Blindness
Einstein Health Glossary
ICD 10 - H54
What is blindness?
Blindness is generally the term used for total loss of vision. However, it is sometimes also used to describe partial loss that can affect daily activities. It has a wide range of causes.
Symptoms
Blindness is defined by the loss of vision. Depending on the cause, cases may involve eye pain, headaches caused by reduced visual capacity, among other symptoms.
Causes
Blindness has various causes. It may be present from birth or result from accidents, infections, and diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma, or cataracts.
Diagnosis
Blindness is usually diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. Additional tests may be requested to determine the cause of the problem.
Prevention Method
Not all types of blindness can be prevented. Risk situations that may lead to eye accidents require special care. Regular medical check-ups are also recommended to identify diseases that may lead to vision loss, such as diabetes, glaucoma, and cataracts.
Treatment
Some types of blindness are irreversible. When treatment is possible, medications, eye drops, and surgery can help control, improve, or even cure certain cases. Talk to a doctor.
Duration
Blindness is a condition with an indefinite duration, which varies depending on the cause and treatment. It may be irreversible or cured through surgery, as in cases of blindness secondary to cataracts, for example.
Is it contagious?
Blindness itself is not contagious, but some cases may result from transmissible diseases. A common infectious cause of blindness is trachoma, caused by a bacterium.
Can it occur more than once?
It is possible for a person with partial vision loss to resolve the issue through treatment but experience blindness again in the future due to another cause.