Will staying up late worsen night blindness?

Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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If night blindness is caused by congenital reasons, then staying up late generally does not significantly worsen it. If it is caused by acquired eye abnormalities, staying up late will noticeably exacerbate the occurrence of night blindness. Additionally, if it is caused by a deficiency in vitamin A, one should rest properly, reduce close-range activities, avoid staying up late, and supplement with foods or medications containing vitamin A. If the night blindness is due to eye-related causes, active treatment and regular follow-ups are recommended. If it is due to congenital reasons, currently there are no particularly effective treatments available.

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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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Causes of Night Blindness

Night blindness generally falls into two categories. The first type is due to a deficiency in Vitamin A, which leads to abnormal metabolism of retinol, preventing the perception of low light and thus causing symptoms of night blindness. The other condition is retinitis pigmentosa, where the photoreceptor cells in our retina responsible for detecting light at night, mainly the rod cells, undergo premature apoptosis, resulting in poor light perception. Retinitis pigmentosa can be congenital, caused by genetic mutations or abnormalities, but it can also be secondary to other diseases. Conditions like choroiditis or choroid retinitis inflammation can lead to abnormalities in the rod cells, which can also result in night blindness. The specific causes need to be examined.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
1min 21sec home-news-image

What should I do if night blindness is afraid of sunlight?

People with night blindness, who are sensitive to sunlight, can wear sunglasses when going out, and should actively seek treatment for night blindness. Night blindness refers to the blurriness or complete inability to see in dim light or at night, which makes mobility difficult. Night blindness can be categorized into congenital night blindness, acquired night blindness, and temporary night blindness. Congenital night blindness is mostly related to hereditary factors, where patients are born lacking the ability to synthesize rhodopsin, leading to night blindness. It is recommended to supplement vitamin A in appropriate amounts, and gene therapy is a potential treatment direction. Acquired night blindness is generally caused by diseases of the retina or other eye conditions, and it is recommended to actively treat the primary disease. Temporary night blindness is often due to a lack of vitamin A in the diet or due to some digestive system diseases affecting the absorption of vitamin A. It is advisable to supplement vitamin A as per medical advice and actively treat digestive tract diseases.

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Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
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Can night blindness see clearly during the day?

Night blindness is mainly due to two types of cells on our retina: cone cells and rod cells. Rod cells are responsible for vision at night, while cone cells are responsible for vision during the day and are crucial for sharp vision. In cases of night blindness, there are issues with the rod cells, but patients also have problems with their cone cells. Therefore, not only is their nighttime vision unclear, but their daytime vision is also worse than that of an average person. Although they can see during the day, the clarity is impaired. This condition is primarily due to a genetic anomaly, often involving a chromosomal abnormality. It is recommended that patients supplement with B vitamins, such as lutein.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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Does night blindness also cause a decrease in vision during the day?

Patients with severe night blindness also experience a decline in vision during the day. Night blindness refers to the blurriness or complete inability to see in the dark or dimly lit environments, causing difficulties in movement. In severe cases, vision can also decline during the day. Night blindness can be categorized into congenital, acquired, and temporary night blindness. Congenital night blindness is mostly related to congenital genetic factors, where patients inherently lack the ability to synthesize rhodopsin, leading to night blindness. Acquired night blindness is often due to diseases of the retina or other eye diseases, and it is recommended to actively treat the primary disease. Temporary night blindness is mostly due to a lack of Vitamin A in the diet, or due to certain digestive system diseases affecting Vitamin A absorption, and it is advised to supplement Vitamin A and other treatments as prescribed by a doctor.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Early symptoms of night blindness

Night blindness is a common early symptom of eye diseases, manifested by blurred vision in dim environments. When transitioning from bright to dark environments, it takes a longer time to gradually adapt. There are many causes of night blindness, such as common ones including vitamin A deficiency, malnutrition of rod cells, and advanced glaucoma. If symptoms of night blindness occur, it is necessary to visit an ophthalmologist in a hospital soon for diagnostic evaluation to determine the specific cause. For night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency, recovery can be promoted by taking oral vitamin A capsules. There is currently no effective treatment for night blindness caused by malnutrition of rod cells. For those caused by advanced glaucoma, surgical treatment is needed to delay or prevent the progression of the condition.