What is night blindness?
Night blindness is a condition in which the eyes have difficulty seeing in low light or at night. People with night blindness often have difficulty moving from light to dark environments and are prone to blurred vision in the dark.
Link to vitamin A deficiency
According to Dr. Rahul Singh - MBBS, MS, DNB, ICO, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Medical Sciences and International Hospital Noida, Noida International University (India), vitamin A is important for the eyes, because it helps create rhodopsin - a protein needed for seeing in the dark. When vitamin A is deficient, the eyes cannot produce enough rhodopsin, leading to night blindness.
Vitamin A is found in foods such as liver, eggs, milk, carrots, sweet potatoes and green vegetables. Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and adversely affect vision.
Symptoms of night blindness
Difficulty seeing in the dark: This is the main symptom of night blindness. The person will not be able to see clearly at night or in low light conditions.
Blurred vision: Eyes may feel blurry, making it difficult to distinguish details in low light conditions.
Difficulty seeing when moving from light to dark: It can take longer for your eyes to adjust between two environments with large differences in brightness.
Increased sensitivity to bright light: Some people may feel uncomfortable with bright light or have their eyes feel dazzled.
Causes and risk factors
Vitamin A deficiency: Poor countries or areas with poor nutrition are prone to vitamin A deficiency. Not consuming enough vitamin A-rich food groups can lead to vitamin A deficiency.
Digestive disorders: Diseases such as enteropathy, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis, or other conditions that reduce the ability to absorb nutrients from food can lead to vitamin A deficiency.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women have higher vitamin A needs. If their diets do not provide enough of this vitamin, they may be at risk of deficiency.
Malnutrition: Children and adults who are malnourished are susceptible to vitamin A deficiency, which puts them at risk of night blindness.
Treatment and prevention
Vitamin A supplements: Eat foods rich in vitamin A or take vitamin A supplements.
Balanced diet: Eat a variety of foods to provide enough vitamins and minerals for the eyes.
Conclude
Dr. Rahul Singh emphasized that night blindness is a sign of vitamin A deficiency, which if not supplemented promptly, can lead to more serious eye problems. Supplementing vitamin A through food or supplements is the best way to prevent and treat this disease.
