Corneal blindness: what is it and what are the symptoms?

Corneal blindness is one of the most common forms of blindness around the world and can affect almost anyone. Causes range from genetic disorders and injury to bacterial infections, and yet many people are unaware of what the early warning signs may be. Learning to spot them can be essential, with early medical intervention in many cases able to prevent or minimise permanent damage to the eye.

What Is Corneal Blindness?

The cornea is the clear tissue at the front of your eye, and it is what allows light to pass through the pupil. Any profound decrease in vision or blindness due to diseases of the cornea is termed corneal blindness. It is the fourth most common cause of blindness in the world, accounting for more than 5% of the blind population.

Visual Impairment

While devastating, corneal blindness is in many cases something can be treated and prevented, which is why there is so much work to cure corneal blindness. Spotting the signs is crucial and the most common is visual impairment, which may initially be mild blurred or cloudy vision but which can get progressively worse. If you find that you or someone you know is experiencing this, it is important to seek medical help.

Tears

Do you find that you have more tears in your eyes than usual? Tears work to protect and lubricate your eyes, removing irritants and reducing stress. They also contain antibodies that fight microbes, so there are many reasons why your eyes would tear up. If it is happening more frequently than normal, or there is no obvious cause, then it could be down to an infection or damage that, if left untreated, could cause corneal blindness.

Sensitivity to Light

Another common sign that you might be experiencing corneal blindness is an oversensitivity to light. This can happen when you walk into a bright room and you experience a pain or a reaction to the light. This is a common sign of a few forms of medical issues, so it is always worth checking.

Severe Pain

Finally, you should know that severe pain in the eye is a strong sign of corneal blindness. No one wants to have to deal with pain in their eye and so they usually get it checked out as soon as possible. It is important that you don’t pass off eye pain for a migraine as it could be more severe. In many cases, the severe pain is a result of corneal blindness.

What to Do

If you think that you are experiencing the symptoms of corneal blindness, you should make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. The good news is that there are many treatments now available and so you might be able to take advantage of these. Make sure to look out for any issues that you are experiencing and don’t ignore them as this can only lead to further problems down the line.