A 33-year-old member asked:
what diseases may cause permanent, irreversible blindness?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sheron Marshall answered
Ophthalmology 25 years experience
Depends: Top causes of permanent, irreversible blindness in the us include diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Other causes in other parts of the world include infections, like trachoma. The american academy of ophthalmology recommends routine eye exams starting at age 40 in part to detect any of the above diseases before vision loss is permanent.
5440 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Michael Colucciello answered
Ophthalmology 35 years experience
Many: Retinal detachment, macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma.
5396 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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A 25-year-old member asked:
Can contact lenses cause blindness?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Chang answered
Specializes in Ophthalmology
Yes: If you had a complication of contact lens wear such as a severe eye infection, then blindness is a rare possibility. Always follow your eye care provider's contact lens wear recommendations.
6302 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Is blindness from hie reversible?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Cummings answered
Neonatology 39 years experience
No: In general, neurologic injury that persists following hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is permanent, although some degree of improvement may occur depending on the nature of the injury. Blindness associated with hie is not common, at least in newborns.
6370 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Describe the features of blindness.?
2 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Richard Bensinger answered
Ophthalmology 52 years experience
Vision loss: Bindness is a spectrum from loss of all light perception (total blindness), to varying degrees of loss meeting legal standards - vision lower than 20/200 or a visual field less than 10 degrees in extent. The causes vary - some are reversible, some treatable to prevent worsening, and some permanent. Your ophthalmologist should see you to evaluate your category and treat if possible.
6040 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Why do some people get blindness and others don't?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Richard Bensinger answered
Ophthalmology 52 years experience
Luck: Blindness occurs sometimes at birth, in response to trauma, as a consequence of certain inherited conditions and due to illnesses like diabetes and glaucoma, and due to aging changes like cataracts and macular degeneration. Always wear eye protection, eat sensibly and have an eye examination regularly to maximize your chances of preserving good vision. If you are lucky, all this can be avoided.
5986 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Do you have to be born withcolor blindness?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Richard Bensinger answered
Ophthalmology 52 years experience
Usually: Color deficiency is most commonly an inherited condition which is detected as soon as the child is old enough to be tested. You can also acquire color deficiencies with certain retinal disorders, advanced diabetes, and a rare central nervous system stroke which disturbs the ability to detect colors properly.
5962 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
1 comment
Dr. Daniel Schainholz commented
Ophthalmology 34 years experience
Color vision loss also is a common finding in the toxicology of medications, heavy metals and volatile organic solvents. Optic neuropathy and glaucoma are other common causes of acquired color vision deficits. Red-green deficits are usually inherited (6% of males) but blue-yellow deficits are typically acquired in either gender.
May 18, 2013
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Last updated Apr 24, 2015
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