Adjusting to Night Vision & New Glasses!
If you’ve recently gotten new glasses or find yourself suddenly noticing halos and starbursts around streetlights during your morning commute, you’re not alone. As Edmonton transitions into darker winter months following the end of daylight saving time, many people experience surprising changes in their vision—especially at night.
Why Do I See Halos Around Lights?
Those glowing rings or star-like patterns around headlights, traffic signals, and streetlights are more than just a winter phenomenon. Halos around lights can occur for several reasons, and understanding why they happen can help you determine whether it’s time for an eye exam.
Common causes include:
Astigmatism: This common refractive error causes light to scatter as it enters your eye, creating the characteristic halo effect. If you’ve never noticed halos before and they’re suddenly appearing, your astigmatism may have progressed.
Pupil Dilation: In low-light conditions—like those dark 7 a.m. commutes from Westlock to Edmonton or evening drives on Highway 2 to Leduc—your pupils dilate to let in more light. Larger pupils allow more peripheral light rays to enter your eye, which can increase distortion and create halos, especially if you have an uncorrected prescription.
Dirty or Scratched Lenses: Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one. Smudges, scratches, or residue on your glasses can scatter light and create artificial halos. Winter conditions—with road salt spray and frequent temperature changes causing condensation—make this worse.
Lack of Anti-Reflective Coating: Without proper AR coating, light reflects off both the front and back surfaces of your lenses, creating glare and halos that interfere with clear vision.
When Halos Signal Something More Serious
While occasional halos are normal, especially when adjusting to new glasses or during nighttime driving, persistent or worsening halos can indicate underlying eye health issues that require attention.
Cataracts cause the lens of your eye to become cloudy, scattering light and creating prominent halos around bright lights. While cataracts typically develop gradually in older adults, they can occur at any age. If you’re seeing increasing halos along with other symptoms like cloudy or dim vision, it’s time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam at our Edmonton, Leduc, or Westlock clinic.
Corneal swelling or irregularities can also cause light to scatter abnormally. Conditions like keratoconus or corneal edema change the shape of your cornea, distorting incoming light.
Sudden onset of halos accompanied by eye pain, redness, or vision loss requires immediate medical attention, as these can be symptoms of acute glaucoma.
Adjusting to New Glasses in Winter Darkness
Getting new glasses just as winter darkness sets in can feel particularly challenging. Your brain needs time to adapt to the new prescription, and this adjustment period can be more noticeable when you’re doing more driving in low-light conditions.
Here’s what to expect and how to ease the transition:
Give it time: Most people adjust to new glasses within a few days to two weeks. However, if you’re experiencing persistent halos, distortion, or discomfort after two weeks, contact your optometrist. Your prescription may need adjustment.
Start with daytime wear: If possible, begin wearing your new glasses during daylight hours for the first few days. This allows your visual system to adapt before tackling more challenging nighttime conditions.
Keep your lenses clean: Use a microfiber cloth and proper lens cleaner throughout the day, especially before driving. Winter weather means more frequent cleaning to combat salt spray and condensation.
Consider anti-reflective coating: If your new glasses don’t have AR coating, ask about adding it. This coating dramatically reduces glare and halos, making night driving much safer and more comfortable. At our clinics in Edmonton, Leduc, and Westlock, we can discuss lens coating options that best suit your lifestyle and driving needs.
Tips for Safer Winter Night Driving
Whether you’re commuting on the QEII, navigating Edmonton’s ring roads in pre-dawn darkness, or driving rural routes around Westlock, these strategies can help:
- Reduce dashboard brightness to help your eyes adapt to darkness and reduce internal reflections on your glasses
- Keep your windshield clean inside and out—interior film and exterior grime both scatter light
- Take breaks on long drives to reduce eye strain and give your eyes a rest
- Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights—focus on the right edge of your lane instead
- Consider specialized driving glasses if you frequently drive at night
When to Schedule an Eye Exam
If you’re experiencing new or worsening halos around lights, especially combined with other vision changes, don’t wait. An eye exam can identify whether you need a new prescription, reveal early signs of cataracts, or detect other eye health issues.
Our optometry clinics in Edmonton, Leduc, and Westlock are here to help you see clearly and safely through Alberta’s dark winter months. We offer comprehensive eye exams, prescription updates, and expert advice on lens options including anti-reflective coatings designed specifically for night driving.
Book your appointment today and stop struggling with halos and glare. Clear, comfortable vision shouldn’t depend on the season or time of day.
Schedule your eye exam at our Edmonton Area, Leduc, or Westlock clinics today! Call or book online to ensure clear, safe vision all winter long.