Blindness in painters]

The purpose of this study was the inventory of historical painters who were blind, and the analysis of their attitude in the face of the blindness. METHODS: The population study was extracted from the dictionary of painters by Benezit. The method of the study was ophthalmological, to assess precisely the type and the etiology of the blindness; and psychological and artistic to study the reactions of the painters. RESULTS: Blindness was found among 85 painters. They were 5 cases of transitory blindness; 20 cases of unilateral blindness; and 60 cases of bilateral definitive blindness. The psychological attitudes of the painters were either negative, with depression, and even suicide (5 cases); or positive, with perseverance to paint till to blindness, teaching of the painting after blindness. CONCLUSIONS: The small number of painters with a blindness caused by a precise etiology was disappointing, but the variety of the reactions gave a good account of the attitude of the painters who became blind.     

Blindness in Australian Aborigines

The early findings of the National Trachoma and Eye Health Program show that the blindness rate for Australian Aborigines living in Central Australia is eighteen per thousand. Most blindness occurs in those over sixty years of age, when one in four Aborigines is blind. The commonest cause of blindness is senile cataract. Ocular trauma, corneal opacities and Labrador keratopathy are seen commonly, as is Trachomatous blindness. Pseudo-exfoliation is a frequent finding, but is not often associated with glaucoma.     

Blindness in mentally retarded children

A preliminary survey of the causes of blindness in mentally retarded children in Denmark showed that 50% of the children had optic atrophy, 12.5% had cataract while tapeto-retinal degenerations, other malformation and retrolental fibroplasia each represents 8-9% of the causes of blindness. The survey, was done through written notification and some patients with tapeto-retinal degenerations might have been wrongly diagnosed.     

Post Measles Blindness

Post Measles Blindness occurs in developing countries in 1% of all children with measles and is caused by the interaction of the three factors: measles, malnutrition and treatment. Prevention is to be achieved by an attack on each of these factors; immunisation against measles, improvement of the nutritional status and the application of eye ointment to children with measles are all needed in order to eradicate Post Measles Blindness.