What should patients with night blindness eat?

Oct 12, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Wang Shuai

Introduction

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.

Night blindness patients generally benefit from consuming foods such as tomatoes, carrots, milk, spinach, and bean sprouts, as well as medications like vitamin A soft capsules, ginkgo leaf tablets, Shihu Yeguang Pills, Huanglian Yanggan Pills, and Mingmu Dihuang Pills.

I. Foods

1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are nutritious and delicious, containing nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K. They can improve visual adaptation and help alleviate symptoms of night blindness.

2. Carrots
Carrots are root vegetables rich in beta-carotene, dietary fiber, and vitamin K1. These nutrients enhance the retina's light sensitivity and help relieve discomfort associated with night blindness.

3. Milk
Milk is rich in protein and calcium, and also provides vitamin A. Calcium supports visual signal transmission and helps maintain eye tissue health, while vitamin A promotes retinal health and aids in visual signal processing.

4. Spinach
Spinach is a leafy green vegetable high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folic acid. These nutrients help alleviate poor vision in low-light conditions commonly experienced by people with night blindness.

5. Bean Sprouts
Bean sprouts are common vegetables containing folic acid and vitamin C. Both nutrients enhance the body’s absorption and utilization of vitamin A. Vitamin C also helps combat free radicals and supports overall eye health.

II. Medications

1. Vitamin A Soft Capsules
Vitamin A soft capsules are vitamin supplements primarily used to treat vitamin A deficiency, including conditions such as night blindness, dry eye, corneal softening, and rough skin.

2. Ginkgo Leaf Tablets
Ginkgo leaf tablets are a Western medicine formulation mainly used to treat pathological deficits in chronic neurological sensation and cognition in elderly patients. For night blindness, these tablets can promote ocular blood circulation and improve retinal microcirculation.

3. Shihu Yeguang Pills
Shihu Yeguang Pills consist of herbal ingredients such as Dendrobium (Shihu), ginseng, Chinese yam, and Cuscuta (Tusizi). They have the effects of nourishing yin, tonifying the kidneys, clearing the liver, and improving vision. They are primarily used to treat conditions caused by liver-kidney deficiency, yin deficiency with hyperactivity of fire, internal eye disorders, dim vision, and blurred vision. These pills can help improve blurred vision in patients with night blindness.

4. Huanglian Yanggan Pills
Huanglian Yanggan Pills are a traditional Chinese medicine composed of herbs such as Coptis (Huanglian), Picrorhiza (Hu Huanglian), Scutellaria (Huangqin), Phellodendron (Huangbai), and Gentiana (Longdan). They have the effect of clearing excessive liver fire and improving vision, and are primarily used to treat symptoms such as excessive liver fire, red and painful eyes, dim vision, photophobia, and tearing.

5. Mingmu Dihuang Pills
Mingmu Dihuang Pills are a traditional Chinese medicine formulation composed of Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared), Cornus officinalis (steamed with wine), Moutan bark, Alisma, and other herbs. They function to nourish the kidneys, enrich the liver, and improve vision. They are primarily used to treat symptoms caused by liver-kidney yin deficiency, such as dry and uncomfortable eyes, photophobia, blurred vision, and tearing in the wind. Patients with night blindness may experience improved vision after taking Mingmu Dihuang Pills.

Patients should consume the above-mentioned foods in moderation and use medications only under the guidance of a physician. Self-medication should be avoided to prevent potential adverse effects.

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What foods are good for people with night blindness?

In general, it is beneficial for individuals with night blindness to consume foods such as animal liver, carrots, spinach, egg yolks, and pumpkin. These foods are rich in vitamin A or contain beta-carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A and may help alleviate symptoms of night blindness. In daily life, in addition to dietary adjustments, patients with night blindness should also avoid excessive eye strain at night.

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What are the symptoms of night blindness?

Under normal circumstances, the main symptoms of night blindness include blurred vision in dark environments, difficulty walking at night, a sudden decline in vision at dusk, prolonged dark adaptation time, and narrowed field of vision. If discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely treatment at a formal hospital. If you notice any of the above symptoms, you should avoid staying in dimly lit areas for prolonged periods or engaging in activities alone.

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What foods to eat for night blindness

In general, patients with night blindness may benefit from consuming foods such as animal liver, egg yolks, carrots, spinach, and mangoes, which may help improve symptoms. If dietary adjustments are needed, it is recommended to follow a diet plan under the guidance of a healthcare professional. In daily life, in addition to dietary management, one should also avoid prolonged eye use in dimly lit environments to reduce eye strain.

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Can chicken liver prevent night blindness?

If the intake of vitamin A from daily diet is insufficient, early symptoms such as blurred vision in the evening may appear. In such cases, appropriately consuming chicken liver to supplement vitamin A, along with maintaining a balanced diet including leafy green vegetables, can promote good absorption and may help prevent night blindness. However, if night blindness is caused by organic diseases such as retinal disorders, or if excessive vitamin A results from long-term and large-scale consumption of chicken liver, medical evaluation is necessary.