AMD-Research Promising
Age-related macular degeneration impacts the lives of millions of people around the globe. Vision loss is caused by inflammation in the eye that leads to excessive growth of blood vessels in the retina. Current therapies to slow the process are anti-VEGF therapies such as Regeneron and Bayer's Eylea.A new study shows that Sanofi and Regeneron's drug Dupixent could be useful in treating AMD. The research team contends that immune molecule interleukin-4 (IL-4) and its receptor—which Dupixent inhibits—may be promising for those living with macular degeneration. IL-4 is known to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels.
"Our results show that IL-4 plays a crucial role in excessive blood-vessel growth by recruiting bone marrow cells that aid this growth to the lesion in the eye," said Takashi Baba, the study's co-first author.
If you require help with vision impairment or blindness, then please contact SDCB.
Could Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent also treat age-related macular degeneration?
One of the challenges that premature babies face involves the eyes. A condition called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disorder that is one of the leading causes of blindness in children. However, treatment can prevent blindness in premature babies. 
Hellen Keller is a name that rings out in the blind community and beyond. We all learned about her remarkable feats in elementary school. Did you know that she fought hard to get Braille books into the hands of adults? She spoke to congress advocating for federally funded programs to help achieve her goal.
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing everyone's life in a myriad of ways. Those living with low vision or vision loss can benefit from taking out their contacts and putting their glasses back on. Doing so can help prevent the spread of the virus. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says it can help you stop touching your face.
Cristina Jones, a soprano singer and student at Cal State Fullerton is living with blindness. However, she doesn't let being blind stand in her way. How does one living with blindness manage on the stage without losing their place?
Earlier in the week, we wrote about Louis Braille and how he made adaptations for music and mathematics by adding extra symbols. Now, a professor at Vanderbilt University is helping blind aspiring classical singers pronounce lyrics. Cherie Montgomery, a voice professor, has created a new braille phonetic system.
A new type of contact lens could help people living with color blindness. Researchers say that they could help people with a form of red-green color blindness. The contact lenses restore lost color contrast. The research was published in The Optical Society journal Optics Letters.
Louis Braille invented a tactile reading method for blind people in 1829. It enabled people who are living with blindness to read and write. Using Captain Charles Barbier’s “night writing” system, Braille made simplifications to Barbier’s 12 dot system. He reduced it to six dots.
Regular eye exams can prevent you from experiencing vision loss. During Save Your Vision Month, we would like to encourage you to prioritize your eye health. Naturally, the American Optometric Association would like you to do the same. Annual eye exams are essential!
The number of older Americans at high risk for vision loss rose from 65 million to 93 million between 2002 and 2017, according to federal data. This news is concerning and should prompt more older people to get regular eye tests. The research appearing in JAMA Ophthalmology shows that those at significant risk of losing their sight include people with diabetes and anyone with eye or vision problems.
In January, we wrote about Jade DeLucia, a four-year-old girl in Iowa who experienced vision loss after contracting the flu. We are happy to report that Jade has regained her eyesight. Her mother, Courtney Frey, said in an update on Facebook recently:
A new study published by JAMA Ophthalmology shows that a growing number of Americans are at exceptional risk for vision loss. A team of researchers from the U.S. CDC estimates that 93 million adults across the country were at increased risk for eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.
Adjusting to life with blindness is not easy, and people need assistance along the way. Fortunately, there are many organizations like San Diego Center for the Blind across the country, helping countless individuals learn new skills. The Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living, for instance, is teaching people Braille and how to travel independently.
Two siblings from Arkansas are contending with a rare eye disorder that causes blindness. However, Caroline and Cole Carper will not let Congenital Amaurosis — a mutation that affects the retina of the eye and causes visual impairment early in life — hold them back in life. They both love to ski and swim.
Ryan Boudwin was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare, genetic eye disease that leads to vision loss and blindness. The condition is only found in one of every 3,500 people. His vision isn't completely gone yet, but he is taking preemptive measures to prepare himself for living with blindness.
Improvisational musician, Matthew Whitaker, may be living with blindness; however, a neuroscientist has discovered that Whitaker's visual cortex goes into overdrive when he plays the piano. The prodigy jazz pianist has lived with blindness since the age of 11. Whitaker lost his vision due to retinopathy of prematurity, a disease that can lead to blindness.
Using Hershey's Kisses and poster board, Jake Schwartz asked his girlfriend to prom in Braille. Jake, a high school junior, made his proposal to Paige Drury in Braille; the two have been dating since the ninth grade. Paige is blind, so it was fitting for Schwartz to ask her to prom in Braille.
Did you know that Rare Disease Day is tomorrow, February 29, 2020. Naturally, many rare diseases that affect the eye can lead to blindness and vision loss. In honor of the observance, Prevent Blindness is offering free resources and fact sheets to help save sight from inflammatory eye diseases and conditions. The organization is focusing on two rare eye diseases: Uveitis and Keratitis.
A team of researchers from Queen Mary University of London found a new protein linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The findings could help with diagnosing and treating the disease. AMD impacts over 1.5 million people in the UK and is one of the leading causes of blindness globally.
A new study shows that visual rehabilitation is useful for patients who have suffered vision loss or blindness due to strokes or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found the NeuroEyeCoach visual rehabilitation therapy improved vision in over 80 percent of patients who experienced a stroke or TBI.
Age-related macular degeneration affects 11 million people in the U.S., and it is one of the leading causes of blindness. However, new research suggests that zebrafish can help scientists cure blindness. The fish have the ability to regenerate their retinas, which could help researchers do the same for humans.
Patients with a rare inherited eye disorder that causes vision loss and blindness are being treated with a new form of gene therapy. Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec) is a drug from Novartis that carries a steep price—£600,000. However, NHS England has negotiated a lower price with the manufacturer.
Visually impaired men and women benefit from the assistance of sighted people. The Braille Association of Mid-Florida is assisting individuals in accessing novels in Braille, whether they live in Florida or Sweden. Volunteers associated with the Braille Association of Mid-Florida transcribe books, classroom handouts, and worksheets into Braille for the visually impaired.
Thyroid eye disease is a condition that can cause blindness. Inflammation in the back of the eye makes them bulge and may also squeeze the optic nerve, causing blindness, according to Dr. Raymond Douglas, a professor of surgery in the division of ophthalmology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Zaheer Ahmad Zindani is an Afghan poet who was hit by a Taliban roadside bomb while riding in a bus when he was 17. His sister died as a result of her injuries; Zindani was left living in blindness. However, Zindani's mother was determined not to let blindness stand in the way of marriage. Her goal was not easy to accomplish.
Braille is essential to men and women living with vision loss or blindness. The raised dot allows people to read books and navigate through the world. In Canada, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is adding braille to ten transit locations closely spaced out as part of a new trial.
Did you know that diabetic retinopathy is a primary cause of blindness for people ages 20 to 65 in America? Doctors at the West Virginia Practice-Based Research Network's Sight Outreach Program are working hard to spread awareness about the condition and helping detect it in patients early.
Blindness did not stop Charles King from becoming the oldest blind powerlifter in the nation. In the wake of his blindness, King became very depressed and turned to drugs and alcohol to cope. His story isn't unique, but what King was able to accomplish is nothing short of remarkable. The VA helped him learn to cope, and he was able to put his life back together.
Sighted people are all too familiar with memes; the internet is littered with the viral posts. From funny to disturbing, memes connect us with one another in a myriad of ways. However, blind people are still not able to enjoy memes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), for the 2.2 billion people worldwide who report visual impairments or blindness, memes are one of the thousands of images on the internet that are inaccessible.
Devices like iPads and smartphones are assisting millions of people who are living with vision loss. There exist free and paid mobile apps such as Aira and Microsoft's Seeing AI. These applications enable individuals with vision loss to navigate and identify various people and objects. Assistive technology is improving people's quality of life, quality at home and around town.
Scientists are using artificial intelligence with the hopes of being able to assist doctors in choosing the ideal treatment for patients with vision loss, specifically individuals who have diabetic macular edema. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of vision loss among adults in the United States and beyond. The researchers are using AI to analyze retinal images.
Most people cannot imagine what it’s like to play a sport with vision loss or blindness, but thousands of individuals manage remarkable feats on the field or ice. Playing sports while living with blindness takes dedication and determination.
Blindness is an obstacle to be sure, but it does not have to stop people from achieving remarkable feats. Fifteen-year-old Rylea Fields may have accomplished more than much older people. Fields was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. Even though she has lost her vision, she is a cheerleader and a gymnast. What's more, she helps other young people who are living with disabilities.
Flu vaccinations can stave off blindness. A four-year-old girl in Iowa lost her vision recently after contracting the flu. Jade DeLucia contracted the flu a few days before Christmas and spent nearly two weeks in the intensive care unit. The young girl almost died, so her parents now have a message they would like to share with the world. The message is: Get your children vaccinated.