# Can blindness be caused by excessive masturbation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 23, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034 "2014-02-23T21:17:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/21 "2014-02-24T01:25:34Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I’m still waiting for the hair on my palms to grow; I have a feeling that would make yanking the torpedo feel awesome! Hairy palms are one of the signs of being a werewolf, you know. The implications are obvious: masturbation causes werewolves. This finally explains all the random violence you see on the news. It’s all those blind werewolves. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/22 "2014-02-24T01:36:09Z")
Full-time masturbator for 22 years now and I still have perfect vision. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/23 "2014-02-24T02:06:03Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Full-time masturbator for 22 years now and I still have perfect vision. Full-time?:dubious: Is this a paid position? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/24 "2014-02-24T02:37:50Z")
And is it salaried, hourly wage or piece-work? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/25 "2014-02-24T03:07:50Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > “I swear, doc, I was aiming for the frying pan!” Or feeding the fish. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/26 "2014-02-24T03:31:14Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Full-time masturbator for 22 years now and I still have perfect vision. Full-time, as in 8 hours a day? ---
**Author:** ![ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ThisUsernameIsForbidden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisUsernameIsForbidden)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/27 "2014-02-24T03:34:35Z")
Not if you eat carrots at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/28 "2014-02-24T03:56:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And is it salaried, hourly wage or piece-work? No one complains about working extra hours. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/29 "2014-02-24T04:24:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > My emphasis. > > So\* THAT’S\* the problem with The Constitution. “Amend it, don’t end it!” –W. J. Clinton. (Monica helped with that one.) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/30 "2014-02-24T04:42:25Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Full-time masturbator for 22 years now and I still have perfect vision. I’m impressed. Even _I_ take time out for meals… ---
**Author:** ![mandala](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mandala/32/95_2.png) [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/31 "2014-02-25T12:41:44Z")
Was your incorrigible wanker friend also suffering other medical conditions? Did he have diabetes, nutrient deficiencies, or hypercholesterolemia? Semen is [very rich in nutrients]([Semen - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen#Physical) benefits). Every ejaculate contains Vitamin B12, critical for neurological health. Human sperm is [extremely rich in DHA](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10529089), an essential fatty acid comprising 40% of the brain and 60% of the retina. I have never come across a blunt statement that masturbation could cause blindness. But then I do not know of long-term studies of compulsive wankers such as your friend, to see how they’re doing after 20 years on the job. If your friend was constantly losing nutrients through masturbation, and not eating well enough to replace them, or had metabolic disorders that impeded absorption of vital nutrients, it is not too dificult to see how his masturbation taken to the extreme could lead to visual impairments. I also bet he was clinically depressed. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/32 "2014-02-25T12:51:34Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I think this was covered in a StraightDope column, but I can’t find it at the moment. Not only is this (typically) witty, but I realized the poster is a chick; which surprised me and made me give her extra credit. Which is notable, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/33 "2014-02-25T12:55:34Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#): > > “Amend it, don’t end it!” > > –W. J. Clinton. > > (Monica helped with that one.) Clinton did not coin that expression. My mohel did. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/34 "2014-02-25T15:50:45Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Full-time?:dubious: Is this a paid position? If it is, someone needs to call OSHA. There’s some serious risk for carpel tunnel. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/35 "2014-02-25T15:57:34Z")
But you can expense all your lube purchases. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/36 "2014-02-27T14:47:01Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > If it is, someone needs to call OSHA. There’s some serious risk for carpel tunnel. The CEO is a jerk and the wankers in accounting are approving expense reports for lotion purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/37 "2014-03-01T00:19:50Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > Semen is [very rich in nutrients]([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen#Physical](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen#Physical) benefits)… If your friend was constantly losing nutrients through masturbation, and not eating well enough to replace them… An obvious solution would appear to present itself. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/38 "2014-03-01T00:53:18Z")
Hasn’t this topic been just about half-beat to death by now? ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/39 "2014-03-01T02:14:19Z")
Well, I don’t think nearly enough friction burn comments have been posted and I think there’s room for more carpel tunnel ones also. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/40 "2014-03-01T02:26:31Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Well, I don’t think nearly enough friction burn comments have been posted and I think there’s room for more carpel tunnel ones also. Hmm. Maybe I shoulda used a smiley. “Oh, **LarkingPot**. Can you come here a second?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034.md?page=3)