Night Blindness Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Night blindness is a condition in which there is a significant decrease in visual acuity when in a dark environment. In the medical world, night blindness is called nyctalopia.
Actually, decreased visual acuity in dark environments is a normal thing to happen. However, if the ability to see becomes so limited that it interferes with activities, this condition must be handled properly.
In fact, night blindness itself is not actually a diagnosis, but a symptom. These symptoms will direct the diagnosis of various possible diseases. Starting from glaucoma to problems in the retina.
Night Blindness Symptoms
The main symptom experienced by someone with night blindness is a significant decrease in visual acuity when seeing in the dark. This complaint is especially felt when you have to drive at night or when you have to recognize other people’s faces in dim lights.
Generally, the person takes longer to see objects when moving from a bright room to a dark one.
Night Blindness Reason
Several medical conditions can cause a person to experience night blindness, including:
- Nearsightedness or myopia
- Glaucoma or increased pressure in the eyeball
- Use of glaucoma drugs that work to reduce the size of the pupil
- Cataracts are characterized by clouding of the eye lens
- Retinal disorders due to diabetes
- Retinitis pigmentosa which can lead to blindness
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Keratoconus
Night Blindness Diagnosis
Night blindness is generally recognized by complaints of a significant decrease in visual acuity when looking in a dark environment. To find out the underlying disease, the doctor will conduct medical interviews, physical examinations and other supporting examinations.
The medical interview will further explore the family history of blindness, eye disorders that have occurred before, a history of malignancy, and an assessment of the adequacy of vitamin A intake from food.
After conducting a medical interview, a person suspected of having night blindness will go through a series of physical and supporting examinations in the form of an eye examination with an ophthalmoscope and electroretinography. If necessary, blood vitamin A levels can be measured in the laboratory.
Night Blindness Treatment
Treatment for night blindness varies widely, depending on the underlying medical condition. The various treatment options are:
- Provision of glasses to improve eye work
- Cataract surgery when myopia is caused by cataracts
- Glaucoma medication adjustment
- Special therapy in the field of retina when the nerve center in the eye is the basis of the disease.
Complications
Night blindness complications are more related to decreased function and limitations of a person’s activities at night or in a dark environment. Beyond that, complications of a physical nature generally occur when night blindness is caused by retinal disorders. Because the retina is the nerve center in the eye, interference with this part has the potential to cause blindness.
Prevention
Night blindness can be prevented by avoiding all the underlying diseases. If there is visual impairment caused by nearsightedness, for example, the use of glasses can protect a person from night blindness.
Likewise, night blindness is caused by retinal damage in diabetic patients. Strict blood sugar control and regular eye exams can prevent night blindness.