Causes Of Night Blindness: What Are Its Symptoms And Treatment

Causes Of Night Blindness: What Are Its Symptoms And Treatment









Night blindness or the inability to see clearly at night or in poor light makes it rather troublesome for the individual to move around in the evening and night, given that, vision becomes blurred or totally impaired. It may be acquired or may be present since birth.

Night blindness or Nyctalopia is rather rare; it is a vision loss disorder, which occurs due a host of causes and etiological factors. Understanding what is the exact cause triggering night blindness in you, is very crucial to decide the best line of treatment, in order to achieve prompt recovery.

Causes And Symptoms Of Night Blindness

• Myopia: nearsightedness or myopia is a cause of nyctalopia. Myopia occurs due to an elongation of the eyeballs, thus making it hard to see things that are far. Distant objects look obscure and blurred and you may face vision impairment in poorly lit areas.


• Vitamin A deficiency: is the principal cause of night blindness.


• Glaucoma: develops when pressure builds up in the eyes, eventually affecting the optic nerve and causing blindness. Medications used to treat glaucoma cause constriction of the pupils, and this is known to cause night blindness.
  
  
  Due to the constriction, the amount of light entering diminishes, thus decreasing visibility and triggering night blindness.


• Cataract: is progressive clouding of the eye lens, thereby impairing vision. Cataracts trigger nyctalopia.


• Retinitis Pigmentosa: is a genetic condition, and it becomes evident due to night blindness.


• Diabetes mellitus: excessively high serum glucose levels causes night blindness.

Night Blindness Symptoms

• Vision becomes poor, obscure and blurred vision, in poorly lit areas, in the evening and in the night.


• There may be prolonged vision loss after being exposed to bright light.


• Eyes remain persistently dry.


• Phases may be fleeting or may get progressively prolonged.

Treatment For Night Blindness

• Myopia related night blindness is treated by using corrective glasses or lenses. Occasionally, your ophthalmologist may suggest that you have a refractive surgery.


• Vitamin A deficiency triggered night blindness is successfully managed by regularly taking vitamin A supplements. Alongside, ensure that you consume plenty of vitamin A rich foods such as tomatoes, carrots, spinach, berries, papayas, etc.


• Glaucoma related nyctalopia can be corrected by talking to your ophthalmologist and changing your glaucoma medicine.


• Cataract induced nyctalopia is effectively managed by having a cataract surgery, which completely cures the problem.


• Retinitis Pigmentosa cannot be completely cured; nonetheless, the rate of progression of the disorder can be decreased effectively by taking vitamin A supplements regularly, consuming a vitamin A rich diet and certain specific surgeries.


• Diabetes needs to be handled effectively. Early detection helps start the treatment promptly and helps decrease the severity of the disease. Oral hypoglycemic drugs, insulin injections and watching your diet scrupulously promises to reduce the likelihood of further deterioration and impairment of vision.