Symptom 10: Functional Blindness
The severe, end-stage symptom of blepharospasm is functional blindness. It doesn’t mean the loss of vision, but rather the inability to open the eyes due to intense and persistent muscle contractions, rendering the person effectively blind.
Functional blindness can drastically affect an individual’s life, leading to dependence on others for basic tasks. It can make reading, writing, cooking, driving, and any activity requiring sight impossible, significantly diminishing the person’s independence and quality of life.
Being functionally blind can lead to social withdrawal and isolation due to difficulty in interacting with others or the environment. The psychological impact can be significant, leading to feelings of frustration, depression, and anxiety.
Functional blindness is a clear indicator of severe, untreated, or uncontrolled blepharospasm. It signals an urgent need for medical intervention to restore the individual’s ability to open their eyes and reclaim their life. (10)
