Foods rich in nutrients for people with night blindness

Night blindness is a vision impairment that makes it difficult for the patient to see in low light conditions or at night. Common causes of the disease are cataracts, vitamin A deficiency, retinal disease or genetics. Patients should see a doctor to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Doctor Hoang Quyet Tien, Medical Information Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said some of the foods below can benefit people with night blindness.

Foods rich in vitamin A such as liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, orange or dark green vegetables such as spinach and pumpkin. Vitamin A helps maintain vision and the ability to see in low light conditions. Deficiency in this nutrient impairs night vision, leading to night blindness. Vitamin A also maintains moisture and protects the cornea from dryness and damage.

Lutein and zeaxanthin help improve night vision, helping the eyes adapt better to low light conditions. Dark green leafy vegetables contain lots of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Zinc is a component of retinol binding protein, which aids in the transport of vitamin A in the blood. Zinc is also needed for the enzyme that converts retinol to retinal – an important form of vitamin A. A zinc-deficient body cannot release enough vitamin A from the liver, leading to night blindness. Eat seafood and vegetables that provide zinc for the body.

Foods rich in omega-3 and antioxidants are beneficial for people with night blindness, contributing to protecting eye cell membranes, reducing the risk of infection, and supporting retinal function. Omega-3 is found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and tuna. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E also contribute to overall eye health.

Patients should avoid drinking alcohol, beer, and smoking because they can reduce the ability to absorb vitamin A and harm the eyes. Maintain a balanced diet with a variety of foods to provide all the necessary nutrients for the body.

Supplementing natural essence extracted from broccophane (broccoli) helps increase thioredoxin – a protein that acts as an antioxidant, protecting retinal pigment epithelial cells. People with prolonged night blindness should have their eyes checked periodically so that doctors can advise and treat them promptly.