# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/41 "2014-03-01T02:31:11Z")
I’m not a doctor, so please take this with a HUGE grain of salt; but I think as long as you don 't attach ice picks to your wrist while trying to get a closer look at what’s going on you’ll be A-OK. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/42 "2014-03-01T02:46:41Z")
The happy medium is to stop when you can no longer see the hair on your palms… ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/43 "2014-03-01T03:21:57Z")
What? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/44 "2014-03-01T03:52:33Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > What? Apparently, you’re doing it wrong. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/45 "2014-03-01T04:03:44Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/46 "2014-03-01T06:22:42Z")
If we are talking about frequent orgasms causing nutrient loss, leading to blindness, then why not have the same stigma attach to too much actual sex with a partner? (penetration of oral) I think this myth is mostly related to taboos against self-pleasuring. ---
**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, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/47 "2014-03-01T06:53:49Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > If we are talking about frequent orgasms causing nutrient loss, leading to blindness, then why not have the same stigma attach to too much actual sex with a partner? (penetration of oral) I think this myth is mostly related to taboos against self-pleasuring. Um, the OP linked 2 disparate things which fairly clearly have no causal relationship. Other than the first reply (by TreacherousCretin), we’ve pretty much just been having fun with the subject at hand. Although, come to think of it, if the choice were between masturbation and your suggestion, “penetration of oral” would be my preferred way to go. Er, um … yes, I’m going to stick with “go”. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2014, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/48 "2014-03-01T08:55:31Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > Was your incorrigible wanker friend also suffering other medical conditions? Did he have diabetes, nutrient deficiencies, or hypercholesterolemia? > > Semen is [very rich in nutrients]([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen#Physical](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. I saw what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Snerky\_Snerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Snerky\_Snerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snerky_Snerk)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/49 "2014-03-01T09:45:39Z")
This question aroused my curiosity enough to try to get a grip on the origin of this ‘myth’. Looking at certain sexually transmitted diseases, some can invade the eyes if good hygene practices aren’t followed. I could believe some people don’t wash their hands after handling their happy organs, maybe have a nap, and rub their face at some point. - syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, etc can maybe cause conjunctivitis or keratitis (inflamation of the cornea). - the fungus that causes candidia (thrush) can potentialy infect the eye. - syphilis can affect the retina. Anyway, I don’t know that any of these can cause blindness, but perhaps, in times gone by, they were more damaging without access to clean water or medication. Anyway, I gotta go scrub my hands. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/50 "2014-03-01T10:19:03Z")
> [@mandala](#): > > 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. I think sperm production would suffer and/or the nutritional content of the ejaculate would decrease well before excessive masturbation made a noticable difference for nutrient levels in the rest of the body. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/51 "2014-03-01T10:22:46Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > All kidding aside, how did the entire too much sex/too much masturbation = blindness thing originate? I’m sure we’ve covered this before, but I’ll let the hamsters have a smoke break. IIRC, it’s a biblical reference, isn’t it? No, it’s not biblical. I don’t know of an actual reference, but it’s just one of those quirky made up warnings from medieval times. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/52 "2014-03-01T12:12:00Z")
I think this thread is missing the really important aspect…masturbating repeatedly at work seems like it would be an excellent way to lose your job. ---
**Author:** ![Snerky\_Snerk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Snerky\_Snerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snerky_Snerk)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/53 "2014-03-01T13:11:08Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > I think this thread is missing the really important aspect…masturbating repeatedly at work seems like it would be an excellent way to lose your job. I think it just depends on where you work. Every place I’ve worked at has had a stack of stick books stashed somewhere, so I assumed masturbation was not just ok, but encouraged. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/54 "2014-03-01T15:52:22Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > I think this thread is missing the really important aspect…masturbating repeatedly at work seems like it would be an excellent way to lose your job. Especially if you’re a teacher: [What is this strange garment (in booking photo)? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=716890) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/55 "2014-03-01T16:12:55Z")
Well, 95% of the people who go blind admit to masturbating. The rest are liars. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/56 "2014-03-01T16:18:45Z")
Not masturbating can cause a form of blindness where very heavy women appear much thinner until you have released your pent up load. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/57 "2014-03-02T10:32:20Z")
A larger question: can blindness lead to masturbation? I know that seeing leads to masturbation, and for 15-year-old boys, breathing, but is there a correlation between blindness and masturbation? ---
**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:** [March 3, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/58 "2014-03-03T01:03:05Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > If we are talking about frequent orgasms causing nutrient loss, leading to blindness, then why not have the same stigma attach to too much actual sex with a partner? (penetration of oral) I think this myth is mostly related to taboos against self-pleasuring. Maybe because you cannot get nearly as much sex as you can masturbate? All it takes to masturbate is 5 minutes. A man can do that several times a day for decades. Good luck on finding sex partner(s) willing to have full-time sex for all time to come. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/59 "2014-03-03T01:16:19Z")
I can’t see how. Bada-BING. Thanks folks, I’m here all week. Don’t forget to tip your waitress! ---
**Author:** ![manwithnobrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@manwithnobrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithnobrain)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034/60 "2014-03-03T02:48:42Z")
If this was true, man!!!-I’d be so blind by now… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blindness-be-caused-by-excessive-masturbation/682034.md?page=4)