Various conditions causing poor night vision, sometimes called night blindness, have been known for centuries. Many disorders of the retina cause night blindness and most of these are progressive and associated with other ocular disease. However, several conditions causing difficulties with night vision are not progressive nor are they part of other syndromes. These are generally referred to as congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB).
Difficulty seeing at night is the primary symptom of congenital stationary night blindness. The condition is present at birth and does not progress. Daytime vision may be reduced to some degree as well. Mild color vision defects can sometimes be detected.
In this disease (CSNBAD1) the daytime vision is normal and but night vision is reduced in dim conditions but is better with bright backgrounds. Older patients may experience constriction of night vision and loss of vision. Color vision is normal. Both sexes are affected equally.
Mutations in at least 8 different genes are known to cause CSNB. This type (CSNBAD1) is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern in which the single mutated gene (and disease) is passed directly from parent to child with a 50% probability.
Diagnosis is based on an ophthalmological examination. An electroretinogram (ERG) test is important to establish the diagnosis and to rule out other retinal disease. This is a stationary disease without significant progression and no systemic disease is present.
The only treatment is correction of refractive errors if needed.