As the evenings grow darker, many drivers find themselves struggling to see clearly in traffic. The reason may be impaired night vision. “Even if visual acuity is excellent, night vision can still be poor,” says Ritva Kahlos, optometrist at Instrumentarium.
The dark season presents a demanding test for drivers’ eyesight. According to an Instrumentarium survey (n=1,025), 46% of drivers find it challenging to see while driving in the dark.
Many people assume they see well behind the wheel as long as their visual acuity is good. However, in autumn and winter, night vision becomes an essential component of good driving vision.
“Darkness challenges the eyes differently than daylight does, even on an anatomical level. That is why visual acuity alone tells us very little about how well a person sees in low-light conditions.”
“Poor night vision makes the surroundings appear grayer and makes it more difficult to notice other road users in time,” says Ritva Kahlos.
Two questions can reveal warning signs
Night vision consists of contrast sensitivity and the eyes’ ability to adapt to changing light conditions. Kahlos offers two questions that can help identify potential difficulties with night vision.
“Do you have to strain your eyes a lot when driving in the dark? And are you more easily dazzled by the headlights of oncoming vehicles than before?”
“There can be many underlying causes of poor night vision, but in most cases, steps can be taken to make seeing easier once the underlying cause has been identified,” says Kahlos.
What can be done about reduced driving vision?
The best way to maintain good driving vision is to have your eyesight checked regularly by an optometristi or optician and to wear up-to-date prescription glasses.
“If seeing clearly behind the wheel feels like hard work and your eyes become tired, there is likely some issue affecting your vision.”
“By age 40, when age-related vision changes often begin to appear, it is worth having your vision checked. After that, regular eye examinations every one to two years are advisable.”
Eye examinations performed by an optometrist or optician may also reveal early signs of eye diseases that can affect driving vision. These include cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Based on the findings, the customer may be referred to an ophthalmologist for further examinations. Dry eye disease, which is common among Finns, can also impair driving vision.
Drivers trust their own vision, but not that of others
In Instrumentarium’s survey, respondents were asked to assess their confidence in their own vision and in the vision of other road users.
As many as 93% of drivers are either very or fairly confident in their own visual ability in traffic. In contrast, 86% of respondents are at least somewhat concerned about the eyesight of other drivers.
“There is a certain group of people who are perhaps a little too confident in their vision. Vision often deteriorates gradually, and not everyone notices the change.”
“In September, we organized driving vision screenings, which showed that nearly one in six drivers has poor or only satisfactory driving vision. For some participants, the result came as a complete surprise.”
More information about Instrumentarium’s driving vision screening is available here.
Survey
Instrumentarium’s survey was completed by 1,025 Finnish residents aged 18 and over. The respondent group is nationally representative by gender, age and region of residence. The survey was conducted by the research company Bilendi through its M3 Panel in late August 2026.
1. When driving a car, in which situations do you find it difficult to see? You may select more than one. (n=855)
| In rain or snowfall | 65% |
| In low, direct sunlight | 62% |
| When dazzled by oncoming headlights | 53% |
| In the dark | 46% |
| When noticing pedestrians or cyclists | 7% |
| When reading traffic signs or directions | 6% |
| When looking at the dashboard or navigation system | 4% |
| I do not find seeing difficult in any situation | 11% |
2. How confident are you in your own eyesight when participating in traffic? (n=928)
| Very confident | 30% |
| Fairly confident | 63% |
| Fairly unconfident | 7% |
| Very unconfident | 1% |
3. Have you experienced dangerous near-miss situations while driving due to your own eyesight? (n=864)
| Yes, several times | 4% |
| Yes, once | 18% |
| Never | 78% |
4. Are you concerned about the eyesight of other drivers in traffic? (n=1,025)
| Very concerned | 8% |
| Fairly concerned | 27% |
| Somewhat concerned | 50% |
| Not concerned at all | 14% |
5. Are you concerned about the eyesight of someone close to you when they are in traffic? (n=1,025)
| Very concerned | 4% |
| Fairly concerned | 12% |
| Somewhat concerned | 27% |
| Not concerned at all | 57% |
Further Information
Ritva Kahlos
Optometrist
Instrumentarium
ritva.kahlos@instru.fi
040 647 4493
About Instrumentarium
Instrumentarium is a specialist optical retail chain owned by Instru Optiikka Oy. The company operates nearly 150 stores in Finland and 29 stores in Estonia. More than 200 optometrists and dispensing opticians serve customers across the chain. Many stores also offer ophthalmologist services, and Instrumentarium operates nine dedicated dry eye clinics. Instru Optiikka Oy is part of EssilorLuxottica.
