What is Blindness?
Blindness is the state of being sightless. A blind individual is unable to see. Some may have a limited ability to see objects using special aids or may be able to perceive light or a light source. All people who are blind experience sightlessness to various degrees. Blindness can be the result of a variety of causes; the most common are Cataracts, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy.
Worldwide, between 300 and 400 million people are visually impaired. Of this group, approximately 50 million people are totally blind, of which almost 85% in third-world countries. 80% of blindness occurs in individuals of 50 years or older.
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What are the symptoms of Blindness
Symptoms of blindness may include:
- discomfort in the eyes
- awareness of the eyes
- foreign body sensation
- discharge from the eyes
- pain in the eyes
Normal vision vs. Blindness
What to expect from Blindness
The level of blindness and the possibility to restore eye-sight is dependent on the cause of blindness. In some cases, such as Cataract, surgery may help to completely or partially restore sight. In other cases, blindness is permanent and cannot be reversed. People who become blind may require re-education and reorganization of their habits to allow them to do everyday tasks in different ways. There are countless people with blindness who, despite significant handicaps, lead full and enriched lives.
More information about Blindness
There is extensive information available about blindness. The information included is intended to inform you about the basics of this eye condition, and is not intended as a replacement for information from your physician or eye specialist. Information regarding assistive devices that can help you if you have been diagnosed with blindness is included. Our recommendations can be found under Tools and Resources.