Driving and LED Lights

[redheadoak]

I have a 17 year old daughter who has recently obtained a drivers license here in the U.S. and has mentioned on numerous occassions that the newer automobiles with LED lights make it very difficult for her to see.

Just last night, she said she had to pull off the road because an oncoming car had their brights on and she said not only was she blinded by the light, but it caused her a considerable pain.

Is there anything that you might know of to lessen the effects of LED lighting? I'm concerned that we'll have to curb her evening driving for her own safety.

Judy

[John Sanders]

Hi Judy,

Like your daughter I find that the glare from oncoming headlamps means I can see almost nothing when I'm a passenger in a car after dark -- regardless of the type of headlight.

Here in the UK, the vision requirements for driving are more demanding than in the US, so far fewer of us with nystagmus drive. I don't drive and am very happy not to. I took driving lessons when trying a treatment for nystagmus (it turned out to be unsuccessful) and soon realised that I would not be safe behind the wheel of a car.

John

[astropcr]

I know this is an older post but thought I would respond anyways.

I live in Virginia and have been driving since 15 with Nystagmus.

I also experience problems driving when others have bright LED lights or when a car behind me is much taller and their lights shine right into my rear view mirror.
Not sure if it is related to Nystagmus or not but thought I would share.

[Lou]

I think it can be linked to nystagmus. My dad (who does not have nystagmus) used to be fine with lights but is finding that as he gets older, his eyes are more sensitive so he struggles with the lights. Although that isn't directly related with nystagmus, it is to do with his eyesight failing a litle bit as he gets older if you see what I mean

[Hakan]

I can say it has connection with nystagmus.
I face the same problem with LED lights

[vicchy601]

This is my first ever post on this network, as I am a new member! Bear with me while I open up a little.

I am a (very young) 60 year old woman and only recently discovered I have had nystagmus for most of my life, I guess the congenital type. Well, let me clarify this. I have been asked, at medical appointments, and even eye appointments, if I was aware that my eyes wiggle. At one point, someone in one of these examinations lightly mentioned I had nystagmus, but that was that. I was assured there was nothing to it, that I was probably born with it, and so it just went right over my head. I never was alarmed or interested to check into it further.

It's only been recently that my wonderful optometrist, during an eye exam, informed me in detail about nystagmus. He gave me information that enlightened me after a lifetime of self-esteem issues that turn out to be related to this condition. I have been researching nystagmus on line since. It has cleared up a number of issues I have had throughout my life that I can now attribute to nystagmus.

One of these 'issues' is chronic fatigue. I am and always have been, more tired than normal, compared to those around me. I learned that nystagmus causes the brain and eyes to work harder than the average person in just everyday life because my eyes are constantly moving. Reading, computer work, driving, just everything is impacted. Night driving is so difficult because the oncoming headlights look light sunbursts. When I'd tell my husband this, he couldn't understand what I was talking about. He just sees differently than i do. Well, no wonder.

Though no longer an issue, when I was young and into sports, I was so incredibly non-athletic that I was always the last chosen for a team. I could never hit a baseball or even a tennis ball, though I'd practically kill myself trying! I wasn't obese or oafish, in fact, I was very little and wiry, so I should have been agile enough. My hand-eye coordination was so bad that ordinary sports everyone else could participate in I could not. The mocking took all the fun out of participating, not to mention how it affected my self-esteem! Now I feel vindicated (though I still wish I could have surfed and water-skied) ;o(

Another problem I have is with crowds, whether it be at a busy department store sale, or going to a large soiree, where there's a cacophony of noises and visuals going on. I would be interested to know if others also have this problem. I thought it was an anxiety problem, but maybe it really isn't after all! But I do get anxiety because my eyes probably work harder than ever when there are crowds and a lot of noise mixing.

Thank you for any input you can offer!

I know there is nothing I can do for my nystagmus, but knowing what I know now as it all relates to this condition/syndrome/disease sure gives me an understanding that I never had before.


Also, I'm always, always very tired. I read that nystagmus causes the brain and eyes to work harder than the average person has to 'work' to read or just do normal activities because our eyes are in constant motion. This is another eye-opener (haha) for me. I've been medically tested through the years to find a reason for my lifetime complaint of chronic fatigue, but I guess I now know the reason for this as well.

[vicchy601]

I have problems with any oncoming headlights. They all look like giant sunbursts, and I often have taken off my glasses to clean them because the visual I get resembles what I would see if my glasses were smeared....but they are not. But I do not drive much at night because of this problem. I assume this visual is caused by my nystagmus and based on what others have written.

[John Sanders]

Thanks for posting about your experiences of nystagmus. They highlight several things, in particular the general lack of awareness of the wider effects of nystagmus such as fatigue, poor hand eye coordination, confusion in crowds, etc. They also show what a difference it makes when we know the reason for these difficulties.

John

[jmeiske]

I can normally deal with headlights, but every now and then, I've definitely got the sunburst issue. I also really dislike the newer headlights that have different colors...blue from certain angles, bright white from straight on, and everything in between.

The worst by far, though, are the LED brake lights. They look like they're waving at me, and so the entire car seems to be shaking. I find that looking at the tires is helpful - I can keep distance better, avoid the headaches that come from staring at the LEDs for a long period of time, and so on.

vicchy601's post mentioned crowds, which I've never really considered before, but I often find myself shutting things out and having to tell people, "I'm really trying to listen to you right now, but you're going to have to repeat yourself."

[patersweetie]

I have problems with any oncoming headlights. They all look like giant sunbursts, and I often have taken off my glasses to clean them because the visual I get resembles what I would see if my glasses were smeared....but they are not. But I do not drive much at night because of this problem. I assume this visual is caused by my nystagmus and based on what others have written.

Having not been diagnosed with congenital nystagmus until recently (and having a few years of driving experience under my belt), I never thought about the "sunburst" effect as a part of nystagmus, or even as being abnormal, until just now when I read your post! I always used to think it was because I didn't get glare protection on my glasses, and when I finally did, it didn't make a difference--guess it's just the eyes!

[fromptok]

This is my first ever post on this network, as I am a new member! Bear with me while I open up a little.

I am a (very young) 60 year old woman and only recently discovered I have had nystagmus for most of my life, I guess the congenital type. Well, let me clarify this. I have been asked, at medical appointments, and even eye appointments, if I was aware that my eyes wiggle. At one point, someone in one of these examinations lightly mentioned I had nystagmus, but that was that. I was assured there was nothing to it, that I was probably born with it, and so it just went right over my head. I never was alarmed or interested to check into it further.

It's only been recently that my wonderful optometrist, during an eye exam, informed me in detail about nystagmus. He gave me information that enlightened me after a lifetime of self-esteem issues that turn out to be related to this condition. I have been researching nystagmus on line since. It has cleared up a number of issues I have had throughout my life that I can now attribute to nystagmus.

One of these 'issues' is chronic fatigue. I am and always have been, more tired than normal, compared to those around me. I learned that nystagmus causes the brain and eyes to work harder than the average person in just everyday life because my eyes are constantly moving. Reading, computer work, driving, just everything is impacted. Night driving is so difficult because the oncoming headlights look light sunbursts. When I'd tell my husband this, he couldn't understand what I was talking about. He just sees differently than i do. Well, no wonder.

Though no longer an issue, when I was young and into sports, I was so incredibly non-athletic that I was always the last chosen for a team. I could never hit a baseball or even a tennis ball, though I'd practically kill myself trying! I wasn't obese or oafish, in fact, I was very little and wiry, so I should have been agile enough. My hand-eye coordination was so bad that ordinary sports everyone else could participate in I could not. The mocking took all the fun out of participating, not to mention how it affected my self-esteem! Now I feel vindicated (though I still wish I could have surfed and water-skied) ;o(

Another problem I have is with crowds, whether it be at a busy department store sale, or going to a large soiree, where there's a cacophony of noises and visuals going on. I would be interested to know if others also have this problem. I thought it was an anxiety problem, but maybe it really isn't after all! But I do get anxiety because my eyes probably work harder than ever when there are crowds and a lot of noise mixing.

Thank you for any input you can offer!

I know there is nothing I can do for my nystagmus, but knowing what I know now as it all relates to this condition/syndrome/disease sure gives me an understanding that I never had before.


Also, I'm always, always very tired. I read that nystagmus causes the brain and eyes to work harder than the average person has to 'work' to read or just do normal activities because our eyes are in constant motion. This is another eye-opener (haha) for me. I've been medically tested through the years to find a reason for my lifetime complaint of chronic fatigue, but I guess I now know the reason for this as well.

Hello vicchy, I can totally relate to your experiences although I have not been dx with nystagmus yet, or possible MS. I have a very hard time going into public places where it's crowded with a lot of noise and I am also very tired all the time. My neuro just recently told me I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibro because there's not enough evidence for dx of MS yet. I've been dealing with this eye "problem" for over 7 yrs and 3 neuros can't tell me what's wrong.