Blindness

What is Blindness?

Blindness is the inability to see anything, including light. There is also partial blindness that may present with the following symptoms cloudy vision, an inability to see shapes, seeing only shadows, poor night vision and tunnel vision. According to the WHO, about 26.3 million people in Africa have a form of visual impairment. Of these, 5.9 million are estimated to be blind. It is estimated that 15.3% of the world’s blind population reside in Africa. As of 2021, the Ghana Health Service stated that 227,920 Ghanaians were blind.

What are some misconceptions about blindness and vision loss?

Although a majority of cases of blindness occur amongst the older population, blindness is not considered a normal part of the aging process. Any changes in vision warrants a clinical exam. Consuming gari regularly is not a direct cause of vision loss. Poorly processed gari however contains cyanide which is toxic to humans when consumed in large quantities for prolonged periods. Not all vision loss is permanent or progressive, where the cause is identified and addressed damage may be arrested or reversed.

What causes blindness?

With today’s knowledge and technology, up to 80% of blindness can be prevented or treated. But many millions of people in Africa and Ghana remain at risk of visual loss due to the lack of eye-care services. The highest cause of blindness in Ghana is cataract (54.8%) followed by glaucoma (19.4%).

The following eye diseases and conditions can cause blindness:

• Glaucoma refers to different eye conditions that can damage your optic nerve, which carries visual information from your eyes to your brain.
• Macular degeneration destroys the part of your eye that enables you to see details. It usually affects older adults and may be part of the ageing process.
• Cataracts cause cloudy vision. They are more common in older people.
• A lazy eye (alukumi) can make it difficult to see details. It may lead to vision loss.
• Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve that can cause temporary or permanent vision loss.
• Retinitis pigmentosa refers to damage of the retina. It leads to blindness only in rare cases.
• Tumors that affect the retina or optic nerve can also cause blindness.

Blindness is a potential complication if you have diabetes, hypertension or  a stroke. Other common causes of blindness include birth defects, eye injuries, complications from eye surgery. In infants, visual impairment is suspected if there is an inability to fix their gaze on an object and follow its movement or there is an extreme sensitivity to light. It may be caused from infections, congenital glaucoma, congenital cataracts or as a consequence of prematurity.

How is blindness diagnosed?

A thorough eye examination by an eye specialist (optometrist) will help determine the cause of your blindness or partial loss of vision. The tests measure:

• The clarity of your vision
• The function of your eye muscles
• How your pupils react to light

They will examine the general health of your eyes using a slit lamp. It is a low-power microscope paired with a high-intensity light.

How can visual loss be treated?

In some cases of vision impairment, one or more of the following may help restore vision: eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery or medication to prevent worsening of vision. Complete blindness requires approaching life in a new way and learning new skills. The family unit may be needed for help with movement and activities of daily living.

What are tips to prevent vision loss?

• To prevent blindness, regular timed visits to the optometrist are recommended. A visit to the doctor is needed if there is a sudden change in vision or how the eye feels.
• Maintain your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. Ninety percent of blindness caused by diabetes is preventable.
• Eat a diet rich in dark leafy greens such as spinach and kontomire; and omega 3 fatty acids like salmon and tuna
• Wear protective eye gear when working in environments with dust and sediments in the air; eg mines, wood work factories and sand quarries.
• Give your eyes a rest if you spend a lot of the time at the computer. Try the 20-20-20 rule; for every 20 minutes you spend fixated on a screen, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 secs.