affect how clearly you see.

This is one reason a regular eye exam can be helpful when your night vision changes. Sometimes the solution may be relatively straightforward, but an exam can also rule out other causes.

Cataracts can make night driving more difficult

Cataracts are another common reason vision may become more difficult in low light.

A cataract develops when the eye's natural lens becomes cloudy. It often develops gradually, so changes may be subtle at first. Along with blurry or hazy vision, people may notice increased sensitivity to glare, halos around lights, faded colours, or difficulty seeing at night.

Headlights can be especially frustrating. A person may feel that the lights from oncoming traffic are brighter or more distracting than they used to be.

Cataracts are more common with age, but age is not the only factor involved. Certain health conditions, smoking, previous eye injury, prolonged steroid use, and other factors may also affect risk.

Because several eye problems can cause similar symptoms, trouble driving at night does not automatically mean you have cataracts.

The retina plays an important role in seeing in the dark

The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Different types of cells in the retina help us see under different conditions.

Some retinal conditions can affect night vision and peripheral, or side, vision. Retinitis pigmentosa, for example, is a group of rare inherited eye diseases that can cause difficulty seeing in low light, often along with gradual loss of side vision.

This is much less common than ordinary focusing problems or age-related changes. Still, it shows why persistent difficulty seeing in the dark should not simply be ignored, especially if it is getting worse or comes with other changes in vision.

Age-related macular degeneration can also affect vision

Age-related macular degeneration, often called AMD, affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision.

AMD does not usually begin as a simple complaint of poor night vision. However, people with more advanced disease may have trouble seeing in low light, along with symptoms such as blurred or distorted central vision. Straight lines may appear wavy or crooked, and a blurry or blank area may develop near the centre of vision.

Regular eye exams are important because early AMD may not cause noticeable symptoms.

Could a vitamin deficiency be the reason?

Vitamin A is essential for normal vision, including the ability to see in low-light conditions. However, that does not mean that taking extra vitamin A will improve night vision for everyone.

Vitamin A deficiency can affect vision, but significant deficiency is not the most likely explanation for night vision problems in otherwise well-nourished adults in countries such as the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.

It is also important to be careful with supplements. More is not always better, and high doses of vitamin A can cause harm. The right approach depends on the individual situation and should not be based on the assumption that any vision problem can be fixed with a vitamin.

There are specific situations in which nutritional supplements have been studied for certain eye diseases. For example, the National Eye Institute's AREDS and AREDS2 research found that particular combinations of vitamins and minerals can help slow progression in some people with intermediate or advanced AMD. These formulas do not prevent AMD from developing, and they are not a general treatment for poor night vision.

Why do headlights seem so much brighter at night?

Glare is a common complaint, especially while driving.

At night, your pupils become larger to let in more light. Bright headlights or streetlights can therefore feel more intense against a dark background. Problems with focusing, changes in the eye's lens, and certain eye conditions can make this effect more noticeable.

If headlights seem unusually bright, you see halos around lights, or glare has become a regular problem, it is worth mentioning during an eye exam.

Avoiding night driving when you do not feel safe is also sensible. A vision problem does not have to be severe before it starts affecting confidence and safety behind the wheel.

When should you get your eyes checked?

Consider booking an eye exam if:

Your ability to see at night has gradually become worse
Driving after dark feels increasingly difficult
Headlights or other lights cause strong glare
You notice halos around lights
Your glasses no longer seem to provide clear vision
You have difficulty adjusting between bright and dark environments
You also notice changes in side vision, central vision, or colour vision

A comprehensive eye exam can help identify whether the issue is related to your prescription or something affecting the lens, retina, or another part of the eye.

Regular dilated eye exams can also detect some eye diseases before noticeable symptoms appear. The National Eye Institute recommends asking an eye care professional how often you need an exam based on your age, health, family history, and other risk factors.

Do not ignore sudden changes in vision

Gradual difficulty seeing at night is different from a sudden change in vision.

If your vision suddenly becomes much worse, or you experience a rapid and significant change, seek prompt medical attention. New symptoms such as a sudden loss of vision should not be treated as something to simply monitor at home.

The same principle applies if a new visual change is severe or accompanied by other concerning symptoms. An eye care professional can determine what level of care is appropriate.

The bottom line

Finding it harder to see at night is not something that should automatically be blamed on getting older.

Sometimes the cause may be as straightforward as needing an updated glasses prescription. In other cases, cataracts, retinal conditions, or other eye problems may be involved.

The best response is not to guess the cause based on one symptom. If night driving, glare, or low-light vision has noticeably changed, an eye exam can help identify what is going on and whether any treatment or follow-up is needed.

Protecting your vision is not only about seeing clearly during the day. Being able to move around comfortably and safely when the light is low is an important part of everyday eye health.