Night Vision Problems

What are night vision problems?

Night vision problems affect your ability to see well at night or in other poorly lit situations. If your eyes can’t adapt to low lighting, you’re more likely to suffer a slip and fall or other types of accidents. Fortunately, various treatments can improve night vision and, in turn, your quality of life.

What are the symptoms of night vision problems?

Symptoms of night vision problems include:

    • Blurry vision
    • Seeing halos around lights
    • Seeing clouds around certain objects
    • Eye strain
    • Dry eye

If you have night vision problems, you might also experience sensitivity to glare, especially when the light comes from other cars’ headlights.

What causes night vision problems?

Various eye-related issues may cause night vision problems, including:

    • Myopia (nearsightedness)
    • Glaucoma
    • Cataracts
    • Vitamin A deficiency
    • Diabetes

You might also experience night vision problems if you have retinitis pigmentosa. This rare disease damages the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye that helps you see).

How are night vision problems diagnosed?

To diagnose night vision problems, your Bronx Eye Associates provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started and the type of problems you’re experiencing.

Next, your provider completes a comprehensive eye exam. They also use the Pelli-Robinson contrast sensitivity chart to check for symptoms of night blindness. The chart has several rows of letters in different shades of gray on a white background. 

During the test, your provider asks you to identify specific letters on the chart. The farther down the chart the letters are, the whiter they appear. If you get a low score on the test, it confirms you have poor night vision.

How are night vision problems diagnosed?

Treatment of night vision problems depends on the underlying cause, your age, and the severity of your symptoms. The team at Bronx Eye Associates might recommend:

    • Updating your prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses
    • Switching glaucoma medications
    • Undergoing cataract surgery
    • Specialized treatment for retinal disease

You can also benefit from healthy lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and wearing sunglasses when you go outside.

Call Bronx Eye Associates to receive treatment for night vision problems today, or book online.