Blindness: Are we aware of this?

Your eyes are like precious gems, aren't they? How would you feel if something were to happen to these two eyes that help us see the world? Today we are going to talk about a topic that many people fear, and it is also a very important one. That is the complete or partial loss of vision, or as doctors call it, blindness. Sometimes, if you suddenly lose your vision, it is an emergency, and you need to seek medical advice immediately.

What exactly is blindness? What are its types?

Simply put, blindness is the inability to see anything. Some people may not even be able to see light. Also, this vision may not be restored even with glasses, contact lenses, eye drops, or surgery. Now let's see what are the different types of blindness.

1. Partial Blindness / Low Vision

In this case, you have some vision. Not completely blind, but your vision is so poor that it makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks. Many people also call this "low vision." You may only be able to see large letters, or your vision may be blurry.

2. Complete Blindness

This is a very rare condition. In this condition, you cannot see anything or feel light.

3. Congenital Blindness

Some babies are born with vision impairments. This can be caused by hereditary eye and retina diseases, or other complications that occur at birth.

4. Legal Blindness

This is a bit of a technical term. It means that even if you wear glasses or contact lenses in your best eye, your central vision is reduced to a certain level. To be precise, to see something that someone would normally see from 200 feet away, you would need to move about 20 feet closer, or the object would have to be magnified ten times. This is what is called `20/200` vision . Also, you can be considered legally blind even if your peripheral vision, which is the amount of vision you can see to the sides, is less than 20 degrees.

5. Nutritional Blindness

This is a very sad situation. This condition is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin A. If Vitamin A deficiency persists, the front surface of the eye can be damaged. This is also called `(Xerophthalmia)`. Not only that, but vision can also be reduced at night or in low-light conditions, because the cells in the retina do not function properly.

Just think: how important it is to protect our eyes by taking care of our food and drink!

Let's learn a little about color blindness.

You may have heard of "color blindness." This is not really the same as the blindness we mentioned earlier. It is a condition where you see colors differently than other people. You may have difficulty distinguishing certain colors. This can be inherited, or it can develop later in life due to damage to the retina or optic nerve. If you only see black, white, and gray, this condition is called achromatopsia.

Preventable Blindness

This means that blindness occurs due to a treatable disease, but the person does not receive any treatment. Often, this is due to the lack of access to eye care. For example, if a person with diabetes mellitus is not treated properly, diabetic retinopathy can develop and lead to vision loss. Similarly, if a person with hypertension is not treated, hypertensive retinopathy can develop.

How common is blindness?

In fact, blindness is something that is seen all over the world, including in our country. It can happen to anyone. Statistics say that about 43 million people worldwide suffer from blindness. Many more people have low vision.

What are the symptoms that precede blindness?

In total blindness, the main symptom is the inability to see anything and not to sense light. However, as vision gradually decreases, symptoms such as:

• Blurred vision .
• Eye pain .
• Floaters and flashes of light.
• Sensitivity to light (Photophobia).
• Sudden loss of vision , or the appearance of black spots before the eyes.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor right away, okay?

Why does this blindness occur? What are the causes?

There are many causes of blindness. Eye injuries, infections, and various diseases can all contribute to it.

1. Eye Injuries / Ocular Trauma

There are many different ways that an eye injury can occur. Most often, it affects only one eye.

• Chemical burns.
• Poisonous substances in the eyes.
• Quarrelsome.
• Because of things like crackers.
• Things like accidents and falls at the workplace.
• Vehicle accidents.
• Accidents while playing sports.

Things like this can cause serious eye damage and loss of vision.

2. Infections and Blindness

Various infections can also cause vision loss, and sometimes even blindness.

• Trachoma: This is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world.
• Cytomegalovirus .
• Endophthalmitis : A serious infection inside the eye.
• Histoplasmosis.
• Keratitis: An infection of the cornea, for example, Acanthamoeba Keratitis.
• Rubella.
• Shingles: A condition caused by the herpes zoster virus.
• Syphilis.
• Toxoplasmosis.
• Uveitis : Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (uvea).

3. Other non-infectious diseases

Blindness can also be caused by other diseases, without infection. However, in some diseases, this only happens when the disease is very severe.

• Retinitis Pigmentosa: This is a group of diseases that affect the light-sensitive cells in the retina. As the disease progresses, these cells are gradually destroyed. First, night vision is reduced, and then peripheral vision is lost.
• Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): This affects the macula, a part of the retina that is important for central vision. When central vision is severely lost, things like reading books and recognizing people's faces become very difficult. However, peripheral vision is often preserved.
• Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): This is seen in some premature babies. The blood vessels in their eyes grow abnormally, causing scar tissue to form and damaging the retina. This can lead to severe vision loss and even blindness.
• Cataracts: Cataracts are caused by the clouding of the lens of the eye. This causes blurred vision and reduced clarity. If this is not treated with surgery, it can lead to blindness if it becomes severe.
• Diabetic Retinopathy:This condition can occur when blood vessels in the eye are damaged in someone with diabetes. Initially, vision may be slightly reduced, but if the disease progresses or is left untreated, it can lead to blindness.
• Glaucoma: This is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged. Initially, vision in both eyes begins to decrease, and as the disease progresses, blindness can occur.
• Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: This is a hereditary, progressive vision loss disease. For no known reason, it affects boys more than girls.
• Anophthalmia: In this condition, one or both eyes are missing from birth.
• Microphthalmos: This is a condition where the eyes are born very small. Sometimes these small eyes don't work properly, or don't work at all.
• Stroke: A stroke can cause vision loss if a part of the brain involved in vision, such as the occipital lobe, is damaged. During a stroke, blood flow to the brain is reduced or completely cut off.
• Cancer: Eye cancers such as retinoblastoma or orbital tumors can also cause blindness.
• Nutritional deficiencies: Poor eating habits can also lead to vision loss. Vitamin A deficiency is one cause. Vitamin B and other minerals are also needed for healthy vision.

How to recognize blindness?

A doctor will carefully examine both of your eyes, as blindness can affect only one eye. These tests may include:

• Snellen Test: You may be familiar with this one. The doctor asks you to look at a board with letters and read lines of letters that get progressively smaller. This measures your central vision, which is your visual acuity.
• Visual Field Testing: Visual field is not just about what you can see straight ahead. It measures how much you can see to the sides, above, and below without moving your eyes.

What are the treatments for blindness?

The type of treatment you receive will depend on your condition. Some types of blindness can be controlled with medication or glasses. However, some conditions, such as complete loss of vision or complete damage to the eye, cannot be treated. In such cases, your doctor may refer you to visual rehabilitation. The goal is to help you get the most out of your remaining vision and improve your quality of life so that you can perform daily tasks. This is often done through special training, therapy, and low-vision devices.

Treatment of various blindness conditions:

Some blindness conditions have treatments depending on the cause and the extent of damage to the eye.

• Medication: Some cases of blindness caused by infections can be treated with anti-infective drugs.
• Cataract Surgery: In most cases, cataracts can be successfully treated with surgery.
• Corneal Transplant: A doctor can transplant a new cornea to replace the damaged cornea.
• Retinal Surgery: Surgery and/or laser treatment may be able to repair damaged retinal tissue.
• Vitamin Supplements: Taking vitamin A can help reverse some of the vision problems caused by xerophthalmia. Vision problems caused by poor eating habits may require vitamin B or vitamin D supplements.

How to reduce the risk of blindness?

Some types of blindness cannot be prevented. However, most blindness is preventable. Some governments and organizations are working to stop blindness caused by preventable diseases, such as trachoma. They are making medicines more widely available in many parts of the world. On a personal level, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of partial or total blindness:

• Get your eyes checked at regular intervals . Follow your doctor's instructions on how often you should have your exams. Always see an eye doctor if you notice any changes in your vision or notice anything unusual in your eyes.
• Use your glasses and contact lenses properly if necessary.
• If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar levels. If you have high blood pressure, control that too.
• Wear protective gear when working, riding a motorcycle, or playing contact sports. Don't forget to wear sunglasses.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Get enough exercise. Ask your doctor about an exercise plan that's right for you.
• Maintain a healthy weight that suits you.
• Be aware of your family's health problems.
• If you smoke, stop it, or never start.
• Always wash your hands when wearing contact lenses to avoid eye infections. Also, follow the instructions for how often you should replace them.

What can you expect when living with blindness?

If you are completely or partially blind, there are options for you to get help. Learning as much as you can about your condition can help you. Living with blindness affects your life and the lives of your family and friends. It affects how you travel, how you care for yourself, how you care for others, your job – and even how you relax and have fun. Some of these problems can be more severe in older people. Ask your eye doctor about ways to help you live with low vision or no vision at all, or about services that can help you. These services may include:

• Education.
• Mental health support.
• Skills training.
• Technical training.
• Options for hobbies.

When should you see a doctor about vision problems?

Seek medical help immediately in the following situations:

• If you suddenly lose your sight.
• If you have eye pain.
• If there is an accident that affects your vision.
• If you start seeing flashes or new objects floating in front of your eyes.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You will have many questions to ask your doctor. These may include:

• Can this blindness be treated?
• Am I eligible to participate in clinical trials?
• If this blindness cannot be treated, what services will I need?
• Can you recommend a support group?

Hearing a diagnosis of blindness can be a very emotional experience, given the impact it has on your life. It is important and practical to get all the support you need. Your healthcare team is there to answer your questions and give you the tools you need to ensure you have the best quality of life possible.

Summary and things to remember

So, although blindness is a serious condition, it is very important to be aware of it, recognize it early, and seek necessary treatment.

Remember, your eyes are a precious asset. There are many things you can do to protect them. Regular eye exams, a healthy lifestyle, and seeking medical advice early if you notice any problems are the key. Don't worry, you can find the support and information you need to cope with anything these days.