Patients with night blindness are lacking something.

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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Night blindness is a common symptom in ophthalmology, referring to a condition where patients cannot see clearly in dim environments. Night blindness can be caused by various reasons, among which vitamin A deficiency night blindness occurs due to the patient's long-term picky eating or malnutrition, leading to insufficient intake of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential raw material for the synthesis of photosensitive substances in the retina, and its deficiency can lead to night blindness. Night blindness caused by retinal pigment degeneration, malnutrition of rod cells, and late-stage glaucoma does not involve a lack of nutritional elements in the patient's body. Instead, it results from damage to the rod cells in the retina or the nerve fiber layer, which prevents them from sensing light stimuli in dark environments.

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Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Can people with night blindness see things at night?

Individuals with night blindness can still see at night, but with less clarity compared to those with normal vision. Night blindness can be caused by various conditions, such as advanced glaucoma, retinal pigment degeneration, Vitamin A deficiency, and poor nourishment of the rod cells in the retina. It occurs due to damage to the rod cells on the retina, which are responsible for dark vision, preventing them from functioning normally. Diagnosis can be confirmed through dark adaptation tests and electroretinography at an ophthalmology department in hospitals. Treatment for night blindness should be based on the underlying cause; for instance, if caused by Vitamin A deficiency, the condition can be treated by supplementing Vitamin A, thus either restoring health, or preventing and slowing further deterioration 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 Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
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Night blindness will have what impact?

Night blindness is a common ophthalmological symptom, primarily characterized by poor vision in dim environments. Many factors can cause night blindness, such as advanced glaucoma, retinal pigment degeneration, vitamin A deficiency, etc. It is crucial to seek timely ophthalmic examination at a hospital to diagnose the specific cause of night blindness and then implement targeted treatments. Otherwise, the condition may gradually worsen. For example, night blindness caused by advanced glaucoma can progressively lead to blindness. If night blindness caused by a deficiency in vitamin A is not treated in time, it can also lead to dry eye syndrome, keratomalacia, and other issues. Regarding treatment, night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency can be treated with oral vitamin A capsules. For night blindness caused by advanced glaucoma, surgical treatment to reduce eye pressure is necessary to halt the progression of the 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 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.