Blindness
Blindness was the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. There were varying degrees of blindness, ranging from minor visual impairment to total loss of eyesight.
Blindness in humans
During one public execution in 2nd century Rome, two blind men were both given swords and made to fight each other. The spectators found the exhibition hilarious. (PROSE: The Stone Rose)
In 1851, Jacob Crackles was blinded and paralysed when C'rizz attacked him. (AUDIO: Other Lives)
Ada Gillyflower was blind from her mother, Winifred's, experiments with red leech poison to create an antidote from the toxins. Winifred claimed that she was blinded by her father in a drunken rage. (TV: The Crimson Horror)
Parkinson was a blind vicar who lived in Shoreditch in 1963. He prepared a grave for the Hand of Omega at the request of the First Doctor, and later presided over the burial of the coffin containing the Hand at the request of the Seventh Doctor. He stated to the Doctor that he had noticed the Doctor's voice had changed since they last met, to which the Doctor replied, "Yes it has changed, several times". (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
On Karn, Sarah Jane Smith was temporarily blinded by a flash of power from Maren's ring. (TV: The Brain of Morbius)
Elizabeth Rowlinson was blind until Morgaine restored her sight. (TV: Battlefield)
Grace Holloway was temporarily blinded from looking into the beam that used a human retina to open the Eye of Harmony. (TV: Doctor Who)
Francine was blinded when her fighter craft was shot down during the Thousand Day War. (PROSE: Transit)
Gantman was blind, but as he was curator of the Museum of Aural Antiquities, this did not affect his ability to work. (AUDIO: Whispers of Terror)
In the Game Station version of Stars in Their Eyes, losing contestants would be blinded. (TV: Bad Wolf)
Mikhail suffered from blindness in his later years. (PROSE: Reversal of Fortune)
Blindness in other species
Davros was left blind after he was crippled in a Thal attack. (AUDIO: Davros, Corruption) He was later able to see via a cybernetic third eye embedded in the middle of his forehead. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks)
Daleks could be blinded if their eyestalk was destroyed or if the lens was covered. (TV: "The Escape", Destiny of the Daleks, Resurrection of the Daleks, Revelation of the Daleks, Remembrance of the Daleks, The Parting of the Ways)
In 1890, a blind Krafayis was left behind on Earth by its pack. (TV: Vincent and the Doctor)
Peri Brown and Erimem met a blind Pakhar beggar on Garazone. (AUDIO: Nekromanteia)
Some species were naturally blind. The Cimmerian race was totally blind and had no concept of either sight or eyes. They accidentally blinded Orllensa, Mike Ferras and Haliard, but later healed them. (AUDIO: Embrace the Darkness) Slithergees were also blind. (AUDIO: Flip-Flop) The Masters of Dorada lost the organs for sight and hearing when they became disembodied brains, but could still sense others' thoughts. (PROSE: The Dream Masters)
