MedlinePlus says night blindness refers to a condition in which people have trouble seeing in dim settings and at night. Sometimes, an underlying medical condition or a lack of certain vitamins can lead to night blindness. Some causes of night blindness have specific treatments.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
MedlinePlus says retinitis pigmentosa is a condition in which there is damage to the tissue in the back of the eye (retina) that serves to process visual images. Symptoms of this medical problem include night vision, a loss of peripheral vision and a loss of central vision.
Retinitis pigmentosa results from alterations in genes. In fact, this disease tends to run in families.
There is no specific treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. Sunglasses can protect the eyes against damaging sun exposure. Sometimes, antioxidants such as vitamin A palmitate can be taken to slow the progression of retinitis pigmentosa. In some cases, microchip implants can be placed into the retina to manage blindness.
Cataracts
Cataracts refer to a clouding of the eye lenses. MedlinePlus says specific symptoms of cataracts include night blindness, cloudy or foggy vision, problems seeing shapes and problems differentiating between colors.
Cataracts typically occur as people age. Some risk factors for developing cataracts include a family history, eye injury, smoking, radiation exposure, smoking and excessive exposure to sunlight.
Cataracts can be surgically removed. However, conservative measures such as changing the prescription of glasses or contacts can be enough to decrease visual problems.
Vitamin A Deficiency
MedlinePlus says vitamin A, also known as retinoids or carotenoids, is necessary in order to have good vision in dim light. A lack of vitamin A can lead to visual problems especially at night, says MedlinePlus. It's important to eat such foods that are rich in vitamin A such as eggs, apricots, spinach and carrots.
Macular Degeneration
The Mayo Clinic says macular degeneration is a condition in which the macula (center part of the retina) deteriorates. Specific symptoms of macular degeneration include night blindness and the need to do work or read in areas of bright light. Macular degeneration can also lead to trouble recognizing faces, blurry vision and a blind spot in the center of the visual field. Sometimes, people suffering with macular degeneration may develop visual hallucinations. For example, they may see animals, faces or geometric shapes.
There is no treatment for macular degeneration. The Mayo Clinic says taking a high dose of antioxidants or zinc can also reduce the progression of macular degeneration.
