Blindness

Alternative names:

loss of vision

Definition:

The loss of normal or correctable vision.

Considerations:

Blindness can be partial, with loss of only part of the vision. It can also be complete, in which case there is no perception of light. People worse than 20/200 vision are considered legally blind.

Blindness has many causes, yet the incidence of true blindness in the United States remains low. Accidents, diabetes, and macular degeneration account for most blindness in the United States. Worldwide, vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of blindness.

Common causes:

• accidental trauma to the eyes (such as chemical burns, or injuries from bungie cords, fishing hooks, racket ball, fireworks, and similar objects)
• diabetes
• vitamin A deficiency
• basal cell nevus syndrome
• Tay-Sachs disease
• retinitis pigmentosa
• retinoblastoma
• lead poisoning
• optic glioma
• glaucoma
• trachoma (Chlamydial conjunctivitis)

Other (more rare) causes:

• Jansky-Bielschowsky syndrome
• Krabbe disease
• retrolental fibroplasia
• achromatopsia
• Albers-Schonberg (osteopetrosis)
• Alpers diffuse cerebral degeneration
• anophthalmos
• Batten-Mayou
• Cockayne syndrome
• cryptophthalmia
• gonococcal ophthalmia
• Kufs' disease
• Leber congenital amaurosis
• Niemann-Pick disease
• Norrie's disease
• onchocerciasis (river blindness)
• Refsum syndrome
• Scholz disease
• Trisomy-13
• Vogt-Spielmeyer

Note: There are other causes of blindness. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for blindness, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.