Eye Conditions An Eye Doctor Looks For When Night Blindness Is Present
Cataracts
This condition occurs when the proteins in the crystalline lens begin to break down and cause clouding. As the lens clouds more, less light can enter the eye, and vision is reduced. When a person starts to develop cataracts, one of the first symptoms they will notice is glare. Increased glare and a lack of light entering the eye causes people with cataracts to have particularly poor vision in dim light settings. Learn more about cataracts by reading Cataract Awareness Month: 6 Things You Should Know About Cataracts.
Diabetes
Poor night vision can be an early sign of eye complications caused by diabetes. When blood sugar levels are high, this can affect the small, delicate veins within the eye and cause leakage. The eye complications caused by diabetes are known as diabetic retinopathy. The development of night blindness or a change in your ability to see in low lighting can be indicative of diabetic retinopathy. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may be able to manage your symptoms with proper diabetes management and regular annual eye exams. To learn more about this eye condition, read How Will Your Optometrist Manage And Treat Your Diabetic Retinopathy?
Dry Eyes
When your eyes are chronically dry and tears are not adequately lubricating the eye, damage to the cornea can occur. This damage may not be very noticeable all the time, but it can make it more difficult to see in low light. Dry eye damage can also cause increased glare from streetlights and headlights, which can affect nighttime driving.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A helps the eyes to transform nerve impulses into images on the retina. When a person is deficient in vitamin A, this process will be slowed down. While you may not notice vision problems during the day, the impact of vitamin A deficiency will be most noticeable at night or in low-light conditions.
Glaucoma
This is a collection of eye conditions that cause damage to the optic nerve, often through built-up pressure in the eye. Although one of the symptoms of glaucoma is developing night blindness, glaucoma medication can also cause night blindness. In order to let in more light and improve our vision in low-light conditions, the pupil expands. But some glaucoma medications can interfere with the expansion of the pupil, preventing the eye from getting adequate light to see properly in low light. If you have already been diagnosed with glaucoma, let your optometrist know about your developing night blindness to determine if any other glaucoma treatment options are available. To learn more about glaucoma, read World Glaucoma Week: Can Glaucoma Be Prevented?
Learn The Cause Of Your Night Blindness By Visiting A Calgary Eye Doctor
If you have trouble seeing in low light, you may have an eye condition developing. Visit an eye doctor to have your vision and eye health assessed to determine what is causing your night blindness. Your eye doctor can help you address your night blindness while also creating a management plan for any potential eye condition you are developing. At Sunridge Eye Clinic in Calgary, our eye doctors will conduct a thorough eye exam to get to the root cause of your night blindness and address any underlying eye health conditions. Visit your eye doctor by today and address your night blindness so you can take preventative action against future vision impairment development and potentially reverse your night blindness. Call 1-403-280-7518 or fill out the online contact form to book an eye exam at Sunridge Eye Clinic in Calgary.
FAQ
Q: When do most people develop eye conditions?
A: While you can develop an eye condition at any point in your life, it is most common for eye conditions to begin developing after age 40. Your risk for developing eye conditions will continue to increase as you get older, but other factors such as diet, exercise, lifestyle, tobacco use, sun exposure, and more will also affect your risk of developing eye conditions.
Q: How often should I visit the eye doctor for a comprehensive exam?
A: Adults aged 18-64 are recommended to visit their eye doctor bi-annually. Adults over the age of 65 are recommended to get an exam performed annually.
Q: Can night blindness affect my ability to drive?
A: Yes, if you have night blindness it can affect your ability to drive at night and in conditions with low light. Even if there are streetlights lit, night blindness can cause difficulty driving for some people. Speak to your optometrist to determine how your night blindness may affect your ability to drive.
