On my Audi and some rental cars we had in Europe, that was to make one of the back red lights brighter so the back of your car can be seen in heavy fog.

Just like those who won't use their lights when it is pouring rain or fog

Either way it’s against law, so shoe fits on both feet.

My post is about cataracts because I was responding to a comment about cataracts. I was not talking about any other vision issues.

I understand that not everyone has Medicare or other health insurance. (You don't have to be on Medicare to have cataract surgery. I had both eyes done at 62 when I was on employer-provided insurance.) However, if you have ANY kind of vision problem that requires you to drive with your bright lights on at night then you should either get the problem fixed, if possible, or NOT drive, if you can't or won't.

k.

Excellent advice! The only thing I'd add is that people need to put their vanity aside and ADMIT to the problem, rather than bullheadedly insist that their driving skills have not diminished when much evidence attests to the contrary.

Lives are at stake.

Hanlon's razor - Wikipedia.

Hanlon's razor:
"never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."


your welcome

yes, I have cataracts,
yes they are slow growing,
no they do not create problems driving at night,
except when its dark out in winter

:duck:

seriously, it was just a plausible explanation, not a personal indictment of my driving.

yes, i agree with kathy spears,
yes, i think human vanity keeps people from doing the best for others for selfish, narcissistic reasons

Had minor cataracts removed a couple years ago, it fixed the astigmatism condition I also had. The procedure was far easier than dealing with glasses and deteriorating sight. I don't understand why folks avoid the procedure......fear, rumor, bad advice? If it improves your quality of life, why wouldn't you want to do that?

I was terrified to get the procedure done the first time. Just the idea of someone messing with my eye freaked me out. But it was a piece of cake. Interesting, even. And no pain. I'm glad I had it done when I did (cataracts weren't too bad at that point so I could have waited) because otherwise I would have been worried about it for years!

k.

Cataract surgery can do so much more than remove the halos around lights.

I had been very nearsighted all my life. My cataracts began to get bad in my late 40's, to the point where my ophthalmologist recommended removal and replacement lens inserted. Two things immediately happened (well, three, if you include the "no more halos" thing...). My nearsightedness was gone! Totally. One eye corrected to normal and the other just slightly off normal for distance. I had to wear bifocals for reading and computers but that was a small price to pay for ridding myself of those coke bottle - bottom eyeglasses I used to have to wear. It was an odd thing, getting into the car and forgetting my glasses at home.

Second was the improvement in brightness. Cataract progression is so slow that you don't notice how dim everything ends up looking; Doc described it as "looking through a coffee stain". But once the cataracts were gone, I was amazed! Street lights at night in winter were now sparkling diamonds. Headlights of oncoming cars, just vague globs of light before the surgery, were now distinct bright pinpoints--so bright that I assumed that oncoming cars had neglected to dim their lights. Not only that but the colors were altogether intense. The sky was a burning blue color. Leaves and grass in spring were a green that positively glowed.

I had expected to see better. But I had NOT expected the rest. It was like being reborn.

You were right to be terrified.
 

Without going through all the gory details, I ended up with permanent damage to one eye and am lucky not to be blind in one eye.
This most commonly performed procedure has a great success rate, but it is NOT 100% without complications.
My advice is don't do it until it is necessary.

Please dim lights for both oncoming traffic AND people walking on the sidewalks
 

I have never lived in an area where so many drivers will NOT dim their bright lights for both oncoming traffic and people walking on the sidewalks. When walking I often cannot see the sidewalk when blinded by their bright lights and can't even see the curb. And holding up your hands to cover your eyes so you're not blinded does not seem to promote anyone to dim their lights.
Not only not so safe but also rude to other people.

Welcome to elderly driving :
Eyesight dims,
reflexes fade
focus diminishes
location memory starts to fail
self belief in driving skills remains the same.


You too will join the group eventually

Golf cars are a large offender of too bright and too many lights aimed at the oncoming drivers eyes, which is illegal. I have had to come to a stop because the on coming golf carts lights blinded me. These carts should adjust their lights or quit driving at night and putting people in danger.

I'm not avoiding the procedure, because I don't need it (and probably never will). But here's why I WOULD avoid it:

Not fear. Abject terror. I can't even handle an eye exam without anxiety. I can't handle anyone coming near my eyes with anything at all. That blue light thing? Can't do it. They have to skip that part.