During World War II, some bomber pilots developed night blindness. They could not carry out their nighttime missions, although no damage to the optic nerves was found. This was an example of conversion disorder.

Conversion Disorder

A disorder in which anxiety or unconscious conflicts are “converted” into physical symptoms that often have the effect of helping the person cope with anxiety or conflict.

Night Blindness

A condition characterized by difficulty seeing in low light or darkness, due to impaired function of specific visual cells.

Optic Nerves

The pair of cranial nerves transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain.