What is Night blindness?
Night blindness, or nyctalopia, occurs when the eye struggles to adjust to low light, like at night. It's not a standalone issue but rather a sign of an underlying eye problem, often stemming from a lack of Vitamin A. Though it doesn't lead to complete blindness, it can make it tough to see in dim light, causing difficulties with tasks like driving at night or adjusting from light to dark settings. It's usually a symptom of other conditions, and let us explore its symptoms, causes, and treatments.
What Causes Night Blindness?
Night blindness happens because the cells in your eye that help you see in low light don't work right. It can be caused by different things like:
- Cataracts
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Usher's syndrome
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Pancreatic insufficiencies (e.g., cystic fibrosis)
- High blood glucose levels or diabetes
Diagnosis of Night Blindness
The doctor will diagnose based on your age, symptoms, and physical exam results. They may conduct various tests, including:
- A comprehensive eye exam
- Medical history
- Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity Chart (involves identifying letters on a grayscale background)
- Blood tests (Vitamin A and glucose levels)
Night Blindness Treatment
Night blindness treatment depends on the cause. Treatment may be as simple as getting a new prescription for glasses or changing your glaucoma medication, or it may require surgery if cataracts cause night blindness.
If you have a retinal disease, treatment will depend on the type of disease and will require further investigation by a retinal specialist.
When to visit a Doctor
If you have difficulty seeing while driving at night - or if you cannot see at all, or if you are sitting in a dimly lit restaurant and can barely see, you may have night blindness. See your healthcare professional immediately, as night blindness can be a symptom of serious illness.
Prevention Night Blindness
You cannot prevent night blindness caused by birth defects or genetic diseases, such as Usher syndrome. However, you can properly monitor your blood sugar and eat a balanced diet to reduce the risk of night blindness.
Eat foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which can help prevent cataracts. Also, choose foods that contain high levels of vitamin A to lower your risk of night blindness.
Some orange-colored foods are significant sources of vitamin A, including:
Some orange-colored foods are significant sources of vitamin A, including:
- Cantaloupe
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Pumpkins
- Butternut squash
- Mangoes
- Spinach
- Green cabbage
- Milk
- Eggs
