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06/22/2022 06:12PM
10 Marvel Characters Who Are Blind Did you know that ten Marvel characters are blind? These characters provide ample inspiration of what can be accomplished, even with partial or no sight:
Lend your support to SDCB 06/22/2022 05:31PM
Interesting Statistics About Blindness and Visual Impairment (in the US)
Fast Facts of Common Eye Disorders Support SDCB today 06/22/2022 05:14PM
How Do Brightness and Glare Affect The Visually Impaired? A recent study showed that most visually impaired participants required a higher degree of brightness in order to be able to see the images they were presented on a monitor. Surprisingly, though, about 25% actually saw better with lower brightness. Most people had better vision with lower glare, and with more uniform lighting. Also, visually impaired people did better with a higher degree of contrast between foreground and background colors.An Investigation of the Implications of Visual Impairment for Illumination Requirements Help us help the visually impaired 06/22/2022 04:57PM
How Can A Prescription Med Bottle Affect The Ability Of The Visually Impaired To Read It? Research shows that visually impaired people have an easier time reading prescriptions on flat surfaces than round ones.In this study, typical, cylindrical prescription medicine containers took significantly longer for visually impaired people to find and read. It also took longer for them to locate key pieces of information on the label, relative to a flat label. Round labels also resulted in decreased reading accuracy. Effect of Container Shape, Age, and Visual Acuity on the Readability of Prescription Label Information in Persons With Visual Impairments Donate to SDCB 06/22/2022 04:35PM
How Has COVID Affected Research Into Blindness? Researchers who study blindness and visual impairment, as a result of the pandemic, now have a harder time interviewing patients, examining them, observing them, and measuring them in person.Moreover, there is a significant time lag between when research is conducted, and when it is published, particularly in scholarly journals which require adherence to rigorous standards, peer review, editorial review, and more. Since so many health care facilities were closed or restricted during COVID, and to a lesser extent may continue to be, this means that less research may have been conducted, leading to a relative shortage of articles available for publication now and in the near future. How the Current Pandemic Has Influenced Future Published Research Support San Diego Center For The Blind 06/22/2022 04:08PM
The 5 Leading Causes Of Blindness Here are the 7 main causes of blindness:
Please support SDCB 06/22/2022 03:49PM
What Is Blindness? Total blindness typically connotes someone who has a complete lack of light perception, also known as "no light perception" (NLP). Only about 15% of people with eye disorders are totally blind. Most visually impaired people have some vision.Low vision refers to people whose vision cannot be completely corrected by glasses, contact lenses, medicine, surgery, magnification aids or assistive technology. Visual impairment refers to people whose decreased visual function interferes with their ability perform their activities of daily living (ADLs), such as reading, driving, and watching TV. Visual impairment includes those who have low vision or who are blind. Learn more about blindness, it's etiology, treatment, and management options Sign up for SDCB's email list 06/21/2022 11:50PM
An Introduction To Assistive Technologies For The Blind and Visually Impaired There is some amazing technology available to help folks who are blind or visually impaired -- more each year. If you're new to these products, read this article by the University of Illinois.It reviews items that can help with mobility, from seeing eye dogs to canes and electronic mobility aids. It also covers products that can assist with reading, like screen readers and refreshable Braille displays. Blind/Visual Impairment: Common Assistive Technologies Lend your support to San Diego Center For the Blind 05/11/2022 11:43AM
How You Can Prevent Macular Degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness.An early referral to ophthalmology and early treatment are critical. Not smoking, or quitting, is also imperative. Beyond that, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight can help ward off AMD. Related to that, one should strive for a healthy diet. Even wearing good sunglasses helps. Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness. Here’s how to prevent it Contact SDCB about your vision-related needs 05/11/2022 11:19AM
Family Travels Around The World Before Their Children Go Blind Canadian couple Edith Lemay and Sébastian Pelletier have three of their four children with retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable degenerative disorder. All three of them will become blind in the next few years.So, Edith and Sébastian decided to travel the world with their children to emblazon rich, vivid memories of our planet before they lose their ability to see it. Their trip was delayed by COVID, but last month they left their home in Montreal for Namibia in Southern Africa. And that's just the beginning... Canada family tour world to store rich memories before children go blind Donate to SDCB 05/11/2022 10:53AM
Blind Farmer Achieves His Dream Mike Duxbury became blind at 6 years old due to infantile glaucoma. Being from a family of farmers, Mike was determined from his early childhood years not to let his blindness interfere with his goal of one day becoming a farmer himself.Mike got a degree in agricultural business management from Warwickshire College of Agriculture in 1990. Today, he is not only a farmer, but trains others with disabilities on how they, too, can become farmers. The blind farmer: ‘It’s all I ever wanted to do. Now I can help others do it’ Give generously to San Diego Center For The Blind 05/02/2022 02:05PM
Guiding Blind: Cooking - Christine Ha Ep 1At San Diego Center for the Blind, we have programs to help you learn the basics of navigating your kitchen when you are either blind or vision-impaired. Our goal is to help you be confident in your cooking skills and independent in your living.In this guide, we're going to be diving into both tips and inspiration ... so, to help you get inspired, let's meet a few blind or visually-impaired folks that relish (pun intended) their time spent in the kitchen. Christine Ha In 2004, Christine was diagnosed with Neuromyelitis optica (this happens when your immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord). By 2007, she was nearly blind. That didn't stop her, though! She was the first blind contestant of MasterChef and, in 2012, was the winner. Today, she is an American chef, writer, and TV host. Christine has lots of content we think you'll love:
Besides all Christine's great cooking related content, she has more personal things like: Watch for Ep 2 of Guiding Blind: Cooking! Support SDCB 05/01/2022 03:23PM
Medical Needs? Here's Your Prescription for SavingsCourtesy of SDG&E, our trusted community partner Certain medical needs may qualify you or someone in your home for savings every month on your gas and electric bill. Apply for the Medical Baseline Allowance program if you need to use more energy due to a qualifying medical condition or to prevent an existing condition from getting worse. Examples include:A requirement for permanent space heating or cooling due to paraplegia, quadriplegia, hemiplegia, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma, a compromised immune system or a life-threatening illness. Required use of a life-support device, such as an aerosol tent, apnea monitor, kidney dialysis machine, motorized wheelchair or respirator (devices used for therapy don’t qualify; only medical devices that sustain life or are needed for mobility). To get a Medical Baseline Allowance application and more information, visit sdge.com/medical. Eligibility requirements include having a physician sign your application to certify the medical need. Support San Diego Center For The Blind 04/26/2022 08:46AM
Water Heater Tips Put Safety & Savings on Tap
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12 million people over 40 in the US are visually impaired. This includes1 million who are blind, 3 million who have vision impairment after correction, and 8 million who have vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error.
Did you know that when you use water, you are using energy? The U.S. Department of Energy found that water heaters account for about 18% of your total energy bill. Here are some water heater tips to help keep you safe and lower your energy bill.
Yesterday, a 119-year old Japanese woman, the world's oldest, died. As a result, the new title holder is 118-year old Lucile Randon, a French nun. Sister Andre, as she is known, is blind.
Making a website accessible enables users with physical or visual disabilities to more easily navigate, read, understand, and use the site. Good websites, and web designers, understand how to make a website accessible and incorporate those techniques into the site. They may even get the site certified as "accessible".
Electric cars are an important answer to the question of what we can do about climate change. But they can also pose a danger to blind and visually impaired people nearby who cannot hear them approaching. Even fully sighted people can be taken by surprise by silent electric vehicles.
Microsoft offers a free app called "Seeing AI" for blind and visually impaired people. It enables them to read text, identify currency, "see" their surroundings, describe objects, identify product labels, and even decipher colors.
Researchers at Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates have developed sophisticated, artificial intelligence-based glasses which can revolutionize the lives of visually impaired people.
CBS' long-running news show "60 Minutes" recently ran a compelling story about 15-year old Jacob Smith, a legally blind 15-year old who skis on such hazardous terrain that most black diamond experts -- fully sighted -- wouldn't dare to try them.
Low Vision is a term used when traditional eye care can no longer help. So, when do you need low vision services?
Dogs have been helping make blind peoples' lives better since ancient Pompeii. During World War I, when many German soldiers went blind, Dr. Gerhard Stalling created the world's first school for seeing-eye dogs, also known as guide dogs, in Oldenburg, Germany in 1916.
The Journal "Science" has reported that scientists at Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) have developed a brain implant which may restore sight to blind and visually impaired people.
Technology is ensuring a steady flow of devices that are revolutionizing the lives of blind and visually impaired people throughout the world.
NBCUniversal is currently broadcasting the Winter Olympics from Beijing, offering an unprecedented array of accessibility options which can help blind, visually impaired, and other Olympics fans get the most from their viewing experience.
RP is a rare, genetic disorder that breaks down the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
What is it like living with RP?
Treatment
Do blind people know what race is? Can they detect a person's race? Do they care? Can blind people be racist?
Here are 8 household-name celebrities who have various degrees of vision loss:
The main cause of blindness among those 50 and older in the industrialized world is Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This disease affects the retina and plagues 8.7% of the world's population, and a much higher percentage of those over age 60.
With the Winter Olympics about to begin in Beijing, you might wonder if -- like the Summer Olympics – there will be a Paralympics. Yes! It’ll follow the Olympics by about 2 weeks. You might also wonder what sports are included, and if blind or visually impaired athletes will participate. The primary winter Paralympics sports are ice hockey, snowboard, and wheelchair curling. Unfortunately, none include blind or visually impaired athletes.
If you or your loved one are newly blind or visually impaired, you may find navigating the landscape of products to assist somewhat daunting. If you need a 101 Primer on what types of devices to consider, you've come to the right place!
White canes for the blind have been around seemingly forever, but their “technology” seems like it’s from the stone age. It’s basically a stick.
We asked Virginia, Technology Center & Store Manager at SDCB, what are some of the most popular items in the SDCB store. Here’s what she said:
Here's the first in our series of Eye-Opening Profiles, this one on 
San Diego Center for the Blind has long had a history of advocating for making San Diego a safer city for blind and visually impaired individuals. For example, in 2013, CEO Kim Gibbens 
Being blind or visually impaired doesn’t just impact the individual, it also impacts friends and family members. Here’s a sweet vignette about a brother, blinded in a shooting, and a sister. Clearly the bond between the two is loving and strong. The sister wants to support, understand, and always be there for her brother. The brother appreciates the love and support, but has accepted that this is now his “normal”.
Corneal blindness is the third most common cause of blindness in the world. In an effort to tackle the common cause of blindness, Australian leaders in corneal bioengineering have formed BIENCO: a consortium that will create bioengineered eye tissue to treat the condition. Fighting global corneal blindness is important; corneal disease affects the lives of about 23 million people around the world.
The New Year is just around the corner, and leaders in the field of vision are thinking ahead already. Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest nonprofit eye health and safety organization, has declared next year the “Year of Children’s Vision.” One in 5 young children has an undiagnosed vision disorder, which is a problem that needs to be addressed considering vision plays a critical role in children’s physical, cognitive, and social development.
BJ Lentz, 61, lost her vision after an accident in late December 2017. She slipped on fake snow and severely damaged her optic nerves and was diagnosed with ischemic optic neuropathy. Lentz, a part time music teacher, eventually lost most of her vision. However, she recently began performing music again despiste vision loss. Lentz is writing songs and gigging with Polkamatics, Lone Star Swing Orchestra, Austin Polka Band, and fellow musician Jay Webber.
As the Christmas holiday approaches many people are rushing to buy gifts. If you are thinking of purchasing something for someone who is visually impaired, you may find it difficult. The Vision Buddy for the visually impaired may be the perfect gift. Vision Buddy is television-focused assistive technology device for people dealing with visual impairments such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. Vision Buddy, a silicon valley start-up, has a risk-free trial program.
Advocates for the blind have won the right for a three year Digital Millennium Copyright Act exception to make accessible versions of ebooks for people living with blindness. Since publishers rarely cater to the accessibility needs for individuals living with blindness, vision loss advocates have had to fight to ensure that third-parties can lift text and alter it for those who cannot see. Advocates argue that there should be a permanent exemption for the DMCA.
Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness for people over the age of 50. Naturally, preventing macular degeneration is a chief priority for scientists. According to new research, the pathway to preventing the common form of eye disease is being laid out. Asst. Engineering Prof. Bradley Gelfand believes that the antidepressant fluoxetine, commonly known by the brand name Prozac, could possibly slow or stop the progression of the condition.
Next week marks the beginning of the first-ever Geographic Atrophy Awareness Week, as declared by Prevent Blindness. Geographic Atrophy is the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which leads to vision loss in the center of one’s vision. Prevent Blindness, the nation’s oldest non-profit eye health organization, has created a website dedicated to the condition. What’s more, a new episode in the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series dedicated to geographic atrophy will also be available during Geographic Atrophy Awareness Week.
American football is a gruellingly physical sport that takes dedication and skill. By all accounts, the position of quarterback is among the most challenging. Now, imagine playing quarterback without perfect eyesight. For 15-year old Jasen Bracy, when it comes to playing quarterback the young man is up to the challenge and he is an inspiration to all. Why? The blind quarterback has no fear!
Skateboarder Nick Mullins lost his vision after contracting MRSA in 2009. While blindness might stop many people from hanging up their skateboard, Nick doubled down on doing an activity he loves. The blind skateboarder helps others with vision loss find the courage to skateboard too. He says the tricks don’t have to stop with vision loss.
Scientists from multiple institutes of higher learning collaborated on a project to reverse blindness. Through the use of a brain implant, researchers were able to help a blind woman see and identify several letters. The six-month-long study involved a 57-year-old woman who became blind 16 years ago. The tiny implant, about the size of a penny, bypasses the optic nerve and stimulates the brain's visual cortex. The study findings appear in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
The National Eye Institute has big plans for the next five years. The NEI has a plan to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through research. The endeavor includes a focus on six areas of eye anatomy and function — retinal diseases; corneal diseases; lens and cataract; glaucoma and optic neuropathies; strabismus, amblyopia and visual processing; and low vision and blindness rehabilitation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3.4 million Americans 40 years and older are blind or visually impaired. While blindness and vision loss are prevalent in the United States, it's difficult for most sighted people to grasp what it's like living with blindness fully. In fact, there are many misconceptions that sighted people harbor about living with blindness. Mark Riccobono, the president of the National Federation of the Blind, would like those who do not live with vision loss to understand about engaging with blind people: