A nationwide survey has found that millions of American drivers have faulty night vision . . . and some of them may work for you.

Nearly one of three drivers surveyed say they have difficulty seeing all or most of the time while driving in the dark, according to "Shedding Light on Driving in the Dark," a nationwide study conducted by Kelton Research on behalf of Road & Travel Magazine and ACUVUE brand contact lenses.

Of further concern, while most believe that correcting their vision problems would improve their ability to drive in low-light conditions, many have never talked to an eye-care professional about treatment options.

More than one-fourth of those surveyed report they have trouble seeing signs or exits; one-fifth acknowledged difficulty seeing animals or pedestrians, and one-fifth also reported having difficulty seeing turns in the road. Twenty-two percent reported problems in judging distance while driving in the dark.

A total of 515 vision-corrected Americans aged 18 and over participated in the survey. Nearly a quarter of the respondents expressed concern and a lack of confidence about their driving skills in the dark. Vision problems and discomfort also leave more than 20 percent feeling concerned and unsafe behind the wheel.

"Driving in the dark is one of the most hazardous situations faced by a driver," said Courtney Caldwell, founder and editor-in-chief of Road & Travel Magazine. "Roads with low or no lighting, glare from headlights and fluctuations in vision are contributing factors to the disproportionately high rate of accidents and fatalities that occur between dusk and dawn."

Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council say the fatality rate at night (6 p.m.-6 a.m.) is three times higher than the daytime rate.

Respondents complained of eyestrain (38 percent), dry-or-tired eyes (34 percent), fatigue (25 percent), headaches (19 percent), inability to focus (18 percent), and double or blurred vision (15 percent) while driving in the dark.

More than six in 10 (61 percent) say headlights from oncoming traffic or from vehicles behind them are particularly bothersome, and nearly half (48 percent) report experiencing glare or light sensitivity while driving in the dark.

"Low light levels cause an eye's pupil to dilate, which can accentuate any existing focusing problems and result in blurred vision," said a Los Angeles optometrist. "This is particularly common among people with astigmatism because the shape of the cornea prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, often leading to blurred vision, which can impair a driver's speed of visual reaction time and affect the ability to quickly identify and localize possible hazards on the road."

Alarmingly, while 73 percent of respondents believe that correcting their vision problems could improve their night-time driving, only 27 percent have ever consulted an eye care professional about treatments or products that could improve their vision while driving in the dark.

Any vision problem left uncorrected or under-corrected can result in tragic consequences. A comprehensive eye exam will include testing to diagnose potential problems and determine the correct form of treatment.