Glare recovery

glare recovery

Glare recovery is the process your eyes go through to regain clear vision after being exposed to a bright light. When something suddenly shines in your eyes—like oncoming headlights at night or a bright flash—parts of the eye become overwhelmed and the scene looks washed out; glare recovery is how long it takes for that washed-out look to fade. Immediate causes include the pupil changing size, light-sensitive pigments in the retina being temporarily bleached, and the brain adjusting to the sudden change in contrast. Recovery time can range from a couple of seconds to many minutes depending on how bright the light was and the state of your eyes. Older people and those with certain eye conditions often take longer because their lenses, pupils, or retinal cells don’t respond as quickly. Glare recovery matters because slow recovery makes everyday tasks harder and can be dangerous—for example, it can make it difficult to see road hazards after a bright oncoming headlight. It also reduces comfort and can cause eye strain, headaches, and less confidence in bright environments. You can reduce the impact of glare by wearing sunglasses with good glare and UV protection, using anti-reflective coatings on glasses, and choosing lenses that limit scattered light. Keeping your eyes healthy with regular eye exams, managing chronic health issues like diabetes, and following your eye care professional’s advice also helps. Some research suggests diet and certain nutrients that support the retina may influence how quickly the eye recovers, though results vary, and if glare recovery becomes noticeably worse it’s important to see an eye doctor for personalized care.