Blindness and Vision Loss – Overview
Blindness and vision loss refer to a significant reduction or total absence of sight that cannot be corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, or medical treatment. It can be partial (low vision) or complete (total blindness) and may develop suddenly or gradually.
Globally, an estimated 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, and at least 1 billion of these cases could have been prevented or have yet to be addressed. In South Africa, vision loss is common in both rural and urban communities, particularly among older adults, people with diabetes, and those without access to regular eye care.
Degrees of vision loss:
- Mild: Difficulty with tasks like reading small print
- Moderate: Struggling to recognise faces or signs at a distance
- Severe: Only being able to detect light and movement
- Total blindness: No perception of light or visual input
Symptoms may include:
- Blurred or cloudy vision
- Tunnel vision or loss of peripheral vision
- Sudden visual blackouts
- Sensitivity to light
- Halos around lights (common in cataracts)
- Trouble navigating stairs or curbs
Vision loss may affect one or both eyes, and the impact on a person’s independence, confidence, and mental health can be significant.
Common types:
- Refractive errors (uncorrected)
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Corneal scarring
- Infectious diseases like trachoma (rare in South Africa but more prevalent in other parts of Africa)
- Injury or trauma
Blindness and Vision Loss
Vision loss can lead to reduced mobility, isolation, depression, and financial dependence. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are key to preventing blindness in many cases.
👉 [Next: Causes and Risk Factors of Vision Loss]
