Is anyone troubled by this? I haven't been able to drive in the dark for a few years now and it's a real pain.
I seem to have a problem with Vit A/Beta Carotene as I have Carotenemia. I take a Vit A supplement a couple of times a week but it's no better.
Anyone got any ideas please? Thanks 
I know that the search facility here is dire, but there have been several threads about this and related issues - such as coping with oncoming headlamps.
Yes, it is well known to people here but not so often mentioned in general. Other than what you are doing, and, of course, getting the best possible thyroid hormone levels, it isn't obvious what else you can do.
Try a different form of vitamin A supplement.
Beta carotene, which can make people's palms go orange, is not vitamin A it is a pre-cursor of vitamin A. People have to be able to convert it into proper vitamin A. And guess what? Hypo people aren't good at converting it. So taking beta-carotene makes it build up in the body, and so causes orange skin.
See thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...
Also...
From wikipedia : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitam...
Since vitamin A is fat-soluble, disposing of any excesses taken in through diet takes much longer than with water-soluble B vitamins and vitamin C. This allows for toxic levels of vitamin A to accumulate. These toxicities only occur with preformed (retinoid) vitamin A (such as from liver). The carotenoid forms (such as beta-carotene as found in carrots), give no such symptoms, except with supplements and chronic alcoholism, but excessive dietary intake of beta-carotene can lead to carotenodermia, a harmless but cosmetically displeasing orange-yellow discoloration of the skin.
The above quote explains why so many vitamin A supplements are sold in the beta-carotene/provitamin A form. It is considered safer because the risk of overdose is less than it is with proper vitamin A.
I take retinyl palmitate (one of the "real" vitamin A supplements), but because it is considered to be a bit risky I give myself lots of breaks from it. I do feel I get a benefit from it. I no longer have such a noticeable problem with yellow/orange palms.
I have Graves but Night blindness is one of the first things I notice when I go hypo.
My levels only have to go slighly under.
I can't drive and if I wake in the night I am so disorientated I walk into things.
I successfully had treatment for Ted.
My family think I am quite weird.
I saw a specialist who thought I had glaucoma, which scared the life out of me but when I saw him again my eyes were perfect as my levels had lifted.
I have tried to tell the eye specialists that this happens but all they say is" it doesn't work like that" well my eyes do.
Don't know if this has been any help or if yes I am simply weird.
Oh, gosh , hadnt put 2and 2 together.
Have not been able to drive when dark and even as a passenger its like being in a horror movie.🙈
Totally disorientated by oncoming lights.
Must read up on whats been suggested to help, thanks, thought it was just me x
I do not think this is related to Hypothyroidism at all. Please read my earlier reply and see a good optician to start with. Good luck.
I think you should see a good optimetrist about your eyes. I went for a cateract assessment, referred by my optician, and it was there that they discovered I have Macular Degeneration. I was told not to drive at night and I knew I could not anyway because I cannot see properly in the dark. My eyesight is deteriorating and eventually I will have to stop driving which is a real blow. Do get some expert advise but beware, opticians who offer you a scan of the back of your eye for £? as this is not suitable for detecting this problem. This can only be discovered at the hospital eye clinic or other specialist eye clinic. Let us know how you get on please.
Ok thanks for your response, do I get referred by GP ?
I hve same prob. At last eye test optician told me when hypo the eye muscles get slack. My eyesight was dreadful post TT then improved as levo was increased, thou am feeling hypo again since oct and eyesight bit worse. As for specific night time probs optician said it was down to diff frequencies of light and its usual as you get older, thanks i dont think!
Thanks everyone
My eyesight has deteriorated a bit but I don't have any problems with night vision other than driving on main roads with overhead lights. My optician has just prescribed glasses with a special coating to help but I haven't had a chance to test them out yet.
Humanbean, I did a bit of digging last night and it seems Vit A is very good for a number of things including inflammation and the immune system but like you have pointed out we have to be careful not to take too much. I plan to take it every other day with zinc and milk thistle and a fatty meal and hope for the best. I think there is too much to be gained to ignore it altogether just because of the potential risks. Fingers crossed
I developed problems driving at night when I started developing cataracts. Light coming into the eye gets diffused by the cloudy lens and you are blinded. People don't usually develop cataracts in both eyes at the same rate. Try looking up at a turned on ceiling light, first with one eye covered, then with the other. There should be a difference. You will be able to see 'behind' the light and there will be minimal 'glare' from the eye without the cataract... also a 'crispness' to objects seen by the eye w/o cataracts. All you can see with the eye with the cataract is glare...glare.. glare. Everything is fuzzy and diffused and you can't see 'behind' the light source.
Often hyaluronic acid and supplements like bilberry and Vit C (real Vit C... not ascorbic acid) can sharpen eyesight and improve night vision in the absence of cataracts.
I have had cataract surgery in both eyes. One artificial eye lens enables me to see close up (work on 'puter without glasses). I still get a little night glare in that eye but nowhere near what it was before the surgery. I also still need reading glasses for close-up stuff unless I am outside reading in the sunlight. Then I don't need glasses at all.
**Edit... no help and no experience with the beta carotene problem.
I've just recently had a thorough eye test so hopefully there's nothing wrong of that nature
I bought a great pair of night driving glasses for about £3 from Amazon. They are definitely not a fashion statement (they're huge as they fit over your ordinary glasses) but they do help with headlight glare.
I use a pair of amber-tinted safety glasses that my husband gave me. I look like a chubby, female Bono but they do help a bit!
Some randomly selected previous threads:
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
yes. I used to see well in the dark but now have to make sure there is enough light.
Continuous period, anyone else experience this?
Now taking levo at night, do I need to miss it when I get the next blood test?
Anxiety/palpitations at night
What Dose of Vit D and Vit B12 should I take
