Why Do Car Lights Bother Me at Night? Glare Causes & Fixes
Headlight glare is a common complaint. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says properly aimed low beams should not temporarily blind oncoming drivers, while the National Eye Institute (NEI) lists headlights that seem too bright as a symptom of cataracts. This guide sorts the causes into headlight design, aim and your own eyes, and shows what IIHS, NEI, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and two automaker manuals say about each. It is general information, not medical advice.
Common Causes Of Nighttime Light Discomfort
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The sources point to a handful of separate causes. Each is listed here with its source.
| Possible cause | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Low beams that produce excessive glare | IIHS ratings penalize low beams with excessive glare that can temporarily blind oncoming drivers | IIHS |
| High beams left on | IIHS notes it cannot tell whether a glare-producing driver neglected to switch from high beams to low beams | IIHS, Oct 2025 |
| Headlight aim | Properly aimed headlights can light the road without getting in other drivers’ eyes | IIHS |
| Load in the vehicle | Passengers and cargo change the angle of the headlights | Mazda3 manual |
| Cataracts | Lamps, sunlight or headlights seem too bright; halos around lights | NEI |
| Astigmatism | Symptoms include blurry vision, headaches, eye strain and trouble seeing at night | NEI |
Glare From Oncoming Vehicles
IIHS says its headlight evaluation checks for glare that headlights may cause for drivers of oncoming vehicles. Glare is measured from the low beams at 3 feet, 7 inches from the ground, and headlights are tested as received from the dealer with no adjustments of aim. IIHS adds that excessive glare from other vehicles’ headlights is a common concern, and that it is possible to have headlights with both poor visibility and excessive glare.
According to the IIHS headlights topic page (updated July 2026), halogen bulbs in replaceable housings became common from the mid-1980s, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps appeared in the 1990s and LED headlamps followed in the early to mid-2000s. IIHS ratings are technology-neutral, so a good rating is not guaranteed by any one of them, and there are poor ratings for every type.
High Beam Intensity
IIHS gives the example of a 2024 Subaru Solterra, where an obstacle in the left lane should be visible 202 feet ahead with low beams and 533 feet ahead with high beams.
IIHS describes two features that address high-beam glare. High-beam assist uses a camera to switch between high and low beams depending on whether other vehicles are present, and the driver can still switch manually, according to IIHS. Adaptive driving beam headlights instead keep the high beam on and block out the part aimed at other vehicles. IIHS research found glare from a vehicle with them was significantly lower than from an SUV with HID low beams.
Mazda’s owner’s manual describes Adaptive LED Headlights on some models, which has a Glare-Free High Beam that dims only the high-beam light shone on the vehicle ahead. The manual says it may not work normally with street lamps, reflective signs, rain, snow or fog. IIHS says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration allowed these systems in the United States in 2022, and that only a few manufacturers offer them.
Poorly Aligned Headlights
IIHS says automakers have paid attention to headlight aim as a result of its ratings. The Mazda3 owner’s manual explains one way aim changes on its own: the number of passengers and the weight of cargo change the angle of the headlights. Some models adjust the angle automatically, and others have a manual levelling switch.
The same manual’s adaptive-headlight section says not to modify the suspension or headlight units. Our guides to compact headlight alignment tools and switching on your car’s lights cover related topics.
Is Headlight Glare Getting Worse?
Many drivers say so. The IIHS study published October 15, 2025 found that complaints that today’s headlights are more likely to blind oncoming drivers have gotten louder, but that glare is implicated in just a tiny fraction of nighttime crashes.
| Measure | Figure | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime crashes citing glare, 11 states, 2015 to 2023 | One or two per 1,000 | IIHS, Oct 15, 2025 |
| Headlight systems with excessive glare, 2017 model year | 21% | IIHS, Oct 15, 2025 and July 2026 |
| Headlight systems with excessive glare, 2025 model year | 3% | IIHS, Oct 15, 2025 |
| Headlight systems with excessive glare, 2026 model year | 5% | IIHS topic page, July 2026 |
The 2025 and 2026 figures come from different IIHS pages and model years. IIHS also says federal headlight brightness standards have not changed since 1997.
Age appears in the data. IIHS’s Matthew Brumbelow said drivers older than 70 seem to be most affected by headlight glare, while those between 55 and 60 do not appear to have an increased crash risk. IIHS also says people with age-related macular degeneration and other health conditions can be especially sensitive to bright lights.
How Car Lights Affect Vision At Night
IIHS says nighttime visibility is critical to highway safety and that about half of traffic deaths occur either in the dark or at dawn or dusk. It also separates two problems: inadequate visibility is the headlight issue known to lead to crashes, while glare is reported as a contributing factor in only 1 or 2 out of every 1,000 nighttime crashes.
Eye Conditions That Increase Light Sensitivity
When oncoming lights bother you far more than they used to, the eye itself may be the cause. NEI and AAO both name conditions that fit, and both say to bring symptoms to an eye doctor.
Cataracts And Glare
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye, NEI says, and more than half of Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of them. In its list of symptoms, NEI includes that you can’t see well at night, that lamps, sunlight or headlights seem too bright, and that you see a halo around lights. AAO lists being extra sensitive to light, especially with oncoming headlights at night, and seeing a ghosted image out of the eye with the cataract.
AAO compares it to looking through a foggy or dusty car windshield and says the most common cause is aging, with normal changes beginning after age 40. NEI says you may not notice a cataract at first.
NEI says early on, small changes such as brighter lights at home or work, anti-glare sunglasses or a new glasses prescription can help, and that surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract.
Astigmatism And Blurry Night Vision
NEI describes astigmatism as a common eye problem that can make vision blurry or distorted because the cornea or lens has a different shape than normal. Its listed symptoms include blurry vision, headaches, eye strain and trouble seeing at night, and treatment is eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery.
Preventive Measures For Drivers
Do Night Driving Glasses (Yellow Tint) Actually Work?
AAO published a summary of a JAMA Ophthalmology study (August 2019) from the Schepens Eye Institute. It tested 22 participants with normal visual acuity in a driving simulator with headlight glare, using three commercially available yellow lenses and one clear lens. Overall, lens color did not influence response times.
AAO says the findings suggest yellow lenses may improve comfort during night driving but do not affect detection performance.
Adjusting Rearview Mirrors
Owner’s manuals describe mirror settings for glare from the headlights of vehicles behind you. The details differ by maker:
| Mirror type | What the manual says | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| Manual day/night lever | Pull the lever toward you to reduce glare from the headlights of vehicles behind; some rearview clarity is lost in the night position | Kia |
| Manual antidazzle lever | Push forward for day driving; pull back to reduce glare of headlights from vehicles at the rear | Mazda3 |
| Auto-dimming mirror | Automatically reduces glare when the ignition is on; ON/OFF button cancels it | Mazda3 |
| Electric chromic mirror | Sensor detects light level and adjusts; defaults to ON each time the ignition is on | Kia |
| Automatic dimming mirror | Works after dark; AUTO button turns it on and off | Honda quick start guide |
All three makers say the automatic function cancels or goes to its brightest setting when the vehicle is in reverse. Mazda says not to use glass cleaner or hang objects on or around the light sensor, because sensitivity may be affected. Kia says to make mirror adjustments before driving, not while the vehicle is moving, and warns not to modify the inside mirror or install a wide mirror.
Related cleaning guides: how to clean a windshield inside and how to wash car headlights.
When To Consult An Eye Specialist
NEI says to talk with your eye doctor if you have symptoms such as headlights seeming too bright, halos or trouble seeing at night, because they could also be signs of other eye problems. AAO says to notify your ophthalmologist if you notice cataract symptoms.
NEI says an eye doctor can check for cataracts as part of a dilated eye exam, and that at age 60 or older you should get one every 1 to 2 years.
Related lighting guides on this site: sun visors for glare, high beam lights and products to clean foggy headlights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Car Lights Seem Brighter At Night?
NEI lists headlights that seem too bright among the symptoms of cataracts, and says to talk with an eye doctor about any of those symptoms.
Can Car Lights Cause Eye Strain Or Headaches?
NEI lists headaches, eye strain and trouble seeing at night among the symptoms of astigmatism, and says an eye exam is the only way to find out whether you have it.
How Can I Reduce Glare From Car Headlights?
Kia’s owner’s manual says to pull the day/night lever toward you to reduce glare from the headlights of vehicles behind you, and Mazda and Kia describe auto-dimming mirrors that do this automatically.
Are Certain Car Lights More Likely To Bother Drivers?
IIHS says its headlight ratings are technology-neutral and that there are examples of poor ratings for halogen, LED and HID headlights.
Do Yellow-Tinted Night Driving Glasses Actually Reduce Glare?
A 2019 JAMA Ophthalmology study summarized by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) found lens color did not influence response times in a driving simulator with headlight glare.
Why Is Headlight Glare Getting Worse?
IIHS reports that complaints have grown louder, but in crash data from 11 states glare was cited in only one or two of every thousand nighttime crashes from 2015 to 2023.
Can My Own Car’s Headlights Bother Other Drivers?
IIHS says properly aimed low beams light the road without temporarily blinding oncoming drivers. Mazda’s manual says passengers and cargo change the angle of the headlights.
What This Guide Does Not Cover
- Medical diagnosis or treatment; see an eye-care professional.
- Headlight aiming steps for a specific vehicle; use that vehicle’s owner’s manual.
- Aftermarket bulbs; the IIHS ratings cited here cover the headlight systems of tested vehicles.
Conclusion
The sources in this guide tie headlight glare to headlight design and aim, high beam use and eye conditions such as cataracts. IIHS data show glare is cited in a small share of nighttime crashes and that fewer tested systems now have excessive glare, while NEI and AAO list headlight sensitivity as a possible sign of cataracts. NEI says to talk with your eye doctor about symptoms such as headlights seeming too bright.
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