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 Wang Hui Zhen
Ophthalmology
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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 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 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
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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.