Many people notice problems seeing or driving when it gets dark. Problems with night vision may not be related to any specific health issue; your eye doctor can evaluate your eyes to make sure that there is no medical reason for your night vision problems. Even if you have no medical causes for this problem, it still can be a challenge if you are not able to see well while driving. Some nutrient supplements like vitamin A or zinc may help improve your night vision. You should discuss any supplementation with your doctor before you take it.
Vitamin A
The retina -- which is a thin layer of cells in the back of the eye -- helps transmit visual images to the brain. Certain retinal cells called rods contain a chemical called rhodopsin and can allow you see images in low levels of light. Vitamin A is an important component of rhodopsin; a vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness. Adult men and women require 900 and 700 mcg,, respectively, of vitamin A each day. Making sure that you eat plenty of foods with vitamin A like beef, eggs, and dairy products can help improve your night vision. You can also try vitamin A supplementation; however, too much vitamin A can cause liver damage and possibly death. You need to follow up with your physician if you are considering vitamin A supplements.
Zinc
The mineral zinc plays a role in transporting vitamin A to the retina. If you have a zinc deficiency, vitamin A will not work normally in the eye, which may lead to night vision difficulties. Taking additional zinc daily can help avoid this problem. The daily requirement of zinc is 8 mg per day for women and 11 mg for men, but in people who may not have enough zinc, some doctors suggest 15 to 30 mg of zinc a day, according to Blue Shield of California. Foods that contain zinc include red meat, seafood, nuts, black-eyed peas and tofu.
Bilberry
Bilberry is an herb that may have some benefits in improving night vision. British Air Force pilots used to supplement with bilberry to improve their night vision for flying, according to the Corpus Christi Medical Center website. Bilberry contains anthocyanosides, a type of flavonoids that may benefit the retina by speeding up the reformation of rhodopsin. Research has not conclusively proven the benefits of bilberry for night vision in healthy people. However, your eye doctor may still prescribe 240 to 480 mg of bilberry herb to help with night vision if you do not have any other health concerns like issues with blood clotting.
Grape Extract
Grape seed extract also may improve night vision. This substance has antioxidant properties from flavonoids called olygemeric proanthocyanidins. Olygemeric proanthocyanidins work to stop free radical damage in the retina and may protect the eye. More research is needed to fully understand any benefits that grape seed extract may offer and the optimal dosage for improving night vision.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin A
- The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University;Vitamin A; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; December 2003
- Delaware Optometric Association: Zinc
- Blue Shield of California: Night Blindness
- Corpus Christi Medical Center: Bilberry
- Washington University: Grape Seed Extract
