Can people with night blindness see if the lights are on at night?

Dec 02, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Cui Xin

Introduction

Night blindness refers to the condition in which a person does not see objects clearly at night or in dimly lit environments. It may also involve a slower adaptation of the eyes to darkness, which can affect daily life to some extent. Night blindness typically only manifests as poor vision in low light and generally does not impair normal daytime vision. Therefore, individuals with night blindness can still see normally when lights are turned on at night and the surrounding environment becomes sufficiently illuminated.

Night blindness patients can generally see when the lights are turned on at night.

Night blindness usually refers to difficulty seeing objects clearly at night or in dimly lit environments. It may also manifest as a slow adaptation of the eyes to darkness, which can affect daily life—such as being unable to clearly perceive surroundings or direction, leading to difficulties in movement and an increased risk of falls. This condition may result from deficiencies in vitamin A or zinc, or be caused by underlying diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetes. Night blindness typically only affects vision in low light and does not impair normal daytime vision. Therefore, individuals with night blindness can still see once the surrounding environment becomes adequately lit, such as when lights are turned on at night.

After diagnosis of night blindness, appropriate treatment should be selected based on the underlying cause. For instance, if it is due to vitamin A deficiency, supplementation of vitamin A under medical supervision may help improve the condition. However, when taking vitamin A, it is important to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions regarding dosage to avoid toxicity from excessive intake.

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Is it helpful to take fish liver oil for night blindness?

If night blindness is caused by vitamin A deficiency, taking cod liver oil is generally effective, as cod liver oil contains abundant vitamin A that can help replenish the body's vitamin A levels and alleviate the condition. However, if night blindness results from zinc deficiency or underlying eye diseases, diabetes, or other factors, cod liver oil usually won't be helpful, as it does not address these specific causes.

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What should patients with night blindness eat?

Patients with night blindness generally benefit from consuming foods such as tomatoes, carrots, milk, spinach, and bean sprouts, as well as taking medications like vitamin A soft capsules, ginkgo leaf tablets, Shihu Yeguang Pills, Huanglian Yanggan Pills, and Mingmu Dihuang Pills. Patients should consume these foods in moderation and use medications only under the guidance of a physician, avoiding self-medication to prevent potential adverse effects.