CAUSES AND TREATMENT OF BLINDNESS

1. Dry eyes:
Xeropathalmia or nutritional blindness is the most common cause of child blindness. It results when the child does not get enough vitamin-A. it is common in children who are not breast- fed.
2. Trachoma:
It is the common cause of preventable blindness in the world. It often begins in childhood and lasts for several minths or years. If not treated immediately it causes blindness. It is common in poor and odded living conditions. It can prevented by keeping the eyes clean and flies away ( with the use of tetracycline eye ointment).
3. Gonorrhea:
It causes blindness in new born babies if not treated immediately. The baby gets some infection from his mother at birth. His eyes gets swell, red and have a lot of pus. It can be treated with the use of tetracycline eye ointment or a drop of 1% AgNO3 solution or penciline.
4. River blindness:
It is the common cause of blindness in Africa and Latin America. It is spread by a kind of black fly that breeds in river and streams. There is cure for this.
5. Measles:
Measles can injure the surface of the eyes. It is the common cause of blindness especially in Africa and in children who are poorly nourished.
6. Brain damage
It causes blindness in many children in combination with C.P and other disabilities. It can happen before, during and after birth. It is due to rebulla German measles during pregnancy, delayed breathing at birth and also due to meningitis after birth.
7. Eye injury:
It often cause blindness. It is due to arthritis ( inflammation in joints), brain tumor and also due to certain medicines etc.