Night Blindness (Retinis Pigmentosa)

Commonly known as ‘night blindness’, retinis pigmentosa causes loss of vision. It is a progressive condition which generally runs in families.

In this article:

What is night blindness?

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

How Chemist Online can help

Advice & Support

What is night blindness?
Night blindness is a hereditary disease where, over time, the sufferer experiences a gradual loss of vision. The part of the eye which is affected is the retina. This sits at the back of the eye. As the light receptor cells in the retina slowly erode and die off, a range of symptoms develop.

Symptoms
Symptoms of night blindness include:

Poor eyesight at night

Narrow field of vision overall

Reduced central vision (sometimes only leaving peripheral vision for the person with the disorder)

Headaches and migraine

Causes
Most people with night blindness have a genetic predisposition to developing the condition. That means that there is a family history of it which has been passed down.

Other suggested causes include:

Lack of vitamin A

Birth defects (non-genetic)

Certain medication

Cataracts

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and think that you may be suffering from the condition, arrange an appointment with your GP. After taking your medical history and asking you some questions about your symptoms, you will then be asked to undertake a range of eye tests. The strongest indicator of retinis pigmentosa is the presence of dark lines in the retina.

Treatment
Despite worldwide medical research, as yet there is no definite cure for night blindness. However, there is a range of treatments available which are intended to slow down the gradual loss of vision. These include:

Prescribed antioxidants

Microchip implants in the retina – where near total blindness has developed

Cataracts removal

Note: To protect your retina from dangerous ultraviolet light, wearing sunglasses (where necessary) can help protect and preserve your vision.

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of eye care treatments available to buy.

You can also buy a wide range of vitamin supplements from us (including Vitamin A – see Causes section above).

Anadin Original Tablets and Disprin Direct chewable dissolve in the mouth tablets can both provide relief from headache and migraine – associated symptoms of night blindness.


www.chemistonline.co.uk


Advice & Support
Royal National Institute of the Blind
Tel: 0303 123 9999
Website: www.rnib.org.uk

International Glaucoma Association (UK branch)
Tel: 01233 64 81 64
Website: www.glaucoma-association.com

Macular Disease Society
Tel: 01264 350551
Website: www.maculardisease.org


This information and advice is not intended to replace the advice of your GP or chemist. Chemist Online is also not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based upon the content of the Chemist Online website. Chemist Online is also not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.






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