Diagnosis of blindness
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The diagnosis of blindness can only be done at a clinic. While you may be able to tell whether you can see or not, only an eye doctor can help you determine whether it is actually blindness and educate you on what you can do about it.
Your doctor will do a comprehensive eye examination, which may involve:
- Testing your visual acuity
- Measuring your eyes’ pressure or doing a tonometry
- Dilating your eyes with eye drops
You may need an MRI or a CT scan if the examination reveals any abnormalities.
Prevention of blindness
Unfortunately, some types of blindness cannot be prevented. Blindness due to macular degeneration or optic atrophy, for instance, is unavoidable and a natural consequence of old age. But most types are preventable.
The goals of prevention are to:
- Protect your eyes from any disease
- Prevent your vision from getting worse if you’re already having trouble with your vision
- Minimize the difficulties you may face as someone with visual impairment
So, how can you prevent blindness?
- Go for regular eye checks at least once a year
- Maintain proper eye hygiene
- Use protective eyewear such as glasses and safety goggles
- Manage underlying diseases like hypertension and diabetes
- Get treated against blindness-causing infections such as Trachoma
- Go for genetic counselling to know your risk for developing eye diseases
Treatment of blindness
The treatment of blindness depends on the underlying cause. Some causes may require drugs, others may require surgery or transplants.
- Drugs: Antibiotics and anti-worm medications can help treat blindness caused by bacteria and worms.
- Supplements: Vitamin A supplements may help restore vision loss in individuals with xerophthalmia.
- Surgery: Refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye structural eye diseases can be resolved through surgery.
- Corneal transplant: transplanting corneal tissues from a healthy donor helps improve vision loss or impairment caused by corneal damage.
Individuals with irreversible vision loss can use adaptive devices and technologies to help them navigate their environment and perform daily tasks. These may include braille devices, talking computers, and mobility aids like canes and guide dogs.
Note that treatment for blindness is best delivered by ophthalmologists who are readily available in most Nigerian hospitals. You may need to visit specialist centres, or contact your local clinics to access ophthalmologists who will treat you.
Conclusion
Blindness is the loss of sight, either completely or partially, and it can affect people of all ages, including children. Common causes include infections, injuries, untreated eye diseases, and lack of proper eye care.
