What is Night Blindness?
Impaired vision in dim light and in the dark, due to impaired function of specific vision cells (namely, the rods) in the retina.
Signs and Symptoms
The sole symptom of night blindness is difficulty seeing in the dark. You’re more likely to experience night blindness when your eyes transition from a bright environment to an area of low light, such as when you leave a sunny sidewalk to enter a dimly lit restaurant. You’re likely to experience poor vision when driving due to the intermittent brightness of headlights and streetlights on the road.
Causes and Risk Factors
- nearsightedness, or blurred vision when looking at faraway objects
- cataracts, or clouding of the eye’s lens
- retinitis pigmentosa, which occurs when dark pigment collects in your retina and creates tunnel vision
- Usher syndrome, which is a genetic condition that affects both hearing and vision
- Zinc deficiency
- Vitamin A deficiency
How is it diagnosed?
Your eye doctor will take a detailed medical history and examine your eyes todiagnose night blindness. You may also need to give a blood sample. Blood testing can measure your vitamin A and glucose levels. Night blindness caused by nearsightedness, cataracts, or vitamin A deficiency is treatable.
Treatment
Your eye doctor will take a detailed medical history and examine your eyes to diagnose night blindness. You may also need to give a blood sample. Blood testing can measure your vitamin A and glucose levels.
Night blindness caused by nearsightedness, cataracts, or vitamin A deficiency is treatable. Corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contacts, can improve nearsighted vision both during the day and at night. Let your doctor know if you still have trouble seeing in dim light even with corrective lenses.
Night blindness caused by nearsightedness, cataracts, or vitamin A deficiency is treatable. Corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contacts, can improve nearsighted vision both during the day and at night. Let your doctor know if you still have trouble seeing in dim light even with corrective lenses.
- Cataracts
- Vitamin A Deficiency
- Genetic Defect