Eye health resources

How astigmatism affects your vision when driving at night

Q: Can contact lenses eliminate halos and starburst at night associated with astigmatism?

Wearing properly fitted toric contact lenses or glasses with an updated prescription can reduce the halos, streaks, and starbursts caused by uncorrected astigmatism at night.

Q: Do the effects of astigmatism get worse when driving in the rain at night?

Yes, wet roads and raindrops on your windshield create additional reflections and glare. This extra scattered light compounds the visual distortion caused by astigmatism, making it even harder to see clearly.

Q: Are there special glasses for night driving with astigmatism?

Prescription glasses or contact lenses are an effective defense for challenging lighting conditions like driving at night, but also adding an anti-reflective (AR) coating to your prescription glasses can help make sure your glasses aren’t introducing any additional glare.

Q: Why does my astigmatism seem worse at night?

In low-light conditions, your pupils dilate to let in more light. This larger pupil size can emphasize any focusing errors in your eye, making the effects of astigmatism, like blurriness and halos, more noticeable.

Q: Can I wear regular contact lenses if I have astigmatism?

Standard (spherical) contact lenses are often effective for low-levels of astigmatism, but if it’s still challenging to drive at night even with your current prescription, it’s time to talk to your eye doctor.

Q: How do I know if my night driving problems are from astigmatism?

The best way to know for sure is to have a comprehensive eye exam. An eye doctor can determine if astigmatism is the cause of your symptoms and provide the right prescription to correct your vision to help with challenging lighting conditions during night driving.

Test your eyes for symptoms of astigmatism

Medically reviewed on April 30, 2026

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Published on February 23, 2024; Updated on July 13, 2026

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5 minute read time

Key takeaways

Why does astigmatism make it more difficult to see at night?

The affect of astigmatism on your eyes

Astigmatism—causes, symptoms and treatments

Is it safe to drive at night with astigmatism?

Understand astigmatism severity

What do lights look like at night with uncorrected astigmatism?

Potential treatments to help reduce the effects of astigmatism at night

General tips for driving at night

What’s next?

Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor

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FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Can contact lenses eliminate halos and starburst at night associated with astigmatism?

Do the effects of astigmatism get worse when driving in the rain at night?

Are there special glasses for night driving with astigmatism?

Why does my astigmatism seem worse at night?

Can I wear regular contact lenses if I have astigmatism?

How do I know if my night driving problems are from astigmatism?