What is night blindness?
Night blindness
(nyctalopia) is the inability to see well at night or in poor
light. It is not a disorder in itself, but rather a symptom of an
underlying disorder or problem, especially untreated myopia.
What causes night blindness?
Night blindness is due
to a disorder of the cells in the retina that are responsible for
vision in dim light. It has many causes, including:
- Myopia
- Glaucoma medications that work by constricting the pupil
- Cataracts
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Vitamin A deficiency
To determine what is causing night blindness, an eye doctor will
perform a thorough eye exam and may order any of a number of
specialized exams.
How is night blindness treated?
Treatment for night
blindness will depend upon its cause. Treatment may be as simple as
getting a new eyeglass prescription or switching glaucoma
medications, or it may require surgery if the night blindness is
caused by cataracts.