Driving @ Night, with contacts? - Eye & Vision Message Board

Kate99 · 05-17-2002, 08:15 AM

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?

Lindarella · 05-18-2002, 07:14 AM

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.

Kate99 · 05-18-2002, 10:54 AM

Thank you so much Lindarella... I didn't realize that astigmastism can cause refractory problems. Your advice was very helpful

rowdy-rowsey · 06-17-2002, 02:02 AM

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...

Kate99 · 06-26-2002, 06:58 PM

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!