For those of us reading this right now consider yourselves lucky, you have eyes that can help you go about your daily activities, you can write your blog and make it look beautiful for others to read, you can even trade online without depending on anybody for help.

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Many people out there are not fortunate to do those same activities of yours because they are blind! Some of them were born blind, some got to be blind from other ways eg accidents, eye diseases etc. They just wish they had the same right to sight just like everyone else.

In this article, you will have an insight about blindness, how the eye works, the common causes of blindness and prevention and might be lucky to update your knowledge.

HOW THE EYE WORKS

Let me start by refreshing your memory on how the human eye works. The human eye is like a camera! I am sure we all have an idea of what a camera is, we are even lucky that our smartphones have inbuilt cameras to help us capture great moments of our lives.

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When we take pictures, the lens in front allows light to pass through, and focus that light on a film. When this light hits the film, a picture is taken. The eye works in a similar fashion.

In a healthy eye, the lens is clear and allows light to pass through, light is focused by the cornea and lens unto a thin layer of tissue called the retina.

This retina works just like the film in a camera when the light hits the retina, tiny cells collect the light signals and converge them into electric signals which are sent to the optic nerve and to the brain where they are processed as the images we see.

Trying to liken the real camera to the phone camera we use, imagine a situation where the pictures taken by our phone camera were blurred, or they have multiple colors or even a blank image!, what if while trying to capture an image our camera refuses to work ! in this situation, it may be correct to assume that our smartphone camera has gone blind.

Remember we mentioned lens, optic nerve, retina, cornea etc let us look at some causes of blindness due to malfunction of these eye parts.

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NOTABLE CAUSES OF BLINDNESS

Blindness can occur suddenly or over a long period of time, it can be temporary or permanent, there are many causes of blindness worldwide, but these are worth mentioning.

1. CATARACT
2. GLAUCOMA
3. TRACHOMA
4. ONCHOCERCIASIS (or River blindness)
5. MACULA DEGENERATION
6. OTHER CAUSES.

1) CATARACT:

Just like the lens in the camera, the human lens can also be opaque. A cataract develops when there is an Opacity of the lens. This will cause visual loss.

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Types of cataract.

A. Congenital Cataract:

Cataract could be from birth, meaning the child may be born with an opaque lens. This may be due to the exposure of the mother to RUBELLA Infection “German measles” during early pregnancy.

Rubella immunization in combination with “Tripple Vaccine” in infancy to all babies usually prevents this.

There is a rare condition in which the baby is born without eyes (Congenital Anophthalmos)- This would lead to blindness all through Adult life.

B. SENILE CATARACT:

This is the most common form of cataract worldwide and the commonest cause of blindness.

The lens of the eye normally is transparent, Lens opacity is part of the aging process. There is no known prevention against aging.

Various factors may predispose to early development of cataract – Trauma, inflammation (ocular), Drugs, Diabetes etc.

senile cataracts can be operated upon, removed and vision restored, there is no need to be worried when a diagnosis is made.

2. GLAUCOMA:

This is the second commonest cause of blindness worldwide, including Nigeria. Unfortunately, unlike cataract, it produces an irreversible blindness.

glaucoma is a disease of the Nerve of sight (Optic Nerve), when raised intraocular pressure combined with other factors occur, it destroys the optic nerve leading to an irreversible blindness.

A family history of glaucoma should place one on the alert.

3) TRACHOMA:

This is a viral infection of the eye in a dry, dusty environment, it occurs due to poor personal eye hygiene. This infection could be contacted when females share their make up eg, eyeliners, eye mascara etc.

4) ONCHOCERCIASIS (OR RIVER BLINDNESS):

Onchocerca volvulus is a worm transmitted by a bite from the fly Simulium damnosum along fast-flowing streams.

The adult worm usually takes time to develop fully under the skin ( about 25 years) producing skin changes ( lizard-like skin) and releasing micro-filarial worms which invade the eyes which may lead to blindness.

5) MACULA DEGENERATION

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Age-Related macula degeneration is another insidious scourge accompanying old age. The part of the eye called macula may be affected by drugs (eg, chloroquine from prolonged use)

6 ) OTHER PREVENTABLE CAUSES OF BLINDNESS.

• DIET – A Poor diet low in proteins, vitamins A, B, C, and fruits can predispose to visual loss.

• TRAUMA. Perforating eye injury can also lead to blindness if not managed properly, eg of such injuries include sharp object perforation.

• OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS eg DIABETES and HYPERTENSION can also lead to blindness.

PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS

From the above causes of blindness, it could be seen that blindness could be reversible or non- reversible. Different measures could help to prevent the onset of blindness, especially in children.

• Breastfeeding would prevent eye diseases and blindness in children.

• Eating Vitamin A rich food would prevent blindness.

• Immunization against measles would prevent blindness.

• Early identification and referral is crucial to prevent blindness.

• Women should avoid sharing of eyeliners, mascara, eye pencils to prevent transmission of eye infections.

• Its important to wear swimming goggles while swimming.

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• Use of sun goggles, and hats on a sunny day.

• Prolonged sitting in front of TV, computers and reading in a poor light source should be discouraged.

Cataracts are not preventable but Glaucoma blindness is preventable, with EARLY DETECTION, SUSTAINED TREATMENT and FOLLOW UP.

In my next publication, I will try to discuss extensively on each of the causes of blindness as they are peculiar eye diseases on its own.

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