The question in the title defines what the following content is going to talk about; night vision problems. If you are having trouble with your vision at night, you must continue reading to understand the problem in detail and for its solution.

If you are having trouble seeing the path while driving and have to strain yourself to recognize what’s happening on the big screen in theaters, then you are witnessing an eye impairment. Such symptoms often point out that you may be suffering from night blindness, which is also known as nyctalopia a.k.a night blindness. It’s an impairment which doesn’t mean you are completely unstable to see at night but instead deals with poorer vision at night time.

In medical terms, a person dealing with nyctalopia faces a problem of reduced vision at night and in low light. In case your eyes take extra time to adjust in low light, it’s a sign that you may suffer from nyctalopia in future.

Night blindness is not considered as an eye disorder or condition, in fact, it’s a side effect of other diseases and conditions that harm human eyes. Human eyes function with two types of photoreceptors, which are known as cones and rods. The rods are responsible for vision in dim light settings. Therefore, rods are vital for eyes to view everything at night or in low light. However, developing certain conditions, vitamin deficiencies, and diseases may suppress the functioning of these photoreceptors, leading to the inability to view in the dark.

Some of the eye conditions that inhibit rods from functioning are as follows:

• Age-related Macular Degeneration

• Cataracts

• Liver diseases that may impair proper vitamin A regulation

• Retinitis pigmentosa

• Xerophthalmia

• Deficiency of Zinc and Vitamin A

Note: The above eye conditions are mostly responsible for generating a disorder in the cells of the retina, leading to night blindness.

Although we have discussed them above, let me list down the three primary symptoms of night blindness (nyctalopia) for you:

• Weak vision in dim light

• Difficulty seeing when driving at night

• Slow reaction time between the transition from bright to dusky light and vice versa

• Cannot view stars in the sky properly

Vision is an ability on which humans are highly dependent all their life. Therefore, any issue identified in our eyesight must be traced and corrected under the supervision of an ophthalmologist. Regular eye exams are efficient in recognizing even small variations in the sight. With proper examination, you can start the treatment of the impairment at the earliest to heal the problem of nyctalopia from its root.

You must ensure a proper diet to avoid any deficiency of vitamin A in the body. A diet with adequate zinc, vitamin A supplements, and nutrients can help you improve the quality of vision at night.

Note: If this impairment of night blindness is caused due to retinitis pigmentosa or by a birth defect, it’s considered as not treatable.