What Causes Blindness in One Eye?

Blindness in one eye may be a temporary or permanent condition, and can affect your ability to drive, participate in sports and navigate obstacles such as stairs. The causes of blindness in one eye include chronic eye disorders, surgical complications and certain types of infections. Consider this information from the National Library of Medicine and the National Eye Institute about the causes of blindness in one eye.

Cataract

• A cataract may slowly cause blindness in one of your eyes as a result of clouding and damage of the lens of your eye.

Glaucoma

• Chronic medical conditions or sudden head injuries may cause glaucoma, which is a buildup of fluid in your eye that can result in blindness.

Scar Tissue

• Scar tissue on the macula of your eye can result from previous eye surgeries and may cause blindness in one eye.

Retinal Detachment

• Detachment of the retina from your eye may cause sudden loss of vision in one eye and is a medical emergency.

Corneal Infections

• Bacterial or fungal infections in the cornea of your eye can result from an injury or contaminated eye care product and can cause blindness in your eye.

Herpes

• Herpes is a type of viral infection that may affect the eyelids or cornea or conjunctiva of your eye, and may result in blindness if left untreated.

Eye Cancer

• You may develop blindness in one eye as a result of cancers such as melanoma, lymphoma or retinoblastoma that grow on your eyelid or eyeball.