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Vitamin A is the only treatment available for genetic and acquired night blindness. Even though Vitamin A deficiency is not the primary underlying cause of genetic night blindness, treatment with vitamin A may slow disease progression in affected patients. Acquired night blindness, which develops secondary to vitamin A deficiency, responds well to vitamin A treatment. Be aware of the potential for teratogenicity with vitamin A supplementation in vitamin-replete pregnancy women.[35]
Genetic night blindness
The inherited conditions that cause night blindness affect the structures within the retina or choroid, referred to as retinal or choroidal dystrophies.
No definitive treatment exists for most cases of genetic night blindness, but encouraging patients to take vitamin A supplements may slow disease progression.[36][37] Although one Cochrane review reported that vitamin A offered no clear benefits to patients with retinitis pigmentosa, the treatment did not cause harm.[38]
Acquired night blindness
Acquired night blindness primarily results from a vitamin A deficiency (which in turn, usually occurs due to an underlying systemic disease). Patients with a confirmed deficiency can be advised to follow a healthy diet that includes food rich in vitamin A (e.g., liver, carrots, milk, egg yolks) or to take an oral vitamin A supplement.
Drugs that affect vitamin A metabolism, particularly retinoic acid derivatives, can cause night blindness.[13] Evidence suggests that vitamin A supplementation can reverse night blindness in patients receiving these treatments.[39]
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