Night Blindness

Millions of People all over the world experience night blindness, which could be a sign of something more serious to come. If your vision is normal during the day, but you struggle to see clearly at night or experience complete night blindness, in some cases the conditions are easily treated or it could be a serious condition like a congenital condition such as retinitis pigmentosa or a symptom of a condition that is not directly related to the eye.

Night vision trouble can crop up in those individuals who are always in the sun exposing their eyes to long durations of UV exposure. It could also be a sign of a vitamin A or zinc deficiency or cataracts to say the least.

What Causes Poor Night Vision?

Difficulty with night vision can stem from conditions ranging from exposure to the sun and vitamin deficiencies to a chronic disease such as cataracts.

Vitamin A deficiency – We have all heard the common “Old Wives Tale” of carrots being good for the eyes. This is in fact as true as it gets. Carrots contain vital vitamin A, which helps keep the retina healthy. Vitamin A is also found in many greens leafy vegetables and yellow vegetables. Night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency is very rare in developed countries as diets are diverse and nutritious. This mostly happens in those people who have trouble absorbing nutrients and is therefore a secondary symptom various other conditions like Crohn’s Disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and pancreatic insufficient.

Cataracts - The first symptoms of cataracts is night blindness. Cataracts is associated with the lens, the part of the eye that is responsible for regulating light. In reduced light intensity, the cloudy lens struggles to see clearly and some people experience blurry vision, while others are affected with complete night blindness as the cloudiness progresses to severe stages.

Zinc- this mineral assists vitamin A to be used in the eye. Without zinc, vitamin A is unable to be utilized correctly. Zinc deficiency is a rare phenomenon as it found in abundance in meat, poultry, nuts, beans, and other popular foods. Zinc deficiency is caused by the same bodily conditions as with Vitamin A.

Diabetes night vision problems – high amounts of sugar in the blood stream is toxic and damages blood vessels. The retina, which is the part of the eye that has images focused on it, has many blood vessels flowing through it for nourishment and oxygen supply. These blood vessels can swell and burst, leading to night vision problems.

Sun exposure – if you have recently taken a trip to the desert of the beach and are having trouble seeing at night, this condition is only temporary and will probably resolve itself within two days. To avoid UV damage, doctors recommend wearing sunglasses at all times when outdoors on a sunny day.

Retinitis Pigmentosa - is a rare genetic disorder which affects people before the age of 30. The condition is noted by worsening night vision and day vision, although some part of your vision will still remain.

Eye Surgery – Lasik Eye Surgery patients also experience mild to severe light sensitivity which can last a few days to a week after surgery. Eye doctors will perform many tests to identify individuals who are at risk for developing the condition and recommend other treatments for those individuals, although the risk of having night vision trouble is still real.

If you or someone you know is experiencing night vision trouble, it is advised that you meet with your eye specialists in Dubai immediately who will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of your night vision trouble. Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center Dubai is lead by Dubai’s most experienced ophthalmologist Dr. Hani Sakla who is renowned for providing prompt and professional eye treatment for night blindness. Make an appointment today to help you retain your night vision.