Approximately 90 percent of all accidental eye damage can be avoided with eye safety practices and appropriate protective eyewear. Common causes of eye injuries include sports injuries, injuries from household cleaning products, and industrial accidents.

Leading disease-related causes of blindness in adults include cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

Cataract, a clouding of the eyes lens, occurs mostly in older patients but may occur in younger patients as well. Symptoms vary and the changes may occur gradually-with the first symptoms being difficulty in performing tasks, fuzzy or blurred vision, frequent changes in glasses, double vision in one eye, problems reading, decreased color perception or poor night vision. Surgery is usually performed as day surgery, with the patient going home the same day as surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes mellitus that occurs in persons with insulin-dependent diabetes and those with chronic non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The degree of retinal damage seems to be related to the duration of the diabetes rather than the stability of blood glucose. Retinopathy refers to a breakdown of capillaries in the retina, including microscopic hemorrhages and swelling.

Glaucoma is caused by a blockage that obstructs the flow of fluid from the eye - usually without early symptoms. The blockage causes an increase in intraocular pressure, which damages the optic nerve and produces a small blind spot. The longer the pressure is present, the larger the blind spot becomes, which can ultimately lead to blindness. African-Americans are at higher risk of developing glaucoma. The only way to detect glaucoma is through a comprehensive eye exam.

Macular degeneration is a primary cause of central vision blindness. The macula is the point of the retina upon which light rays meet as they are focused by the cornea and the lens of the eye. If the macula is damaged, the central part of images are blocked as if a blurred area had been placed in the center of the picture. The images around the blurred central area may be clearly visible. For patients with macular degeneration, early diagnosis by an ophthalmologist may prevent further damage or aid the individual in making a visual adjustment with low vision aids.

Strabismus is a leading cause of blindness in infants and young children is strabismus (crossed eyes), which is the misalignment of the visual axes of the eyes that impairs binocular vision. Strabismus and the accompanying amblyopia (or lazy eye) should be investigated shortly after birth, and it must not be assumed that it will be outgrown. Permanent loss of vision is possible if the visual deviation is not treated before ages 4 to 6, and intermittent follow-up examinations by an ophthalmologist are necessary until at least age 10.

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