Blindness

What is blindness?

Blindness is the inability to see anything, including light. Partial blindness may involve blurry vision, tunnel vision, or difficulty seeing at night. In Africa, over 26 million people have visual impairments, with 5.9 million completely blind. In Ghana, approximately 227,920 people are blind.

Common myths about blindness?

• Old age causes blindness: Aging doesn’t automatically lead to blindness.
• Eating too much gari causes blindness: Poorly processed gari can affect health, but it doesn’t directly cause blindness.
• All vision loss is permanent: Some conditions can be treated if detected early.

Causes of blindness?

• Cataracts: Cloudy vision, common in older adults.
• Glaucoma: Damages the optic nerve, affecting vision.
• Optic neuritis: Inflammation that may lead to temporary or permanent blindness.
• Retinitis pigmentosa: Rarely leads to total blindness.
• Diabetes and hypertension: Can severely impact eye health.
• Lazy Eye (Alukumi): Untreated, it can result in permanent vision loss.
• Other causes: Infections, injuries, and complications from premature birth.

Protecting your vision?

• Regular Eye Check-ups: Early detection can prevent blindness.
• Healthy Diet: Eat leafy greens like kontomire and omega-3-rich fish.
• Eye Protection: Use goggles in dusty environments.
• Rest Your Eyes: Follow the 20-20-20 rule—every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds.