Vision Loss

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 3.4 million people in America age 40 and over have experienced a loss of vision or are visually impaired. The organization considers someone blind if he or she has a visual field less than 21 degrees or a visual acuity less than 20/200. A person is considered visually impaired if he or she has a visual acuity of less than 20/40.

 A loss of vision is regarded as sudden if it develops within minutes up to a few days. One eye or both may be affected. A small part or the entire field of vision may be involved. The loss of a small portion of the field of vision, in the case of a small retinal detachment, for example, may appear to be nothing more than blurry vision. Other symptoms may be more severe and be accompanied by intense eye pain.

 A knowledgeable loss of vision attorney in Chicago will be able to ensure you receive the equitable monetary award you deserve if you have lost your vision at work or as the result of someone else’s recklessness.

Causes of Sudden Vision Loss

There are three main causes of sudden vision loss:

• The clouding or obscuring of eye structures that are normally transparent
• The formation of retinal abnormalities (the retina is the layer at the back of the eyeball that senses light)
• Abnormalities in the optic nerve and visual pathways responsible for relaying signals from the eyes to the brain

Before it is sensed by the retina, beams of light must travel through a number of transparent layers before the retina can sense it. Light enters the cornea, passes through the lens, and finally the vitreous humor, the viscous substance that fills the ball of the eye.

Any obstruction, such as an ulcer in the cornea that prevents light from passing through these layers, has the potential to cause a loss of vision.

How Blindness Arises

Any obstruction that interferes with the passing of light from the external environment to the back of the eye will interfere with one’s vision. The same can be said for anything that disrupts the transporting of nerve signals from the rear of the eye to the brain.

An individual can become blind if the following circumstances occur:

Light is unable to reach the retina due to:

• Viral infections that cause damage to the cornea
• Bacterial infections from wearing contacts too much
• Damage to the cornea from a deficiency in vitamin A which leads to chronic “dry eye”
• The formation of cataracts
• Physical trauma to the eye that scars the cornea

Rays of light do not clearly focus on the retina:

In this case, the defective focusing of light on the retina can not be entirely corrected with contacts, glasses, or surgery.

The retina can not normally detect light rays due to:

• Diabetes
• A detached retina
• Macular degeneration
• An inadequate supply of blood to the retina
• The retina has a fungal infection

The brain can not process the information being sent by the eye:

An individual may have a disorder that affects the parts of the brain that translate visual signals. This can be the result of a tumor or a stroke.

If you sustain an injury to your eyes while on the job, due to medical malpractice, or because of someone else’s negligence, a loss of vision attorney in Chicago can help you properly file a workers’ compensation claim or hold those responsible liable. Contact our office today!