Night blindness

• What is night blindness?
• What causes night blindness?
• How is night blindness treated?

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 nearsightedness.

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:

• Nearsightedness
• Glaucoma medications that work by constricting the pupil
• Cataracts
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Vitamin A deficiency

In order to determine what is causing night blindness, the 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 a new prescription for your eyeglasses or switching glaucoma medications, or it may require surgery in cases of cataracts.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute.

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Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, October 2004.

Last Editorial Review: 6/21/2005