blinded

Blinded is the past participle of blind and can function as an adjective describing the state of lacking sight. It is used for people who are blind or have severe visual impairment, and can describe a device, condition, or event that causes blindness. In figurative language, "blinded" may describe being misled or overwhelmed by something, such as being blinded by emotion or light.

Medical and functional use: Blindness refers to a substantial loss of vision that prevents daily functioning. It can be congenital or acquired and ranges from complete absence of vision to very low vision. Conditions causing blindness include injuries, diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and optic neuropathies. Management focuses on rehabilitation, assistive technologies, education, and social support; many individuals with blindness lead independent lives with proper accommodations.

Research and experimental use: In scientific and clinical trials, blinding is a methodological technique to reduce bias. A blinded study conceals the treatment assignment from participants, investigators, or outcome assessors. Common configurations are single-blind (participants unaware), double-blind (both participants and investigators unaware), and sometimes triple-blind (participants, investigators, and data analysts unaware). Blinding can be compromised by side effects, obvious treatment differences, or accidental disclosure.