Having night blindness affects your ability to see in dim or dark conditions. Night blindness can be a symptom of other eye ailments such as cataracts, glaucoma and muscular degeneration. Night blindness is when the rods in the eye do not produce enough of the chemical rhodopsin. Rhodopsin makes it possible for the eye to adjust between different degrees of light intensity, but only in black and white. This chemical also is used by the eye to detect motion and provide peripheral vision.
Vitamin A
Night blindness can be caused by a vitamin A deficiency. Taking a supplement of vitamin A daily can help to improve night blindness over time. You may also increase the intake of vitamin A through the foods in your diet. Eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin A.
Zinc
Zinc is needed for the body to transport vitamin A from the liver to the retina of the eye. Taking a daily vitamin or a supplement of zinc will help your body process vitamin A better.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
DHA from omega-3 fatty acids can also be used to increase the amounts of rhodopsin produced by the rods in the eye. This may increase your ability to see better in dim and dark conditions.
Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies also exist for the treatment of night blindness. Bilberry, blueberry juice, dandelion, eyebright, Queen Anne's Lace, flower eye wash and yellow dock leaves can be used to relieve the symptoms of . Other remedies are matrimony vine, passion flower and rose.
Colored Light Therapy
Colored light therapy is another possible treatment for night blindness. During colored light therapy, colored light is used to prompt the brain and aide in producing more rhodopsin in the rods. This treatment can be extensive, requiring 25 to 30 visits over a six week period of time.
Caution
If you experience night blindness, do not drive in dim or dark conditions, as your vision is impaired in these situations. Get an eye exam from an optometrist. Night blindness can be a symptom of a much more serious condition. Some of these conditions are retinitis pigmentosa, pathological myopia, peripheral cortical cataracts and Oguchi's disease, among others. Be tested to be on the safe side.
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