Visual impairment can be caused by several things. A baby can be born congenitally blind due to maternal illness or inherited. Conditions that can cause vision loss include cataracts, lazy eye (amblyopia), crossed eyes (strabismus), diabetes (retinopathy), glaucoma and trachoma (bacteria).
In Kenya, several surveys provide the basis for national estimates of the prevalence and aetiology of visual loss and ocular pathology. The results showed that 0.7% (750,000) of rural Kenyans are blind in the better eye by WHO standards, and another 2.5% suffer significant visual impairment. 224,000 are blind due to causes that can be prevented or cured.
The doctor may provide you with eye glasses, contact lenses, eye drops or other medications. Surgery may be required. Guide dogs can make you more independent. Braille allows you to read and write. Voice recognition software can help you with homework.
Just as you don’t think about your eye color every day, people with visual impairment don’t always think about their condition every day either.
Someone with sight problems can become isolated from others more easily, though. If a visually impaired person asks for assistance, don’t hesitate to help. But someone who uses a cane or a guide dog is probably self-sufficient and may not need help.