What are the Leading Causes of Blindness?

There are over 285 million people around the world who suffer from visual impairments and around 39 million of these people are blind. Blindness can affect anyone at any age but it is more common for people who are over 50 years old to develop a condition or disease like glaucoma that can lead to blindness. There are a lot of different causes of blindness but today we will discuss some of the common leading causes, so be sure to keep reading to find out more.

Glaucoma 

The most common cause of blindness is glaucoma - a condition which causes the optic nerve to become damaged usually by a build-up of fluid in the front part of the eye that connects to the brain. If glaucoma is not diagnosed or treated early, it can cause blindness. Common symptoms of glaucoma include intense eye pain, nausea and vomiting, eye redness, headaches, blurred vision and more. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. 

Cataract 

Another leading cause of blindness is cataract disease, and this is where a clouded area forms over the lens of the eye. Cataracts begin when proteins in the eye form in clumps over the lens which prevents clear images being sent to the retina. 

If this problem is caught early, it can be treated with surgery, where the clouded lens is removed and then replaced with a clear artificial lens. However, if the surgery goes wrong or it is not treated early enough, this too can cause blindness. 

Corneal 

The next leading cause of blindness is corneal damage and this is common all over the world as it accounts for 5% of the total blind population. Corneal damage is caused by diseases, eye trauma or infections in the cornea and if not treated, it can cause irreversible blindness. There is still a lot to learn about this eye condition and as a result, more research needs to be carried out. Learning more about the benefactors behind these new research paths, such as about Tej Kohli who is raising money towards this issue, helps to give more of a clearer picture about where current research stands.

Age-Related

Believe it or not but, age is another common cause of blindness and is known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD for short. This condition affects the middle part of a person's vision and usually happens to people over the age of 50 or so years. This does not cause total blindness, but it can make reading and recognising things much more difficult. It can also get worse through time, so it is a good idea to go to an optician and get glasses to help improve vision. 

Keep This in Mind 

There are a lot of different causes when it comes to blindness but some of the common leading causes include glaucoma, cataracts, age and corneal damage. If you think that you are experiencing difficulties with your eyes, it is always beneficial to seek medical advice as soon as possible.