The 9th October 2025 marks World Sight Day and we are raising awareness for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.
It is estimated that around 1.1 billion people across the globe are living with avoidable sight loss and The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) – the organisation behind World Sight Day – is clear that this number will only increase if there is not a more coordinated effort to tackle the issue.
One of the ways to help tackle the issue is to raise public awareness around various conditions that can lead to sight loss if not diagnosed and treated promptly.
One such condition is known as Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.
What is Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (or IIH) refers to a build up of pressure around the brain (also known as intercranial pressure) without any underlying cause. Despite the exact cause of IIH not being known, ongoing research has suggested that patients who have higher BMIs are at increased risk of suffering from IIH.
What are the symptoms of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension?
Symptoms of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension can vary between individuals but visual disturbances such as blurred or double vision are seen in patients with IIH.
Other symptoms of IIH include;
- Headaches
- Neck and/or back pain
- Dizziness
- Memory problems
Diagnosing Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
The symptoms of IIH often tend to be non-specific meaning that treating doctors will often have to go through a process of eliminating other conditions with the same or similar symptoms, performing brain scans and lumbar puncture tests to measure and relieve the pressure around the brain before a diagnosis of IIH is made.
IIH is also a relatively rare disease as it is estimated that somewhere between 1-3 people in every 100,000 in the UK get IIH[1]. This means that there is limited knowledge and understanding of the condition amongst health professionals.
The importance of diagnosing Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension promptly
The need for prompt treatment in cases of IIH is evident in the case of LV v Cwm Taf University Health Board, in which the Claimant, a young woman, experienced a delay in treatment for her IIH. In summary, the Claimant started to experience persistent headaches and deteriorating vision in late May 2013. She saw her GP on two occasions before being referred to hospital for further investigations. A lumbar puncture was performed, and the Claimant’s treating doctor felt that she did not require any medication as most patients responded well to the lumbar puncture alone. Unfortunately, this was not the case for the Claimant as she returned to hospital a few days later with ongoing headaches and double vision. No further treatment was provided at that time. The Claimant’s condition continued to deteriorate and by late July 2013 she was diagnosed with sight threatening intracranial hypertension and was referred urgently to hospital. The Claimant had further lumbar puncture procedures as well as shunt surgery to manage the pressure that had built up around her brain. Despite the intervention, the Claimant was left with a severe sight impairment. The Defendant admitted that there had been a failure to provide the Claimant with prompt and appropriate treatment which left her with a significant disability for which she was awarded compensation.
The impact of sight loss on an individual who previously had their vision cannot be underestimated as it affects every aspect of their lives. An individual may no longer be able to move around freely in their own home and outside of their home, look after family or go to work. Having to reduce working hours, find alternative employment or give up work altogether can lead to financial difficulties and lead to uncertainty about an individual’s financial security. It can also have a considerable psychological impact on an individual as their world as they once knew it has been changed forever.
Whilst there are challenges in diagnosing IIH, the importance of diagnosing and treating Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension promptly is crucial as failing to do so can lead to severe complications such as permanent sight loss which can have a profound impact on an individual with the condition.
This is why raising public awareness about sight threatening conditions is a key priority for the IAPB. The IAPB also have set out other key priorities in their “Value of Vision” to help reform eye care around the world which include;
- Improving access to ophthalmology services by streamlining referral pathways and removing geographical, social and economic barriers to services through the use of systems such as tele-ophthalmology and sustainable financing for ophthalmology services
- Including individuals with visual impairments in policymaking
- Providing training to health professionals to help detect various conditions and provide treatment promptly
Raising public awareness, improving access to ophthalmology services and providing adequate training for health professionals, will help reduce the number of individuals who experience avoidable sight loss.
Considering a legal claim
For individuals who believe that they have suffered avoidable sight loss as a result of failings by a healthcare professional, they may wish to consider a legal claim.
Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional’s actions or failure to act results in harm to their patient.
In order to establish medical negligence, it is necessary to prove two things;
- Breach of Duty; Have those responsible for an individual’s care done something which no other reasonable and responsible body of medical professionals would have done in the same circumstances?
- Causation; Have any identified breaches of duty caused the individual harm?
If the answer to the above questions is yes, then an individual may be entitled to compensation.
We understand that making a legal claim can be a daunting experience but if you believe you, or a loved one, may have received negligent treatment, our experienced team of lawyers at Moore Barlow are here to help. If you would like to discuss your concerns further, please contact Moore Barlow for free initial legal advice.
If you are interested in reading more about World Sight Day, please visit the IAPB World Sight Day Website.
Hope Moore Barlow can help
Our experienced medical negligence team includes lawyers dual-qualified as nurses and doctors with many years’ experience of working in the NHS and in bringing sight loss claims whether against hospitals, GP’s or other healthcare providers. We have a consistently strong track record and are regarded as leaders in the field.
