Headlights that look like starbursts, glowing rings around streetlights, and tired eyes can make an evening drive on Loop 1604 or I-10 uncomfortable. While bright lights can challenge anyone’s vision, persistent halos and eye strain may point to an underlying eye issue. At Alamo Eye Care, we help San Antonio patients understand what is affecting their night vision and what may improve it.
 

Why Glare Becomes More Noticeable at Night

In dim lighting, your pupils widen to let in more light. This can make imperfections in how your eyes focus light more noticeable. Bright headlights against a dark background also make it harder to distinguish details.

Highway driving requires you to track traffic, read signs, and judge distances in changing light. When vision is blurry or inconsistent, these tasks can feel more demanding and leave your eyes feeling strained.
 

Common Causes of Halos and Eye Strain

Night driving symptoms can have several causes, including:

• Uncorrected astigmatism: Uneven curvature of the cornea or lens can distort light, making headlights appear streaked or surrounded by halos.
• Prescription changes: Outdated glasses or contact lenses may leave road signs and distant objects less clear.
• Dry eye: An unstable tear film can cause fluctuating blur and affect the quality of your night vision.
• Cataracts: Clouding of the eye’s natural lens can scatter light, increasing glare and making nighttime driving more difficult.

These conditions can overlap, which is why we recommend an eye exam instead of assuming brighter headlights are the only problem.
 

How We Evaluate Night Driving Problems

During an eye exam at our San Antonio office, we review your symptoms, check your prescription, and examine your eye health. Tell us whether the halos are new, affect one or both eyes, or change after blinking. Let us know if you also notice dryness, headaches, or trouble reading highway signs.

Our recommendations depend on the findings. An updated prescription or dry eye treatment may help some patients, while cataracts or other eye conditions may require additional evaluation and care.
 

Practical Ways to Reduce Driving Glare

Keep your windshield clean inside and out, and clean your glasses regularly. Properly maintained headlights and correctly adjusted mirrors also support visibility. Direct dashboard air vents away from your eyes to help limit dryness.

For prescription glasses, anti-reflective coatings can reduce reflections from lens surfaces, although they do not treat an underlying eye condition. Avoid sunglasses or tinted “night driving” glasses after dark because they reduce the light reaching your eyes.
 

When to Seek Prompt Care

Schedule an exam if halos persist, worsen, or make driving difficult. If you cannot see clearly enough to drive safely, arrange another ride.

Sudden halos with severe eye pain, redness, nausea, or blurred vision require immediate medical evaluation. Do not wait for a routine appointment or drive yourself for care.

If highway glare is making your evenings more difficult, schedule an eye exam with Alamo Eye Care in San Antonio, TX, by calling (210) 403-9050.