| Night blindness, which is also referred to as | | | | But there are other causes. |
| Nyctalopia, is the symptom of several different | | | | Cataracts can cause night blindness as this is a |
| disease and conditions. However, the prevalent | | | | condition that inhibits your eyes ability to adapt to |
| cause is a deficiency of Vitamin A, but a | | | | darkness as it causes a cloudiness affect at all |
| deficiency of the mineral zinc is also a contributor. | | | | times, making it virtually impossible to adapt. If |
| However, there are some other nutrients that will | | | | you have any type of a liver disease or condition, |
| help with this condition, as well as one wonder | | | | it can also affect your ability to see at night |
| fruit that anyone that has the slightest effects of | | | | because it severely impacts the metabolism of |
| night vision should eat. | | | | vitamin A in your body. |
| Night blindness is the first indication that you may | | | | Macular degeneration is a disease that affects the |
| have that your body deficient of Vitamin A which | | | | macula portion of the retina, and as a result, is |
| can and often does lead to other serious eye | | | | may also trigger night blindness. Retinitis |
| problems. This condition is a direct result of the | | | | pigmentosa is also an inherited disease that most |
| way in which your eye actually receives light rays. | | | | commonly runs in entire families. The rods of the |
| Any type of light will travel through the cornea | | | | retina are affected in most cases, but with this |
| and the lens in your eye and than finishes up on | | | | disease it can attack the cones as well. This |
| the retina, which is located on the back portion of | | | | disease is easy to identify by the presence of |
| the eye. | | | | dark lines in the retina. As it becomes worse, |
| The retina of your eye is made up of very small | | | | peripheral vision is also lost and it usually results in |
| specialized nerves that are known as | | | | partial blindness. |
| photoreceptors. These nerves are responsible for | | | | Zinc deficiency is also a potential contributor, as |
| both the receiving of light rays as well as changing | | | | zinc is paramount in its partnership with assisting |
| them into the signals that are than transmitted to | | | | vitamin A and producing maximum vision. |
| the brain. It is from these signals that actual | | | | Treatments: |
| images in our eyes are formed almost | | | | So what exactly does Vitamin A have to do with |
| instantaneously. | | | | vision? Vitamin A or retinol has two important |
| There are two types of these specialized nerves: | | | | active metabolites; retinal, which is critical in |
| rods and cones. It is estimated that there are | | | | assisting several vision processes, and retinoic |
| over three million cones and somewhere near 100 | | | | acid, which serves as an intercellular messenger. It |
| million rods in each of your eyes, indicating just | | | | is essential in the processing and transcriptions of |
| how small they actually are. The rods in your | | | | a number of genes that are essential in the nerve |
| eyes are the specialized nerves that pick up | | | | transmissions between both the rods and the |
| motion and produce the ability for you to see | | | | cones. |
| peripheral vision, but they can only transmit in | | | | Retinal is critical in the chemical nature of |
| black and white. Cones, on the other hand, have | | | | rhodopsin, the light sensitive pigment that is found |
| the ability to see colors. | | | | inside both the rods and the cones. If retinal is not |
| It is the rod portion of these very small nerves | | | | operating at its full capacity, rhodopsin does not |
| that produce the ability to see when the light is | | | | regenerate at full capacity when your eyes are |
| very dim and are spread throughout the retina, | | | | subjected to darkness. |
| and it is the cones that helps produce the bright | | | | Vitamin A should be part of every daily vitamin |
| lights, but are only located in the center of the | | | | routine but there is always a word of caution with |
| retina. The major reason the sight becomes | | | | this vitamin. It is a fat soluble vitamin and as such |
| blurry to you when it is dark or the light is very | | | | it can be toxic if taken in excessive quantities for |
| shallow is that the connections between these | | | | several days. For optimal effect you should not |
| photoreceptors and the actual nerve cells are | | | | exceed 10,000 IU per day. |
| linked to the brain. Rods also have to share in this | | | | The mineral zinc is also necessary in transporting |
| connection. | | | | Vitamin A from your liver to the retina in your |
| It is because of this sharing factor that the brain | | | | eye, and it is recommended to supplement zinc |
| does not know exactly which rod is producing the | | | | up to 25 mg daily to help in assisting this nutrient. |
| actual signal. Conversely, cones do not share, but | | | | However, there are also an herbal remedy and a |
| rather have a direct link to the brain which is the | | | | fruit that can assist both in the process of |
| reason why your vision is so sharp when the light | | | | defeating and preventing night blindness. Bilberry, |
| is very bright. Rods also have another feature; | | | | which has been used for centuries, is an herb that |
| they allow your eye to adapt to the darkness. | | | | assists with supporting the flow of blood though |
| When you enter into a dark room or one that is | | | | the very small vessels that deliver the needed |
| very dim, they automatically go into action. | | | | nutrients to both your eye muscles as well as the |
| This adaptive action is the result of a chemical | | | | nerves. It is also extremely effective at easing |
| nature of rhodopsin which is the pigments in your | | | | the eye strain from too much computer time. |
| eye that are sensitive to red light and allows you | | | | The standard dosage is 60 mgs or one capsule. |
| to see black and white at night. This pigment | | | | Blueberries, not an herb, just plain old blueberries, |
| becomes totally useless as it decomposes as | | | | contain very generous quantities of compounds |
| soon as it senses bright light, but in near darkness | | | | that strengthen the capillaries and increase the |
| it is regenerated by your eye faster than it can | | | | natural peripheral circulation. There have been |
| decompose. | | | | several documented studies done with pilots, |
| It is a malfunction of this process, generally | | | | where their night vision improved dramatically |
| caused by a deficiency of Vitamin A, which | | | | when eating blueberries either raw or in jam form. |
| causes night blindness. However, there are also | | | | Summary: |
| several other potential causes. | | | | Night blindness can be caused by underlying |
| Causes: | | | | diseases as well as being hereditary. However, if |
| There are several potential causes of night | | | | not an inherited disease, it can virtually be |
| blindness, but by far and away the leading | | | | eliminated by the correct daily recommended |
| contributor is a deficiency of vitamin A and is the | | | | dosage of vitamin A and the mineral zinc. But |
| first indicator that your body is suffering from a | | | | when combined with blueberries, night blindness |
| deficiency of this extremely valuable eye nutrient. | | | | may be a thing of the past for you. |