night-blindnessn.
/ˈnʌɪtˌblʌɪn(d)nᵻs/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtˌblaɪn(d)nᵻs/ Medicine and Biology.
Reduced visual acuity in dim light, esp. as a pathological condition associated with vitamin A deficiency in humans. Cf. nyctalopia n. 1.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > disordered vision > [noun] > blindness > night blindness
night-blindness1625
nyctalops1661
nyctalopy1661
nyctalopia1684
day sight1811
1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. ix. xii. 1555 Another infirmitie..is blindnesse by night. [Side-note] Night-blindnesse.
1757 Med. Observ. & Inquiries I. xiii. 120 Galen explains the word by a night-blindness.
1834 J. Forbes et al. Cycl. Pract. Med. III. 184/1 Night-blindness has been described as endemic in different countries.
1887 C. A. Moloney Sketch Forestry W. Afr. 375 In Travancore the juice from them is applied in cases of night-blindness.
1898 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. V. 597 A man..will not show night-blindness, unless he be also exposed to very bright light.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 3 Sept. 5/2 The experiments proved that the prevalent theory of the night-blindness of such distinct day birds as doves and hens is wrong.
1949 H. W. C. Vines Green's Man. Pathol. (ed. 17) v. 108 Night-blindness (hemeralopia) has recently been proved to be due to vitamin A deficiency.
1960 D. C. Braungart & R. Buddeke Introd. Animal Biol. (ed. 5) xix. 334 Another manifestation of a deficiency of this vitamin [sc. vitamin A] brings about the inability to see in a dim light, known as night blindness.
1989 Times 28 Oct. 6/7 An estimated seven million motorists suffer from a form of night blindness..which could be responsible for up to 5 per cent of road accidents.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1625