Our eyes are extremely sensitive. It is a perceptive apparatus that is exposed to the outside, often being subjected to harmful agents or trauma. But that is not it. Eye conditions or genetically caused problems and aging can also affect your eyesight. For instance, a condition like night blindness can be a cause of concern for those with any underlying eye problems. Night blindness is one of the biggest concerns for people who deal with existing eye problems. So, without further ado, let us take a closer look at the causes and treatments for night blindness.
What Is Night Blindness?
There is a propensity towards understanding night blindness as grave eye disease, but it is just an optical error that arises from a problem in the retinal tissue of the eyes. Night blindness is the inability to see clearly at night or in dimly lit environments. Also called Nyctalopia, night blindness is caused by the failure of function on the rod cells of the retina which are responsible for vision in the dark.
You must note that night blindness can often arise in addition to existing eye conditions. Night blindness is not complete blindness at night. It is partial blindness that makes it difficult for you to navigate places such as dim restaurants, movie theatres, or dark rooms. Activities such as walking at night or driving at night can become cumbersome due to the loss of visual acuity. You may also fail to discern people’s faces in dim environments, and constantly be in fear of tripping or bumping over objects in a room. This can gravely affect your confidence and comfort in social settings as well.
To understand night blindness better, you may look through the following symptoms that often arise alongside poor vision at night:
- Light Sensitivity
- Eye pain
- Difficulty in adjusting focal field for distant objects
- Vomiting
- Halos
- Blurred/Cloudy Vision
Causes of Night Blindness
While an optical failure within the rod cells in the retina of the eye is the cause for night blindness in most cases, some underlying eye conditions can also lead to night blindness, such as –
- Patients on Glaucoma Treatments: Those who are being medicated for glaucoma, can experience constriction of the pupil which may inadvertently lead to night blindness.
- Cataracts: Clouded eyesight can worsen in dimly lit environments.
- Myopia (near-sightedness): Short-sightedness can further decimate night vision.
- Keratoconus: An eye condition with a curved cornea can also lead to night blindness.
- Diabetes: This health condition can lead to early-onset cataracts and retinopathy, leading to night blindness.
- Vitamin A Deficiency/Retinol Deficiency worsens the case of night blindness.
Treatment for Night Blindness
Those who experience night blindness should head over to an ophthalmologist for accurate diagnosis, followed by appropriate treatment. For example, in glaucoma-caused night blindness, you may seek treatment through prescription eyeglasses. In cases of cataracts or diabetic cataracts, you may seek surgical intervention.
You may also try making significant lifestyle changes to combat and even prevent night blindness. Eating Vitamin-A-rich foods such as carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, or even nutrient supplements (with due prescription) can keep the retinal tissue healthy for longer. Regular eye exams, controlled check-ups on blood glucose levels, etc., are some of the fundamental ways in which night blindness can be kept in check.
Alternatively, you can also wear preventive eyeglasses or sunglasses to combat night blindness. Reputed and trustworthy brands such as Titan Eyeplus offer an unlimited range of eyewear and eye care products that can help you keep your eyes healthy and protected eventually.