Main causes of blindness and how to avoid them
Glaucoma, infections during pregnancy and cataracts are the main causes of blindness, but can be prevented by regular eye exams and, in case of infections, early diagnosis and treatment, as well as monitoring for pregnant women who have a certain type of infection that can be transmitted to the baby, for example.
- Blindness is defined as the total or partial loss of vision in which the person is unable to see or define objects.
- Which can be identified after birth or developed throughout life.
- And it is important to perform regular eye consultations.
Glaucoma is a disease characterized by a gradual increase in pressure inside the eye, resulting in the death of optic nerve cells and resulting in pain in the eye, blurred vision, headache, nausea, vomiting, progressive loss of vision and, if left untreated.Blindness.
Although it is a disease normally associated with aging, glaucoma can also be identified at birth, although it is rare. Congenital glaucoma occurs due to increased pressure in the eye due to fluid buildup and can be diagnosed in the eye test performed after birth..
What to avoid: To avoid glaucoma, it is important to have routine eye exams, as it is possible to monitor eye pressure and, if modified, your doctor may indicate treatments to reduce pressure and prevent the development of glaucoma, such as eye drops, medications, or surgical treatment, for example, depending on the degree of vision impairment.Learn about tests to diagnose glaucoma.
Cataracts are a vision problem that occurs due to aging of the lens of the eye, causing blurred vision, impaired color vision, increased sensitivity to light and progressive loss of vision, which can lead to blindness.Cataracts can result from medication, eye blows, aging and crystalline malformation during baby development, called congenital cataracts.Learn more about cataracts.
What to avoid: In the case of congenital cataracts, there are no preventive measures, as the baby is born with changes in the development of the lens, but the diagnosis may be made shortly after birth by eye exam.because of medication use or age, for example, cataracts can be corrected by surgery when diagnosed during routine eye exams.
One of the complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when blood sugar is not properly controlled, resulting in constant high blood glucose levels, resulting in changes in the retina and blood vessels in the eye.
Thus, as a result of decompensated diabetes, eye changes can occur, such as the appearance of black spots or spots on vision, difficulty seeing colors, blurred vision and, when not identified and treated, blindness.Understand why diabetes can cause blindness.
What to avoid: In these cases it is important that diabetes treatment is done according to your doctor’s instructions, as this monitors your blood sugar and reduces your risk of complications, and it is also important to have regular consultations with your eye doctor so that any changes in vision can be identified.
Retinal degeneration is a disease in which retinal damage and wear occurs, which causes progressive vision loss and is usually age-related, being more common in people over the age of 50 who have a family history, nutritional deficiencies or smoke frequently..
What to avoid: Because retinal degeneration is incurable, it is important to avoid risk factors, so it is recommended to eat a healthy and balanced diet and exercise regularly, not to be exposed to light for a long time.Avoid smoking, for example.
If you are diagnosed with retinal degeneration, your doctor may recommend treatments based on the degree of visual impairment, and surgery or use of oral or intraocular medications may be indicated.Find out how retinal degeneration is being treated.
Infections are usually related to cases of congenital blindness and this occurs because during pregnancy the mother has been in contact with an infectious agent and treatment has not been performed, has been done ineffectively or there has been no response to treatment, for example.
Some of the most common infections that occur and cause congenital blindness are syphilis, toxoplasmosis and rubella, in which the microorganism responsible for infection can be transmitted to the baby and cause various consequences for the baby, including blindness.
What to avoid: To avoid infections and, therefore, blindness, it is important that the woman has up-to-date vaccinations and undergo prenatal examinations, as in this way it is possible that diseases are identified in the initial stage of the disease, increasing the chances of recovery. In addition, if diseases are identified during pregnancy, it is important that the treatment is carried out following the doctor’s recommendations, avoiding complications for the mother and the baby. Learn about prenatal exams.
Retinoblastoma is a type of cancer that can occur in one or the baby’s eyes and is characterized by a proliferation of the retina, which can cause a white reflection to appear in the center of the eye and be difficult to see.Retinoblastoma is a genetic and hereditary disease, i.e. it is passed from parent to child and is identified in the eye test, which is a test that is done a week after birth to detect any signs of vision change.
What to avoid: As a genetic disease, there are no preventive measures, however it is important that the diagnosis is made shortly after birth so that it can be treated and the baby does not have a completely impaired vision.ophthalmologist takes into account the degree of visual impairment.Understand how retinoblastoma is treated.