There are a number of misconceptions about blindness – such as, all blind people can read braille or all blind people need a guide dog. These misunderstandings mainly arise from our perceptions formed from watching TV or reading books. Over here we have tried to debunk some of the common misconceptions about blindness.
Myth 1: Blind people can’t see at all
Not all cases of blindness/visual impairment lead to complete loss of vision. There are a number of eye complications that lead to loss of peripheral vision. These eye complications include Retinitis Pigmentosa, Glaucoma, Detached Retina, and Papilledema.
Myth2: Visually impaired people have the superior hearing sense
This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding blindness/visual impairment. Being blind/visually impaired doesn’t mean you’ll have superior hearing sense. This misconception is more of a misinterpretation of the fact that visually impaired people rely more on other senses and therefore their hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting sense may improve over time.
Myth3: All visually impaired people can read Braille
No, not all people who are visually impaired can read Braille. The specialised reading/writing system is mainly for young blind children. Using the reading/writing system, blind/visually impaired children can keep up with their education. People who suffer from visual impairment later in life do not necessarily have to rely on Braille. They may rely on alternatives like screen reader software.
Myth 4: Visually impaired people are unable to live independently
Being blind doesn’t mean you have to be completely dependent on another person. By making several lifestyle changes, visually impaired people can become perfectly capable of living independently and even raising families.
Being independent has now become less of a challenge for visually impaired people given the number of vision aid products that are available on the market. Some of the innovative vision aid products include reading pen, smart cane, digital magnifying glass, and liquid level indicator.
Myth 5: All blind people need a guide dog
Having a guide dog can be of great help, but it doesn’t necessarily mean all blind people must have one. In fact, having a guide dog can be a hassle as one needs to take proper care of it. Modern vision aids like the smart cane can be a great alternative to a guide dog.
Myth 6: Blind people need to be spoken loudly
People generally have a misconception that one needs to speak loudly to blind people. In fact, it can be considered as a negative gesture to speak loudly with visually impaired people. The best and positive way to interact with blind/visually impaired people is to speak with them in a conversational tone.
Myth 7: Blind people only see blackness
It depends on the person. Some people perceive it as a grey or brown haze. Whereas others can perceive bright lights.
We have tried debunking some of the common myths surrounding visual impairment. Now, let’s take a quick look at what causes blindness.
Causes of blindness
There are a number of complications that can lead to vision loss and complete blindness. These eye complications include:
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
- Hypertensive Retinopathy
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Cataracts
- Retinal Vascular Occlusion
- Macular Degeneration
- Retinitis Pigmentosa
If you have been detected with any of these above, then it’s important to follow your treatment schedule religiously. Go for annual eye checkups and take proper care of eyes.
Disha Eye Hospital provides high-quality treatment for a number of eye complications
With a team of some of the best eye doctors in Kolkata, we provide treatment for serious eye complications, including Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Refraction errors, Uveitis, and Corneal complications.
We use advanced technology-led diagnostic and treatment procedures to provide high-quality eye care, and that too, at affordable prices. Learn about our eye care services at http://www.dishaeye.org/