What Is Night Blindness?

Medically Reviewed by Whitney Seltman, OD on February 21, 2022
1 min read

This condition, which your doctor will call nyctalopia, makes it hard to see well at night or in poor light. It isn’t a disease, but rather a symptom of another problem like untreated nearsightedness.

The problem comes from a disorder of the cells in your retina that allow you to see dim light. It has many causes:

To pinpoint the cause, your eye doctor will carry out a full exam. They may order specialized tests.

That depends on its cause. It may be as simple as a new prescription for glasses or a new medication. It could require surgery if cataracts are to blame.