Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What to use for night walking/night blindness? (self.Blind)
submitted by perfectlypeachy2
Hi, so I can't see at night. It's gotten the point where after dusk/after 'golden hour' I can't really drive on the road safely anymore. I can't see beyond my lights at all, it just cuts off to immediate black. My eyes don't adjust. If I'm driving in a city where it's lit up EVERYWHERE (like, Toronto on the 401 in certain parts) then I'm okay. But anywhere else is a no go (I currently live somewhere more rural, and while I can go for walks in the city, the lighting is terrible). I can drive, and my vision isn't awful. I'm certainly not blind, I just have normal bad vision. I wear progressives, and my visual acuity is 20/25 and 20/30 during the day when wearing glasses. However, I literally can't see anything at night. I can't get down steps when I'm outside, and camping is out of the question without me really struggling. I trip on potholes and curbs, and my depth perception for what I can see (something with lights coming towards me in the distance) is so poor that I'll end up stopping to make a left turn and waiting a good 30 seconds before the car passes me because I'll have thought the car was much closer than it actually was. My optometrist is aware, and we're looking into it.
I guess my question is what is the best thing I can do? My partner is currently injured and I realized that I've become so reliant on her and other people to make sure that I'm not eating it when I go for walks, or so that I can get down the stairs properly. I use my flashlight of course, but as I mentioned once I reach the edge of the light everything is pitch black and doesn't adjust. If I'm indoors I can use my hand to follow the wall, and I pick my feet up relatively high (like marching) if I think there's going to be something in the way or if I'm on uneven ground and I feel like there might be a stick or a rock or something. If it makes any difference I'm also Deaf, so my balance is already generally off so that doesn't help. I can't lipread in the dark either, so if I don't hear someone warning me that there's a stick or something or that there's a pothole I'm going to eat it.
My partner is going to be out for about 3 months and I've realized that I'm too dependent on others and it's making my anxiety really bad. Of course increased anxiety = more likely to trip because I'm not focused. Not sure if I'm posting this in the right page, if I'm not can someone please direct me? Thank you in advance :)
I guess my question is what is the best thing I can do? My partner is currently injured and I realized that I've become so reliant on her and other people to make sure that I'm not eating it when I go for walks, or so that I can get down the stairs properly. I use my flashlight of course, but as I mentioned once I reach the edge of the light everything is pitch black and doesn't adjust. If I'm indoors I can use my hand to follow the wall, and I pick my feet up relatively high (like marching) if I think there's going to be something in the way or if I'm on uneven ground and I feel like there might be a stick or a rock or something. If it makes any difference I'm also Deaf, so my balance is already generally off so that doesn't help. I can't lipread in the dark either, so if I don't hear someone warning me that there's a stick or something or that there's a pothole I'm going to eat it.
My partner is going to be out for about 3 months and I've realized that I'm too dependent on others and it's making my anxiety really bad. Of course increased anxiety = more likely to trip because I'm not focused. Not sure if I'm posting this in the right page, if I'm not can someone please direct me? Thank you in advance :)
SiriuslyGranger 9 points 1y ago
A white cane at night?
aidan1478 5 points 1y ago
I feel like an idiot for this but I'm too anxious to use one...I'm scared people are going to judge me. I might try it though, I just feel odd about only needing to use it at night if that makes sense?
SiriuslyGranger 9 points 1y ago
Don’t it’s a tool for you to use. I am totally blind and you’re not taking it from me. If you’re struggling you should and can use it. You’re not faking or lying to anyone, you sincerely have a need.
People have different needs and your need is to just use it at night.
Don’t worry about people’s judgement, if they judge let them. And educate them that night blindness exist and you can see okay in the day.
People have different needs and your need is to just use it at night.
Don’t worry about people’s judgement, if they judge let them. And educate them that night blindness exist and you can see okay in the day.
aidan1478 5 points 1y ago
Thank you, I'll definitely look into it this week! I like your point about educating them about night blindness existing, definitely puts things into perspective for me.
SiriuslyGranger 2 points 1y ago
Right an never ever feel ashamed of it. Also nfb offer canes for free but it will take a few weeks to get to you and you can ask for one every six months. I feel like the first time they should give you two just so you can have a spare.
Dcanes is better quality though but one costs 25 dollars. There’s other brands out there. Some are heavier and some are lighter, made of different materials, different tips, some fold and some don’t. Some canes are different colors too.
Dcanes is better quality though but one costs 25 dollars. There’s other brands out there. Some are heavier and some are lighter, made of different materials, different tips, some fold and some don’t. Some canes are different colors too.
aidan1478 5 points 1y ago
How would I go about learning how to use one? I'm in Canada if that helps. From what I know people typically take classes to learn how to use them?
Mr5t1k 5 points 1y ago
Search for The Care and Feeding of the White Cane. Read it, it covers a lot of the basic questions.
aidan1478 3 points 1y ago
I just read it, thanks for the recommendation. I feel a little bit better about it now. I'm going to talk to my partner tonight since they're the one that I've been relying on them for the longest time. I'll probably give this to them to read. :)
SiriuslyGranger 1 points 1y ago
Cnib. I believe there’s someone on here whos an o&m instructor from there. Look in to cnib services?
PrincessDie123 3 points 1y ago
Sometimes people give me crap but it’s a device for your health and safety if people don’t want to politely ask about it’s purpose then they can mind their own business
SoapyRiley 1 points 1y ago
I felt like this too so I got one that wasn’t white. Do whatever you have to do to be safe and comfortable.
Mr5t1k 1 points 1y ago
I have RP and this am blind at night to an extent, and I have the same anxiety about using the cane but I do own one.
PrincessDie123 4 points 1y ago
I used to struggle with this especially during twilight hours a great deal the solution for me was O&M and using a white cane especially during those hours because the weird shadows absolutely wreck my depth perception
ScatheX1022 4 points 1y ago
Following, I can completely relate with my visual impairment
PrincessDie123 2 points 1y ago
White cane and Orientation And Mobility Training to use it. There are different types of canes for multiple different purposes it’s totally okay to use one only as needed (it’s literally for being used as needed some just need it more frequently than others lol) so once you find the one that works for you it should help you be able to trip less and once you learn navigation it should help you stay oriented better.
MaplePaws 2 points 1y ago
Ugh, I feel this so bad. I don't qualify for any of the supports offered to blind and low vision people because my vision is not disabling in the way that their criteria demands I be, but it is disabling all the same. Ultimately the only thing I found I could do was owner train my service dog that I have for other reasons to double as a guide dog. But she retired and my in training dog is only 9 months old, so I am stranded for now if I can't find somebody to be with me on video call during outings where my vision is not useful at all.
Fredchasing475 1 points 1y ago
I totally agree with everyone who says get a cane and training,for it. My vision was pretty much like yours about 25 years ago . (Since then, I was diagnosed with RP and now I need a cane all the time.)
That said, when you say that one problem you have using flashlights is that although you can see within the beam everything outside the beam is just black, it seems to me that you’ll have a similar problem with a cane. Basically, the end of the arc when you swing the cane is like the edge of the flashlight beam.
So this may sound stupid, and may actually be stupid, but If you haven’t tried a super bright flashlight (like greater than 300 lumens at least) that also has a good throw, that might be something to try. (Although all it really will do is extend the ring of light beyond which everything looks black to you, I get it.) For many years before I got a cane, I always carried increasingly bright and powerful flashlights that could still fit in my pocket, and they came in really handy in lots of circumstances. I knew it was time for cane, when, among other things, I was walking to the bus early one morning in the dark and my flashlight still wasn’t bright enough, and I got disoriented, and I just had to stop moving and literally wait for the sun to come up.
That said, when you say that one problem you have using flashlights is that although you can see within the beam everything outside the beam is just black, it seems to me that you’ll have a similar problem with a cane. Basically, the end of the arc when you swing the cane is like the edge of the flashlight beam.
So this may sound stupid, and may actually be stupid, but If you haven’t tried a super bright flashlight (like greater than 300 lumens at least) that also has a good throw, that might be something to try. (Although all it really will do is extend the ring of light beyond which everything looks black to you, I get it.) For many years before I got a cane, I always carried increasingly bright and powerful flashlights that could still fit in my pocket, and they came in really handy in lots of circumstances. I knew it was time for cane, when, among other things, I was walking to the bus early one morning in the dark and my flashlight still wasn’t bright enough, and I got disoriented, and I just had to stop moving and literally wait for the sun to come up.
aidan1478 1 points 1y ago
Yeah that's a good point. I can see how using a super bright flashlight might help a bit. I think some of it is also I can't distinguish the potholes at night with the light (at least not as well as I can during the day). I was on a walk last night with a friend and we got swarmed by bugs and had to cut through a dirt parking lot and I got completely disoriented because I couldn't see the ground. There was some light nearby that I could use to landmark where I was going, it wasn't enough. The concern was more that I was going to step into a hole or trip on something. Using a super bright light might help with that though! Do you find that using the flashlights made it more difficult for your eyes to adjust at all? Like, to items on the ground if that makes sense? I find that rocks and sticks look so much different/are indistinguishable depending on colour when they're being viewed with a flashlight, if that makes any sense at all.
How any lumens was the highest you used (if you can remember)?
How any lumens was the highest you used (if you can remember)?
Fredchasing475 2 points 1y ago
Well, I got up to 1000 lumens (lm), but at that brightness the light I had got pretty hot after about 30 seconds so it wasn’t practical. So I generally stuck to 300 lm, which was medium bright on the light I had. That would be the Surefire Guardian; Amazon link below; surefire seems to have discontinued them though, plus they’re super expensive. But giving you the link as an example so at least you can see the specs. I’m sure you can do better on specs price and features now than I could find when I bought it. But at the time I bought it, it was the best combination of brightness, throw, weight, and run time I could find, given my needs. (FWIW I remember I ended up buying Surefire mainly because it was one of the few websites at the time that gave all the specs I needed; I was surprised how many places or manufacturers didn’t tell you the runtime or weight.)
Two more things though for what it’s worth:
First, there’s this very tiny but still 300 lm light I used carry everywhere. And really liked. (See link to sidekick on surefire site below.) It’s only got short throw because it’s so small, but it was great for climbing stairs, etc. Also good for looking in cabinets and drawers, which were pitch black to me even then. As my vision got worse though, it wasn’t bright enough (or didn’t have enough throw) for me to walk to the bus stop, and I upgraded to the Guardian.
Second, from what you say it sort of sounds like you have a contrast problem, so the cane still may be a better solution?
Anyway, if you want to try bright lights, I’d suggest buy from a place where you can return it so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I think you can do better than SureFire lights these days
SIDEKICK | Ultra-Compact Multi-Output LED Keychain Flashlight | SureFire
Amazon.com: SureFire DBR Guardian Dual Beam Rechargeable Flashlight with Maxvision & IntelliBeam Technology : Sports & Outdoors
Two more things though for what it’s worth:
First, there’s this very tiny but still 300 lm light I used carry everywhere. And really liked. (See link to sidekick on surefire site below.) It’s only got short throw because it’s so small, but it was great for climbing stairs, etc. Also good for looking in cabinets and drawers, which were pitch black to me even then. As my vision got worse though, it wasn’t bright enough (or didn’t have enough throw) for me to walk to the bus stop, and I upgraded to the Guardian.
Second, from what you say it sort of sounds like you have a contrast problem, so the cane still may be a better solution?
Anyway, if you want to try bright lights, I’d suggest buy from a place where you can return it so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I think you can do better than SureFire lights these days
SIDEKICK | Ultra-Compact Multi-Output LED Keychain Flashlight | SureFire
Amazon.com: SureFire DBR Guardian Dual Beam Rechargeable Flashlight with Maxvision & IntelliBeam Technology : Sports & Outdoors
aidan1478 1 points 1y ago
Thank you! I’ll check this out. :)
kazcar 1 points 1y ago
I understand the reluctance to use a white cane- I am an Orientation and Mobility Specialist and it is quite common I strongly suggest you locate your local O&M training facility/school and ask for some advice. We can show you how to safely use a cane and when you can tuck it away because you are travelling okay in better light conditions. Good luck!
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