Can you see better at night with contacts?

[rosemary johnson]

My night vision is much poorer than day vision.
My vision with the contacts is far better than without, by day or night.
I am getting tot he stage where I need good daylight to read fine print (such as the racing results in the paper) even with the lenses in.

Bright lights hurt my eyes far more when I have the lenses in than when I don't.
For example, I can walk up the street with no lenses and no sunglasses on days when I wouldn't venture out of the door without the dark glasses with the lenses in.
For me, it is often contrast between something bright and something dark that is worst - so (dipped) headlights on London streets under streetlights when walking back from the tube station are no problem, but rapidly give problems on unlit country roads.
As regards halos, starbursts, etc - the left lens (an RGP scleral) cuts out most of these, so I get far more in my left eye when I have no lens in. However, the right lens combination (RGP scleral piggybacked over a daily disposable soft lens) produces a lot of ghosting and starbursts, and these are brighter/more intense - and can be more painful - because of having the lenses in than without them.

I've been told it is mre usual for the pain from bright lights to be less with lenses in, but for me it is the reverse.

I don't drive at any time of day or night and haven't for years.
Rosemary