New car headlights -- Visual issues with oncoming cars

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the visual issues caused by bright car headlights, particularly those utilizing LED technology, which have become more prevalent in recent years. Participants noted that these headlights can create temporary visual disturbances, similar to a camera flash, and raised concerns about potential eye damage. While direct exposure to sunlight and lasers is known to cause harm, the consensus is that typical car headlights, even when bright, do not pose a significant risk. However, the discussion highlights the importance of using techniques, such as focusing on the fog line, to mitigate distractions from oncoming traffic.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of LED headlight technology
  • Knowledge of basic eye safety principles
  • Familiarity with driving techniques for dealing with bright lights
  • Awareness of blue light hazard research
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of LED headlights on night driving
  • Learn about blue light hazard and its implications for eye health
  • Explore techniques for safe driving in bright light conditions
  • Investigate regulations regarding headlight brightness in vehicles
USEFUL FOR

Drivers, automotive safety researchers, and eye health professionals will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the impact of modern lighting technologies on vision and driving safety.

kenny1999
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In recent years, I found that many cars, I don't know if their headlamps are original or customized, the light is very bright or sharp, sometimes causing me to see temporary shadow in the eye like camera flash or even a little bit faint. In addition to yellow and white light there are also many different colors like violet, green etc...

Why I said "recent years" because maybe in 90s or even ten years ago, I didn't often see these very bright headlights in my city.

Could those light cause any problem to the eye if unavoidably looking at it for a few seconds?

I know that looking at sunlight or laser directly could cause eye damage within a few seconds, but otherwise than these two sources, could there be any other kind of light that could be as dangerous as sunlight and laser?

by the way, I remember that laser usually appears as a form of circular beam of lights in the dark for a good distance, so it is easy to detect laser and go away from it, but could laser appear as other form like other common lights? In that case, is the form of laser damaging?
 
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kenny1999 said:
Could those light cause any problem to the eye if unavoidably looking at it for a few seconds?
No.

kenny1999 said:
could there be any other kind of light that could be as dangerous as sunlight and laser?
You mean in the world? Yes.*

In the headlights? No.* eg: Lots of UV sterilizing devices, tanning beds and UV-hardened epoxies out there that are best used with goggles.

kenny1999 said:
by the way, I remember that laser usually appears as a form of circular beam of lights in the dark for a good distance, so it is easy to detect laser and go away from it, but could laser appear as other form like other common lights? In that case, is the form of laser damaging?
In raves and other dance venues, they shoot low power lasers at disco balls, which reflect the light all over the place. While this reflected light has laser light as its source, it is too weak and dispersed to be harmful.Also: Kenny? As in, my nephew Kenny?
 
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DaveC426913 said:
Also: Kenny? As in, my nephew Kenny?
Letterkenny.
 
kenny1999 said:
Could those light cause any problem to the eye if unavoidably looking at it for a few seconds?
Only if that causes you to wander into the oncoming traffic or run off the road to the right (both would be bad, obviously, and my face may be the next one you see when you wake up after doing that...).

Please use the trick/technique that you were taught when you were a young student driver -- when approaching bright oncoming traffic headlights, focus your vision down to your right and sight the "fog line" edge of the road, or the stripes and "Botts dots" that separate your lane from the next same-travelling lane to your right.

You did learn that in your driver training, right? :wink:
 
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kenny1999 said:
In addition to yellow and white light there are also many different colors like violet, green etc...
I notice that too.
Police car lights seem much brighter too.
 
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..., and youcan be developing cataracts.
 
berkeman said:
Only if that causes you to wander into the oncoming traffic or run off the road to the right (both would be bad, obviously, and my face may be the next one you see when you wake up after doing that...).

Please use the trick/technique that you were taught when you were a young student driver -- when approaching bright oncoming traffic headlights, focus your vision down to your right and sight the "fog line" edge of the road, or the stripes and "Botts dots" that separate your lane from the next same-travelling lane to your right.

You did learn that in your driver training, right? :wink:
There was no any mention at all about oncoming headlights and I seldom drive by the way
 
kenny1999 said:
There was no any mention at all about oncoming headlights and I seldom drive by the way
Oh, well if you are a pedestrian, why don't you just look away?
kenny1999 said:
Could those light cause any problem to the eye if unavoidably looking at it for a few seconds?
 
berkeman said:
Oh, well if you are a pedestrian, why don't you just look away?
some situations for safety you can't look away immediately but only after a few seconds
 

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