Causes And Treatment Options For Night Vision Problems
Developing cataracts is a common part of aging. While not everyone gets them, the majority of people that do are 40 years old or older, and cataracts can affect the way you see. If you notice that you are having trouble driving at night, it may be due to cataracts on your eyes, or it may be caused by something else. You can visit an eye doctor to find out what is causing this problem and what treatment options are right for you.
What are Cataracts?
As people age, the tissue in the eyes begins to change. Cataracts occur when the tissue around the lens begins to cover the lens, and this is what causes vision problems. Things can begin to look blurry, and you may begin to have problems seeing at night or in dark rooms.
The way to correct these problems is through cataract removal surgery. During this, an ophthalmologist will remove the lens from the eyes. This is often done with a laser, but there are other methods too.
After the lens is removed, the doctor will replace it with an artificial lens. This is usually an intraocular lens (IOL), and this will allow you to see well once again.
According to All About Vision, there are many different types of artificial lenses doctors can use during cataract surgery. One option is called aspheric intraocular lenses. These are designed slightly differently than standard lenses, and they offer several key benefits, including:
- They are flatter, which offers better peripheral vision.
- They reduce visual aberrations, and this allows you to see clearer and crisper images, even in the dark.
Are Cataracts the Only Cause of Night Vision Problems?
If you have cataracts, the lenses in your eyes are covered. This prevents you from seeing clear images, and it is especially prohibitive at night. Failing to treat your cataracts may cause you to eventually stop driving at night, and leaving cataracts untreated can also lead to blindness.
Cataracts, however, are not the only cause of night vision problems. There are several other common causes, including:
- Nearsightedness – this is a condition that allows a person to see things that are near, but not things that are far away. If you are nearsighted, driving at night can be challenging if you do not have glasses or contact lenses.
- Deficiency of Vitamin A – this can occur from Crohn's disease or celiac disease and can also be a result of a gastrointestinal problem. Vitamin A is something that keeps the retinas in the eyes healthy, and when your body doesn't have enough of this vitamin, your vision may be impaired.
- Diabetes – people with diabetes often have many problems with their vision. The only way to prevent this is to monitor your blood-sugar level daily and stay as healthy as possible.
Another possible cause of night vision problems could be due to LASIK surgery. LASIK is a surgery used to correct vision problems, and it has a high success rate. Some people, however, complain of worsened night vision after having LASIK. Most people find that their night vision problems lessen over time, but this is not always the case.
How do I Get Treatment?
The first step in correcting night vision problems is finding out what is causing this to happen. It is likely that an eye doctor will narrow it down to one of the causes listed here, and the diagnosis will determine what treatment plan you will need.
The ability to see well at night is something a lot of people take for granted. If you are having problems seeing at night, you may want to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor to have your eyes examined today. For more information, check out sites like http://www.drgrantmdretinalspecialist.com.
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