What’s night blindness?

Night blindness may be a sort of vision impairment also referred to as nyctalopia. People with nyctalopia experience poor vision in the dark or in dimly lit environments.

Although the term “night blindness” implies that you simply can’t see in the dark , this isn’t the case. You may just have more difficulty seeing or driving darkly.

Some types of night blindness are treatable while other types aren’t. See your doctor to work out the underlying explanation for your vision impairment. Once you recognize the explanation for the matter , you'll take steps to correct your vision.

What to look for

The sole symptom of nyctalopia is difficulty seeing within the dark. You’re more likely to experience nyctalopia when your eyes transition from a bright environment to a neighborhood of low light, like once you leave a sunny sidewalk to enter a dimly lit restaurant.

You’re also likely to experience poor vision when driving due to the intermittent brightness of headlights and streetlights on the road.

What causes night blindness?

A few eye conditions can cause nyctalopia , including:

Ø     nearsightedness, or blurred vision when looking at faraway objects

Ø     cataracts, or clouding of the eye’s lens

Ø     retinitis pigmentosa, which occurs when dark pigment collects in your retina and creates tunnel vision

Ø     Usher syndrome, a genetic condition that affects both hearing and vision. Older adults have a greater risk of developing cataracts. They’re therefore more likely to have night blindness due to cataracts than children or young adults.

In rare cases in the United States or in other parts of the world where nutritional diets may vary, vitamin A deficiency can also lead to night blindness.

Vitamin A, also called retinol, plays a task in transforming nerve impulses into images within the retina. The retina may be a light-sensitive area within the back of your eye.

People who have pancreatic insufficiency, such as individuals with cystic fibrosis, have difficulty absorbing fat and are at a greater risk of having vitamin A deficiency because vitamin A is fat-soluble. This puts them at greater risk for developing nyctalopia .

People who have high blood glucose (sugar) levels or diabetes also have a higher risk of developing eye diseases, such as cataracts.

What are the treatment options for night blindness?

Your ophthalmologist will take an in depth medical record and examine your eyes to diagnose nyctalopia . You may also get to provides 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, like eyeglasses or contacts, can improve nearsighted vision both during the day and in the dark.

How can I prevent night blindness?

You can’t prevent nyctalopia that’s the results of birth defects or genetic conditions, like Usher syndrome. You can, however, properly monitor your blood sugar levels and eat a balanced diet to make night blindness less likely.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which may help prevent cataracts. Also, choose foods that contain high levels of vitamin A to scale back your risk of nyctalopia.

Certain orange-colored foods are excellent sources of vitamin A, including:

Ø  Cantaloupes

Ø  sweet potatoes

Ø  carrots

Ø  pumpkins

Ø  butternut squash

Ø  mangoes

Vitamin A is also in:

Ø  spinach

Ø  collard greens

Ø  milk

Ø  eggs

Notice: Please consult your doctor before following any instruction of www.myonlinedoctor.co.in