HEALTHY LIVING
Fix Your. . . Night Vision
OVERVIEW: Night vision is the capability to see in dim light or at night. Within the retina, two types of photoreceptors — rods and cones — detect light and convert it into a form the brain can use. While cones are active at higher light levels and enable us to see color, rods are responsible for vision at low light levels, so night vision is only in shades of gray and white.
WHY YOUR NIGHT VISION CHANGES Fewer light-sensitive cells.
Photoreceptors are vital for night vision, but they diminish with age. Smaller pupils. Muscles in the
iris weaken with age, making pupils smaller. Smaller pupils allow less light into the eyes, which makes seeing at night more difficult. Slower reaction to light. As we age,
photoreceptors need more time to adjust from bright light to lower levels. Chronic conditions. Diabetes,
cataracts, glaucoma, and retinitis pigmentosa are among the chronic conditions that can affect night vision. Medications. Many medications
can affect night vision, including those for blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and allergies. Some affect the size of the pupil while others affect the retina or optic nerve. Cataracts. Eye lenses get cloudy
as we age and ultimately lead to cataracts, but even early changes affect night vision. Smoking. Tobacco contains chemicals, including nicotine and
benzene, that damage cells in the eye essential for night vision.
WHAT TO DO Get a yearly exam. Regular
eye exams catch problems early, and keeping your eyeglasses prescription current helps you see better at night. Keep your windshield clean.
Even small amounts of dust and dirt on your windshield make it more difficult to see when driving at night. Eat fish. Salmon, sardines, and
herring are important sources of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is a vital component of photoreceptor cells. Wear sunglasses. Bright sunlight
can reduce the ability of your eyes to adjust to low light levels, but wearing sunglasses in bright light will help. Try bilberry and elderberry.
These herbs contain anthocyanosides, antioxidants that help to eliminate free radicals caused by exposure to bright light. During World War II, fighter pilots consumed bilberry to improve their night vision.
Let your eyes adjust to darkness.
When going from a bright environment to a dark one, keep your eyes closed at first. It will give your eyes a chance to adjust and improve your night vision. Get vitamin A. Essential for good
vision, you can get vitamin A in a healthy diet containing carrots, eggs, cantaloupe, and dark leafy vegetables. Talk to a doctor about taking
vitamin A supplements as taking too much can be harmful. Vitamin A is essential for good vision.
WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS Talk to your doctor if your night vision does not improve. If medications are affecting your vision, there may be alternatives. Your vision problems could also be caused by cataracts or glaucoma. If you suddenly experience double or blurry vision, develop blind spots, or have an unusual number of floaters, see your ophthalmologist immediately. You could be experiencing a serious problem, such as a detached retina. SOURCES:
mayoclinic.org;
healthline.com; WebMD; Pinnacle Eyecare;
Cleveland Clinic;
arizonaretinalspecialists.com; Harvard Health;
Puritan.com;
upenn.edu
Gene Therapy Improves Night Vision A 90 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | AUGUST 2025
dults with a form of childhood-onset blindness recovered significant night vision after receiving an experimental gene therapy. Researchers at the Scheie
Eye Institute in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania recruited patients with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a congenital blindness caused by mutations in the gene GUCY2D. They then used adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy to deliver the DNA of healthy GUCY2D genes into the retina of one eye in each patient. Within days, the treated eyes of all patients showed large increases of vision facilitated by rod photoreceptor cells, which allow vision in low light.
TEST-TUBE/YINYANG©ISTOCK / WOMAN/LEKCEJ©ISTOCK
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