In the final days of June, California State Parks announced that the organization has begun rehabilitating the Three Senses Trail, or “Braille Trail.” Located at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, the Braille Trail was commissioned in 1976 for the blind and the visually impaired; the update will include the addition of new interpretive stations. The Arnold Lions Club and the Calaveras Big Trees Association (CBTA) are working with California State Parks on the project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2019.We offer several programs to help improve the lives of people living with blindness. SDCB can give you, or a loved one instruction on reading and writing Braille.
“ “Braille Trail” at Calaveras Big Trees State Park Getting a Facelift”
Bobby Thomson’s “shot heard ‘round the world” home run in 1951, which won the New York Giants the pennant, was the last thing Ed Lucas remembers seeing before he lost his vision. While blindness was a setback for Lucas, he says it isn’t a handicap; since then, Ed became the first blind graduate of Seton Hall University. If that were not impressive enough of a resume, Lucas is the first father to win custody of children from a sighted wife. Ed Lucas has had 38 books published and has written more than 20,000 articles about baseball.
Living with visual impairments or blindness may slow down one’s life, but not to a full stop. A group of blind and visually impaired cyclists, “Team Sea to See,” took part in the 2018 Race Across America. The race takes riders from the West to the East in under nine days. The brave bike riders say, “I choose for my blindness to be an asset.”
Brothers Bradford and Bryan Manning came up with a brilliant idea one day after shopping at Bloomingdales. On that day the two young men bought the same shirt. The fascinating aspect of this occurrence is that both Bradford and Bryan are blind; they made their choice of shirt not on aesthetics but by the softness of the fabric. Their idea: design and create clothing that caters to people’s sense of touch rather than sight. Their profits will go toward fighting blindness.
Mirabile dictu! Researchers at Washington State University created a prototype that could reduce the cost of treating the two leading causes of blindness in America, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The prototype is called a microneedle array; apt considering the device consists of a cluster of hundreds of tiny needles. The technology is essentially a patch for the eye which could make delivering drugs to the eye more effectively than the three current techniques: laser therapy, direct eye injections, and eye drops.
eSight is the only clinically validated device that “enables those living with vision loss to see, be mobile, and engage in virtually any activity of daily living.” The revolutionary device completely changed the life of Joel Gomez, 14, who was born with legal blindness. eSight helps him see as far as he desires, whereas previously he could barely see five feet ahead. Thanks to gracious donors, Gomez was able to acquire a pair which goes for the daunting price of $10,000. Desiring to give back, Joel is working with eSight to give a device to 13 kids from around the world struggling with blindness. The movement is called #TogetherWeSee.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is working on a book about kids with “life challenges,” young people living with conditions like attention deficit disorder, autism, blindness, and diabetes. Justice Sotomayor was diagnosed with diabetes as a child, so the subject matter of her book is something she acutely understands. Her new book is set in a garden and is about "a bunch of us kids working on creating the beauty of a garden."
In 2016, fireworks sent 11,100 Americans to the emergency room, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Not surprisingly, 68 percent of incidents took place around Independence Day. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that approximately one-third of the 1,000 eye-related firework injuries in 2017 resulted in permanent blindness. Prevent Blindness argues that there isn’t a safe way to use fireworks and that the only legal fireworks should be those used by licensed operators in public displays.
Weeds are the bane of most gardeners’ existence. Each summer, hours and hours are spent pulling the unwelcome guests from lawns and gardens, an annoyance to be sure. People who are living in Virginia, please be advised that if you encounter Giant Hogweed—an invasive species that originates from Asia—exercise extreme caution. The plant can grow as high as 14 feet, and its sap makes skin sensitive to sunlight causing severe burns. If the Hogweed sap gets into your eyes, it can result in blindness 
New research analyzing 80 eye surgeries on people living with concurrent wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts indicates that the procedure is safe and does not worsen the symptoms of AMD. The study shows that patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for AMD are not at risk from cataracts surgery. The findings stymie concerns that the inflammation caused by the operation could make macular degeneration worse.
An innovative laser surgery, called collagen crosslinking, helps extend Airmen’s careers. The procedure corrects degenerative eye diseases, such as keratoconus and corneal ectasia. Those affected by the above conditions are not commissioned unless they receive a waiver; and, pilots are restricted from flying. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved collagen crosslinking in 2016 for the treatment of progressive keratoconus.
Major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google have a new USB HID (Human Interface Device) standard for Braille displays; making computers far more accessible to the blind and people with visual impairments. The technology allows people to use Braille displays across different operating systems and devices, no longer having to concern themselves with the myriad of drivers and software.
Barbara Moore lives with a condition called nystagmus with cataracts; she was born legally blind, and she has limited vision. Despite her blindness, Moore taught herself to sew after deciding she wanted to make a comforter. Armed with a desire to work with needle and thread, she has spent the past 16 years sewing buttons and buttonholes on women’s military trousers while working as a seamstress at Vocational Guidance Services (VGS). Since 1890, VGS has trained and provided employment to individuals living with mental and cognitive disabilities.
In the May 2018 issue of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, an interesting case study appears that could prove beneficial for anyone who wears makeup regularly. Every night, millions of women around the world go out with myriad cosmetics on their face; and, when the night comes to an end, it is expected that a few minutes will be taken to wash off mascara, foundation, etc. Of course, there are some evenings that washing one’s face seems arduous and off to bed, people go. So, what happens when people opt to head off to dreamland with makeup in tow?
Larry Woods was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body, at a young age. He was treated with the steroid Prednisone which wreaked havoc on his optic nerve eventually leading to blindness due to glaucoma. While it seems like life was conspiring against him, Woods pursued his dream nevertheless. Larry completed his schooling at South Arkansas Community College, graduating with the highest grade point average in Liberal Arts, and now wants a chance at employment.
Technology can give millions of people around the globe the ultimate gift, the opportunity to see for the first time or see again after going blind. There are a number of tech companies developing smart glasses, such as 
Kenny and Justin Jongsma were diagnosed with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy—a rare genetic disease. The twin brothers became legally blind at the age 21; they only have peripheral vision now. A special kind of eyeglasses made by eSight of Toronto could help the brothers lead a more normal life, allowing them to do some of the things they did before losing their central vision. The eyewear uses a high speed, high-resolution camera to project real-time images to the wearer.
Around 5 million people are completely blind because of damaged or diseased corneal tissue; another 10 million people need surgery to prevent corneal blindness. While modern medicine allows for corneal transplants, there is a severe donor shortage. Fortunately, scientists are now using 3D printers to create synthetic corneas which could help prevent millions of people from losing their eyesight. The cornea is a transparent sheath that sits over the iris and the pupil, directing light rays onto the retina.
Actress Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) stars in a movie playing a character living with vision loss. In order to learn more about living with blindness for her role as a blind pianist in the movie Darkness, Dormer turned to the Royal National Institute Of Blind People (RNIB). Dormer says she had several challenges playing the role.
Be My Eyes is a remarkable new app that assists blind people and those living with low vision see where they are going. The Smartphone application pairs users who have questions or need directions. People who have interest in helping the blind get around can download the app and lend their eyes.
Albinism can severely impact people’s vision making life more challenging. Ryan Huizdos is legally blind because of albinism, but that didn’t stop him from playing little league with the help of a bright yellow ball. Nobody had any objections about the ball until his team made it to a district tournament game in 2015. When Little League learned of the ball, the organization banned its use. A three-year legal battle ensued, and Huizdos can now use the ball when he's at bat, pitching or playing infield.
Myrna Hayutin sells fine art and has done so for the past three-and-a-half decades, despite the fact that she is legally blind. Retinitis pigmentosa began stealing Myrna’s vision when she was eight years old and continues to get worse. Hayutin manages a fine-art gallery and is now an art appraiser, thanks to assistive technologies.
Blindness may seem like an impediment when it comes to playing musical instruments. However, time and time again the general public witnesses remarkable feats involving visually impaired people mastering the art of music, i.e., Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Before Vincent Young learned how to walk, he was already making a name for himself as a musical prodigy despite his blindness. Today, Young is a professional musician who “sings by the words he lives by.”
Vivian Stancil went blind at the age of 19; at the age of 50 her doctor told her that if she wanted to live longer, she would have to start exercising. Even though Stancil didn’t know how to swim, she got into a pool in spite of her blindness. She was morbidly obese when she began learning how to swim since then she has won 220 swimming medals and now runs a foundation that teaches at-risk adults and children how to swim.
Taking care of one’s health is absolutely vital! You can lead a healthier life by utilizing various vitamins. Eating foods rich in vitamins or taking supplements, such as vitamin A, can strengthen the essential systems in the human body. In fact, consuming vitamin A can prevent vision loss and improve eyesight. Glaucoma, cataracts, night blindness, and other eye disorders can be avoided by regular consumption of foods with vitamin A.
Six-year-old Logan and 4-year-old Zoe Galloway are budding hockey players. While it’s not uncommon for people to begin skating at a young age, what makes these two children unique is the fact that they are visually impaired. Unfortunately, both children are going blind from an extremely rare form of eye disease, Leber congenital amaurosis.
Did you know that there is a gender gap in eye disease? In fact, studies indicate that women are at a more significant risk of experiencing vision loss, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma. Regular eye examinations are vital to early diagnosis; during Healthy Vision Month, the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants women to prioritize vision. The Academy encourages people to get a comprehensive medical eye exam at age 40; know your family history; eat healthily; quit smoking; protect their eyes from the sun; and perform daily eyelid hygiene.
Erik Weihenmayer was born on Sept. 23, 1968, with a rare eye disease, retinoschisis; his vision worsened through childhood, and he went completely blind in his early teens. Despite living with vision loss, Weihenmayer was introduced to rock climbing and, as he says, was reborn. Since that time, he has climbed or attempted some of the most technical peaks in the world. 
A former equity research analyst hopes to create a tactile alphabet that echoes the Roman characters; the goal is to help people who experience vision loss later in life maintain the ability to read. It turns out that some people struggle to learn braille, Andrew Chepaitis’ grandmother had the same experience; as a result, Chepaitis founded ELIA Life Technology. Ike Presley, National Project Manager for the American Foundation for the Blind, has concerns though regarding ELIA citing inaccurate statistics about braille literacy, but he is not entirely against the idea.
Experts believe that “blue light’ can disrupt sleep patterns, diet, and people’s vision. Purdue assistant professor of biochemistry, Vikki Weake, led a blindness study in fruit flies. The findings of the vision loss study could prove useful in understanding human ocular diseases.
People in the advanced stages of diabetes are at risk of losing their vision; the disorder is known as diabetic retinopathy. Given that hundreds of millions of people around the globe, including millions of Americans, have diabetes there is an urgent need to find ways of preventing diabetic-related vision loss.
When Kathy Martinez began her career, a counselor at the California Department of Rehabilitation said that Martinez would probably never make it further than working at a lock factory. Why would someone rain on the parade of young women with aspirations? It might have to do with the fact that Kathy is blind. The counselor couldn’t have been farther from the mark! It may have taken her 13 years to finish college, but since that time Martinez has worked with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, served under two administrations, and led Wells Fargo’s Disability and Accessibility strategy.
A couple of months ago we shared a New York Times article written by columnist Frank Bruni. Those of you who read the NYT are probably familiar with the author's op-eds. Bruni wrote an eloquent essay about discovering that he had nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy(NAION); it is often referred to as ‘a stroke of the eye.’ There isn’t a cure to the condition which usually results in blindness, but his doctor said he could take part in the world’s largest clinical trial of NAION; scientists are testing a groundbreaking injection of RNA that could prevent such patients from going blind.
In Baltimore, Maryland, high school students living with blindness are participating in a songwriting project called "Seeing Through Music." The program was created to assist young people living with vision loss share their story through songs and poetry.
Movies and TV shows that touch upon disability rarely employ actors who have the condition they are portraying. With that in mind, it is also lovely when directors and producers flip the script, hiring actors living with an impairment. Last week, the 350th episode of NCIS included a blind witness played by Woodland, California, native Marilee Talkington. Aside from being an exceptional actress, Talkington was perfect for the role because she is legally blind.
In New Caney, Texas, on the first Saturday of each month, blind and visually impaired children become budding artists as part of the "Creating with Blind Abandon" Art Club. Visual impairment teacher Kathy Trimm made a discovery; traditional art was not accessible to children living with vision loss. If you have a moment, the video is worth your time.
People who are living with diabetes often experience damage to their retinas, an eye disease known as diabetic retinopathy. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss among people with diabetes and is the number one cause of vision problems among working-age adults. The FDA recently approved the IDx-DR program, which utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to detect diabetic retinopathy.
Retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP, is a rare form of blindness that strikes people born prematurely. The findings of a new study showing the value of telemedicine eye screenings could lead to more blindness-preventing treatments for infants, especially babies born in areas lacking ophthalmologists. The study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, shows that telemedicine screens can be as useful as in-person eye exams.
A 24-year-old YouTuber and motivational speaker shares her thoughts about dating when living in blindness. Molly Burke lives in Los Angeles, CA. She says she isn’t able to experience physical attraction in the same way as most people because she suffered vision loss at the age of 14.
When Kirsty James was just thirteen years old she was informed that she would one day go blind. Before being diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition called Stargardt disease, she hid the fact that her vision was deteriorating; Kristy also came to believe that she might even be losing her mind because of the visions she was experiencing. Her hallucinations persisted without any explanation as to the cause, then she learned about Charles Bonnet Syndrome. It’s a condition that affects some people losing their vision; the brain replaces images with hallucinations because it's trying to make sense of what it is seeing.
Carol Green, a blind teacher of the visually impaired, has developed a braille code for people who know the Navajo language. She is on a mission to raise money for her cause, becoming a semifinalist considered for the Holman prize, which awards up to $25,000 for innovative projects by the blind.
Jeri Weatherholt has a college degree from Indiana State University. She works as a medical transcriptionist and lives independently, despite the fact that she has been blind since the age of 10. At first glance, it may seem like there isn’t anything Weatherholt can’t accomplish; and that might actually be the case. The Indiana U grad has had a lifelong fear of water, but the 61-year-old didn’t let that stand in her way when she decided to learn to swim a year ago.
Last week, we shared a story with you about a woodworker living with vision loss that teaches his craft to others with eye diseases residing in Northern California. Napa artist, George Wurtzel, sees life in ways that sighted people can’t begin to understand, a fact not lost on Subaru of America; the favorite car company of outdoor enthusiasts featured Wurtzel in Subaru of America’s television spot called “See the World.”
Did you know that April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month. Prevent Blindness is an organization on a mission to educate, prevent vision loss, and preserve people’s eyesight. A study, The Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems, shows that 63 percent of those that are blind and 62 percent of those that are visually impaired are women. More women than men struggle with blindness, including age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and dry eye.
Body modifications like piercings and tattoos are not a new trend, millions of people around the world display some form of body art. However, there are times when body mods come at a significant, life-changing cost. More and more people are open to cosmetic procedures that can change the whites of the eye to another color. If you are thinking, ‘What could go wrong?’ Then you are not alone, in fact, such eye procedures can cause permanent damage to the eye and blindness.
Smartphones allow the visually impaired a new sense of freedom and independence, thanks to several innovative applications. Now, blind people can utilize smartwatches to improve life quality. The Dot Watch has a touch display in which 24 dots rise and fall, spelling out words in braille; users can also link the watch to a smartphone via Bluetooth. The stylish watch can relay information from social media, texting and GPS apps. The Dot Watch is available to purchase for $359.
Master woodworker, George Wurtzel, doesn’t let vision loss stand in between him and his passion. Wurtzel teaches woodworking classes to the visually impaired at the Enchanted Hills Camp, which is now owned by the Lighthouse Center for the Blind. At the Napa workshop, you will find both sighted and blind instructors.
Douglas Waters developed vision problems almost three years ago. It turns out he was suffering from with severe wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The eye condition causes blurred vision or a blind spot. A few months after receiving his diagnosis he was selected to take part in a clinical trial at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. A stem cell-based treatment gave Waters his sight back; now he can read the newspaper.
New research identifies proteins that are linked to diabetic retinopathy, a common form of blindness that can result from diabetes. Two studies published recently could help healthcare providers grasp the connection and develop new intervention methods, potentially sparing patients from both vision loss and heart disease. More research is needed for better understanding the relationship triglyceride levels and the three identified protein pathways.
If eye problems are identified early enough, blindness can be prevented in many cases. The Lion’s Club has a long history of helping people living in darkness and advocating for vision loss prevention, thanks to a speech that Helen Keller gave to the organization in 1925. At the time, she was encouraging the Lions to partner with the newly formed American Foundation for the Blind. At the end of her talk she said: