Blindness and vision loss: what is this, causes, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention
Blindness and vision loss; Loss of vision; No light perception (NLP); Low vision; Vision loss and blindness
Blindness and vision loss means partial or complete loss of vision.. Blindness is defined as visual acuity 20/200 or worse in the eye with the best correction, and loss of vision – like visual acuity 20/70 or worse in the eye with the best correction. Vision loss includes partial vision, low vision and legal blindness.
It's a common disease, affecting millions of people around the world, can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of blindness and vision loss., including their reasons, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, home treatment and prevention.
What is blindness and vision loss?
Blindness refers to the complete loss of vision, while visual loss refers to partial loss of vision. These terms are often used interchangeably and can refer to a range of conditions., from age-related macular degeneration to glaucoma and cataracts.
Causes of blindness and vision loss
There are many causes of blindness and vision loss., and they can range from genetic disorders to injuries, eye diseases and other health conditions. Some of the most common reasons include:
- age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
- Diabeticheskaya retinopathy
- Retinal disinsertion
- Optical neuropathy
- Corneal disease
When to contact a healthcare professional
If you experience sudden vision loss, flies or flashes of light, or if you notice a change in your vision, need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection and treatment can help preserve your vision and prevent vision loss..
Symptoms of blindness and vision loss
Symptoms of blindness and vision loss may vary depending on the underlying cause.. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Decreased visual acuity
- Tunnel vision
- Distorted vision
- Loss of color perception
Diagnosis of blindness and vision loss
Diagnosis of blindness and vision loss usually involves a thorough eye examination., including visual acuity testing, visual field test and eye examination with extended vision. Additional tests, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) or fluorescein angiogram, may also be performed to determine the root cause of the condition.
Treatment for blindness and vision loss
Treatment for blindness and vision loss depends on the underlying cause of the condition.. In some cases, vision loss can be corrected with medication or surgery.. In other cases, vision loss may be irreversible., and treatment may be aimed at relieving symptoms and improving quality of life. Some of the most common treatments include:
- Medicines
- Eye injections
- Laser therapy
- Operation
- Auxiliary devices
- vision rehabilitation
Home treatment for blindness and vision loss
There are several remedies and lifestyle changes, which can help manage symptoms of blindness and vision loss, including:
- Eating a Healthy Diet, rich in antioxidants and nutrients for eye health
- Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays
- Maintaining good hygiene to prevent eye infections
- Quitting smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- Maintaining a Healthy Weight and Controlling Diabetes
Prevention of blindness and vision loss
The best way to prevent blindness and vision loss is to maintain good eye health.. It includes:
- Regular eye exams
- Health Management, which can affect eye health, such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Wearing safety glasses when playing sports or other activities, hazardous to the eyes.
- Avoid exposure to harmful UV rays
In conclusion, it should be noted, that blindness and vision loss are common conditions, that can have a significant impact on the quality of human life.
Used sources and literature
Cioffi GA, Liebmann JM. Diseases of the visual system. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 395.
Colebrander A, Fletcher DC, Schoessow K. Vision rehabilitation. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, eds. Conn’s Current Therapy 2021. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier;2021:524-528.
Fricke TR, Tahhan N, Resnikoff S, et al, Global prevalence of presbyopia and vision impairment from uncorrected presbyopia: systematic review, meta-analysis, and modelling. Ophthalmology. 2018;125(10):1492-1499. PMID: 29753495 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29753495/.
Olitsky SE, Marsh JD. Disorders of vision. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Bloom NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 639.