What happens when the human eye stops working?

When the human eye stops working, it is referred to as blindness or vision loss. Blindness can be partial, where individuals have some degree of vision impairment, or complete, where there is no light perception. The causes of blindness are varied and can range from genetic conditions to injuries, diseases, and age-related degeneration.

Here's what happens when the human eye stops working:

1. Impaired Vision: As the eye loses its functionality, the ability to see clearly becomes compromised. Individuals may experience blurred vision, reduced sharpness, and difficulty in distinguishing objects. Colors may appear faded, and peripheral (side) vision may narrow.

2. Light Sensitivity: The eye becomes more sensitive to light, leading to discomfort and glare. This can make it challenging to be in brightly lit environments or even outdoors during the daytime.

3. Loss of Visual Acuity: Visual acuity, which refers to the sharpness and clarity of vision, progressively declines. This makes it harder to read, recognize faces, and perform detailed tasks.

4. Night Blindness: Difficulty seeing in low light or nighttime conditions (nyctalopia) can be experienced. This occurs because the eye's ability to adapt to darkness is compromised.

5. Scotomas (Blind Spots): Patches of vision loss or blind spots (scotomas) can develop in the visual field. These blind spots can interfere with central or peripheral vision, affecting daily activities such as reading, walking, and recognizing objects.

6. Total Blindness: In cases of complete blindness, individuals lose all light perception and cannot see anything. However, some individuals with total blindness may still retain the ability to sense the direction of a light source or experience the sensation of light (known as light perception).

7. Adaptive Mechanisms: The brain can sometimes adapt to vision loss by relying more on the other senses, such as hearing and touch. This neuroplasticity allows individuals to develop compensatory mechanisms to navigate their surroundings.

It's important to note that blindness can have a profound impact on a person's quality of life, including their independence and ability to perform everyday tasks. Early detection, proper medical care, and rehabilitation services can help individuals with vision loss adapt and maximize their remaining visual abilities.