How long can it take for your eyes to adjust to darkness after being exposed to glare?

The process of adjusting to darkness after exposure to bright light or glare can take a little time, and the correct answer indicates that this adjustment period typically lasts for about 5 seconds. During this brief adjustment phase, the pupils of your eyes react by dilating to allow more light in, making it easier to see in the dark. This period is crucial for drivers, especially when transitioning from bright headlights or streetlights back to darker environments, as it impacts visibility and reaction times.

The other options, while suggesting varying adjustment times, do not accurately reflect the average time it takes for the human eye to begin adapting to lower light levels. In practice, the initial adjustment can be quite quick, but full adaptation to darkness may take longer, extending up to 30 minutes for maximum sensitivity. However, the immediate response when moving out of intense light is often around the 5-second mark, which aligns with typical experiences reported in studies of human vision. Understanding these nuances of eye adaptation helps drivers manage their vision more effectively during nighttime driving or when exposed to sudden changes in lighting.