Can people with night blindness undergo myopia surgery?

Written by Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Night blindness is mostly due to abnormalities in the retinal pigment epithelial cells, because when these cells are abnormal, it leads to abnormalities in the rod cells, which sometimes leads to night blindness. This is because rod cells are responsible for seeing in low light, proving that this refractive system’s weakness is akin to a camera’s film being damaged. In the case of performing surgery for nearsightedness, it is primarily because there's an issue with the eye’s refractive system, similar to having a damaged camera lens. While a damaged lens can be repaired, if the film is faulty, even a perfectly repaired lens won't improve the camera's imaging function. Thus, night blindness primarily involves the retina, whereas surgery for nearsightedness mainly involves the lens and cornea. If the retina's condition is poor, then vision improvement from nearsightedness surgery will be limited because the effectiveness of such surgery relies on the pre-surgery vision achievable with glasses. If vision with glasses is inadequate, the surgical outcomes tend to be suboptimal. Generally, we do not recommend laser surgery for patients with night blindness.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Is it useful to wear glasses for night blindness?

Patients with night blindness cannot improve their symptoms by fitting glasses. Fitting glasses is mainly used to correct refractive errors, such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, etc., whereas night blindness is not caused by refractive errors. It is usually caused by the following reasons: First, it may be caused by retinal pigment degeneration, for which there is currently no effective treatment. Avoiding strong light stimulation can help delay the progression of the disease. Second, it may be caused by late-stage glaucoma, which requires treatment with medication or surgery to reduce eye pressure in order to stop and delay the progression of the disease. Third, it may be caused by malnutrition of the rod cells, related to genetic factors, for which there is also no effective treatment available. Fourth, it may be caused by a lack of vitamin A, which can be treated by taking vitamin A capsules orally. (Please follow medical advice when using medication.)

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
1min home-news-image

Does night blindness have anything to do with playing on mobile phones?

Night blindness is not related to using mobile phones. Night blindness can be caused by several reasons, with the common ones as follows: First, it can be caused by a deficiency in vitamin A, commonly seen in patients with long-term unbalanced diets and malnutrition. Vitamin A is an essential raw material for the synthesis of photosensitive substances in the retina. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to abnormal retinal function, causing night blindness. This can be treated by taking vitamin A capsules orally or by consuming foods rich in vitamin A, such as animal liver and carrots. Second, it can be caused by retinitis pigmentosa, which is related to congenital developmental abnormalities. Currently, there are no effective treatments available. Third, it can be due to advanced glaucoma, where surgical treatment to lower eye pressure is needed to prevent and slow the progression of the condition.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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What should be paid attention to in night blindness?

Night blindness is a common symptom in ophthalmology and can be caused by many reasons. Once night blindness occurs, patients need to promptly visit an eye clinic for a face-to-face examination to diagnose the cause, and then treat it based on the specific cause. The common causes include the following: First, it can be caused by late-stage glaucoma. Surgery is needed to reduce intraocular pressure to halt the progression of the disease; otherwise, it may lead to complete blindness. Second, it can be due to a deficiency of vitamin A, related to long-term poor diet and malnutrition. It often also includes symptoms such as dryness of the conjunctiva and softening of the cornea, which can be treated by taking vitamin A capsules orally. Third, it is caused by malnutrition of the rod cells in the retina. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this condition.

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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 Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Will staying up late worsen night blindness?

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.