I recently read something that made me think. With the power outages returning in Cuba and the energy crisis intensifying, people are revisiting stories that seemed buried. I’m talking about that epidemic of optic neuropathy that blinded tens of thousands of Cubans in the 90s.

It turns out that during the Special Period, after the Soviet Union collapsed, Cuba lost between 10 and 13 million tons of subsidized oil annually. Imagine: the economy collapsed by 35 percent. There was no electricity, no gasoline, no food. Lines for basic necessities were endless.

But what few remember is what happened to public health. Between 1991 and 1993, more than 50,000 Cubans developed optic neuropathy, a disease that damages the optic nerve and robs you of vision. It was no coincidence. The combination of extreme rationing, severe vitamin deficiencies, and the stress of the energy crisis was devastating. Many also smoked more due to stress, which worsened everything.

Optic neuropathy is basically when the nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain is damaged. It can be gradual or sudden. Symptoms vary: some lose vision in one eye, others see blurry or as if looking through a tunnel. There are cases where people lose the ability to distinguish colors. In the most severe cases, blindness is irreversible.

What’s concerning now is that, with this new energy crisis facing the island, some are worried that something similar might happen again. Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies are the main culprits. If the situation persists, especially with shortages of food and essential vitamins, public health risks could be serious.

The problem is that optic neuropathy, once it causes permanent damage, has no real cure. Current treatments focus on preventing it from worsening and addressing the original cause, but the damaged nerve does not regenerate. That’s why doctors emphasize detecting symptoms early.

It’s a reminder of how the energy crisis affects not just the economy or daily routines. It has profound consequences on people’s health, especially those who are already vulnerable. I hope authorities are prepared this time.