The metaphor of blindness and seeing is not only prominent in the teaching of Jesus, but also found in stories about his giving sight to blind people. There are three, two in Mark and one in John. They clearly have a metaphorical meaning, even as one or more may well be based on historical memory. But they are told for their more-than-historical meaning.

…Mark’s stories of Jesus healing the blind man of Bethsaida and blind Bartimaeus (8:22-26; 10:46-52) frame the central section of his gospel, whose theme is following Jesus on “the way” that leads to his death and resurrection. To be given one’s sight, to see, means seeing and following Jesus as “the way.”

from Jesus