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What Is Glare in Vision?

Glare is a visual sensation you get when a bright light makes it hard to see. It can come from direct sunlight, car headlights, or even light reflecting off a wet road. For some, glare is just annoying, but for others, it can interfere with daily tasks like driving.

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What Is Glare in Vision?

Glare is a visual sensation you get when a bright light makes it hard to see. It can come from direct sunlight, car headlights, or even light reflecting off a wet road. For some, glare is just annoying, but for others, it can interfere with daily tasks like driving.

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What Are the Two Types of Glare?

There are two main types of glare:

Discomfort glare. This is the kind that makes you squint or feel eye strain, but it doesn't actually stop you from seeing.

Disability glare. This type is more serious because it reduces your ability to see, like when you're temporarily blinded by oncoming headlights.

What Causes Glare?

Glare happens when too much light enters your eye and scatters, which makes it hard for you to focus. This can feel worse if you have an underlying eye condition like cataracts, astigmatism, or dry eye. It can also be more noticeable at night when your pupils are wider.

How Can I Reduce Glare?

You can take several steps to manage glare:

Wear polarized sunglasses. They are very effective at cutting glare from reflective surfaces like water and roads.

Use anti-reflective coating. If you wear glasses, ask for an anti-reflective coating on your lenses.

Adjust your screens. Lower the brightness on your digital devices or use a screen filter to reduce digital eye strain.

Consider special contact lenses. Some lenses, like ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions, are designed to automatically adapt to changing light.

Common Glare Patterns: Halos vs. Starbursts

The specific shape of glare often hints at the cause. Halos appear as bright rings around lights and are frequently caused by cataracts or corneal swelling. Starbursts look like streaks radiating outward and are the hallmark of uncorrected astigmatism or a temporary side effect of LASIK.

FAQs on Glare

Why do I see glare at night while driving?

At night, your pupils widen to let in more light. This can cause bright headlights to scatter inside your eye, creating glare. Conditions like cataracts can make it worse.

Is glare a sign of an eye problem?

Occasional glare is normal. However, if it's frequent or getting worse, it can be a sign of an eye condition like cataracts or astigmatism. An eye exam can determine the cause.

Can sunglasses help with glare?

Yes, especially polarized sunglasses. They are designed to reduce intense glare from reflective surfaces like water and wet roads, which is very helpful for driving.

Contact Lenses for Glare

Certain contact lenses can help reduce daily glare. For example, lenses like ACUVUE OASYS with Transitions automatically adapt to light. This helps you squint less and see more comfortably, both indoors and out.

You can find these lenses at Lens.com, where you can also use the online eye exam to update your prescription from home.

When to See an Eye Doctor

While occasional glare is normal, you should see an eye doctor if you notice it's happening more often or getting worse. An eye doctor can find out if the glare is a sign of an underlying condition and recommend the best way to manage it.