Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception defined as a profound reduction in visual perception. On the 6m visual acuity scale, blindness is defined as less than 3/60. On the 20ft visual acuity scale, blindness is defined as less than 20/400. On the decimal visual acuity scale, blindness is defined as less than 0.05. Blindness is typically characterized by a visual field of no greater than 10 degrees in radius around central fixation.
Also called: Blindness, Total vision loss, Legal blindness.
Conditions associated with blindness
The following conditions have been associated with blindness in medical literature. This is informational and not a diagnosis.
17q11 microdeletion syndrome
17q11 microdeletion syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Abetalipoproteinemia
Abetalipoproteinemia is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency
Alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms...
Alstrom syndrome
A multisystemic disorder characterized by cone-rod dystrophy, hearing loss, obesity, insulin resistance and hy...
Alström syndrome
Alström syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Amoebiasis due to free-living amoebae
Amoebiasis due to free-living amoebae is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and ...
Behçet disease
Behçet disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
CACH syndrome
CACH syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
CINCA syndrome
CINCA syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Cryptococcosis
Cryptococcosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Full NF2-related schwannomatosis
Full NF2-related schwannomatosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs...
GM1 gangliosidosis
GM1 gangliosidosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Guillouet-Gordon syndrome
Guillouet-Gordon syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 1
Any Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the HPS1 gene....
IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis
IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialadenitis is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympto...
Infantile Krabbe disease
Infantile Krabbe disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Isolated succinate-CoQ reductase deficiency
Isolated succinate-CoQ reductase deficiency is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Jaberi-Elahi syndrome
Jaberi-Elahi syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Krabbe disease
Krabbe disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Late-infantile/juvenile Krabbe disease
Late-infantile/juvenile Krabbe disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and...
Leprosy
Leprosy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Meningioma
Meningioma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Methanol poisoning
Methanol poisoning is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Microcephaly-lymphedema-chorioretinopathy syndrome
Microcephaly-lymphedema-chorioretinopathy syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various ...
Microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome
Microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various sy...
Mucopolysaccharidosis type 3
Mucopolysaccharidosis type 3 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Non-functioning pituitary adenoma
Non-functioning pituitary adenoma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and sign...
Norrie disease
Norrie disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Optic pathway glioma
Optic pathway glioma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Prolactinoma
Prolactinoma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
ReNU syndrome
ReNU syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Sandhoff disease
A lysosomal disorder from the GM2 gangliosidosis family, caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the HEXB g...
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis spectrum
Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis spectrum is a medical condition that may be associated wit...
TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma
TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Tay-Sachs disease
Tay-Sachs disease is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
White-Sutton syndrome
White-Sutton syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
X-linked alpha-thalassemia-intellectual disability syndrome
X-linked alpha-thalassemia-intellectual disability syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with...
X-linked cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy
X-linked cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and...
adrenoleukodystrophy
A peroxisomal disorder resulting in cerebral demyelination, axonal dysfunction in the spinal cord leading to s...
Tests providers may use to investigate blindness
When investigating blindness, a healthcare provider may order one or more of the following laboratory tests. Test selection is a clinical decision made by a qualified professional.
CBC with Differential
Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help evaluate overall health and detect disorder...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Measures 14 substances in the blood to assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar ...
Urinalysis
Examines urine content to help detect urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes....
Symptoms commonly seen alongside blindness
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing....
Fatigue
A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation....
Fever
Body temperature elevated above the normal range....
Headache
Cephalgia, or pain sensed in various parts of the head, not confined to the area of distribution of any nerve....
Muscle weakness
Reduced strength of muscles....
Seizure
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence ...
When to seek care
Seek care from a qualified healthcare provider if blindness is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by concerning symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the symptom blindness mean?
Blindness is a health sign or symptom described in medical literature. Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception defined as a profound reduction in visual perception. On the 6m visual acuity scale, blindness is defined as less than 3/60. On the 20ft visual acuity scale, blindness is defined as less than 20/400. On the decimal visual acuity scale, blindness is defined as less than 0.05. Blindness is typically characterized by a visual field of no greater than 10 degrees in radius around central fixation.
Which conditions are associated with blindness?
Blindness has been reported in association with 48 conditions in the medical literature we index, including 17q11 microdeletion syndrome, Abetalipoproteinemia, Alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase deficiency, Alstrom syndrome, Alström syndrome. These associations do not mean you have any of these conditions.
Should I see a doctor about blindness?
You should discuss any persistent or concerning symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. This website does not provide diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or signs of a medical emergency, seek care immediately.