Picture this: It’s Friday night and you’re planning on meeting your best friend for dinner. You decide to grab a ride, get in the car, and notice that the lights are bright – the beams of passing headlights beam upward and outward – making it hard to see.
If this sounds familiar, you may have dimming light disorder (DLD), formerly known as night vision disorder or night blindness.
People with DLD can see well during the day or in well-lit areas, but have difficulty seeing clearly in low-light conditions. DLD can have a serious impact on quality of life, but new hope is emerging.
What are dim light disorders?
Low light disorders are a variety of symptoms that affect the quality of vision in darker environments.
Symptoms may include:
- See halos around light sources
- Monocular diplopia (double vision)
- Blur
- Starbursts – Streaks or rays that surround a light source
- Glare disability – limited vision due to intense light
How does the eye adapt to low light?
Your eyes are constantly adjusting to make it easier for you to see, even in the dark.
The iris – the colored part of your eye that surrounds the pupil – regulates the size of your pupil and controls how much light enters the eye.
When it’s dark, your pupils become larger to let in more light so you can see.
In people with DLD, the larger pupil exacerbates defects in the eye’s lens or cornea, leading to symptoms such as light scattering and distorted images.
What are the causes of dim light disorders?
Low light interference is a side effect of a medical condition or eye surgery.
Causes of DLD can be:
- Keratorefractive surgery (e.g. LASIK, PRK, SMILE)
- Keratoconus, an eye disease that changes the shape of the cornea
- Cataracts
- Dry eye disease
- Corneal scars
In some people, DLD can last for months or years after common surgery like LASIK.
Treatments for Low Light Disorders
There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for DLD. But promising developments are emerging.
Researchers are studying phentolamine eye drops to relieve DLD symptoms. The eye drops help keep the pupil smaller to block out unfocused light rays, providing clearer vision. So far, research has shown promising results, including improvements in vision and an overall reduction in glare impairment, halos, and startle reflexes in people with DLD.
Precautions for low light interference
There are some precautions people can take to help with DLD:
- Get your annual eye exam and update any prescriptions
- If you wear glasses, try anti-reflective coatings to reduce glare
- Seek treatment for health conditions such as dry eyes that could affect your vision
- Add more lights around your home
- Dim your dashboard lights to reduce glare while driving
- When driving, stay on familiar, well-lit roads
Consult your doctor about your night vision ability
Disturbances caused by dim light can have a negative impact on vision, which can be particularly dangerous when driving at night.
If you have DLD symptoms or notice changes in your vision when moving from a well-lit area to a dimly lit area, contact your doctor immediately. Your HCP can properly test you for eye diseases and help you determine the best path forward.
This educational resource was created with support from Viatris, a member of the HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council.
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