Blindness Overview

Eye Conditions - Blindness and Low Vision Most people feel that of all of our five senses, losing the ability to see would be the most frightening and life altering. Many people who are born blind or develop blindness at a later point in life do learn to adapt and function very well in daily living and even work. There are different types and degrees of blindness such as partial blindness, low vision problems, light perception problems, and, of course, total blindness. When a person is totally blind, there is usually serious damage to the optic nerves.

Causes of Blindness

Find a Low Vision Doctor at Eyes.com The causes of blindness are numerous. Vision problems can develop before a baby is even born; blindness can occur following a trauma to the head or eyes; diseases may lead to vision loss, and infections may cause blindness. Diseases cause approximately 95% cases of blindness, and it is estimated that 500,000 Americans are completely blind. Some of the most common diseases that lead to vision loss (if left untreated) are:

Cataracts
Glaucoma
Trachoma
Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Retinopathy
Retinitis Pigmentosa

Treatments for Blindness

Blindness treatment If someone is totally blind in both eyes, the condition probably cannot be reversed. However, there are some exciting advances being made in surgical techniques to correct a blinding condition in premature babies known as retinopathy in prematurity (ROP). Babies born with ROP have an abnormal growth of blood vessels along the surface of their retinas. When left untreated, this condition will lead to legal blindness in 60% of ROP babies. A surgery called “Cryotherapy” places a freezing probe on the surface of the eye to destroy the cells in the retina that produce the abnormal blood vessels.

In another exciting advance in treating vision loss, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug called Macugen, which is intended to slow vision loss and reduce the risk of blindness in older patients who suffer from the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration. Please read our page on AMD for more information about this condition that can cause blindness. In people over the age of 55, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss. Macugen, though around since 2004, is being prescribed more frequently because it stops the development of leaky blood vessels. As with any drug, there are side effects of Macugen that your eye doctor will discuss with you.

For more information, see these pages:

If you are losing your vision or if a loved one is suffering blurry vision, you should contact an experienced eye doctor in your area today to prevent, or at least slow, the loss of your vision.