I have had contact lenses for three years, and I got a new prescription a few months ago, because the eye doctor said I had a stigmatism (spelling?). And it was fine, and he got me a different kind of contact lens for people with stigmatisms or whatever...

I can see fine, except for at night, whnen I'm driving. The light from street lights, headlights, tail lights, etc. bothers me so much! It looks as if each light is like a huge star of light, and it is so distracting and difficult to see... to the point that I get scared of driving at night now and try to avoid it at all costs.

I don't remember it being like this before, when I had my old contact lenses... But do you think that this is something that a doctor could solve? I've had these lenses for a few months now, and I don't want to have to pay another couple hundred bucks for a new set of lenses... But I also want to be able to safely drive around at night.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? What do you think?

I would advise that you call the place where you got them and describe, like you are doing here, what is happening. Astigmatism can cause refractory problems (problems with the way light is handled) inside the eye. Your prescription may need to be adjusted. You shouldn't have to pay for this if this is the case.
If this didn't happen to you with your other contact lenses, it's probably these lenses.

Another possibility is improper cleaning/storing or that you are getting something on them from makeup use such as moisturizer/foundations.

I wear extended wear disposable contacts and have an astigmatism. Occasionally, I get halo's and it's always the result of dirty lenses that I've left in too long. When I put in new ones, it goes away.

Thank you so much Lindarella... I didn't realize that astigmastism can cause refractory problems. Your advice was very helpful http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

I too have an astigamatism and recently got contacts again. I wear a toric in the right eye, and an acuvue in the left. I am having problems driving at night also, and never had this problem with my previous pair of contacts. It's very bad with oncoming traffic, to where each headlight looks like a star-burst of some sort (same thing with street lamps). I am going to tell my doctor about this when I go back to see him today. Plus, that toric lens he gave me is uncomfortable (scratchy at times). I never had this problem before!! Hopefully we'll get it straightened out. Maybe I should wear my glasses to drive in... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wink.gif

It is the same exact thing with me -- where the oncoming headlights look like starbursts, as do stoplights and streetlights... I never went to my doctor though... I've kind of just adjusted to it a little bit and avoided driving on roads loaded with traffic lights, headlights and a lot of oncoming traffic... I know that's bad, but oh well.

Let me know what your doctor said -- I'd be insterested to find out!

Well I wear contacts and do quite a bit of driving at night. To me, the oncoming headlights etc always seem so much brighter than they should be. Now the catch is, everything seems really really bright even if I'm wearing my glasses...so for me it's not just happening when I wear contacts. If you just got this new pair and think the problem is either new or more pronounced, talk to you eye dr about it and I'm sure they can do something without making you buy a whole new set. You should definately get it checked out though http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Here's my two cents on this. I have the symptoms that you describe when I'm wearing glasses. I thought that it was the lenses. When I wear my contacts, which is full time now, everything is crystal clear, even at night. My Dr. told me that it is because of imperfections on my corneas. The contact lens is a machined, smooth surface which flattens out my corneas. I had RCE on my left eye but have fully recovered. I wear a toric lens on my left eye. It took a second fitting before my Dr. got it right. It's totally comfortable now. Maybe there are imperfections on the surface of your contacts?? Have you tried another lens?