Blinding

[oripeaux]

Hello! First off, being that is my first post, I thought I'd just offer my compliments as this really is a very spiffy community indeed

Comments

[shira]

It's possible for blinding to occurr after certain types of head trauma, so you might look that up. Also, there's always the burning of the eyes with chemicals idea. Hope this gives you more things to consider.

[sparklytiara]

I'm not an expert but I've read books where blindness occured after acid was thrown on the eyes (burned them essentially). Anything chemical in the eye I think would be believable.

[ankewehner]

Our chemistry teacher told us of someone she knew getting blind like that. I think it was sulphuric acid, but an acid in any case. They got it in one eye in a lab, and when washing out the acid with water, they held the injured eye up - washing the acid into the previously uninjured eye.

[chanphenglew]

Head trauma and direct trauma to the eye could cause a detached retina. There are now methods for dealing with it, like laser surgery, but I think you have to get to the ER right pronto, so if there were a delay (not sure how long), your hero could go blind. You could try looking up: http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic504.htm

Hope that helps

[ghymoreid]

I lost all peripheral vision on my left side after being hit rather hard on the temple when I was nine - the internal bruising damamged/killed the nerve or something, so, yes, head trauma is very plausible.

[starry_diadem]

An injury to the occiput - the back of the head - can result in damage to the primary visual cortex in the occipital region (lobe) of the brain. This leaves the eyes themselves undamaged, but with the cortex unable to process the data they send to the brain, the person is blinded. Depending on the extent of the damage to the cortex, that can be either partial or total blindness.

So, if your character is hit across the back of the head, that could do it.

[oripeaux]

That's just what I was looking for, thanks!

Also, if you know, would the damage be instant, or would the sight deteriorate over a period of time?

[starry_diadem]

Pretty much instant, I think, particularly if you're talking about gross head trauma that causes severe damage to the visual cortex.

[luxovia]

Don't know if this really helps but after a bad fall on ice my mother suffered from a detached retina. Her fall was fairly violent, though she didn't actually bang her head. She didn't notice anything until the following morning. After visiting the optician she was rushed into laser surgery to have the damage repaired. It's over two years and (I think) three surgeries later and she has still to regain any kind of proper vision in the eye, though it has been slowly coming back all along.

I don't know how much our particular experiences can help. I just imagine the trauma would have to be very severe to cause instant blindness.

I know a friend of my had a problem with his eye after playing rugby. He got a fair kick to the head and had blood in his eye ball. The blood had to be syringed out of his eye ball because it was exerting a pressure on his ocular never... I think. It was many years ago. It may be something else to look into though.

Good luck.

[fabulousfrock]

I wandered over to your LJ because I have a character who went blind from an act of violence too and I was curious if you talked about your story (I always like to see how other people approach similar subjects), and even though you don't, your journal seems delightfully dandy. May I add you?

[oripeaux]

*laughs* Yes, you may! And might I add you in return?

(also, as for the story...between you and me *taps nose* I do intend to start flinging stuff up about it on there - just when I'm les bogged down by being educated and have summer to get writing. So!)

[fabulousfrock]

Of course, I am pleased you would add me in return! I hope to hear more about your story soon.

[architects__]

hey, I've been wondering the same question myself! guess it's a popular concept. I'd love to see how you write it.

ps - what time period are you looking at for your story? maybe we could compare notes.

[oripeaux]

Oh, I guess it must be!

Actually, I'm writing on a faintly fantasy backdrop, so no real time period to speak of - although you could probably compare the society to something of 16th-19th century England, if that's any help at all.