Blindness: Escaping Darkness
Almost half of the population of blind people in the United
States is over sixty five years of age. A figure that may well
support the fact that blindness generally occurs as the year in
one's life advances. Americans,the young, the adult, and the old
are all victims of blindness.
Before we get hit by this, we should check on its causes and
cures to be able to deal with it.
What can cause blindness?
Cataract
Among the known causes of blindness is cataract, and is probably
the most common among the listed. Although some people are born
with it, cataracts often occur as aging takes place.
This disorder is caused by a form blocking the passage of light
which enables the eye to see, when this passage is blocked, the
eye's lens become cloudy, thus, resulting to opaque, blurred,
doubled or dimmed vision.
But not all people with cataract are suggested to undergo
surgery, except for those serious cases that may lead to major
visual problems.
Ophthalmologists would often require them to undergo surgical
removal of lens, use corrective glasses or contact lenses, or
the replacement of intraocular lens.
Glaucoma
Another cause of blindness is known as Glaucoma. It is said to
be a very severe cause of blindness that nearly 8% of the blind
population are hit by this disorder.
Glaucoma takes place when our eye drainages are clogged and form
pressure around and within the eye.
Since the front part of the eye is normally supplied with a
transparent fluid, one's vision becomes blurred and damage,
eventually resulting in complete blindness because of the
pressure brought in by clogged drainages.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Many of us are aware of the symptoms, causes, and cure for
diabetes. But only a few know that diabetes can actually cause
blindness. This is because our retina may burst and totally get
wrecked when different changes occur in our tiny blood vessels,
seriously causing blindness.
When strange blood vessels are formed, the retina tends to break
loose and detach itself from the back part of the eye. Experts
have discovered several laser treatments to cure this
blindness-leading disorder.
And one known treatment for this is the process called "sealing
of blood vessels", preventing them from bursting. And
re-attacking the retina from where it was detached.
Macular Degeneration
A person with this blindness-causing disorder is more like a
malfunctioned camera which either ran out of film, or have dirty
lenses giving the photographer a blurred vision of what he is
about to take picture of.
The Macula is a part of the retina which plays a vital role in
forming the sharpest vision and focal point of the picture.
Usually, macular degeneration arises in the aging years.
This disorder takes place slowly, by will not result to total
blindness or dark peripheral vision. People affected with this
disorder uses magnifying lenses to save them from blindness.
In some cases, under going laser treatments will help them
restore perfect vision as the worn out tissues on the macular
area are being cast away, and replaced by new ones.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Retinitis Pigmentosa is also popularly known as "night
blindness". This disorder occurs when "excessive" or unnecessary
pigments are strangely developed in the eye, thus leads to the
degeneration of the choroids (the eye's vascular area) and of
the retina.
Blindness caused by Retinitis Pigmentosa is known to be
hereditary, due to the variety of patterns of inheritance that
develops in the genetic materials.
Usually, the common pattern of the development of Retinitis
Pigmentosa takes place at around age 10 or 12. At this point,
the person will encounter difficulty in seeing things at night
and in some areas which are not well lighted.
Eventually, it will result in the narrowing of the visual field
and experiencing "tunnel vision". This disorder may not be
obvious during the first stages, but the visual loss or
blindness will rapidly take place. People who are suffering with
this disorder usually go blind as early as the young adulthood
stages.
Everyday, a throng of 50,000 Americans go blind. Today, there
are more than 5 known causes of blindness, and only a few are
totally treated.
The eyes play a vital role in our life, for without them we will
not be able to define 'beauty." Taking care of your eyes and
seeing a doctor regularly for eye check ups will help prevent
blindness.