Overview
Night blindness is difficulty seeing in dim light or at night, while daytime vision stays normal. It is a symptom rather than a disease, and in India it is often linked to a lack of vitamin A, especially in children, as well as to cataracts and some inherited retinal conditions. Vitamin-A-related night blindness responds quickly to treatment, which is why finding the cause early matters.
Symptoms
- Trouble seeing in low light or darkness
- Difficulty adjusting from bright to dim areas
- Poor vision while driving at night
- Bumping into objects in dim rooms
- In vitamin A deficiency, dry eyes and eye-surface changes
When to see a doctor
See an eye doctor if you struggle to see at night, and promptly for a child with poor night vision or dry, dull eyes.
Causes
Vitamin A deficiency, cataracts, uncontrolled diabetes, and inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa.