Driving in the dark

[mcginnmx]

I am just wondering if anemia messes with your eyesight I had glasses since the first grade and my eye sight is getting worse. I am now 28 and I can’t see a thing at night while driving.( Almost ended up in a crash yesterday did end up in a crash a year ago) which I feel very self conscious about cause my other friends can drive in the dark fine. I will need to go to the eye doctor soon should I tell him that I have anemia? Or is it irrelevant?

[ExploringWonderland]

It can cause nerve damage, someone I know has damage to her retinal nerve which has massively affected her eyesight. Definitely worth mentioning to your optician

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Please go see an optician - they can check the eye for any damage and refer you to a specialist if appropriate/necessary.I would also suggest you stop feeling guilty about not driving at night and just avoid driving at night until you have had the issue resolved. If you know you have a problem with night vision that makes it unsafe to drive then you could be committing a driving offence and your insurance could be invalidated if you have an accident.

Some people with PA do experience problems with night vision.

Ironically I actually find that my night vision is very good.

If the issue is to do eg with headlights coming the other way then it could be indicative of a problem that isn't related to B12.

[Parksy]

Both my daughter and I have night blindness which has improved slightly with using natural vitamin A (in cod liver oil) but both of us only drive if absolutely necessary at night.

[JanD236]

It’s essential you see an optician and I would tell them that you have anaemia so that they can decide whether or not it’s relevant.

Meanwhile for your own safety and that of others I really would suggest that you don’t drive in the dark.

[Ghound]

Hi, as others have said, first have a check up from an optician. However, I have definitely noticed a deterioration in my night vision.

I mentioned it to my optician last year when it wasn't so severe, but as my distance vision was perfect, she said she couldn't in all honesty prescribe glasses.

A year on and I'm only confident to drive in town at night because the roads are well lit, but have decided to give up night driving on rural roads entirely.

When optician services get back to more normality I'll arrange an appointment.

Best wishes x

[helvella]

Make sure you are precise and clear about having Pernicious Anaemia and not iron deficiency anaemia (which is what many assume is meant by the word "anaemia" alone).

Some years ago, I started to find oncoming headlamps more difficult to cope with. Luckily, this started in spring and so I had some time in which I didn't need to drive at night.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. By the time I needed to drive in the dark, I was being treated with levothyroxine which made a substantial difference.

Someone I know was affected far, far worse by hypothyroidism but did eventually improve.