What Is Sudden Blindness?

Sudden blindness is a condition when you suddenly find it difficult to see. People think that sudden vision loss is the same as complete blindness. However, they are not the same. You might experience blurry vision. You might feel like you are suffering from a sudden loss of peripheral vision. Otherwise, you might even feel like a sudden loss of central vision. All of these three problems fall under Sudden Blindness. The duration of Sudden Blindness can vary. It may last for only a few seconds or many hours. There is a chance that Sudden Blindness may be permanent if treatment is not received at the appropriate time.

Sudden Blindness Causes

Sudden partial vision loss can be caused due to multiple reasons. Migraines are the most common cause of temporary vision loss. Migraines may cause blind spots, or you may feel like you are seeing flashing lights. Migraines cause Sudden Blindness in both eyes. Giant cell arteritis is another cause of temporary blindness in one eye. It can cause temporary vision loss in people over 50 years old. If left untreated, it can cause long-term or permanent blindness, too. Another cause of temporary vision loss is retinal vasospasm, in which the tightening of the blood vessels in your retina impacts blood flow.

Closed-angle glaucoma can lead to temporary blindness in one eye due to excessive pressure on the eye. It is caused by the bulging of the iris in your eye, which prevents eye fluid from draining properly. It can lead to a host of different problems. You can see halos and may experience sudden blurred vision. If this is not diagnosed and treated on time, it may also lead to permanent vision loss. Another cause of Sudden Blindness is vitreous haemorrhage, in which blood leakage occurs. It can cause blockage of light, which then cannot enter the eye, making it difficult for you to view anything.

There are some rare causes of sudden loss of vision. A retinal migraine can cause Sudden Blindness in one eye. You may not be able to see for about 20 minutes. It may happen right before your migraine or when you have a headache. Epileptic seizures can cause migraines, although these are rare occurrences. About 10% of people who suffer from epilepsy have seizures that impact the occipital lobe. The seizure can cause loss of vision before or after the seizure.

Another rare cause of Sudden Blindness is a one-off phenomenon affecting people with multiple sclerosis. People with multiple sclerosis who experience a rise in body temperature can become temporarily blind in one or both eyes. Retinal vein occlusion rarely causes Sudden Blindness, but it can still lead to temporary vision loss. In this condition, a retinal vein gets blocked, which can be caused by a blood clot. Temporary loss of vision can eventually lead to a buildup of fluid in the eye, which can cause further swelling.

Sudden total vision loss can be caused due to a clot. A clot formation can cause temporary vision loss, leading to a permanent or total loss of vision when prompt treatment is not undertaken. Temporary blindness can last for about half an hour, after which, if treatment is not undertaken, you may lose your vision permanently. The clot blocks the retinal artery, which may cause blindness. Otherwise, it can be caused by a blockage due to a clot in a blood vessel.

Are You At Risk For Blindness?

Here are some factors that may make you more prone to becoming blind. These are:

People who undergo eye surgery may become blind.
If your work involves dealing with sharp objects, you should refrain from getting your eyes in close contact with them to prevent eye damage that may lead to temporary or permanent blindness.
People who have poor hygiene are at risk of becoming blind.
If you have diabetes, then you are more likely to become blind in the future.
People who suffer from any type of cerebrovascular disease or cardiovascular disease are more prone to blindness.
Stroke is one of the major causes that lead to blindness, temporary or permanent.
If you have certain eye diseases, you are more likely to become blind.
People who do not get proper nutrition are more likely to become blind. This is often the case in third-world countries.
People who have a family history of blindness are at a higher risk of blindness.
Babies who are born prematurely are at a higher risk of becoming blind.
People who are old are at a much higher risk of becoming partially or completely blind than younger people.
Lack of prenatal care can lead to blindness.
Smoking increases your chances of becoming blind compared to non-smokers.
If you work in an environment where toxic chemicals are used, then you are more likely to become blind

Prevention Of Blindness

Blindness can be prevented if you get your eyes checked regularly. Periodic eye examinations will ensure you are treated early in case you have any eye problems or in case of any sudden occurrences. It can prevent you from losing your vision. When you are diagnosed with a certain type of eye disease, following your ophthalmologist's instructions about what care needs to be taken is highly important. It can help treat your problem. At any point, if you feel like you have blindness or any type of vision loss, then you should make an appointment with your ophthalmologist as soon as possible to ensure speedy treatment.

You must check your children's eyes when they are six months old and then when they are three years old. When they turn six years old, you should check their eyes once a year to ensure they remain healthy and have no trace of blindness. However, if you feel like they have symptoms of eye disease or any eye problem, it is best to get their eyes checked by an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Waiting for the eye problem to go away is never the solution and can lead to permanent vision loss for children. Thus, contacting an ophthalmologist is mandatory.

Some forms of blindness occur due to improper diet or diet lacking nutritional value. In such cases, blindness can be prevented by following a proper diet. Proper eye protection can reduce the chances of you being blind. When an eye problem is detected early, blindness can be prevented if you take the precautions suggested by your ophthalmologist. For instance, when glaucoma is detected early, on-time & appropriate measures can be undertaken to avoid blindness. Your ophthalmologist is the one who can best tell you which form of treatment is most suitable for you according to your case.

You should focus on eating foods that are low in sugar levels if you have diabetes. Managing your diabetes and controlling your blood sugar levels will help prevent blindness that can be caused due to diabetes. Proper exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are good for your overall health and your eyes. You should focus on healthy habits and avoid anything that raises your risk of becoming blind. While some things might be out of your control, you should focus on things you can control. You should ensure that if you are obese, you work towards getting healthier as a healthier weight decreases the risk of blindness.

It is important to remember that some forms of blindness occur as people continue to live longer than their predecessors. While no prevention measures are available for such causes of blindness, research is continually being carried out.

Diagnosis Of Blindness

An ophthalmologist or eye specialist will diagnose blindness by conducting several tests for adults. In the tests, each eye is individually diagnosed. This is because you can have Sudden Blindness in one or both eyes. Your doctor will check how clear you can see and how far you can see. He will then perform tests to see how your pupils are affected when there is light and check if your pupils dilate when exposed to direct light. Your doctor will then test how well your eye muscles are functioning. Your eyes' general health will be analyzed with the help of a biomicroscopy test.

Treatment For Blindness

How blindness is treated depends entirely on the cause of the blindness. If eyeglasses can help with treatment, then your ophthalmologist will advise you to use eyeglasses or contact lenses to help you see clearer and better. People who are blind because of refractive errors need eyeglasses for treatment. Sometimes, your doctor will prescribe medication that can help restore vision. For instance, people who have become blind because of inflammatory-related issues can get medicines to treat their blindness. People with blindness caused by infections can have medicines as a treatment option.

People who are blind due to nutritional deficiency can be given proper nutrition to treat their blindness. In some cases, surgery can help treat blindness. For example, people with cataracts can have cataract surgery to treat their blindness. People who have visual impairment due to corneal scarring can have corneal transplantation surgery to treat their visual impairment. Not all treatments may be appropriate for your case. Your ophthalmologist will let you know which treatment is most suitable for you and which will benefit you the most.

People with partial blindness who cannot be treated to restore their vision must understand how to live with limited visual abilities. Your ophthalmologist will provide everything you need to know about how to make things easier for yourself. For instance, you can increase the text size on your laptop or computer. You can use a magnifying glass when reading books if that is easier for you. Rather than ebooks, you can opt for audiobooks, as this will make things easier for you. Also, you can think of ways to do things quickly without straining yourself too much.

Prognosis And Long Term Outlook

The cause determines the prognosis of blindness. However, if you can quickly get the required treatment, you are more likely to be able to protect and restore your vision. If you take preventative measures to ensure that you are taking optimal care of your eyes, then the long-term outlook is good. Vision loss can be prevented with early diagnosis and proper treatment. For example, in the case of cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the outlook.

Some causes of blindness cannot be prevented or treated. For example, people who have had blindness because of damage to the optic nerve have a less favourable outlook. Moreover, people who became blind because of Stroke have an unfavourable outlook, too. People with retinal detachment for a long time don't have a good outlook either. Your ophthalmologist is the best person who can give you accurate information about your outlook, depending on the cause of your blindness.