Question 1

How many people are affected by blindness?

Accepted Answer

About 350 million people globally are affected by some form of visual impairment where they cannot see either partially or completely. Of these 350 million, 50 million people are completely blind, and cannot tell light from dark. A high percentage of blindness occurs in people who are 50 years or older. In developing nations, blindness can occur at a lower age due to the inability to get the proper treatment on time.

Question 2

What is legal blindness?

Accepted Answer

Legal blindness is a condition where, despite surgery, a person is unable to see properly. A person who is legally blind sees at 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees at 200 feet. It is not a medical term but is used by lawmakers in certain countries. People who can see normally with one eye but are blind in the other, do not come under the category of 'legally blind'. For example, in the United States, 700,000 people fall in the legally blind category. These people can get various government benefits, such as financial help.

Question 3

Should I wait for the vision to return if I think I have Sudden Blindness?

Accepted Answer

No. You should never delay getting emergency care if you experience Sudden Blindness. You should ask someone to take you to the emergency room as soon as you have sudden vision loss. If you wait for too long, there could be permanent damage to the eye, resulting in further complications. Getting appropriate treatment on time increases the chances of getting back your vision.

Question 4

What are the symptoms of Sudden Blindness in adults?

Accepted Answer

If you are suffering from Sudden Blindness, you might be unable to identify different shapes in your surroundings. You might only see shadows instead of the actual object. Another symptom is tunnel vision, in which you can only see things that are in the central part of your vision, rather than your peripheral vision. You might experience a cloudy vision when you have Sudden Blindness. Some people experience poor night vision if they have Sudden Blindness. If you feel any discomfort and have any kind of discharge from your eyes, it can be a sign of an eye problem.

The symptoms can vary. You can have only one symptom or several symptoms of Sudden Blindness. The cause of the blindness determines the symptoms you experience. The key is to know if something seems off and contact emergency care immediately.

Question 5

Is papilledema an answer to what can cause temporary blindness in both eyes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, papilledema is among the causes of sudden blindness in both eyes. It is true, but it is also rare. Papilledema is referred to as the condition when the optic nerve swells due to increased pressure on the brain. This condition may lead to various vision problems. You might experience double vision or everything may look very blurry. This temporary blindness lasts just a few seconds and can be accompanied by vomiting and headache. There are various causes of papilledema that lead to temporary blindness. Other causes, such as infections and high blood pressure, can lead to brain pressure. Some medicines can put undue pressure on the brain as well, which would make you more prone to blindness.

Question 6

What is a biomicroscopy test?

Accepted Answer

A biomicroscopy test is widely known as a slit lamp exam. In this test, your eyes are being examined microscopically. This helps your ophthalmologist detect any problems or abnormalities in your eye. It can be used to diagnose a range of problems, such as detached retina, retinal vessel blockage, macular degeneration, cataracts, and cornea injury. While the test is not too risky, contact your ophthalmologist immediately if you experience any discomfort. It is normal to feel increasingly sensitive to light.

This is how the biomicroscopy test works. Your doctor will put eye drops in your eye. These drops contain fluorescein, which is a yellow dye. A machine will be put into place whereby you can rest your head so that your head is firmly positioned. Using a slit lamp and microscope, your doctor will examine each eye. All areas of your eyes, such as the sclera, conjunctiva, retina, eyelids, cornea, iris, and lens, will be examined during this test. Different filters are available that enable your doctor to view your eyes in more detail. If your doctor diagnoses problems during the test, you may need some form of treatment.

Question 7

What are the causes of blindness in children and infants?

Accepted Answer

There are various causes of blindness and visual impairment in infants. Amblyopia, cataracts, congenital glaucoma, and strabismus are some of the problems that can cause blindness in infants. There are certain infections like pink eye that can cause blindness in infants. Blocked tear ducts often cause blindness in children. Ptosis is another popular cause of blindness in children. Children whose visual system is developed slowly are more prone to blindness. Premature babies whose blood vessels aren’t completely developed yet can suffer from blindness due to ROP or retinopathy of prematurity.

Question 8

How will I know if my child has symptoms of blindness

Accepted Answer

It takes two years for children to develop their visual system. However, some signs might indicate your child is prone to blindness. Your child constantly rubbing the eyes or being unable to focus on an object suggests the risk of blindness. Severe redness in the eyes, higher sensitivity and inability to stand light are the symptoms to watch out for to prevent your child from blindness. If your child has teary eyes most of the time and has any type of eye movement that isn’t normal, there are chances of visual impairment.

There is another sign that might indicate blindness. If your child has a white pupil, he might be suffering from visual impairment. If you see any of these signs and symptoms, contact a paediatrician immediately to ensure your child is given proper treatment before it is too late. By 8 weeks, your child should be able to properly focus on a single object and follow the object with their eyes without any difficulty. When your child is 4 months old, the eyes are properly aligned. If something seems amiss, book an appointment at the earliest.

Question 9

What are some coping mechanisms for people who have become blind?

Accepted Answer

If someone you know has become blind, the first thing to make sure is that they don’t feel dejected about it. It is a big change to suddenly not be able to see things. However, it doesn’t mean that there is no hope. You just need to help them learn new ways to make their life easier. A guide dog can help them, and you can help them arrange their homes so that they can easily find what they need. Learning how to read braille can be beneficial. Various gadgets can make life easier for a blind person and you can research them.

Question 10

Why choose Narayana Health for eye problems?

Accepted Answer

Your eyes are precious, and you want to give them the best possible care by choosing the best eye hospital in India. If you agree, it is important to seek the best eye specialist in India. Narayana Health focuses on providing the best eye care for a range of different eye conditions. You can get your eyes examined by the best eye specialist in Bangalore by booking an appointment. Narayana Hospital specialises in a range of treatments, including those for glaucoma, cataracts, anterior segment surgery, refractive surgery, and paediatric ophthalmology.

Question 11

How does blindness affect a person?

Accepted Answer

Visual impairment can limit people's ability to perform everyday tasks and affect their quality of life and ability to interact with the surrounding world. Blindness, the most severe form of visual impairment, can reduce people's ability to perform daily tasks, and move about unaided.

Question 12

Is Sudden blindness a sign of stroke?

Accepted Answer

Most strokes affect one side of the brain. If the right occipital lobe is injured, the left field of vision in each eye may be affected. A stroke that affects the left occipital lobe may disturb the right field of vision in each eye. Rarely are both sides of the brain affected, but this can result in blindness.

Question 13

Can anxiety or stress trigger Sudden Blindness?

Accepted Answer

Stress certainly affects every function in your body. Anxiety is known to affect vision. It can cause the pupils to dilate, which lets in more light, leading to eye pain. It also can contribute to eye strain, which may lead to more vision problems. Anxiety can cause double vision, blurry vision and, in a few rare cases, hallucinations. However, anxiety cannot cause blindness. There is currently no evidence of anxiety causing true blindness.

Question 14

Can issues with near vision make you go blind?

Accepted Answer

Presbyopia affects near vision (reading vision) and may have other side effects, such as headaches or difficulty seeing in low light. Presbyopia can interfere with your vision and your daily routine, but will not cause blindness. However, there are other age-related eye conditions and some that can cause permanent loss of vision, if left untreated. That is why it is very important to have a comprehensive annual eye exam after the age of 40.

Question 15

What are the primary causes of Corneal Blindness?

Accepted Answer

If you're experiencing vision issues or signs of blindness are visible due to a disease of the cornea, it's termed corneal blindness. It's the 4th most common cause of blindness all over the world after cataract, glaucoma, and other age-related macular degeneration. Some of the most prominent factors that lead to corneal blindness include Infective Keratitis, Trachoma, Leprosy, Vitamin A deficiency, and Onchocerciasis.

Question 16

What you must consider to lower your chances of sudden blindness?

Accepted Answer

To lower your chances of experiencing vision loss or sudden blindness, you can take the following steps:

Avoid smoking to minimise the chance of developing diabetic retinopathy
Focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes spinach or kale
Exercise regularly to avoid physical boredom, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and reduce the risk of developing diseases that can trigger eye-related issues.
Keep a tab on your blood pressure, as high BP can increase your risk for glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy.
Wear anti-glare shades to safeguard your eyes from harmful UV rays

Question 17

How can Glaucoma impact my vision?

Accepted Answer

In Glaucoma, your optic nerve gets damaged, leading to permanent vision loss. The damage happens when the internal fluid pressure of the eye increases too much, resulting in damage to the nerve fibres and blood vessels in the optic nerve. Since optic nerve fibres carry visual information, their damage affects the quality of information sent to the brain, leading to a loss of vision. If glaucoma is detected at an early age, it can be controlled with little or no further vision loss. However, if you leave it untreated, the peripheral vision and then the central vision will be affected, causing blindness.