nyctalopia

3 definitions found

nyctalopia - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nyctalopia \Nyc`ta*lo"pi*a\ (n[i^]k`t[.a]*l[=o]"p[i^]*[.a]), n.
     [L. nyctalopia, fr. nyctalops a nyctalops, Gr. nykta`lwps.
     Gr. nykta`lwps meant, a person affected either with day
     blindness or with night blindness, and in the former case was
     derived fr. ny`x, nykto`s, night + 'w`ps, 'wpo`s, the eye; in
     the latter, fr. ny`x + 'alao`s blind + 'w`ps.] (Med.)
     (a) A disease of the eye, in consequence of which the patient
         can see well in a faint light or at twilight, but is
         unable to see during the day or in a strong light; day
         blindness.
     (b) See Moonblink.
         [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Some writers (as Quain) use the word in the opposite
           sense, night blindness. See Hemeralopia.
           [1913 Webster]

  Moonblink \Moon"blink`\, n.
     A temporary blindness, or impairment of sight, said to be
     caused by sleeping in the moonlight; -- sometimes called
     nyctalopia.
     [1913 Webster]

nyctalopia - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  nyctalopia
      n 1: inability to see clearly in dim light; due to a deficiency
           of vitamin A or to a retinal disorder [syn: nyctalopia,
           night blindness, moon blindness]