Night blindness: when vitamin A is lacking

Night blindness is a vision disorder that makes people unable to see well in the dark. The cause is often a lack of vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, the immune system and growth.

What is night blindness?

Night blindness is a vision disorder in which sufferers have difficulty seeing in the dark. It can be difficult to see people or objects in the dark. Night blindness can have a variety of causes, but a common cause is a lack of vitamin A in the body.

What is vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin found in many foods. It is important for vision, the immune system and growth. Vitamin A is also called retinol and is found in animal foods such as dairy products, eggs and liver. Plant-based foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach contain carotenoids, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body.

How does vitamin A affect vision?

Vitamin A is important for the function of the retina of the eye. The retina contains cells called rods and cones. The rods are particularly sensitive to light and enable you to see in the dark. Vitamin A helps rods absorb light and send signals to the brain to form an image.

How Can Vitamin A Deficiency Cause Night Blindness?

A lack of vitamin A can cause the rods in the eye to stop working properly. When it's dark, the rods can't absorb enough light to create an image. This makes it difficult to see in the dark and can lead to night blindness.

How can you prevent a vitamin A deficiency?

A balanced diet that contains sufficient vitamin A is important. Good sources of vitamin A are dairy products, eggs, liver, carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach. If a balanced diet is not enough, a vitamin A supplement can be taken. However, it is important not to exceed the recommended daily allowance as high doses of vitamin A can be harmful.

conclusion

Night blindness is a visual disorder characterized by difficulty seeing in the dark. A lack of vitamin A can be a cause of night blindness as vitamin A is important for vision. To avoid a vitamin A deficiency, a balanced diet that contains enough vitamin A is important. If a balanced diet is not enough, a vitamin A supplement can be taken.