An Optometrist in Redondo Beach Explains Night Blindness

Dec. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- REDONDO BEACH, CA – November 12, 2013 – Dr. Michael Hansen of Advanced Eyecare Center, an Optometrist in Redondo Beach, recently posted in his blog about night blindness.  He talks about the causes of night blindness, and the importance of getting annual eye exams for patients over the age of 40.  He says, “Night blindness does not mean total inability to see in the dark, but difficulty seeing in dim light conditions.  Nevertheless, the condition can affect your lifestyle.  More importantly, if you experience night blindness, it could be caused by an underlying eye condition.”  Underlying eye conditions that cause night blindness include Glaucoma, Cataracts, and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Glaucoma is a degenerative disease that typically affects older people.  Hansen explains, “Glaucoma refers to the nerve tissue that relays visual images from the eye to the brain that progressively deteriorates with age.”  He continues by saying, “As the diseases progresses, patients complain both of poor vision in the dark as well as decreased peripheral vision.”

Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in patients over 40.  Dr. Michael Hansen says, “Cataracts develop when the natural lens inside the eye becomes yellowish and opaque from aging and exposure to sunlight.  With surgery, an artificial lens can replace the affected one.  After this type of procedure, the problem of night blindness should not occur.”

Retinitis Pigmentosa refers to a hereditary eye condition.  Michael Hansen, a Redondo Beach optometrist (http://advancedeyecarecenter.net/south-bay-area/redondo-b... ), explains, “The retina consists of tiny tissues called rods and cones.  With Retinitis Pigmentosa, the rods, which are responsible for night and peripheral vision, degenerate with age.  Thus, patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa complain not only of poor vision in the dark, but also limited field vision.  To-date there is no known treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa.”

Dr. Hansen gives a more details about night blindness in the full version of his blog post here: http://advancedeyecarecenter.net/blog/industry-news/An_Op...

About Advanced Eyecare Center of Redondo Beach

Advanced Eyecare Center is a comprehensive clinic that offers optometry services to the South Bay Area. Whether you're from El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, or any of the neighboring areas, they are devoted to serving you and your family with personalized care through our eye wellness exams.  Please visit Advanced Eye Care Center’s website for more information. (http://advancedeyecarecenter.net/)