Hemeralopia is one of the serious vices concerning the visual analyzer. This is a disorder of twilight vision, which is characterized by a severe decrease in the ability to navigate in the dark. In the people, hemeralopia is "night blindness." This name is given to the disease because of the analogy with the peculiarities of vision in birds.
The pathology itself can be a congenital anomaly in the formation of the light-perceiving system or an acquired disease that usually occurs with malnutrition or other diseases. Treatment of the disease involves the use of certain medications in an individually selected dosage.
Some information
Hemeralopia is the scientific name for the popularly known night blindness. In most people, the eyes are built in such a way that the rods necessary for normal vision at night are 18 times more than the cones that control this process during the daytime. In case of violation of this full-fledged ratio, the structure of the eye changes, which is unambiguousentails the loss of the ability to distinguish objects in the dark.
Much less often, hemeralopia, or "night blindness", is observed with disturbances in the activity of rods with a standard ratio of their number to the number of cones. All kinds of eye pathologies contribute to this phenomenon.
We can say that hemeralopia is a consequence of the poor functioning of the visual organs.
Varieties
There are four types of night blindness. Each of them has its own flow characteristics.
- Innate type. Such a disease is transmitted at the genetic level and its symptoms can be detected at an early age. Genetic defects and retinitis pigmentosa are capable of causing the development of pathology.
- Essential look. This is one of the forms of hemeralopia, which is provoked by malfunctions of the retina. This condition can be caused by a lack of vitamins PP, A, B2, a little less often - zinc. Hemeralopia is observed in violation of the processes of entry of these substances into the body. Unhe althy diet, food deficiency, diseases of the digestive tract, liver failure - all this can provoke the appearance of "night blindness".
- Symptomatic, or functional, hemeralopia. This type of blindness is possible in the presence of eye pathologies covering the optic nerve or retina. Can cause such a disease: glaucoma, chorioretinitis, siderosis, myopia, nerve atrophy, tapetoretinal dystrophy.
- False shape. provokedordinary eye fatigue, which appears due to constant watching TV or working at a computer. In such a situation, night blindness is not a pathology, but rather a signal that the eyes need rest and proper rest.
Further treatment depends on the type of disease.
Causes of hemeralopia
There are a number of conditions that contribute to the appearance of pathology. These include:
- age-related changes - most often this disease affects the elderly;
- deviations in the functioning of cones and rods that regulate the perception of shades;
- genetic mutations.
It is noteworthy that in most cases the patient can live and work normally with such a diagnosis.
Symptomatics
The following signs may indicate the presence of such a disease as "night blindness":
- impaired vision and inability to distinguish surrounding objects in the dark - the patient loses the ability to navigate at night;
- poor perception of shades - patients report the appearance of white spots when a sudden change in bright light to dim;
- abnormal changes in the fundus - the patient may complain of a feeling of dryness, recurring skin diseases near the eyes and accumulation of pus in the conjunctiva.
According to the feedback of patients, most often they have only one symptom of the disease -blurred vision in the dark. Usually, this is quite enough to suspect the presence of such a problem as "night blindness".
If at least one of the described symptoms is detected, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist.
Other manifestations
Other symptoms may indicate a problem. So, for the essential form, according to doctors, the appearance of specific xerotic plaques of Iskersky-Bito on the conjunctiva of the eyeball is characteristic. At their core, these are dry flat spots, usually located within the palpebral fissure.
With a pronounced deficiency of vitamin A, necrosis and melting of the corneal tissues may occur. With general avitaminosis, typical symptoms of insufficiency of essential trace elements are observed. These include abnormal weight loss, bleeding gums, and excessive dryness of the skin.
Visual fields are narrowed when examined, especially in response to blue and yellow colors.
With functional and congenital hemeralopia, changes in the fundus depend on the underlying pathology. With the essential form of night blindness, this part of the visual apparatus does not change.
Probable Complications
Hemeralopia itself does not pose any serious danger to human life and he alth. But it is worth taking into account the fact that predominantly pathology is the result of other, more global diseases. In addition, vitamin deficiency entails a gradual depletion of the structural elements of the eye. And such a phenomenonalready leads to all sorts of complications, such as cataracts, glaucoma and other difficult-to-treat pathologies.
The consequences are an increased possibility of manifestation of other serious vices. In addition, not all forms of hemeralopia can be cured. It all depends on the type and severity of the disease.
Diagnosis
Only an ophthalmologist can establish a specific diagnosis based on the symptoms and complaints of the patient.
The main diagnostic technique used to detect hemeralopia is electroroentgenography - it makes it possible to clearly see all the defects in the structure of the retina. The visual organs respond to special electrical signals, and the results of the study are recorded using an oscilloscope.
In addition to this technique, coherence tomography and refractometry are also used, in some cases - tonography.
A correct and timely diagnosis significantly increases the chances of a full recovery.
Hemeralopia treatment
Before proceeding directly to therapy, it is worth clarifying that the congenital form of this pathology does not lend itself to it at all. There are only three methods for eliminating this defect - medication, folk and operational. Each of them is in demand, but the final decision always remains with the doctor. The specialist chooses the type of therapy, depending on the form of the disease and the severity of its manifestations. True, numerous reviews indicate that in almost all cases the doctor prescribes therapywith drugs.
Drug therapy
Riboflavin is considered an excellent drug to help get rid of night blindness. It contains many useful vitamins and substances that make it possible to normalize all the processes occurring in the visual system. Thanks to the use of this drug, tissues are enriched with oxygen and conduct nerve impulses much better.
Instill the product should be twice a day, one drop in each eye. The duration of the course of treatment is determined individually for each patient. It should be borne in mind that the drug can cause side effects in the form of an allergy to the constituent ingredients. These include the loss of the usual visual acuity for the entire period of application of "Riboflavin".
In complex therapy, you can use other drugs containing vitamins B2, A and PP.
Surgery
This technique is used exclusively in cases where hemeralopia is provoked by glaucoma or myopia. Vision correction surgery or other intervention is in progress.
Folk recipes
Alternative medicine insists on a therapeutic diet and diet. The daily diet of a person diagnosed with hemeralopia should be supplemented:
- dairy products;
- blackberry;
- lots of greenery;
- cod liver;
- eggs;
- blueberries;
- vegetables;
- cheese;
- peaches;
- blackcurrant;
- rowanberry;
- cherries;
- gooseberry;
- apricots.
Folk remedies are only effective when combined with medicines.
Further prognosis is favorable in the treatment of essential hemeralopia. As for the symptomatic form of the disease, the outcome depends on the severity and nature of the main pathology. In addition, it should be borne in mind that the prognosis is determined by the age of the patient. The larger it is, the less chance of a full recovery.
Prevention
To avoid hemeralopia or night blindness, you must adhere to the rules of a he althy lifestyle and eat well. It is advisable to draw up a schedule of rest and active work so as not to overstrain the eyes. You should also refrain from using a bright monitor at night. In the case of constant work at the computer, it is necessary to arrange a rest every half an hour.
Sunglasses are recommended during daylight hours. Fans of ski resorts should use a special mask to help protect their eyes from the bright light reflected from the surface of the snow.
Compliance with preventive measures is necessary for every patient. They will help not only to reduce the risks of developing pathology, but also to improve well-being in general, giving vitality and strength.
