PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The iris is a part of the eye that gives it the distinct colors blue, brown, green, or some type of blend. It also has another very important function. It contains muscles that expand or contract in response to light, which causes the pupils to dilate or constrict.
At night, the pupils dilate to let more light in, but when you are driving and see headlights, the pupils constrict to reduce the light. As we age, the pupils do not respond as well to changes in light intensity.
In addition, people with conditions like dry eyes and cataracts can have problems with night driving. If you have problems driving at night, see your eye doctor. Some simpler steps include making sure your windshields are clean and, if you wear glasses, cleaning them as well.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
