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Blindness (gradual onset bilateral loss)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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The most common cause of gradual onset bilateral blindness in the developed world is macular degeneration which is more common in non-insulin dependent diabetics.

Diabetic retinopathy is the second most common cause.

Other causes include:

  • diabetic maculopathy
  • hypertensive retinopathy
  • cataracts
  • chronic glaucoma
  • chiasmal or bilateral optic nerve compression
  • bilateral optic nerve damage, e.g. tobacco amblyopia

Worldwide, chlamydial infection causing trachoma is a common cause.


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