Related Items: Nyctalopia
Night Blindness Information
People with night blindness (also called impaired dark adaptation) see poorly in the
darkness but see normally when adequate amounts of light are present. The condition does not
actually involve true blindness, even at night.
What are the symptoms of night blindness?
Symptoms include difficulty seeing when driving in the evening or at night, poor vision in
reduced light, and feeling that the eyes take longer to “adjust” to seeing in the
dark.
Medical treatments for night blindness
Over the counter treatment typically consists of oral supplementation with vitamin A.
Therapy includes management of any underlying medical condition.
Nutritional supplements that may be helpful for night blindness
Night blindness may be an early sign of vitamin
A deficiency. Such a deficiency may result from diets low in animal foods (the main source
of vitamin A), such as eggs, dairy products, organ meats, and some fish. Low intake of fruits and vegetables containing beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A,
may also contribute to a vitamin A deficiency. Doctors often recommend 10,000 to 25,000 IU of
vitamin A per day to correct a deficiency. Beta-carotene is less effective at correcting
vitamin A deficiency than is vitamin A itself, because it is not absorbed as well and is only
slowly converted by the body into vitamin A.
Dietary zinc deficiency is common, and a
lack of zinc may reduce the activity of retinol dehydrogenase, an enzyme needed to help
vitamin A work in the eye. Zinc helps night blindness in people who are
zinc-deficient;1 therefore, many physicians suggest 15 to 30 mg of zinc per day to
support healthy vision. Because long-term zinc supplementation may reduce copper levels, 1 to 2 mg of copper per day (depending
on the amount of zinc used) is usually recommended for people who are supplementing with zinc
for more than a few weeks.
Are there any side effects or interactions with Night Blindness?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
Herbs that may be helpful for night blindness
Bilberry, a close relative of the
blueberry, is high in flavonoids known as
anthocyanosides. Anthocyanosides speed the regeneration of rhodopsin, the purple pigment that
is used by the rods in the eye for night vision.2 Supplementation with bilberry has
been shown in early studies to improve dark adaptation in people with poor night
vision.3 4 However, two newer studies found no effect of bilberry on
night vision in healthy people.5 6 Bilberry extract standardized to
contain 25% anthocyanosides may be taken in capsule or tablet form. Doctors typically
recommend 240 to 480 mg per day.
Are there any side effects or interactions with Night Blindness?
Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational
purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in
vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article.
The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of
the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter
medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or
pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before
making any changes in prescribed medications.
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