Common causes of blindness that Nigerians everyone Should know

 

Blindness is the inability to see anything while Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its vision functions. The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness at a global level are refractive errors and cataracts.

 

A public health expert and Programme Officer with Sightsavers Nigeria, Dr Joshua Ibenu said 1.1 million Nigerians are blind but there are not enough ophthalmologists to take care of eye and vision conditions in the country.

Dr Ibenu said 0.78 per cent of Nigerians have some form of blindness in all ages and the number increases to 4.2 per cent in older age groups.

According to him, it is estimated that 1,130,000 individuals aged 40 or above are currently blind in Nigeria and the North West geo-political zone has the largest number of blind adults (28.6 per cent) being the zone with the largest population.

furthermore “85 per cent of blindness are as a result of avoidable causes but people do not know this. Some preventable causes of blindness are glaucoma, cornea opacity, poor sleep, unlimited screen time, and harmful traditional practices. Meanwhile, if we tackle blindness, we will be able to improve our health status in the country.

 

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.
• Cataracts cause cloudy vision. They’re more common in older people.
• A lazy eye can make it difficult to see details. It may lead to vision loss.
• Optic neuritis is inflammation 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 or have a stroke. Other common causes of blindness include:

• birth defects
• eye injuries
• complications from eye surgery

Causes of blindness in infants

The following conditions can impair vision or cause blindness in infants:

• infections, such as pink eye
• blocked tear ducts
• cataracts
• strabismus (crossed eyes)
• amblyopia (lazy eye)
• ptosis (droopy eyelid)
• congenital glaucoma
• retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which occurs in premature babies when the blood vessels that supply their retina aren’t fully developed

visual inattention, or delayed development of your child’s visual system

 

The following categories of people are at risk for blindness:

• people with eye diseases, such as macular degeneration and glaucoma
• people with diabetes
• people who have a stroke
• people undergoing eye surgery
• people who work with or near sharp objects or toxic chemicals
• premature babies

 

In some cases of vision impairment, one or more of the following may help restore vision:

• eyeglasses
• contact lenses
• surgery
• medication

If you experience partial blindness that can’t be corrected, your doctor will provide guidance on how to function with limited vision. For example, you can use a magnifying glass to read, increase the text size on your computer, and use audio clocks and audiobooks.

Complete blindness requires approaching life in a new way and learning new skills. For example, you may need to learn how to:

 

• read Braille
• use a guide dog
• organize your home so you can easily find things and stay safe
• fold money in distinct ways to distinguish bill amounts

You can also consider getting some adaptive products, like a specialized smartphone, color identifier, and accessible cookware. There’s even adaptive sporting equipment, like sensory soccer balls

 

How can blindness be prevented

Your eyes are an important part of your health. You can do many things to keep them healthy and make sure you’re seeing your best. Follow these simple guidelines for maintaining healthy eyes well into your golden years.

Have a comprehensive dilated eye exam. You might think your vision is fine or that your eyes are healthy, but visiting your eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. When it comes to common vision problems, some people don’t realize they could see better with glasses or contact lenses. In addition, many common eye diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration, often have no warning signs. A dilated eye exam is the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages.

During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, your eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate, or widen, the pupil to allow more light to enter the eye—the same way an open door lets more light into a dark room. This process enables your eye care professional to get a good look at the back of the eyes and examine them for any signs of damage or disease. Your eye care professional is the only one who can determine if your eyes are healthy and if you’re seeing your best.

Maintain your blood sugar levels. 90% of blindness caused by diabetes is preventable. Ask your health care team to help you set and reach goals to manage your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol—also known as the ABCs of diabetes.

• A1c: The goal set for many people is less than 7% for this blood test, but your doctor might set different goals for you.
• Blood pressure: High blood pressure causes heart disease. The goal is less than 140/90 mmHg for most people, but your doctor might set different goals for you.
• Cholesterol: LDL or “bad” cholesterol builds up and clogs your blood vessels. HDL or “good” cholesterol helps remove the “bad” cholesterol from your blood vessels. Ask what your cholesterol numbers should be

Know your family’s eye health history. Talk to your family members about their eye health history. It’s important to know if anyone has been diagnosed with an eye disease or condition, since many are hereditary. This information will help to determine if you’re at higher risk for developing an eye disease or condition.

Eat right to protect your sight. You’ve heard that carrots are good for your eyes. But eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables—particularly dark leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, or collard greens—is important for keeping your eyes healthy, too.ⁱ Research has also shown there are eye health benefits from eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing diabetes and other systemic conditions, which can lead to vision loss, such as diabetic eye disease or glaucoma. If you’re having trouble maintaining a healthy weight, talk to your doctor.

Wear protective eyewear. Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or doing activities around the home. Protective eyewear includes safety glasses and goggles, safety shields, and eye guards specially designed to provide the correct protection for the activity in which you’re engaged. Most protective eyewear lenses are made of polycarbonate, which is 10 times stronger than other plastics. Many eye care providers sell protective eyewear, as do some sporting goods stores.

Quit smoking or never start. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body. Research has linked smoking to an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and optic nerve damage, all of which can lead to blindness.^{ii, iii}

Be cool and wear your shades. Sunglasses are a great fashion accessory, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focusing on any one thing, you sometimes forget to blink and your eyes can get fatigued. Try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds. This short exercise can help reduce eyestrain.

Clean your hands and your contact lenses—properly. To avoid the risk of infection, always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out your contact lenses. Make sure to disinfect contact lenses as instructed and replace them as appropriate. Learn more about keeping your eyes healthy while wearing contact lenses and listen to a podcast on keeping your eyes safe.

Practice workplace eye safety. Employers are required to provide a safe work environment. When protective eyewear is required as a part of your job, make a habit of wearing the appropriate type at all times, and encourage your coworkers to do the same.

 

Don’t forget that prevention is better than control- Emeka Dilibe