| There are many causes of blindness, some | | | | the small blood vessels in the retina because of |
| common and some very rare. Blindness can fall | | | | high blood glucose levels as a result of poorly |
| under the "legal" classification which means the | | | | controlled diabetes mellitus. It usually manifests |
| person still has some degree of sight all the way | | | | itself in 80% of people who have had diabetes for |
| up to those who can't see anything at all. | | | | 10 years or longer. |
| However, except for accidental eye injury, there | | | | In mild cases the treatment can range from |
| are just four major causes of blindness which still | | | | consistent monitoring of blood glucose levels and |
| may be treated depending on when they are | | | | regular eye exams to laser surgery in more |
| discovered. | | | | advanced cases in order to reduce macular |
| Macular Degeneration | | | | bleeding. However, because this disease can be |
| The macula is the part of the retina located | | | | both long lasting and reoccurring, medical |
| closest to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. | | | | treatment needs to be on a continuing basis. |
| It is the part responsible for picking up fine details | | | | Retinitis Pigmentosa |
| at the center of a person's vision. The most | | | | This is the general title for a group of inherited |
| common form of Macular Degeneration occurs in | | | | eye conditions that can result in blindness. There |
| people over the age of 60 as a result of the | | | | are various forms of Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP |
| thinning of the tissues of the macula which is | | | | as it is commonly referred to, but all of them can |
| referred to as "dry" macular degeneration. As the | | | | eventually lead to the break down of photocells |
| cells begin to deteriorate, blurring of the central | | | | inside the retina. |
| vision will occur and as this condition progresses | | | | The initial symptom of RP is usually first detected |
| permanent blindness may result. | | | | in children as night blindness. The disease can then |
| Unfortunately, dry macular degeneration can not | | | | progress at various rates of speed as the child |
| be prevented at this time which is why early | | | | becomes older manifesting itself in a reduction of |
| detection is critical, however, once detected its | | | | peripheral vision until the RP sufferer is left with |
| progression can be stabilized by a regiment of | | | | an extremely small viewing field sometimes |
| recommended vitamins. | | | | referred to as tunnel vision. |
| Glaucoma | | | | Because RP is inherited, genetic testing and |
| Glaucoma is a disease which is commonly brought | | | | research seems to be the best bet to prevent |
| on by a steady increase in the fluid pressure | | | | the possibility of passing RP onto offspring, but |
| inside the eye. In many cases this increase in | | | | for now there is really no treatment for those |
| pressure can inflate the eye beyond its point of | | | | presently suffering from the disease. However, |
| stability resulting at first in the loss of the | | | | while a diminishing of vision is common there is no |
| peripheral vision and later permanent damage to | | | | guarantee that a RP sufferer will lose all of their |
| the eye thus resulting in serious vision loss. | | | | sight. |
| The present treatment for glaucoma can vary | | | | As discussed above, preventing blindness is not |
| from prescription eye drops to, in some cases, | | | | always possible, but for 3 out of the 4 causes |
| surgery to relieve the pressure on the optic | | | | discussed there are things that can be done to |
| nerve. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, | | | | help preserve or prolong the sight a person has |
| there is no cure for glaucoma but with early | | | | left. The chances of success is increased with |
| detection and treatment it is possible to retain | | | | early detection. In this way the probability of total |
| some degree of sight. | | | | blindness may be reduced to only a physical |
| Diabetic Retinopathy | | | | inconvenience. |
| Diabetic Retinopathy is the result of damage to | | | | |