Final answer:
Bright lights cause pupil constriction and photoreceptor oversaturation, leading to vision difficulties. Our eyes need time to adjust to different lighting conditions. Light pollution further hampers visibility and disrupts wildlife.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difficulty faced by individuals in seeing in the presence of bright light such as direct or reflected sunlight or car headlights at night is primarily due to the adaptation mechanisms of the eye. The human eye has two types of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Cones are responsible for color vision and function best in bright light, while rods are more sensitive and enable us to see in low light but do not discern color well. When exposed to bright light, the pupils constrict to reduce the amount of light entering the eye, and the photoreceptors can become oversaturated, leading to glare and difficulty seeing. It takes time for the eyes to adjust when moving from a bright environment to a darker one or vice versa.
In the case of light pollution, the excess light in the night sky can make it difficult to see astronomical objects, disrupt the life cycle of wildlife, and lead to increased municipal expenses and fossil fuel consumption. The International Dark-Sky Association and other organizations work to raise awareness and mitigate the effects of light pollution.