Night blindness means having difficulty seeing in the dark or in low light. One of the most common issues with night blindness is difficulty driving in the evening or at night.
There are several common causes of night blindness:
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Some risk factors for night blindness include:
Symptoms are difficulty or inability to see in low light or darkness. While driving, this may also occur a few seconds after the bright headlights of an oncoming car have passed.
A doctor will give you a medical examination to determine the cause of your night blindness. Some of the things a doctor might do are:
Depending on the reason for your night blindness, treatment will address the specific cause. Treatments generally include:
RESOURCES:
National Eye Institute
US National Institutes of Health
http://www.nei.nih.gov
Retina International
http://www.retina-international.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Ophthalmological Society
http://www.eyesite.ca
University of Ottawa Eye Institute
http://www.eyeinstitute.net/main.html
References:
Beers, MH, Fletcher AJ, Jones TV, et al. The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Second Home Edition. 2003. Merck Research Laboratories: Whitehouse Station, NJ.
Herse P: Retinitis pigmentosa: visual function and multidisciplinary management. Clin Exp Iptom . 2005; 88:5: 335-350.
Vision–night blindness. Medline Plus. US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003039.htm . Accessed on August 21, 2005.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Christopher Cheyer, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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