Can people with night blindness see things at night?

Written by Tao Yuan
Ophthalmology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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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 Li Zhuo
Ophthalmology
1min home-news-image

Will night blindness lead to blindness?

Night blindness first requires determining the cause of your condition. If it is due to a deficiency of vitamin A leading to night blindness, supplementing vitamin A can alleviate the symptoms, and the night blindness will disappear. However, if the night blindness is caused by retinitis pigmentosa, as this condition progresses with age, the symptoms of retinal pigment degeneration worsen and the retinal-caused night blindness will gradually intensify, eventually there is a possibility of blindness. It is essential first to determine the specific cause. Some people may experience a rapid progression of the disease, but others with retinitis pigmentosa, or such symptoms of night blindness, may not be very severe. They could maintain useful vision throughout their lives, which mainly depends on the type and severity of the genetic mutation and the specific causes.

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Written by Li Zhen Dong
Ophthalmology
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Is night blindness related to myopia?

Night blindness generally has little to do with myopia. Night blindness can be divided into congenital night blindness and acquired night blindness, caused by retinal dysfunction. Myopia makes distant objects appear blurry and near objects clear, primarily due to changes in the eye's axis. Night blindness does not involve changes in visual acuity or the eye's axis. Once night blindness occurs, one should actively seek an ophthalmological examination and receive proper treatment. Currently, the treatment for myopia mainly includes corrective glasses, orthokeratology (corneal reshaping therapy), and surgical treatments.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
1min 32sec home-news-image

Can night blindness be improved by wearing glasses?

Generally speaking, it is difficult to improve night blindness by fitting glasses. If the patient already has tunnel vision, they can try wearing special glasses to enhance the visual quality of the remaining vision. Night blindness refers to blurred vision or even complete inability to see in the dark or dimly lit environments, causing difficulties in movement. Night blindness can be categorized into congenital night blindness, acquired night blindness, and temporary night blindness. Congenital night blindness is mostly related to congenital genetic factors, where patients are born lacking the function to synthesize rhodopsin, leading to night blindness. Currently, there is no specific treatment, but it is advisable to supplement vitamin A as per medical advice. Acquired night blindness is often due to diseases of the eye itself 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 diseases of the digestive system that affect the absorption of vitamin A, and it is recommended to supplement vitamin A as per medical advice and treat digestive tract diseases, which can mostly improve the condition.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Does night blindness lead to blindness?

Night blindness, if severe, can lead to blindness. Night blindness refers to blurred vision at night or in dimly lit environments, or even total inability to see, causing difficulty in movement and affecting normal life. Night blindness can be categorized into congenital night blindness, acquired night blindness, and temporary night blindness. Congenital night blindness is mostly related to congenital genetic factors, where patients are born with a lack of the ability to synthesize rhodopsin, leading to night blindness. Acquired night blindness is often due to diseases of the retina itself, and it is advisable to actively treat the underlying disease, which can cure most cases. Temporary night blindness is mostly due to a lack of vitamin A in the diet or due to certain digestive system diseases affecting the absorption of vitamin A, for which it is advisable to follow medical advice and supplement with an appropriate amount of vitamin A and other treatments.

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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.