Difficulty seeing in the dark or at night is the main symptom of night blindness, or nyctalopia. Cataracts and other eye diseases are common causes. Genetics may also lead to an untreatable type of night blindness.

Night blindness is a type of vision impairment also known as nyctalopia. People with night blindness experience difficulty seeing at night or in dimly lit environments.

Although “night blindness” implies that you can’t see at night, this isn’t true. You may just have more difficulty seeing or driving in darkness.

Some types of night blindness are treatable, while others aren’t. See your eye doctor to determine the underlying cause of your vision impairment. Once you know the cause, you can take steps to correct your vision.

Night blindness has more specific symptoms than just blurry or cloudy vision in low lighting, including:

  • light sensitivity (photophobia)
  • seeing glare or halos around lights
  • difficulty seeing objects, nearby or far away, or faces in low light
  • inability to see the stars at night
  • total vision loss when entering a dark room, lasting more than a few minutes

You’re more likely to experience night blindness when your eyes transition from a bright environment to an area of low light, such as when you leave a sunny sidewalk to enter a dimly lit restaurant.

You’ll also likely experience low vision when driving in the dark due to the passing headlights and streetlights.

Older adults have a greater risk of developing cataracts and are more likely to experience night blindness due to cataracts than children or young adults.

People with pancreatic insufficiency, such as individuals with cystic fibrosis, have difficulty absorbing fat and are at a greater risk of vitamin A deficiency because vitamin A is fat-soluble. This puts them at greater risk of developing night blindness.

People who have high blood glucose (sugar) levels or diabetes also have a higher risk of developing eye diseases, such as cataracts.

Your eye doctor will take a detailed medical history and examine your eyes to diagnose night blindness. You may also need to give a blood sample to measure your vitamin A and glucose levels.

Treatable types of night vision are often caused by:

  • Nearsightedness: Corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contacts, can improve nearsighted vision during the day and at night. Let your doctor know if you still have trouble seeing in dim light with corrective lenses.
  • Cataracts: Your surgeon will replace your cloudy lens with a clear, artificial lens. Your night blindness will improve significantly after surgery if cataracts are the underlying cause.
  • Vitamin A deficiency: If your vitamin A levels are low, which doctors rarely see in the United States, your doctor might recommend supplements. Take the supplements exactly as directed to avoid unwanted side effects.

Genetic conditions causing night blindness, however, aren’t treatable. The gene that causes pigment to build up in the retina, such as with Usher syndrome, doesn’t respond to corrective lenses or surgery.

You can’t prevent night blindness if it’s genetic. You can, however, monitor your blood sugar levels and eat a balanced diet to make night blindness less likely.

Eating foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals may help keep your eyes healthy. Choose foods with high vitamin A levels to reduce your risk of night blindness.

Certain orange-colored foods are excellent sources of vitamin A, even more so than carrots, including:

Vitamin A is also in:

Consult your eye doctor if you have difficulty seeing at night. They can help with treatment to correct your night blindness.

In the meantime, you should take precautions to keep yourself and others safe. Refrain from driving at night as much as possible until your doctor confirms and possibly treats the cause of your night blindness.

Try to do your driving during the day and secure a ride from a friend, family member, or taxi service if you need to go somewhere at night.

Wearing sunglasses or a brimmed hat can also help reduce glare in a brightly lit environment, easing the transition into a darker environment.

Eating a nutritious diet can help reduce your risk for certain eye conditions that may cause night blindness.

Many eye conditions, including cataracts, nearsightedness, retinal diseases, and inherited eye disorders, may cause night blindness, or difficulty seeing people and objects in dimly lit environments.

Treatments are usually available for night blindness caused by nearsightedness, cataracts, and a vitamin A deficiency. Genetic night blindness, however, isn’t treatable.

Speak with your eye doctor about improving your vision in low light. You might need surgery or corrective lenses. Eating a nutritious diet can also help prevent eye conditions from worsening.