Night Blindness
Night blindness is a type of vision impairment also known as nyctalopia. People with night blindness experience poor vision at night or in dimly lit environments.
Symptoms of Night Blindness
- Headaches.
- Pain in the eye.
- Nausea.
- Blurred and cloudy vision.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Problem with remote viewing.
- Walking around the house in the dim light is a challenge.
- Driving at night seems to be very difficult. It is deceptive to see a face in dim light.
Causes
- Nearsightedness, blurred vision when looking at faraway objects.
- Glaucoma.
- Glaucoma medications that close the pupil.
- Cataracts, or clouding of the eye’s lens.
- Diabetes.
- Retinitis pigmentosa which occurs when dark pigment collects in your retina and creates tunnel vision.
- Vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A also called retinol, plays a role in transforming nerve impulses into images in the retina. The retina is a light-sensitive area in the back of your eye.
- Keratoconus.
Treatment options for Night Blindness
A detailed medical history and examine your eyes to diagnose night blindness. 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.
- Cataracts can be removed through surgery. Your surgeon will replace your cloudy lens with a clear, artificial lens. Your night blindness will improve significantly after surgery if this is the underlying cause.
- If your vitamin A levels are low, your doctor might recommend vitamin supplements.
Prevention of Night Blindness
- Eat foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which may help prevent cataracts. Also, choose foods that contain high levels of vitamin A to reduce your risk of night blindness.
- Certain orange-colored foods are excellent sources of vitamin A, including: cantaloupes , sweet potatoes carrots ,pumpkins , butternut squash ,mangoes.
- Vitamin A is present in spinach, milk, eggs.