Health Tip: Causes of Blindness

(HealthDay News) -- Blindness can be caused by a host of diseases and conditions, including diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, vitamin A deficiency, leprosy, trachoma and river blindness (onchocerciasis).

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says these additional factors can lead to blindness:

• Injury to the eye, including from chemical burns, contact with a sharp or blunt object or fireworks.
• Blocked blood vessels.
• Complications from eye surgery or premature birth.
• Conditions like Tay-Sachs disease, optic neuritis, retinitis pigmentosa, retinoblastoma and optic glioma.
• Stroke.
• Lead poisoning.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Feb. 22, 2007

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