Vision - night blindness

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External and internal eye anatomy

Night blindness is poor vision at night or in dim light.

Nyctanopia; Nyctalopia; Night blindness

Night blindness may cause problems with driving at night. People with night blindness often have trouble seeing stars on a clear night or walking through a dark room, such as a movie theater.

These problems are often worse just after a person is in a brightly lit environment. Milder cases may just have a harder time adapting to darkness.

The causes of night blindness fall into two categories: treatable and nontreatable.

Treatable causes:

• Cataracts
• Nearsightedness
• Use of certain drugs
• Vitamin A deficiency (rare)

Nontreatable causes:

• Birth defects
• Retinitis pigmentosa

Review Date: 07/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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