Nyctalopia

DEFINITION

Night blindness. "Nyctalopia" comes to us from the Latin word "nyctalops," which means "suffering from night blindness." It is ultimately derived from the Greek word "nyktalops," which was formed by combining the word for "night" ("nyx") with the words for "blind" and "eye" ("alaos" and "ops," respectively). English speakers have been using "nyctalopia" to refer to reduced ability to see in faint light or at night since the 17th century; and have used the equivalent "night blindness" since the 18th century.(pr. NIK-tə-LOH-pee-ə)Also see crepuscular, day for night, nocturne, perception, photoreceptors, retina, and tenebroso or tenebrism.