Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Night Vision Problems

Midnight is hardly prime time for aging eyes. There are plenty of reasons why virtually every 20-year-old wants to go on a road trip at night and virtually every 60-year-old doesn’t. First as you age, your eyes need more light to work properly. Second, the lenses in your eyes need more light to work properly. Third, as you get older, your pupils have to get very large. So the overall result is that you have a lot more difficulty focusing on objects and seeing at night as you age. Do not lose hope; there are some simple ways to bolster your night vision even at 60, 70, or 80. Here’s how.

1. Lighten Up
   
   The average 60-year-old person needs seven times as much light as a 20-year-old to see well in the dark. So brighten up the rooms of your home with 60- or 100-watt neodymium light bulbs. These bulbs provide higher contrast and produce less glare than regular light bulbs, so you should be able to see better at night. For walking in the dark, try using a portable camping lamp to illuminate where you are stepping. Camping lamps, which are available at most sporting goods stores, are better than flashlights because they provide a wider arc of light and make it easier for you to get around.
   
   
2. Bend And Tilt
   
   Adjustable floor or table lamps that swivel and bend so you can fine-tune the lighting to your needs can help overcome night vision problems. If you are reading, for instance, adjust the lamp so that it is about 12 inches from the page yet not causing an annoying glare. Look for lamps with built-in reflectors that will help increase illumination.
   
   
3. See Yourself Seeing Well
   
   Imagery may help improve your night vision. Twice a day when natural light is dim – within two hours of sunrise and two hours of sunset – take a moment to close your eyes and move your head slowly to the left and then to the right. As you do this, take 5 to 10 deep breaths and visualize beams of light streaming into your eyes and activating the portions of your vision that are responsible for seeing well at night. This exercise can be done in less than two minutes a day.
   
   
4. Ease Off The Gas Pedal
   
   Many night vision problems aren’t obvious until you get behind the wheel. On low beam, for instance, your headlights illuminate about 100 feet in front of your vehicle. And at 65 mph, you are traveling about 100 feet per second. So at that speed, even if you had perfect vision and were driving in perfect conditions, your headlights would not be much help. That’s why it is important to slow down at night, particularly in poor weather. As a self-check, pick out an object in the distance and begin counting until you reach the object. A four-to six-second count is an indication that you are driving at a safe speed. If you reach that point in less than two seconds, you would not have been able to stop safely if that sign were in the middle of the road. So ease up on the throttle.
   
   
5. See And Be Seen
   
   Regularly clean all the lights on your car, especially your headlights, because at night, these lights are the only way you can communicate with other drivers. If you have night vision problems, you’re probably driving slower than some other people on the road. So it is just as important to be seen. One good rule of thumb is if the portions of your windshield that aren’t cleaned by your wipers are covered with gunk, it is time to clean all your lights.
   
   
6. Look For Landmarks
   
   Street signs are harder to read at night, so when traveling to someplace unfamiliar, get detailed directions that include lots of gas stations, grocery stores, and other landmarks. Check out a reliable road map before you start out, and take the map with you. If you find yourself on darkened streets, you can always pull over, turn on the overhead light, and check the map.
   
   
7. Get A Pair Of Night Glasses
   
   Sometimes, poor night vision is merely a sign of increasing nearsightedness. Ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist if a new pair of glasses that is specifically prescribed for nocturnal activities like driving will help you see better after sundown.

Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.