Is fear of blindness common?

A Prevent Blindness America Survey found that blindness ranked third as a major fear. Number 1 and 2 were cancer and heart disease. Of course, there are ways to prevent vision loss.


Is it normal to worry about going blind?

Fear of going blind, is a very real fear, especially if your vision has been impacted by your anxiety. So it should be noted that if you haven't gone blind and you find yourself extremely worried about it without medical reason, it is likely a symptom of anxiety.

Why am I scared of being blind?

I think the main reason why most people are so afraid of blindness is because of the tremendous lack of awareness about different ways to cope with vision loss. Today more than ever before, numerous resources and equipment are available to help individuals with vision loss live happy and rich lives.


How do you accept vision loss?

What steps can I take to cope with vision loss?
  1. Learn more about your condition. Written or recorded materials are available through state agencies and non-profit organizations. ...
  2. Seek therapeutic counseling. ...
  3. Understand the grieving process. ...
  4. Explore the benefits of adjustment classes and devices.


What is the fear of being blind called?

For some, ommetaphobia can manifest as the unrealistic fear that they are in danger of an eye injury. For those with comorbid social anxiety disorder, ommetaphobia triggered by eye contact can further worsen symptoms of social anxiety.


Why Do People Fear Blindness? - Responding to Phillip Schofield



How can I stop my fear of blindness?

Blindness themed OCD can be debilitating for people who struggle with it, but it is highly treatable by doing exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy with guidance from a trained ERP Therapist.

Is ommetaphobia rare?

Though rare, some people even experience an eye-touch phobia, called ommetaphobia. It could be triggered by a negative experience in the past, such as an eye injury, or even by social anxiety.

What not to say to a blind person?

Things Not to Say to a Blind Person
  • You don't look blind. ...
  • Are you deaf too? ...
  • Is there a cure? ...
  • I can't imagine your life. ...
  • I'm surprised you have a real job. ...
  • It is over there. ...
  • You're inspiring. ...
  • Inquisitive about their condition.


What do blind people see?

A person with total blindness won't be able to see anything. But a person with low vision may be able to see not only light, but colors and shapes too. However, they may have trouble reading street signs, recognizing faces, or matching colors to each other. If you have low vision, your vision may be unclear or hazy.

Is it possible to become blind all of a sudden?

There are some serious medical conditions that can cause sudden blindness, such as a stroke or brain tumour. While these causes are quite rare, it is nonetheless important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Is becoming blind rare?

The term "blindness" can have many connotations and is difficult to define precisely. To many people, blindness refers to the complete loss of vision with no remaining perception of light. However, this ultimate form of complete blindness is rare.


Is being blind depressing?

Vision loss can affect your physical health by increasing your risk of falls and your quality of life, and it can also have a big impact on your mental health. Loss of vision has been linked to loneliness, social isolation, and feelings of worry, anxiety, and fear. Depression is common in people with vision loss.

How do you tell if you are going blind?

What Are the Symptoms Of Sight Loss?
  1. Double vision.
  2. Blurry vision.
  3. Seeing flashes of light.
  4. Seeing floaters or “spider webs”
  5. Seeing halos or rainbows around lights.
  6. Seeing what looks like a curtain coming down over one eye.
  7. A sudden decrease in vision.
  8. Sudden sensitivity to light and glare.


Can anxiety make you think your going blind?

When you become anxious, your body undergoes a series of both mental and physical changes in order to protect you from potential danger. Common physical symptoms of anxiety include changes in your heart rate, breathing, and even vision. This includes, in some cases, developing blurred vision.


Why do I think I'm going blind?

Losing Vision in of Your Eyes

When you're suddenly losing vision, the underlying problems can be many. For instance, sudden vision loss can be caused by AMD or age-related macular degeneration. This is the leading vision loss cause in people over the age of 65 in the country.

What is the chance of being blind?

The prevalence of people that have distance visual impairment is 3.44%, of whom 0.49% are blind and 2.95% have MSVI. A further 1.1 billion people are estimated to have functional presbyopia.

What do blind people see if it's not black?

The answer, of course, is nothing. Just as blind people do not sense the color black, we do not sense anything at all in place of our lack of sensations for magnetic fields or ultraviolet light. We don't know what we're missing.


What do completely blind people do for fun?

Cards, chess and other games

Braille versions – some of the games available in Braille versions include chess, playing cards, Monopoly, Ludo and Bingo. Tactile versions – some games equipment, such as dominoes or dice, have raised numbers that are easily distinguishable by touch.

Who is the most famous blind person?

Perhaps the most well known blind person was Helen Adams Keller (fig. 1), (June 27, 1880 - June 1, 1968), an American author, political activist, and lecturer. Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree.

How do blind people feel?

Individuals that have lost their sight at a later stage in life claim to dream with images, something that slowly fades as time progresses. People that were born blind dream as well, experiencing their dreams with their active senses. They hear and feel a dream while they don't see images like sighted people.


Why do blind people wear sunglasses?

Wearing sunglasses can help blind people protect their eyes from bright lights and foreign objects. It's a stereotype that the main reason blind people wear sunglasses is to hide their eyes. While some blind people may choose to wear sunglasses for this reason, sunglasses usually play a protective role.

What can legally blind people not do?

You might be able to see objects at a distance but not from the sides of your eyes (peripheral vision). Or, you might have great peripheral vision but trouble seeing objects far away. Being classified as legally blind means you are unable to drive in any state.

What is the most unlikely phobia?

10 of the most unusual phobias
  • Ablutophobia: Fear of bathing. ...
  • Eisoptrophobia: Fear of mirrors. ...
  • Chaetophobia: Fear of hair. ...
  • Linonophobia: Fear of string. ...
  • Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: Fear of long words. ...
  • Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons. ...
  • Lachanophobia: Fear of vegetables.


What is the most unknown phobia?

What Are the Rarest Phobias?
  • Fear of Walking.
  • Fear of Vomiting.
  • Fear of Peanut Butter.
  • Fear of Mirrors.
  • Fear of Making Decisions.
  • Fear of Long Words.
  • Fear of Chewing Gum.
  • Fear of Phobias.


What is the longest word phobia?

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary — and, in an ironic twist, is the name for a fear of long words. Sesquipedalophobia is another term for the phobia.