# Can elevated CO2 levels in blood cause blindness

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elevated-co2-levels-in-blood-cause-blindness/927729>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 10, 2020, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elevated-co2-levels-in-blood-cause-blindness/927729 "2020-12-10T05:57:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![komolono](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/komolono/32/532_2.png) [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elevated-co2-levels-in-blood-cause-blindness/927729/1 "2020-12-10T05:57:36Z")

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Trying to format my question without any personal elements. Are there cases where low O2 levels in blood causes bad bacteria grow rapidly - perhaps like cyano bacteria in waters with excess CO2? Any illnesses that cause brown eyes turn blue?

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**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elevated-co2-levels-in-blood-cause-blindness/927729/2 "2020-12-10T06:42:39Z")

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Sorry, but none of these ideas have any basis in fact.

- Low oxygen and high CO2 are two different things, unrelated.
- Neither has any effect on bacteria in the blood.
- High CO2 doesn’t cause blindness.
- Illnesses don’t cause brown eyes to turn blue.  
&nbsp;

> **[Hypercapnia (hypercarbia): Symptoms, causes, and treatment](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320501)**
>
> A look at hypercapnia, also called hypercarbia, which is when a person has too much carbon dioxide in their blood. Included is detail on symptoms, risk factors, and treatment.

> **[Hypoxia and Hypoxemia: Symptoms, Treatment, Causes](https://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/hypoxia-hypoxemia)**
>
> WebMD explains hypoxia, a dangerous condition that happens when your body doesn't get enough oxygen.

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**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elevated-co2-levels-in-blood-cause-blindness/927729/3 "2020-12-10T12:01:46Z")

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There are some glaucoma medications that can change eye color, but that’s a side effect of the drug, not caused from the illness.

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**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elevated-co2-levels-in-blood-cause-blindness/927729/4 "2020-12-10T21:00:45Z")

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> [@komolono](#):
>
> Any illnesses that cause brown eyes turn blue?

Are people waiting for a few more straight-up responses before they answer “Crystal Gayle’s heartbreak & depression”?