night blindness

American  

noun

Ophthalmology.

1. a condition of the eyes in which vision is normal in daylight but abnormally poor at night or in a dim light; nyctalopia.

---

night blindness British  

noun

1. pathol a nontechnical term for nyctalopia

---

Other Word Forms

• nightblind adjective

Etymology

Origin of night blindness

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

In most circumstances, rods are very sensitive to light, but in people with night blindness, the rods cannot accurately detect changes in light, and fail to function in the dark.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

Ironically, the genetic alteration is surprisingly similar to one that degrades pigments in human retinas, causing night blindness.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 23, 2023

He is afflicted by night blindness, a possible consequence of his own malnutrition early in life.

From Scientific American • Sep. 22, 2021

And why on earth does their definition of manliness mean you’re supposed to be able to will night blindness away?

From Slate • Jan. 9, 2020

Despite night blindness, the Pole Star would follow, sniffing at them with its radar arrays.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi