Night blindness is poor vision at night or in dim light.
Considerations: Night blindness�may cause problems with driving in the evening or at night. Consult your health care provider or eye doctor. It is important to have a complete eye exam to determine the cause, which may be treatable.
What to expect at your health care provider's office: The goal of the medical exam will be to determine if the problem is due to a correctable cause, such as need for new glasses or cataract removal or whether the problem is something more severe.
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting night blindness in detail may include:
- Time pattern
- When did this begin?
- Did it occur suddenly or gradually?
- Is the night blindness constant or occasional?
- Quality
- How severe is the night blindness?
- Is vision impaired in dimly-lit rooms?
- Aggravating factors
- Is myopia (nearsightedness) also a problem?
- Do you have a fear of the dark?
- Are you under any unusual stress or anxiety?
- Relieving factors
- Are corrective lenses needed?
- Does use of corrective lenses improve night vision?
- Other
- What other symptoms are present?
- Have you noticed changes in daytime vision?
- Do you have light sensitivity (photophobia)?
- Do you have a difficulty seeing colors?
- Do you have cataracts?
- Additional important information
- What medications do you use?
- Do you use "street drugs"?
- Have you had any recent head or eye injuries?
- Do you have a family history of diabetes?
- Do you have a birth defect?
- Do you have a healthy diet?
The physical examination may include an eye examination. A slit lamp examination may be performed as a diagnostic test.
Cataract removal should be discussed as an option when appropriate.
