Blindness and partial loss of vision

The nature of blindness varies considerably in different regions of the world, depending on local dietary patterns and the nature of the disease that causes vision loss. The diseases that are most often responsible for vision loss (worldwide) include trachoma, cataracts, glaucoma, keratomalacia, and onchocerciasis, and in the past, smallpox, leprosy, gonorrhea, and syphilis (the latter are now significantly less important in this regard).

In different countries of the world, blindness occurs with different frequencies: for example, in Africa (in some of its regions) it reaches 10:1000, while in Great Britain and the USA this figure is 2:1000. In England, blindness is registered arbitrarily, i.e. with some individual deviations. Although the generally accepted definition of blindness in the world means the inability to distinguish light, nevertheless, persons are subject to registration as blind if their visual acuity is less than 3/60, and if it is greater than this figure, then with a significant impairment of the visual fields (as happens with glaucoma). In 1989, 153,000 persons suffering from vision loss were registered in Great Britain, and 13,000 are registered annually as newly blind, and 91,000 as persons with partial vision loss. The criterion for partial vision loss is visual acuity less than 6/60 (or more than 6/60, but with a limitation of the visual fields).

The causes of blindness in the UK have changed significantly in the last 60 years. For example, in the 1920s ophthalmia neonatorum was responsible for 30% of all cases of blindness diagnosed in English schools for the blind, but today it is a rare and curable disease.

Retrolental fibroplasia, which affected mostly premature babies, was diagnosed quite often in the 1960s. Monitoring these babies with intra-arterial oxygen administration seemed to prevent this disease, which is due to the very high concentration of oxygen in the inhaled air. Due to the increasing age of the elderly, it is the diseases that mainly affect this age group that are the most common causes of blindness today. Almost 2/3 of the blind are people over 65 years old, and 1/3 are over 75 years old. Macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma are the three most common causes of blindness in the UK.

In England and Wales, responsibility for registering the blind lies with the local authority. An application for registration of a blind person is made by an optometrist, the form of which is arbitrary and non-standard. A registered person immediately receives certain privileges - free travel on public transport, exemption from large taxes, reduced fees for watching television programs, some discounts on travel and access to "talking" books. In order for people with partial loss of sight to be able to use "talking" books, a special certificate from an optometrist must be obtained. At one time, it was required that a registered blind person be visited at home by a social worker, but at present this is not practiced, although the social service has workers who specialize in helping the blind. The Royal National Institute for the Blind is always ready to offer assistance, for example, guide dogs (they can always be hired if necessary). Children with impaired vision are provided with some help in their education. In special schools, the ratio of teachers to students is increased in favor of teachers and there is special equipment, many children are assigned an optometrist who visits them at home. The disadvantage of this system is that such children have little contact with other children, especially if they are in a closed school.

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