Medical Edge Newspaper Column

Blind, But Still Sees Glare

May 29, 2006
DEAR MAYO CLINIC:
My 85-year-old mother is blind due to deterioration of the optic nerves from hardening of the arteries. Every day she suffers the sensation of "glare," even though this has nothing to do with the outside environment. Is there any way to relieve this uncomfortable glare? -- Cicero, Ill.

ANSWER:
If your mother has some vision, then the "glare" she complains about may just be the brightness of light in daytime that is perceived without much detail. The obvious treatment is tinted glasses; if she hasn't already tried plain old sunglasses, they might help her a little.

If she has no ability to see light with either eye -- and I doubt that -- the glare may be central in origin (coming from the brain) and is often accompanied by hallucinations from her memory. The brain, being deprived of input from the eyes, recalls prior images and brings them to consciousness even though there is no true vision. Unfortunately, we don't have good treatment for that centrally derived phenomenon, but it may abate by itself over time.

-- Brian R. Younge, M.D., Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.