Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Vision loss: Symptoms, causes, and treatments

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vision-loss

  Vision loss refers to either complete or partial loss of vision. Depending on the cause, vision loss may occur suddenly or gradually and in one or both eyes. Some types of vision loss are temporary or reversible. […] There are many possible causes of partial or complete vision loss, including medical conditions, injuries, migraine, and aging. […] Sudden vision loss occurs over a period of a few seconds or minutes to a few days and can be caused by a variety of conditions. […] Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can impact a persons central vision. […] AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people age 50 and older. […] Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve, which is located in the back of a persons eye. […] Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness, beginning with the peripheral vision. […] Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes vision loss and blindness in people with diabetes. […] Medical conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy and AMD, can lead to permanent vision loss.

• #2

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: refractive errors, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration. […] Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its vision functions. […] Eye conditions that can cause vision impairment and blindness such as cataract or refractive error are, for good reasons, the main focus of eye care strategies; nevertheless, the importance of eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment such as dry eye or conjunctivitis must not be overlooked. […] Uncorrected refractive error remains a leading cause of vision impairment in all countries amongst children and adult populations. […] For many eye conditions, e.g. diabetic retinopathy, early detection and timely treatment are crucial to avoid irreversible vision loss. […] Vision rehabilitation is very effective in improving functioning for people with an irreversible vision loss that can be caused by eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, consequences of trauma, and age-related macular degeneration.

• #3 Vision loss, low vision and legal blindness | Macular Disease Foundation

  https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/living-well/living-with-vision-loss/vision-loss-low-vision-and-legal-blindness/

  Vision loss is limited or impaired eyesight that cant be corrected with surgery, conventional glasses or contact lenses. […] A number of conditions can lead to vision loss, low vision, and blindness. […] Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other macular diseases impact central vision, leaving peripheral vision intact. Other eye conditions affect vision in different ways. For example, glaucoma affects peripheral vision, while cataract causes cloudy vision. […] Low vision services are essential in helping anyone with vision loss, regardless of age, cope with the associated challenges. […] Legal blindness is not black blindness. […] Rather, you are considered legally blind if you cant see at six metres with both eyes (with glasses if required) what someone with normal vision can see at 60 metres, and/or if your field of vision is less than 20 degrees in diameter in your eye with better vision.

• #4 Acute Vision Loss – Eye Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye-disorders/symptoms-of-ophthalmic-disorders/acute-vision-loss

  Acute loss of vision has 3 general causes: […] Opacification of normally transparent structures through which light rays pass to reach the retina (eg, cornea, vitreous) […] Retinal abnormalities […] Abnormalities affecting the optic nerve or visual pathways. […] The most common causes of acute loss of vision are vascular occlusions of the retina (central retinal artery occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion) […] Ischemic optic neuropathy (often in patients with temporal arteritis) […] Vitreous hemorrhage (caused by diabetic retinopathy or trauma) […] Trauma. […] Less common causes of acute loss of vision include anterior uveitis (a common disorder, but one that usually causes eye pain severe enough to trigger evaluation before vision is lost) […] Aggressive retinitis […] Certain medications (eg, methanol, salicylates, ergot alkaloids, quinine).

• #5 Vision Loss and Blindness | ucdneuro

  https://ucdnc.ucdavis.edu/vision-loss-and-blindness

  Vision begins in the retina of the eye, where neurons detect brightness, color, contrast and motion in the outside world. […] In diseases such as age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma, neurons in the retina die, resulting in vision loss and eventually, blindness. […] Understanding how neurons normally function in the visual system is critical for understanding how best to preserve and restore visual function. […] Marie E. Burns, Ph.D. Photoreceptor physiology and degeneration, neuroinflammation in the retina […] Paul Sieving, M.D., Ph.D. Ophthalmology, inherited retinal and macular dystrophies, retinal physiology and genetics […] Glenn Yiu, M.D., Ph.D. Translational research in retinal disease pathophysiology, animal models, gene editing/therapy and preclinical studies with special interests on live imaging, biophotonics and nonhuman primate research.

• #6 Pathophysiology of AMD: Vision Loss Information | Vision RELIEF

  https://provider-amd.vision-relief.com/pathophysiology-of-amd/

  Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressively deteriorating eye condition primarily impacting the macula, the central portion of the retina responsible for high-acuity vision. AMD can be present in either one or both eyes and spares peripheral vision. Disease progression can lead to increasing difficulty with reading, recognizing faces, driving, and seeing in dim light, ending in permanent central vision loss. […] AMD is characterized by the increasing presence and size of drusen, pigmentary changes in the RPE, atrophy of retinal cells, and potentially growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina, known as choroidal neovascularization. […] While not fully understood, a number of factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of AMD: […] The retina is vulnerable to oxidative damage because of its high oxygen consumption and exposure to light, which leads to the accumulation of such damage and results in cellular dysfunction and death.

• #7 Pathophysiology of AMD: Vision Loss Information | Vision RELIEF

  https://provider-amd.vision-relief.com/pathophysiology-of-amd/

  Chronic low-grade inflammation plays a crucial role in AMD progression. This inflammation damages the RPE, photoreceptor cells, and choroidal vessels and may lead to geographic atrophy. The complement system, a part of the innate immune response, is particularly implicated. […] Drusen play a role in inhibiting the transport of metabolites to the choroid vessels and their molecular components also initiate inflammation through the complement cascade. Abnormal lipid cycling and accumulation in the retina, particularly in drusen formation, is a hallmark of AMD. […] Age-related changes in the RPE cells lead to decreased efficiency in maintaining photoreceptor health. […] Several genetic variants, particularly those that regulate inflammation, lipid metabolism, and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2 or LOC387715) and high-temperature requirement A-serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) genes are implicated in the development and progression of AMD.

• #8 Pathophysiology of AMD: Vision Loss Information | Vision RELIEF

  https://provider-amd.vision-relief.com/pathophysiology-of-amd/

  Chronic low-grade inflammation plays a crucial role in AMD progression. This inflammation damages the RPE, photoreceptor cells, and choroidal vessels and may lead to geographic atrophy. The complement system, a part of the innate immune response, is particularly implicated. […] Drusen play a role in inhibiting the transport of metabolites to the choroid vessels and their molecular components also initiate inflammation through the complement cascade. Abnormal lipid cycling and accumulation in the retina, particularly in drusen formation, is a hallmark of AMD. […] Age-related changes in the RPE cells lead to decreased efficiency in maintaining photoreceptor health. […] Several genetic variants, particularly those that regulate inflammation, lipid metabolism, and age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2 or LOC387715) and high-temperature requirement A-serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) genes are implicated in the development and progression of AMD.

• #9 Pathophysiology of AMD: Vision Loss Information | Vision RELIEF

  https://provider-amd.vision-relief.com/pathophysiology-of-amd/

  nAMD is characterized by abnormal angiogenesis within the choroid, subretinal space, and retina, driven by angiogenic signaling molecules, including vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF). Continued damage to the RPE leads to further dysfunction of Bruch’s membrane, which in some patients, is accompanied by a rise in VEGF, resulting in the growth of new vessels under the retinal pigment epithelium and the retina. These new, fragile vessels will leak, causing fluid to build up under the retina which can result in the detachment of retinal cones and pigment cells (RPE detachment) and sudden vision loss. Eventually, a disciform scar forms in the macula characterizing end-stage nAMD. Excessive fibrosis can lead to subretinal scarring, resulting in irreversible central vision loss.

• #10 Pathophysiology Of Glaucoma | Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic

  https://www.morningtoneye.com.au/pathophysiology-of-glaucoma/

  Glaucoma is a compilation of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the crucial pathway delivering ocular information from the eye to the brain. This damage, often caused by intraocular pressure elevation, leads to gradual vision loss and may eventually lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated. […] Glaucoma disrupts this delicate homeostasis. The most prevalent cause of glaucoma is elevated IOP, which can arise from two primary mechanisms: […] Elevated IOP poses a significant threat to the optic nerve, the crucial pathway transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain. […] Sustained compression from an elevated IOP can lead to retinal ganglion cell axons damage and retinal ganglion cell death. […] This progressive loss of RGCs and their axonal connections ultimately results in characteristic alterations in the optic nerve head appearance and, more importantly, irreversible vision loss.

• #11 Pathophysiology Of Glaucoma | Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic

  https://www.morningtoneye.com.au/pathophysiology-of-glaucoma/

  Glaucoma is a compilation of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, the crucial pathway delivering ocular information from the eye to the brain. This damage, often caused by intraocular pressure elevation, leads to gradual vision loss and may eventually lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated. […] Glaucoma disrupts this delicate homeostasis. The most prevalent cause of glaucoma is elevated IOP, which can arise from two primary mechanisms: […] Elevated IOP poses a significant threat to the optic nerve, the crucial pathway transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain. […] Sustained compression from an elevated IOP can lead to retinal ganglion cell axons damage and retinal ganglion cell death. […] This progressive loss of RGCs and their axonal connections ultimately results in characteristic alterations in the optic nerve head appearance and, more importantly, irreversible vision loss.

• #12 Pathophysiology Of Glaucoma | Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic

  https://www.morningtoneye.com.au/pathophysiology-of-glaucoma/

  A comprehensive understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of glaucoma is fundamental for the development of effective treatment strategies. […] Glaucoma, while not curable in the sense of reversing existing nerve damage, is a highly treatable condition. Our primary therapeutic goal is to address the underlying pathophysiology—an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP)—and prevent further optic nerve degeneration. […] The choice of medication and dosage are personalised based on the type and severity of glaucoma, IOP level, potential side effects, and individual patient factors. […] When medications and laser treatment fail to adequately control IOP, surgery becomes necessary.

• #13 Newfound Inflammation Resolution in the Eye Paves the Road To Treatments to Stop Blindness from Glaucoma – FOCUS

  https://focus.masseyeandear.org/newfound-inflammation-resolution-in-the-eye-paves-the-road-to-treatments-to-stop-blindness-from-glaucoma/

  Mass Eye and Ear scientist Dong Feng Chen, MD, PhD, uncovered the role of a protein, IGFBPL1, which shows a promising pathway to stall vision loss in glaucoma. […] How glaucoma causes blindness has long been a mystery and now, a groundbreaking discovery from Mass Eye and Ear scientist Dong Feng Chen, MD, PhD, may shed new light on this mechanism and lead to a promising treatment strategy. […] Dr. Chen’s work has uncovered a link between neuroinflammation, immune cells in the eye, and the damage that causes blindness. […] Her research team uncovered a switch that could turn off this inflammation, stopping damage to these neurons and reversing the mechanism that leads to blindness in glaucoma. […] Our paper proves there is a common mechanism causing neural degeneration in the eye and the brain, said Dr. Chen. We have now discovered a way to stop the neuroinflammation.

• #14 Newfound Inflammation Resolution in the Eye Paves the Road To Treatments to Stop Blindness from Glaucoma – FOCUS

  https://focus.masseyeandear.org/newfound-inflammation-resolution-in-the-eye-paves-the-road-to-treatments-to-stop-blindness-from-glaucoma/

  In the case of glaucoma, microglia and T cells cause inflammation, damaging the eyes neurons and retinal ganglion cells responsible for vision. […] We found this stunning effect of rescuing normal visual function not only supporting the survival of the retinal ganglion cells but also stopping the entire inflammatory process, said Dr. Chen. We almost cure the disease; we stop the neurodegeneration. […] Understanding this pathway and finding IGFBPL1 is the first step in stopping blindness caused by glaucoma.

• #15 Diabetic retinopathy – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371611

  Diabetic retinopathy (die-uh-BET-ik ret-ih-NOP-uh-thee) is a diabetes complication that affects eyes. It’s caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). […] At first, diabetic retinopathy might cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. But it can lead to blindness. […] Over time, too much sugar in your blood can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. But these new blood vessels don’t develop properly and can leak easily. […] Sometimes retinal blood vessel damage leads to a buildup of fluid (edema) in the center portion (macula) of the retina. If macular edema decreases vision, treatment is required to prevent permanent vision loss.

• #16 Diabetic retinopathy – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371611

  Diabetic retinopathy (die-uh-BET-ik ret-ih-NOP-uh-thee) is a diabetes complication that affects eyes. It’s caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina). […] At first, diabetic retinopathy might cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. But it can lead to blindness. […] Over time, too much sugar in your blood can lead to the blockage of the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina, cutting off its blood supply. As a result, the eye attempts to grow new blood vessels. But these new blood vessels don’t develop properly and can leak easily. […] Sometimes retinal blood vessel damage leads to a buildup of fluid (edema) in the center portion (macula) of the retina. If macular edema decreases vision, treatment is required to prevent permanent vision loss.

• #17 Diabetic retinopathy – Symptoms & causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371611

  Diabetic retinopathy involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. Complications can lead to serious vision problems: […] Blindness. Diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, glaucoma or a combination of these conditions can lead to complete vision loss, especially if the conditions are poorly managed. […] You can’t always prevent diabetic retinopathy. However, regular eye exams, good control of your blood sugar and blood pressure, and early intervention for vision problems can help prevent severe vision loss.

• #18

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: refractive errors, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration. […] Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its vision functions. […] Eye conditions that can cause vision impairment and blindness such as cataract or refractive error are, for good reasons, the main focus of eye care strategies; nevertheless, the importance of eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment such as dry eye or conjunctivitis must not be overlooked. […] Uncorrected refractive error remains a leading cause of vision impairment in all countries amongst children and adult populations. […] For many eye conditions, e.g. diabetic retinopathy, early detection and timely treatment are crucial to avoid irreversible vision loss. […] Vision rehabilitation is very effective in improving functioning for people with an irreversible vision loss that can be caused by eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, consequences of trauma, and age-related macular degeneration.

• #19 Visual impairment – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_impairment

  Visual impairment or vision impairment (VI or VIP) is the partial or total inability of visual perception. In the absence of treatment such as corrective eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment, visual impairment may cause the individual difficulties with normal daily tasks, including reading and walking. The terms low vision and blindness are often used for levels of impairment which are difficult or impossible to correct and significantly impact daily life. […] The most common causes of visual impairment globally are uncorrected refractive errors (43%), cataracts (33%), and glaucoma (2%). Refractive errors include near-sightedness, far-sightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism. Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness. Other disorders that may cause visual problems include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, corneal clouding, childhood blindness, and a number of infections. Visual impairment can also be caused by problems in the brain due to stroke, premature birth, or trauma, among others. These cases are known as cortical visual impairment.

• #20 What Are the Causes of Blindness and Vision Loss?

  https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/causes-of-blindness/

  This disease occurs when blood sugars block vessels in the retina the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. […] Glaucoma damages the nerve that transmits visual information to the brain. […] In most U.S. cases, the eye doesnt drain fluid well, which puts pressure on the optic nerve. […] Cataracts develop when eye proteins break down and clump together, forming a cloudy area on the lens much like fog on a window. […] They are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, but are less likely to cause blindness in this country, thanks to highly successful treatments and relatively easy access to them. […] Not all vision loss can be prevented, and some diseases are hard to treat. […] Regular eye exams can protect eye health, Todd says, allowing for critical early intervention if problems arise.

• #21 Pathogenesis of Common Ocular Diseases

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4736228/

  The most common diseases resulting in irreversible blindness or vision impairment include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and dry eye. […] AMD is one of the most common diseases resulting in irreversible blindness worldwide in the elderly population. Among multifactorial pathogenesis, immune dysregulations are leading theories of AMD pathogenesis. Recently IL-17 pathway was reported to be involved in AMD pathogenesis. […] Like AMD, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy are common causes of blindness in older adults. Glaucoma is often caused by damage to the optic nerve due to an abnormally high pressure in your eye, while diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication, caused by damage to the retinal blood vessels. […] Cataract is one of the major causes of visual impairment of elderly people. Although recent bioinformatics studies revealed susceptibility genes, such as EPHA2, for age-related cataract, the mechanism underlying its pathogenesis remains elusive. […] Common age-related ocular diseases demand attention as a global health problem. This special issue covered pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of most of these diseases.

• #22 Inherited Retinal Diseases – Prevent Blindness

  https://preventblindness.org/inherited-retinal-diseases/

  Inherited retinal diseases or IRDs are a group of diseases that can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. Each IRD is caused by at least one gene that is not working as it should. […] An IRD is a genetic disorder a change, or variant, in one or more genes that contribute to proper retinal function. The genetic disorder affects the genes ability to do its job properly. If there is a mistake in a gene, a protein might not be made correctly or at all, and cells in the retina can degenerate and cause vision loss. There are more than 270 different genes known to cause IRDs. […] Some gene mutations that cause IRDs are more severe than others. Your doctor is not only interested in which gene is not working properly in a patient, but also how vision is affected. Identifying the specific type of gene variant helps the doctor to provide the correct diagnosis to the patient and may allow him or her to direct patients to clinical trials for therapies that may save their vision. Genetic testing is now available to identify most, but not all, gene variants that cause IRDs.

• #23 Inherited Retinal Diseases – Prevent Blindness

  https://preventblindness.org/inherited-retinal-diseases/

  Inherited retinal diseases or IRDs are a group of diseases that can cause severe vision loss or even blindness. Each IRD is caused by at least one gene that is not working as it should. […] An IRD is a genetic disorder a change, or variant, in one or more genes that contribute to proper retinal function. The genetic disorder affects the genes ability to do its job properly. If there is a mistake in a gene, a protein might not be made correctly or at all, and cells in the retina can degenerate and cause vision loss. There are more than 270 different genes known to cause IRDs. […] Some gene mutations that cause IRDs are more severe than others. Your doctor is not only interested in which gene is not working properly in a patient, but also how vision is affected. Identifying the specific type of gene variant helps the doctor to provide the correct diagnosis to the patient and may allow him or her to direct patients to clinical trials for therapies that may save their vision. Genetic testing is now available to identify most, but not all, gene variants that cause IRDs.

• #24 Retinitis pigmentosa – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinitis_pigmentosa

  Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a member of a group of genetic disorders called inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) that cause loss of vision. […] The underlying mechanism involves the progressive loss of rod photoreceptor cells that line the retina of the eyeball. […] When these rod cells die, this substance is no longer provided. This is generally followed by the loss of cone photoreceptor cells. […] A variety of retinal molecular pathway defects have been matched to multiple known RP gene mutations. Mutations in the rhodopsin gene (RHO), which is responsible for the majority of autosomal-dominantly inherited RP cases, disrupts the rhodopsin protein essential for translating light into decipherable electrical signals within the phototransduction cascade of the central nervous system. […] Additionally, oxidative damage associated with lipid peroxidation is a potential cause of cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa.

• #25 Retinitis pigmentosa – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinitis_pigmentosa

  Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a member of a group of genetic disorders called inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) that cause loss of vision. […] The underlying mechanism involves the progressive loss of rod photoreceptor cells that line the retina of the eyeball. […] When these rod cells die, this substance is no longer provided. This is generally followed by the loss of cone photoreceptor cells. […] A variety of retinal molecular pathway defects have been matched to multiple known RP gene mutations. Mutations in the rhodopsin gene (RHO), which is responsible for the majority of autosomal-dominantly inherited RP cases, disrupts the rhodopsin protein essential for translating light into decipherable electrical signals within the phototransduction cascade of the central nervous system. […] Additionally, oxidative damage associated with lipid peroxidation is a potential cause of cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa.

• #26 Blindness from some inherited eye diseases may be caused by gut bacteria | UCL News – UCL – University College London

  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2024/feb/blindness-some-inherited-eye-diseases-may-be-caused-gut-bacteria

  Sight loss in certain inherited eye diseases may be caused by gut bacteria, and is potentially treatable by antimicrobials, finds a new study in mice co-led by a UCL and Moorfields researcher. […] The authors of the new paper, published in Cell and jointly led by researchers in China, say their findings suggest that the genetic mutation may relax the body’s defences, thus allowing harmful bacteria to reach the eye and cause blindness. […] The team found that when the gene has a particular mutation, dampening its expression (reducing its effect), these barriers in both the retina and the gut can be breached, enabling bacteria in the gut to move through the body and into the eye, leading to lesions in the retina that cause sight loss. […] Crucially, treating these bacteria with antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics, was able to prevent sight loss in the mice even though it did not rebuild the affected cell barriers in the eye.

• #27 Understanding Cortical Blindness: Essential Guide for Optometrists

  https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/understanding-cortical-blindness-essential-guide-optometrists/

  Cortical blindness is defined as vision loss due to damage to the primary visual striate cortex, V1, in the occipital lobe of the brain. […] Spontaneous ischemic stroke (32%) and cardiac arrest or surgery (20%) are the primary causes of cortical blindness in adults. […] Inadequate vascular supply of blood and nutrients to the occipital lobe is the most common cause of cortical blindness (CB). […] The classic presentation of CB is characterized by (1) severe bilateral and symmetric vision loss, (2) little to no anterior and posterior segment findings, (3) fully intact pupillary light reflexes with no relative afferent pupil defect (RAPD), and (4) presence of homonymous hemianopsia visual field defect, which may be partial or complete. […] The purpose of visual restitutive interventions is to restore vision and reduce visual field defect size by training impaired functions or repeatedly stimulating areas of the visual field. […] Visual training could potentially be enhanced with noninvasive electric brain stimulation, with various strategies currently under investigation as potential adjuvants to training.

• #28 Understanding Cortical Blindness: Essential Guide for Optometrists

  https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/understanding-cortical-blindness-essential-guide-optometrists/

  Cortical blindness is defined as vision loss due to damage to the primary visual striate cortex, V1, in the occipital lobe of the brain. […] Spontaneous ischemic stroke (32%) and cardiac arrest or surgery (20%) are the primary causes of cortical blindness in adults. […] Inadequate vascular supply of blood and nutrients to the occipital lobe is the most common cause of cortical blindness (CB). […] The classic presentation of CB is characterized by (1) severe bilateral and symmetric vision loss, (2) little to no anterior and posterior segment findings, (3) fully intact pupillary light reflexes with no relative afferent pupil defect (RAPD), and (4) presence of homonymous hemianopsia visual field defect, which may be partial or complete. […] The purpose of visual restitutive interventions is to restore vision and reduce visual field defect size by training impaired functions or repeatedly stimulating areas of the visual field. […] Visual training could potentially be enhanced with noninvasive electric brain stimulation, with various strategies currently under investigation as potential adjuvants to training.

• #29 Vision loss – neurological | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/vision-loss-neurological

  Vision impairment related to an ABI is loss of vision caused by damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for sight. […] Neurological vision impairment is loss of vision resulting from an acquired brain injury or impairment in the coordination of the eyes, and difficulties with visual perception (also known as ABI VI). Damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for sight is involved. […] The many causes of ABI VI include stroke, brain tumour, head injury and infections such as meningitis. […] ABI VI cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, as the cause lies within the persons brain rather than their eyes. Treatment involves managing the symptoms and depends on the type of vision impairment and its cause. Options may include treating the underlying brain injury. If the brain can recover from its injury, the persons vision may also improve.

• #30 Vision loss – neurological | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/vision-loss-neurological

  Vision impairment related to an ABI is loss of vision caused by damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for sight. […] Neurological vision impairment is loss of vision resulting from an acquired brain injury or impairment in the coordination of the eyes, and difficulties with visual perception (also known as ABI VI). Damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for sight is involved. […] The many causes of ABI VI include stroke, brain tumour, head injury and infections such as meningitis. […] ABI VI cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, as the cause lies within the persons brain rather than their eyes. Treatment involves managing the symptoms and depends on the type of vision impairment and its cause. Options may include treating the underlying brain injury. If the brain can recover from its injury, the persons vision may also improve.

• #31 Vision loss – neurological | Better Health Channel

  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/vision-loss-neurological

  Vision impairment related to an ABI is loss of vision caused by damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for sight. […] Neurological vision impairment is loss of vision resulting from an acquired brain injury or impairment in the coordination of the eyes, and difficulties with visual perception (also known as ABI VI). Damage to the areas of the brain that are responsible for sight is involved. […] The many causes of ABI VI include stroke, brain tumour, head injury and infections such as meningitis. […] ABI VI cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses, as the cause lies within the persons brain rather than their eyes. Treatment involves managing the symptoms and depends on the type of vision impairment and its cause. Options may include treating the underlying brain injury. If the brain can recover from its injury, the persons vision may also improve.

• #32 Understanding Blindness — CCVI

  https://www.ccvi.org/understanding-blindness

  Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) refers to the underdevelopment of the optic nerve during pregnancy. The dying of optic nerve fibers as the child develops in utero is a natural process, and ONH may be an exaggeration of that process. ONH may occur infrequently in one eye (unilateral), but more commonly in both eyes (bilateral). ONH is not progressive, is not inherited and cannot be cured. However, depending on the degree of visual impairment, a person with this condition may benefit from the use of devices for low vision. The effects of ONH have a broad range, from little or no visual impairment to near-total blindness. ONH is one of the three most common causes of visual impairment in children. […] Optic Nerve Atrophy (ONA) is a permanent visual impairment caused by damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve functions like a cable carrying information from the eye to be processed by the brain. The optic nerve is comprised of over a million small nerve fibers (axons). When some of these nerve fibers are damaged through disease, the brain doesn’t receive complete vision information and sight becomes blurred. A person’s ability to see clearly (visual acuity) is affected due to nerve damage that occurs in the central part of the retina responsible for detail and color vision (macula). These areas of the eye are more vulnerable to the effects of atrophy. ONA is the end result of damage to the optic nerve. It can affect one or both eyes. It may also be progressive, depending on the cause.

• #33 Understanding Blindness — CCVI

  https://www.ccvi.org/understanding-blindness

  Optic Nerve Hypoplasia (ONH) refers to the underdevelopment of the optic nerve during pregnancy. The dying of optic nerve fibers as the child develops in utero is a natural process, and ONH may be an exaggeration of that process. ONH may occur infrequently in one eye (unilateral), but more commonly in both eyes (bilateral). ONH is not progressive, is not inherited and cannot be cured. However, depending on the degree of visual impairment, a person with this condition may benefit from the use of devices for low vision. The effects of ONH have a broad range, from little or no visual impairment to near-total blindness. ONH is one of the three most common causes of visual impairment in children. […] Optic Nerve Atrophy (ONA) is a permanent visual impairment caused by damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve functions like a cable carrying information from the eye to be processed by the brain. The optic nerve is comprised of over a million small nerve fibers (axons). When some of these nerve fibers are damaged through disease, the brain doesn’t receive complete vision information and sight becomes blurred. A person’s ability to see clearly (visual acuity) is affected due to nerve damage that occurs in the central part of the retina responsible for detail and color vision (macula). These areas of the eye are more vulnerable to the effects of atrophy. ONA is the end result of damage to the optic nerve. It can affect one or both eyes. It may also be progressive, depending on the cause.

• #34 Understanding Blindness — CCVI

  https://www.ccvi.org/understanding-blindness

  Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is a temporary or permanent visual impairment caused by the disturbance of the posterior visual pathways and/or the occipital lobes of the brain. The degree of vision impairment can range from mild to severe visual impairment. The degree of neurological damage and visual impairment depends upon the time of onset, as well as the location and intensity of the insult. It is a condition that indicates that the visual systems of the brain do not consistently understand or interpret what the eyes see. The presence of CVI is not an indicator of the child’s cognitive ability. The terms Cortical Visual Impairment, Neurological Visual Impairment and Cerebral Visual Impairment are sometimes used interchangeably. […] Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a condition associated with premature birth, in which the growth of normal blood vessels in the retina stops, and abnormal blood vessels develop. As a result, the infant has an increased risk of detachment of the retina. ROP can lead to reduced vision or blindness.

• #35

  https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/six-ways-measles-can-affect-eyes-2

  Measles, long a leading cause of childhood blindness, is re-emerging as a threat in developed countries. […] As many as 60,000 children are estimated to develop measles-related blindness per year in low-income countries. Measles is most likely to cause blindness in people who were not vaccinated against the disease. […] Measles is a leading cause of childhood blindness in developing countries where immunization programs for this disease are less established or often interrupted by conflict. When compounded by malnutrition, particularly vitamin A deficiency, measles is associated with corneal scarring from ulceration and keratitis, two of the most likely reasons for blindness from measles. Blindness from optic neuritis has also been noted. […] For children with severe cases of measles, the World Health Organization and the CDC suggest two doses of vitamin A, given 24 hours apart, to prevent vision loss.

• #36 Vision Loss from Uveitis – Prevent Blindness

  https://preventblindness.org/vision-loss-from-uveitis/

  Uveitis may cause blurry and reduced vision. When treated, vision may recover. In some cases, mostly in intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis, where inflammation is recurrent and chronic, damage to the eye can occur, particularly to the retina and optic nerve, and cause permanent vision loss. […] Inflammation caused by uveitis can cause pressure in the eye to go up. This is called ocular hypertension. In addition, long-term steroid use may cause secondary glaucoma. The use of steroids can increase the amount of fluid produced by the ciliary body, causing the pressure inside the eye to rise. As many as one fifth of people with uveitis can develop ocular hypertension. Some of these individuals will develop glaucoma. The best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is by going to the eye doctor and following your treatment plan as directed.

• #37 Vision Loss from Uveitis – Prevent Blindness

  https://preventblindness.org/vision-loss-from-uveitis/

  Uveitis may cause blurry and reduced vision. When treated, vision may recover. In some cases, mostly in intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis, where inflammation is recurrent and chronic, damage to the eye can occur, particularly to the retina and optic nerve, and cause permanent vision loss. […] Inflammation caused by uveitis can cause pressure in the eye to go up. This is called ocular hypertension. In addition, long-term steroid use may cause secondary glaucoma. The use of steroids can increase the amount of fluid produced by the ciliary body, causing the pressure inside the eye to rise. As many as one fifth of people with uveitis can develop ocular hypertension. Some of these individuals will develop glaucoma. The best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is by going to the eye doctor and following your treatment plan as directed.

• #38 Clinical blindness in conjunction with childhood bacterial meningitis | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-41685-2

  Although rarely reported, bilateral loss of vision is a severe complication of childhood bacterial meningitis. […] Severely impaired visual capacity up to bilateral full loss of vision is among the known sequelae of bacterial meningitis (BM) of childhood. This usually occurs in conjunction with other complications, such as hemiparesis, quadriplegia, or mental retardation. […] The pathogenesis of vision loss in BM is not precisely known. Anoxia or inflammation of the cerebral cortex, thrombosis, and cerebral infarcts may lead to cortical blindness. In our study, quadriplegia and focal neurological signs (such as monoparesis and hemiparesis) were more common in children with blindness, suggesting anoxic or circulatory (or both) brain damage. Hydrocephalus was also associated with blindness; this was also observed in tuberculous meningitis, where increased intracranial pressure can cause papilledema and optic neuropathy. Both tuberculous and other bacterial meningitis can cause optic nerve, chiasm, or tractus involvement and damage. […] In African children with BM, visual loss has been reported at discharge in 1 to 8% and in 0 to 11% at follow-up visit.

• #39 Mechanisms of visual loss in papilledema in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_e5.xml

  Papilledema can be caused by an intracranial mass lesion or by other factors. Visual symptoms frequently accompany papilledema, which can lead to permanent visual loss if left untreated. […] Visual loss from papilledema may occur even in cases of mild ICP elevation through a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms. […] The severity of papilledema is related to the ICP increase, but may not correlate directly with the level of ICP because the communication of CSF pressure between the optic canal and the intracranial space depends on an open CSF space surrounding the optic nerve, which varies in width from patient to patient. Increased ICP in the optic nerve sheath produces axoplasmic flow stasis in the optic disc with subsequent swelling of the axons. This manifests as early papilledema and secondarily causes changes in the other optic disc as well as retinal vascular changes associated with papilledema.

• #40 Mechanisms of visual loss in papilledema in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_e5.xml

  Papilledema can be caused by an intracranial mass lesion or by other factors. Visual symptoms frequently accompany papilledema, which can lead to permanent visual loss if left untreated. […] Visual loss from papilledema may occur even in cases of mild ICP elevation through a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms. […] The severity of papilledema is related to the ICP increase, but may not correlate directly with the level of ICP because the communication of CSF pressure between the optic canal and the intracranial space depends on an open CSF space surrounding the optic nerve, which varies in width from patient to patient. Increased ICP in the optic nerve sheath produces axoplasmic flow stasis in the optic disc with subsequent swelling of the axons. This manifests as early papilledema and secondarily causes changes in the other optic disc as well as retinal vascular changes associated with papilledema.

• #41 Mechanisms of visual loss in papilledema in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_e5.xml

  Visual acuity is usually preserved in patients with papilledema, but macular abnormalities including choroidal folds, hemorrhages, macular nerve fiber layer edema, and subretinal fluid may affect visual acuity. […] Optical coherence tomography has demonstrated the presence of submacular edema in about 10% of patients with moderate or severe papilledema. This edema may be due to an extension of peripapillary subretinal fluid into the macula.

• #42 Amaurosis Fugax (Transient Vision Loss) – EyeWiki

  https://eyewiki.org/Amaurosis_Fugax_(Transient_Vision_Loss)

  Amaurosis fugax (AF) refers to transient vision loss (TVL). AF can either be monocular (TMVL) or binocular (TBVL). It most commonly occurs monocularly, secondary to ischemia in the retina, choroid, or optic nerve. The most common cause of TMVL is an ipsilateral carotid artery disease (e.g., internal carotid artery dissection or atherosclerosis) with secondary thromboemboli, but it can also be a symptom of vasculitis (e.g., giant cell arteritis). AF caused by ischemia is considered a form of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and usually lasts from seconds to minutes, followed by full visual recovery. […] TMVL can be caused by a number of etiologies as described above, but the common unifying mechanism is hypoperfusion of the retina or optic nerve. This hypoperfusion could be due to hypotension, thrombus, embolus, arteritis, or vasospasm. Most commonly, an embolus from the carotid artery breaks free and transiently occludes the central or branch retinal arteries or the ophthalmic artery. Rarely, but the emboli can originate from cardiac myxoma, which can dislodge and blockage anywhere including the aorta retinal arteries depending on the size of the tumor. These cardiogenic embolic events can cause permanent visual loss or even stroke/ death if not treated promptly. If the ischemia targets the optic nerve, it is usually due to decreased perfusion through one or more posterior ciliary arteries. […] TBVL can also occur due to the same hypoperfusion mechanism if it is bilateral (e.g., vertebrobasilar ischemia), as well as secondary to the other neurologic or ophthalmic etiologies described above. It also implies that the lesion is either bilateral anteriorly, chiasmal, or retrochiasmal.

• #43 Amaurosis Fugax (Transient Vision Loss) – EyeWiki

  https://eyewiki.org/Amaurosis_Fugax_(Transient_Vision_Loss)

  Amaurosis fugax (AF) refers to transient vision loss (TVL). AF can either be monocular (TMVL) or binocular (TBVL). It most commonly occurs monocularly, secondary to ischemia in the retina, choroid, or optic nerve. The most common cause of TMVL is an ipsilateral carotid artery disease (e.g., internal carotid artery dissection or atherosclerosis) with secondary thromboemboli, but it can also be a symptom of vasculitis (e.g., giant cell arteritis). AF caused by ischemia is considered a form of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and usually lasts from seconds to minutes, followed by full visual recovery. […] TMVL can be caused by a number of etiologies as described above, but the common unifying mechanism is hypoperfusion of the retina or optic nerve. This hypoperfusion could be due to hypotension, thrombus, embolus, arteritis, or vasospasm. Most commonly, an embolus from the carotid artery breaks free and transiently occludes the central or branch retinal arteries or the ophthalmic artery. Rarely, but the emboli can originate from cardiac myxoma, which can dislodge and blockage anywhere including the aorta retinal arteries depending on the size of the tumor. These cardiogenic embolic events can cause permanent visual loss or even stroke/ death if not treated promptly. If the ischemia targets the optic nerve, it is usually due to decreased perfusion through one or more posterior ciliary arteries. […] TBVL can also occur due to the same hypoperfusion mechanism if it is bilateral (e.g., vertebrobasilar ischemia), as well as secondary to the other neurologic or ophthalmic etiologies described above. It also implies that the lesion is either bilateral anteriorly, chiasmal, or retrochiasmal.

• #44 How a Vitamin A deficiency causes vision loss – Save Sight Institute

  https://www.sydney.edu.au/save-sight-institute/news-and-events/news/2020/how-a-vitamin-a-deficiency-causes-vision-loss.html

  When a young boy began losing his sight, Professor Stephanie Watson immediately recognised the signs of Vitamin A deficiency. Caused by the patient’s diet, the deficiency led to the loss of vision in one eye. […] Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness, infections and death. Today, 228 million children lack enough Vitamin A. That makes Vitamin A deficiency the most common form of childhood blindness. Vitamin A deficiency causes eye diseases in 5 to 10 million children a year. Of those, five hundred thousand go blind because of a lack of Vitamin A. […] The first sign of vitamin A deficiency is an eye condition called xerophthalmia. The effects on the eyes of xerophthalmia follow a predictable pattern. The first stage is night blindness (nyctalopia). Thats where retinal rhodopsin (sight pigments) stop regenerating.

• #45 How a Vitamin A deficiency causes vision loss – Save Sight Institute

  https://www.sydney.edu.au/save-sight-institute/news-and-events/news/2020/how-a-vitamin-a-deficiency-causes-vision-loss.html

  When a young boy began losing his sight, Professor Stephanie Watson immediately recognised the signs of Vitamin A deficiency. Caused by the patient’s diet, the deficiency led to the loss of vision in one eye. […] Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness, infections and death. Today, 228 million children lack enough Vitamin A. That makes Vitamin A deficiency the most common form of childhood blindness. Vitamin A deficiency causes eye diseases in 5 to 10 million children a year. Of those, five hundred thousand go blind because of a lack of Vitamin A. […] The first sign of vitamin A deficiency is an eye condition called xerophthalmia. The effects on the eyes of xerophthalmia follow a predictable pattern. The first stage is night blindness (nyctalopia). Thats where retinal rhodopsin (sight pigments) stop regenerating.

• #46 How a Vitamin A deficiency causes vision loss – Save Sight Institute

  https://www.sydney.edu.au/save-sight-institute/news-and-events/news/2020/how-a-vitamin-a-deficiency-causes-vision-loss.html

  The second stage is drying (conjunctival xerosis). Corneal drying can lead to ulceration, scarring and keratomalacia. Keratomalacia is a rapidly progressive and irreversible disease that can lead to rupture of the cornea with loss of the eyes content. […] In many of these cases, prompt treatment with high doses of Vitamin A can reverse the effects.

• #47 New genetic cause for vision impairment and blindness discovered – Radboudumc

  https://www.radboudumc.nl/en/news/2020/new-genetic-cause-for-vision-impairment-and-blindness-discovered

  For more than thirty years, geneticists at Radboudumc and the Donders Institute searched for the cause of vision impairment within a large Dutch family. […] After thirty years of research, the genetic defect that causes the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa type 17 (RP17) has finally been discovered. […] RP17 is a form of a dominant hereditary retinal disorder (retinitis pigmentosa), which causes a gradual deterioration of vision and can lead to severe forms of vision impairment and blindness. […] The RP17 study now shows that duplication of pieces of DNA, so-called structural DNA changes, is the cause of this disease. […] The DNA changes seem to be a significant cause of retinitis pigmentosa with a dominant hereditary pattern, where there is a fifty percent chance of passing the gene defect on to children.

• #48 New genetic cause for vision impairment and blindness discovered – Radboudumc

  https://www.radboudumc.nl/en/news/2020/new-genetic-cause-for-vision-impairment-and-blindness-discovered

  For more than thirty years, geneticists at Radboudumc and the Donders Institute searched for the cause of vision impairment within a large Dutch family. […] After thirty years of research, the genetic defect that causes the eye disease retinitis pigmentosa type 17 (RP17) has finally been discovered. […] RP17 is a form of a dominant hereditary retinal disorder (retinitis pigmentosa), which causes a gradual deterioration of vision and can lead to severe forms of vision impairment and blindness. […] The RP17 study now shows that duplication of pieces of DNA, so-called structural DNA changes, is the cause of this disease. […] The DNA changes seem to be a significant cause of retinitis pigmentosa with a dominant hereditary pattern, where there is a fifty percent chance of passing the gene defect on to children.

• #49 New genetic cause for vision impairment and blindness discovered – Radboudumc

  https://www.radboudumc.nl/en/news/2020/new-genetic-cause-for-vision-impairment-and-blindness-discovered

  When the researchers further researched the DNA duplications, they discovered a new mechanism that causes vision impairment or blindness. […] The DNA duplications disrupt the careful folding of chromosome 17 in small DNA loops in the nucleus of the cell. […] The DNA duplicate creates an oversized DNA loop that incorrectly includes the genetic code of the GDPD1 gene. […] As a result, GDPD1 comes into contact with an 'ON button for the retina, which eventually causes the erroneous production of the GDPD1 protein. […] This protein is not produced in a healthy retina and is therefore potentially toxic to the retina.

• #50 Types of inherited sight loss – Retina UK

  https://retinauk.org.uk/information-and-support/about-inherited-sight-loss/types-of-inherited-sight-loss/

  Inherited progressive sight loss is caused by a range of rare genetic conditions. […] The defining features of conditions covered by Retina UK are that: the cause of sight loss is retinal degeneration (cells in any part of the retina, including the macula, deteriorate and die) […] The mutations cause failure of a particular structure or function within retinal cells, ultimately leading to degeneration of the cells and subsequent sight loss. […] Genetic retinal conditions usually cause vision problems that start in childhood or early to mid-adulthood. […] Most Retina UK conditions are progressive, becoming gradually worse over time, although a small number are stationary; they may be present at birth but do not progress. […] Choroideremia is a genetic condition that causes progressive vision loss, mostly in males.

• #51 Types of inherited sight loss – Retina UK

  https://retinauk.org.uk/information-and-support/about-inherited-sight-loss/types-of-inherited-sight-loss/

  Best disease, also known as Best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD), is an inherited eye condition associated with progressive degeneration of the macula and is a form of juvenile macular dystrophy. […] Doyne honeycomb dystrophy is an inherited disorder which causes progressive sight loss. […] Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is an inherited disorder that causes progressive vision loss. […] Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina, shortened to gyrate atrophy, is an inherited disorder of protein metabolism characterised by progressive vision loss. […] X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is an inherited condition that causes early loss of mainly central vision in males. […] Usher syndrome is an inherited condition that affects both hearing and vision. […] Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an inherited condition which impacts many parts of the body including the retina.

• #52 How Smoking Can Contribute to Vision Loss and Blindness | FDA

  https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/how-smoking-can-contribute-vision-loss-and-blindness

  When you smoke cigarettes, you can damage important parts of your eyes necessary for maintaining clear eyesight and vision. This damage can make your vision cloudy, reduce your field of vision, or even cause you to lose your eyesight completely. […] Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause eye diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness. Smoking cigarettes can put you at greater risk of developing two serious eye diseases: […] Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause cataracts. People who smoke cigarettes are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts than people who don’t smoke. […] Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause AMD. People who smoke cigarettes are up to four times more likely to develop AMD than people who don’t smoke. […] More research is needed to find out whether smoking cigarettes can cause the onset or progression of retinopathy in people with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in your retina, the delicate, light-sensitive tissue that lines the inside of the eye, and can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes.

• #53 How Smoking Can Contribute to Vision Loss and Blindness | FDA

  https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/how-smoking-can-contribute-vision-loss-and-blindness

  When you smoke cigarettes, you can damage important parts of your eyes necessary for maintaining clear eyesight and vision. This damage can make your vision cloudy, reduce your field of vision, or even cause you to lose your eyesight completely. […] Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause eye diseases that can lead to vision loss and blindness. Smoking cigarettes can put you at greater risk of developing two serious eye diseases: […] Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause cataracts. People who smoke cigarettes are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts than people who don’t smoke. […] Yes, smoking cigarettes can cause AMD. People who smoke cigarettes are up to four times more likely to develop AMD than people who don’t smoke. […] More research is needed to find out whether smoking cigarettes can cause the onset or progression of retinopathy in people with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels in your retina, the delicate, light-sensitive tissue that lines the inside of the eye, and can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes.

• #54 Vision Loss and Diabetes | American Diabetes Association

  https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/eye-health/vision-loss-diabetes

  These new blood vessels are weak and can easily break and bleed. […] This condition is known as retinal detachment, and it can happen suddenly or slowly over time. […] Managing your diabetes by staying physically active, eating healthy and taking your medicine can also help you prevent or delay vision loss. […] To detect retinopathy, the doctor looks at all the retinal tissues. […] Your doctor may perform an optical coherence tomography, which is a laser exam of the back of the eye. […] A fluorescein angiogram is a test that can detect diabetic retinopathy. […] The treatments for macular edema and proliferative retinopathy can prevent vision loss and even restore some of your lost vision. […] Scientists are studying better ways to find, treat and prevent vision loss in people with diabetes.

• #55 Vision Loss in Older Adults | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/0801/p219.html

  A number of medicated eye drops lower intraocular pressure and can delay the progression of vision loss. […] Because adherence to medical therapy for glaucoma is poor, there is interest in surgical approaches to stop progression of glaucoma before vision loss becomes irreversible. […] Several large clinical trials have demonstrated that tight glycemic control decreases the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy. […] Nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with preserved visual acuity can be monitored without active treatment. […] Widespread neovascularization and hemorrhage indicate progression to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which requires treatment, typically with panretinal photocoagulation. […] Diabetic macular edema causes rapid vision deterioration and can quickly lead to blindness.

• #56 Vision Loss in Older Adults | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/0801/p219.html

  Vision loss affects 37 million Americans older than 50 years and one in four who are older than 80 years. […] The conditions that cause most cases of vision loss in older patients are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, ocular complications of diabetes mellitus, and age-related cataracts. […] Vitamin supplements can delay the progression of age-related macular degeneration. […] Intravitreal injection of a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor can preserve vision in the neovascular form of macular degeneration. […] Medicated eye drops reduce intraocular pressure and can delay the progression of vision loss in patients with glaucoma, but adherence to treatment is poor. […] Laser trabeculoplasty also lowers intraocular pressure and preserves vision in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, but long-term studies are needed to identify who is most likely to benefit from surgery.

• #57 Vision Loss in Older Adults | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/0801/p219.html

  Tight glycemic control in adults with diabetes slows the progression of diabetic retinopathy, but must be balanced against the risks of hypoglycemia and death in older adults. […] Fenofibrate also slows progression of diabetic retinopathy. […] Panretinal photocoagulation is the mainstay of treatment for diabetic retinopathy, whereas vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors slow vision loss resulting from diabetic macular edema. […] The four major causes of severe vision loss and blindness in older adults are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), ocular complications of diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and age-related cataracts. […] Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of ophthalmic conditions that cause progressive damage to the optic nerve, leading to visual field loss and irreversible blindness.

• #58 A vision of the future: discoveries that could save age-related sight loss

  https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-024-00230-z

  Ive always been curious about how the retinal cells in the eye survive for decades in such a harsh environment, says Nicolas Bazan, neuroscientist at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health New Orleans. We are born with all our retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPECs), and we have them for life once they die, vision loss follows. […] AMD disrupts and kills cells in the central retina, resulting in loss of detailed vision and eventual blindness. There are two forms of AMD. Dry AMD represents more than 80% of cases and occurs gradually as the RPECs deteriorate and die. This leads to craters appearing, so that the macula resembles the surface of the moon, notes Bazan. The loss of RPECs damages photoreceptor integrity, leading to sight deterioration and blindness. […] At the onset of AMD, there is serious disruption of oxidative metabolism in retinal cells. Over time, this causes irreparable damage to both RPECs and photoreceptors.

• #59 Retinitis pigmentosa – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retinitis_pigmentosa

  Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a member of a group of genetic disorders called inherited retinal dystrophy (IRD) that cause loss of vision. […] The underlying mechanism involves the progressive loss of rod photoreceptor cells that line the retina of the eyeball. […] When these rod cells die, this substance is no longer provided. This is generally followed by the loss of cone photoreceptor cells. […] A variety of retinal molecular pathway defects have been matched to multiple known RP gene mutations. Mutations in the rhodopsin gene (RHO), which is responsible for the majority of autosomal-dominantly inherited RP cases, disrupts the rhodopsin protein essential for translating light into decipherable electrical signals within the phototransduction cascade of the central nervous system. […] Additionally, oxidative damage associated with lipid peroxidation is a potential cause of cone cell death in retinitis pigmentosa.

• #60 The Types of Vision Problems Caused by Hydrocephalus

  https://www.hydroassoc.org/types-of-vision-problems-hydrocephalus/

  Some children and adults with hydrocephalus develop vision (eye) problems. […] In one small study, 80% of infants with hydrocephalus had problems with their vision (Persson et al., 2017). These problems can range from minor decreases in visual acuity to severe vision loss. […] Hydrocephalus can affect vision in two different ways: 1) Damage to Optic Nerve, 2) Damage to Nerves that Control the Eye Muscles. […] Damage to Optic Nerve Visual information is transmitted to the brain by the optic nerve, a bundle of fibers that run from the eye to the brain. If the optic nerve is damaged, the information from the eye cannot reach the brain or may be incomplete. This causes changes in how a person sees. […] Hydrocephalus can damage the optic nerve when intracranial pressure (ICP) increases. This is because the meninges, thin tissue layers that surround the brain and spinal cord, also surround the optic nerve. As ICP increases, the brain and meninges feel this pressure as the brain is pressed outward toward the skull. The pressure from the meninges also increases the pressure felt by the optic nerve.

• #61 Acute Vision Loss – Eye Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/eye-disorders/symptoms-of-ophthalmic-disorders/acute-vision-loss

  Acute loss of vision has 3 general causes: […] Opacification of normally transparent structures through which light rays pass to reach the retina (eg, cornea, vitreous) […] Retinal abnormalities […] Abnormalities affecting the optic nerve or visual pathways. […] The most common causes of acute loss of vision are vascular occlusions of the retina (central retinal artery occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion) […] Ischemic optic neuropathy (often in patients with temporal arteritis) […] Vitreous hemorrhage (caused by diabetic retinopathy or trauma) […] Trauma. […] Less common causes of acute loss of vision include anterior uveitis (a common disorder, but one that usually causes eye pain severe enough to trigger evaluation before vision is lost) […] Aggressive retinitis […] Certain medications (eg, methanol, salicylates, ergot alkaloids, quinine).

• #62

  https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/ozempic-may-linked-condition-causes-blindness-research-needed-rcna159991

  People taking Ozempic and Wegovy may be at increased risk of developing a debilitating eye condition that can cause irreversible vision loss, a study published Wednesday in JAMA Ophthalmology finds. […] Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION, is a condition that affects the optic nerve, a bundle of fibers that connects to the back of the eye and carries signals to the brain so a person can see. In people with NAION, blood flow to the optic nerve gets reduced or blocked, leading to sudden vision loss. […] NAION is the second most common optic nerve disease in the U.S., occurring in up to 10 out of 100,000 people, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and its one of the most common causes of sudden blindness. The condition is permanent with no known treatment.

• #63 Causes of Temporary Blindness and Short-Term Vision Loss

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/temporary-blindness-short-term-vision-loss

  If you have a sudden total, black-out, or near-total vision loss, its an emergency. […] It can happen if a clot creates a blockage in your retinal artery. […] Clots can cause temporary blindness in one eye, usually lasting 20 to 30 minutes. […] Without prompt treatment, this blockage may cause permanent blindness. […] A retinal migraine affects only one eye. This rare condition causes partial or total blindness for a short period, usually 10 to 30 minutes. […] This builds up pressure in your eye. […] Without prompt treatment, it can cause permanent blindness. […] Giant cell arteritis also triggers vision loss, usually in one eye. Without treatment, it can result in permanent blindness in a week or two. […] Retinal vein occlusion is when a vein in the retina gets blocked, often due to a blood clot. […] Papilledema may be the result of a tumor, abscess, or blood clot. High blood pressure, an infection, and certain medications can also put pressure on the brain.

• #64 Causes of Temporary Blindness and Short-Term Vision Loss

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/temporary-blindness-short-term-vision-loss

  If you have a sudden total, black-out, or near-total vision loss, its an emergency. […] It can happen if a clot creates a blockage in your retinal artery. […] Clots can cause temporary blindness in one eye, usually lasting 20 to 30 minutes. […] Without prompt treatment, this blockage may cause permanent blindness. […] A retinal migraine affects only one eye. This rare condition causes partial or total blindness for a short period, usually 10 to 30 minutes. […] This builds up pressure in your eye. […] Without prompt treatment, it can cause permanent blindness. […] Giant cell arteritis also triggers vision loss, usually in one eye. Without treatment, it can result in permanent blindness in a week or two. […] Retinal vein occlusion is when a vein in the retina gets blocked, often due to a blood clot. […] Papilledema may be the result of a tumor, abscess, or blood clot. High blood pressure, an infection, and certain medications can also put pressure on the brain.

• #65 Causes of Temporary Blindness and Short-Term Vision Loss

  https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/temporary-blindness-short-term-vision-loss

  If you have a sudden total, black-out, or near-total vision loss, its an emergency. […] It can happen if a clot creates a blockage in your retinal artery. […] Clots can cause temporary blindness in one eye, usually lasting 20 to 30 minutes. […] Without prompt treatment, this blockage may cause permanent blindness. […] A retinal migraine affects only one eye. This rare condition causes partial or total blindness for a short period, usually 10 to 30 minutes. […] This builds up pressure in your eye. […] Without prompt treatment, it can cause permanent blindness. […] Giant cell arteritis also triggers vision loss, usually in one eye. Without treatment, it can result in permanent blindness in a week or two. […] Retinal vein occlusion is when a vein in the retina gets blocked, often due to a blood clot. […] Papilledema may be the result of a tumor, abscess, or blood clot. High blood pressure, an infection, and certain medications can also put pressure on the brain.

• #66 Sudden Visual Loss: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1216594-overview

  Sudden visual loss has an extensive differential diagnosis. Determining the etiology is guided by variables such as patient age, lateralization of symptoms, time course of vision loss, and associated symptoms, including the presence or absence of pain. In general, monocular vision loss indicates an ocular problem or a problem anterior to the optic chiasm, and the vision loss may respect the horizontal midline. […] Binocular vision loss usually is cerebral in origin and often respects the vertical midline. Transient vision loss lasting seconds is suspicious of an embolic phenomenon, whereas vision loss lasting on the order of 15 minutes typically, although not always, more characteristic of migraines. […] Sudden-onset painless vision loss often is ischemic in origin. However, if accompanied by headache, sudden vision loss can result from giant cell arteritis (GCA) and pituitary apoplexy. Vision loss with pain upon eye movement in young patients should prompt consideration of optic neuritis.

• #67 Vision Loss from Uveitis – Prevent Blindness

  https://preventblindness.org/vision-loss-from-uveitis/

  Uveitis may cause blurry and reduced vision. When treated, vision may recover. In some cases, mostly in intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis and panuveitis, where inflammation is recurrent and chronic, damage to the eye can occur, particularly to the retina and optic nerve, and cause permanent vision loss. […] Inflammation caused by uveitis can cause pressure in the eye to go up. This is called ocular hypertension. In addition, long-term steroid use may cause secondary glaucoma. The use of steroids can increase the amount of fluid produced by the ciliary body, causing the pressure inside the eye to rise. As many as one fifth of people with uveitis can develop ocular hypertension. Some of these individuals will develop glaucoma. The best way to prevent vision loss from glaucoma is by going to the eye doctor and following your treatment plan as directed.

• #68 Uveitis / Infectious Diseases – Research to Prevent Blindness

  https://www.rpbusa.org/rpb/resources-and-advocacy/resources/rpb-vision-resources/infectious-diseases/

  What is known is that uveitis is responsible for about 10 percent of all cases of blindness in the U.S. […] Serious complications sometimes include cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment, or vision loss. […] In poor countries, the most common infectious cause of preventable blindness is trachoma. It is responsible for over eight million cases of visual impairment or blindness. […] In 1996, RPB-supported researchers discovered that a single dose antibiotic treats trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide.

• #69 Visual impairment – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_impairment

  Visual impairment or vision impairment (VI or VIP) is the partial or total inability of visual perception. In the absence of treatment such as corrective eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment, visual impairment may cause the individual difficulties with normal daily tasks, including reading and walking. The terms low vision and blindness are often used for levels of impairment which are difficult or impossible to correct and significantly impact daily life. […] The most common causes of visual impairment globally are uncorrected refractive errors (43%), cataracts (33%), and glaucoma (2%). Refractive errors include near-sightedness, far-sightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism. Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness. Other disorders that may cause visual problems include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, corneal clouding, childhood blindness, and a number of infections. Visual impairment can also be caused by problems in the brain due to stroke, premature birth, or trauma, among others. These cases are known as cortical visual impairment.

• #70 Sudden Visual Loss: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1216594-overview

  Sudden visual loss has an extensive differential diagnosis. Determining the etiology is guided by variables such as patient age, lateralization of symptoms, time course of vision loss, and associated symptoms, including the presence or absence of pain. In general, monocular vision loss indicates an ocular problem or a problem anterior to the optic chiasm, and the vision loss may respect the horizontal midline. […] Binocular vision loss usually is cerebral in origin and often respects the vertical midline. Transient vision loss lasting seconds is suspicious of an embolic phenomenon, whereas vision loss lasting on the order of 15 minutes typically, although not always, more characteristic of migraines. […] Sudden-onset painless vision loss often is ischemic in origin. However, if accompanied by headache, sudden vision loss can result from giant cell arteritis (GCA) and pituitary apoplexy. Vision loss with pain upon eye movement in young patients should prompt consideration of optic neuritis.

• #71 Vision loss after spine surgery: review of the literature and recommendations in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_15.xml

  In recent studies spinal surgery has replaced cardiac surgery as a leading cause of postoperative vision loss (POVL). […] Postoperative vision loss is an uncommon but devastating complication, with unknown origin and pathogenesis. […] Although the number of cases reported in the literature is on the rise, many questions remain regarding its origin, risk factors, pathophysiology, and prevention. […] The most important and the most common diagnosis in patients in whom perioperative visual deficits develop after spine surgery is ION. […] Ischemic optic neuropathy is categorized as either anterior or posterior, depending on the location of the lesion in the optic nerve. […] Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy is the most commonly reported cause of vision loss in patients in the prone position during spinal surgery.

• #72 Vision loss after spine surgery: review of the literature and recommendations in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_15.xml

  In recent studies spinal surgery has replaced cardiac surgery as a leading cause of postoperative vision loss (POVL). […] Postoperative vision loss is an uncommon but devastating complication, with unknown origin and pathogenesis. […] Although the number of cases reported in the literature is on the rise, many questions remain regarding its origin, risk factors, pathophysiology, and prevention. […] The most important and the most common diagnosis in patients in whom perioperative visual deficits develop after spine surgery is ION. […] Ischemic optic neuropathy is categorized as either anterior or posterior, depending on the location of the lesion in the optic nerve. […] Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy is the most commonly reported cause of vision loss in patients in the prone position during spinal surgery.

• #73 Vision loss after spine surgery: review of the literature and recommendations in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_15.xml

  The location in PION is thought to be in the posterior portion of the optic nerve between the optic foramen at the orbital apex and the central retinal artery’s point of entry at the midportion of the orbital optic nerve. […] Perioperative factors that have been implicated in the development of ION include intraoperative hypotension, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, use of replacement fluids, and anemia. […] The risk of optic nerve damage increases as fluid pressure increases with prone positioning, operative time, and the kinetics of movement of intravascular fluid into extravascular tissues and spaces in the orbit. […] The radical increase in spinal surgeries performed in the US and the developed world and the significant relationship between spinal surgery and postoperative vision loss underscore the need for further research on this topic.

• #74 Vision loss after spine surgery: review of the literature and recommendations in: Neurosurgical Focus Volume 23 Issue 5 (2007) Journals

  https://thejns.org/focus/view/journals/neurosurg-focus/23/5/foc-07_11_15.xml

  The location in PION is thought to be in the posterior portion of the optic nerve between the optic foramen at the orbital apex and the central retinal artery’s point of entry at the midportion of the orbital optic nerve. […] Perioperative factors that have been implicated in the development of ION include intraoperative hypotension, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, use of replacement fluids, and anemia. […] The risk of optic nerve damage increases as fluid pressure increases with prone positioning, operative time, and the kinetics of movement of intravascular fluid into extravascular tissues and spaces in the orbit. […] The radical increase in spinal surgeries performed in the US and the developed world and the significant relationship between spinal surgery and postoperative vision loss underscore the need for further research on this topic.

• #75

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: refractive errors, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration. […] Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its vision functions. […] Eye conditions that can cause vision impairment and blindness such as cataract or refractive error are, for good reasons, the main focus of eye care strategies; nevertheless, the importance of eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment such as dry eye or conjunctivitis must not be overlooked. […] Uncorrected refractive error remains a leading cause of vision impairment in all countries amongst children and adult populations. […] For many eye conditions, e.g. diabetic retinopathy, early detection and timely treatment are crucial to avoid irreversible vision loss. […] Vision rehabilitation is very effective in improving functioning for people with an irreversible vision loss that can be caused by eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, consequences of trauma, and age-related macular degeneration.

• #76

  https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment

  Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness are: refractive errors, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration. […] Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its vision functions. […] Eye conditions that can cause vision impairment and blindness such as cataract or refractive error are, for good reasons, the main focus of eye care strategies; nevertheless, the importance of eye conditions that do not typically cause vision impairment such as dry eye or conjunctivitis must not be overlooked. […] Uncorrected refractive error remains a leading cause of vision impairment in all countries amongst children and adult populations. […] For many eye conditions, e.g. diabetic retinopathy, early detection and timely treatment are crucial to avoid irreversible vision loss. […] Vision rehabilitation is very effective in improving functioning for people with an irreversible vision loss that can be caused by eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, consequences of trauma, and age-related macular degeneration.

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