Night blindness is a fairly misleading name, implying that someone suffering from it can't see at night, which isn't true. Night blindness, also known as nyctalopia, is actually a type of vision impairment. If you have night blindness, your eyes will have difficulties adjusting to dim light. It means that your vision in poorly-lit situations or at night is going to be fairly poor. You will have trouble while driving in the dark due to inability to see road signs.
Remember, night blindness isn't a condition by itself. It's actually a symptom of different conditions in your eye and has different causes.
Potential Causes of Night Blindness
As we mentioned earlier, there are many potential causes of night blindness. It is a symptom of various conditions in the eye. Let's take a look at some causes.
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Vitamin A Deficiency
- Nearsightedness
This condition occurs when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy. The cloudiness happens as a result of proteins in the lens breaking down. It could be due to aging or other conditions such as diabetes. The cloudiness affects your vision including when you have to deal with dim light.
Glaucoma is a result of pressure in the eye. It isn't just one condition but a group of them. The pressure is caused by damage to the optic nerve and such impaired vision may be permanent.
If you've ever been told to eat more carrots, it's because of this nutrient. Retinol, also called Vitamin A, is vital for vision. It's no wonder that a Vitamin A deficiency can lead to impaired vision. People who suffer from cystic fibrosis face a higher chance of Vitamin A deficiency.
Also called myopia, nearsightedness means that you can't clearly see objects that are far away. This is because your eye can't focus light correctly anymore.
Common Symptoms
So, how do you know whether you have night blindness? Well, the definitive answer can only be given by a doctor. However, certain symptoms do indicate its presence.If you have trouble seeing properly when you move from a brightly-lit environment to a dimly-lit one, you might have night blindness. Also, consider whether you have trouble driving because of sporadic brightness from streetlights or headlights.There are other symptoms you may experience, depending upon what the underlying condition is. Some of them are:
- Pain in the eyes
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Light sensitivity
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Problems focusing on objects in the distance
Useful Safe Driving Tips
If you suffer from night blindness, driving at night can be quite unsafe. However, there will be times when you have to drive at night, but you don't need to worry if you follow some basic safe driving tips.
- Use a Night Vision System
- Control Interior Light Levels
One of the best choices you can go with is the Lanmodo Vast Pro - All-in-One 1080p Automotive Night Vision System. If you suffer from night blindness, this gadget will make navigating routes in dim light, fog, rain, and at night much safer.
The Lanmodo Vast Pro night vision system comes with a near infrared front camera that shows you 1080p full-color, high-resolution images. These images are in real time so you can clearly see what's ahead of you and make critical decisions. Blurriness and sensitivity to light won't affect your eyes because you won't be looking into the light directly. You'll see it through the night vision system. You also won't have to strain your eyes which means they won't ache for hours afterward. Besides, its night vision distance can extend up to 300m, giving you enough time to take precaution measures. There is a rear camera too and it is waterproof and has a 1080p resolution. It really helps with the light sensitivity aspect of your night blindness while driving. It's simple to change from the front view to the back and then to front again. All you have to do is flip a switch.
As an added advantage, Lanmodo Vast Pro night vision system is easy to install by yourself. Either use a suction cup to attach it to the front windshield or put it on the dashboard using a non-slip mat.
Make sure that you switch off the dome light before you start driving. Also, if you can, dim the internal displays. Don't dim them so much that you can't see important information, though.
It can be disturbing to drive at night if you suffer from night blindness. Your best choice may be to not go out at night or to take taxis and shared ride services wherever you can. However, it isn't always practical to do so. If you have to drive at night, follow our safe driving tips for a more secure experience.
