There’s a wonderful scene in the movie Doc Hollywood, where Michael J. Fox listens as an older woman explains the floaters she’s seeing. As she’s talking, he carefully removes her glasses, cleans them, and slides them back in place. After a stunned second she sighs and says, “I’m cured!”
If you’ve been thinking about seeing an ophthalmologist to take care of your night vision problems, maybe you should start by checking your headlights. Foggy headlights are becoming a common condition, and they can drastically reduce your ability to see at night.
One of the reasons this has become so common is because today’s headlights aren’t one piece that you replace, they way they were a few years ago. The lens is part of the car’s body, and it’s plastic, so prolonged exposure to road dirt and pollution can cause it to pit and fog over.
Because it’s so common, there are a number of kits available to resurface the headlight lenses and make them clear again. One thing to remember about those kits is that, generally speaking, the aftermarket kits that you see on TV are not going to be as effective or long-lasting as a professional job.
Your local Cottman center may be able to help: Ask them about having your headlights resurfaced to make the lenses clear again. They have access to professional-grade service kits that do a terrific job of resurfacing the headlight lenses, and they add a protective coating that’ll keep them clear for years to come.
So, if you’re having trouble seeing at night, start by checking your headlights. If they’re fogged up, bring your car to your local Cottman center to have them cleaned and resurfaced.
After that, if you’re still having problems seeing at night, consult your physician.
