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Night Blindness

Night blindness is poor vision at night or in dim light. Doctors now know that it can result from nutritional factors, genetics, uncorrected nearsightedness or an eye disease such as cataracts, macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa This occurs because the individual with myopia will commonly become even more nearsighted as the pupil dilates at night. People with night blindness (also called impaired dark adaptation) see poorly in the darkness but see normally when adequate amounts of light are present People with night blindness (also called impaired dark adaptation) see poorly in the darkness but see normally when adequate amounts of light are present . And other people simply can't see in the dark. I can name several different reasons for this." For example, some people-though this is rather uncommon-have what is known as congenital stationary night blindness; they're born with the problem. On the other hand, patients being treated with glaucoma medications which constrict the pupil (e.g., pilocarpine), will also frequently have night blindness, because the small pupil allows minimal light to enter the eye. Retinitis pigmentosa , a retinal degenerative disorder, also commonly presents with night blindness.It is important to have a complete eye exam to determine the cause, which may be treatable.

Night blindness is not a diagnosis, but rather a symptom of an underlying disorder. Probably the most common cause of night blindness is uncorrected myopia (nearsightedness). All of the possible causes of night blindness are associated with the way in which the eye receives light rays. Light travels through the cornea and lens and lands on the retina at the back of the eye. Some forms of night blindness can be corrected with a pair of new glasses, according to Mitchell Friedlaender, M.D.director of cornea and refractive surgery at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, California. Much less common causes of night blindness include the retinal disorders gyrate atrophy , choroideremia , and congenital stationary night blindness. Because night blindness can be a symptom of a serious disease, an ophthalmologist should be consulted before a person embarks on self treatment. Persons who experience night blindness should not drive during the evening or at night. Consult your health care provider or eye doctor. It is important to have a complete eye exam to determine the cause, which may be treatable.

Causes of Night Blindness

The common causes of Night Blindness :

• Cataracts (usually in older persons)
• Retinitis pigmentosa (may be the first sign of the disease in a young person)
• Severe short-sightedness
• Congenital night vision disorder
• Poor adaptation to darkness (not caused by any disease), often accompanied by myopia (nearsightedness)
• Certain drugs
• Birth defect
• Malabsorption - if it affects vitamin A absorption
• Celiac disease
• Bile duct obstruction
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Vitamin A deficiency

Symptoms of Night Blindness

Some common symptoms of Night Blindness :

• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision
• Symptoms include difficulty seeing when driving in the evening or at night, poor vision in reduced light, and feeling that the eyes take longer to "adjust" to seeing in the dark.
• Note that Night Blindness symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Night Blindness signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.
• Cataracts degraded night vision
• A symptom is a phenomenon that is experienced by an individual. Anxiety, lower back pain, and fatigue are all symptoms.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa Night-blindness
• While driving, this may also occur a few seconds after the bright headlights of an oncoming car have passed.

Treatment of Night Blindness

• Treatment may be as simple as a new prescription for your eyeglasses or switching glaucoma medications, or it may require surgery in cases of cataracts.
• Today systematic administration in cases of impending blindness, especially in some Asiatic areas, has already prevented the development of lasting blindness on a large scale.
• Over the counter treatment typically consists of oral supplementation with vitamin A .
• Necessary safety precautions should be taken.
• Avoid driving a car at night.

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