ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) is a blinding eye disorder that the National Eye Institute says affects as many as 16 thousand preemies in the U.S. each year. Babies who are born prematurely are at risk of vision loss; Stevie Wonder was six weeks early, and it cost him his vision. Dr. Michael Chiang is an advocate for early screening and ROP treatment, fighting against two common obstacles to early diagnosis: accessibility to experts and a lack of standardized tests. Dr. Chiang uses an eye injection called Avastin in ROP cases:“In the course of a week, it [ROP] basically reversed itself,” said Dr. Chiang. “If you diagnose it early enough that you can treat it, prevent a baby from going blind for their entire lifetime. We’ve got to make that diagnosis correct. We’ve got to make it on time.”
If you are living with ROP, we have some program features that can improve your quality of life.
"Doctor works for early diagnosis of ROP to prevent blindness in preemies"
Warren Moore was born with a condition called Coloboma, which involves underdevelopment of the retina and iris. In his late 30’s, he decided to quit teaching music after his vision began to deteriorate due to cataracts. Moore went on to start a catering company and opened several successful restaurants with his wife, Georjean. In spite of his blindness, Moore shows that following your dreams is possible.
Neil Harbisson, 33, is color blind but that doesn’t prevent him from being an artist. He can compensate for his achromatopsia, or complete color-blindness, through the use of an antenna that allows him to "hear" color through vibrations in his skull. Harbisson's implant gives him the ability to "see" in UV.
Experienced climber Brian Dickinson reached the summit (29,000 feet) of Everest just before he went “snow blind,” a form of photokeratitis that is the result of UV rays reflected off ice and snow. Circumstances led to him soloing the climb; if not for a series of miracles Dickinson, would not be alive today. It would be a month and half before Brian regained his eyesight.
There are coffee drinkers and tea drinkers, but it turns out that latter may be at an advantage—at least when it comes to vision loss. A new study indicates that daily caffeinated tea drinkers may be at a reduced risk of developing glaucoma; a group of diseases which are harmful to the optic nerve, resulting in vision loss and blindness. Millions of people worldwide suffer from glaucoma-related blindness.
There were an estimated 285 million people worldwide with diabetes in 2010, according to the journal Eye and Vision. More than one-third of people with diabetes have signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and a third of such people struggle with vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR). A potential way of stalling or even reversing diabetes-related blindness has shown promise in animal models by suppressing levels in the eye of the protein that is believed to cause vision loss.
Most blinding diseases are the result of damage to the photoreceptors in the eyes. Photoreceptors convert light into an electrical signal that is sent to the brain, thus creating an image. Promising new research suggests that stem cells can treat blinding diseases. Doctors can place a stem cell in the deep layers of the retina, creating new photoreceptors. Researchers have successfully used stem cells to treat animal models with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.
Edward Henry Greb, aka "The Pittsburgh Windmill," was the American light heavyweight boxing champion from 1922 to 1923 and world middleweight champion from 1923 to 1926. While he was a remarkable boxer (298 fights in 13-years), he achieved his championships despite being blind in his right eye. A boxing injury in 1921 resulted in a retinal detachment and blindness, a fact that he hid from the public. “Greb was one of the greatest fighters of all time," said Tommy Loughran, one of Greb’s opponents.
Christopher, a young boy with the voice of an angel, came into this world with the deck stacked against him. His aunt and uncle adopted him after a stint in foster care. Christopher was born at 26 weeks with cocaine in his system. He received oxygen for 100 days, but his eyes were unable to adequately develop—which led to retinal detachment in both eyes. Being blind and autistic made it challenging to communicate, so his adoptive parents hired a music therapist who quickly discovered that Christopher has perfect pitch.
Onchocerciasis, aka river blindness, is a disease caused by a parasitic worm transferred to people in tropical environments by black fly bites. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed onchocerciasis as a neglected tropical disease. Some 37 million people are living with river blindness, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. There are treatments available for the condition, but there is little economic incentive for drug companies to invest in a cure, according to two retired scientists who are searching for a cure. Please take a moment to listen to a short interview with the scientists.
In the 21st Century, it’s easy to take technology for granted, most of us rely on various gadgets to assist our lives, such as smartphones and GPS. However, for the visually impaired, technological advancements can monumentally improve life quality. A legally blind 16-year-old received the gift of virtual vision, just in time for Christmas. Alyssa Baxter is using Vuzix M300 augmented virtual reality glasses, the device helps her do many things, such as identifying colors, detect moods on faces, magnify surroundings up to 15 times, and read text in more than 100 languages.
Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare inherited eye disease that presents itself at birth or in the first few months after birth. The vision-destroying genetic mutation can now be treated with Luxturna, a gene therapy injection that replaces a defective gene, which prevents the retina from converting light into electronic signals sent to the brain, with a corrective gene. LCA induced blindness only impacts a small group of Americans, but the FDA approved intervention is a significant advancement in the field of vision loss.
An eye care company started a fundraiser called Holiday Lights for Sight. The company was able to raise money for a local child who is losing his vision, using a display of 20,000 lights, set to music. Jalen Rodriguez, is a junior in high school who has a rare disorder causing vision loss. Over $2,000 dollars has been raised to purchase a Braille notetaker for Jalen; the device is a specialized computer that will assist him with his school work.
New research could assist ophthalmologists in stemming the tide of macular degeneration. Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati and colleagues discovered that an enzyme called cGAS, which plays a vital role in the body's immune response to infections, unexpectedly has a hand in killing cells in the retina. Researchers are currently working to develop drugs that could inhibit the enzymes function.
Roughly 21 percent of blind or visually impaired adults over 25 years of age do not have a high school diploma, and only 22 percent have earned a bachelor's degree, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. With help, people with visual impairment can succeed in school, and pursue dreams of higher education. Lindsey Towns experienced vision loss at the age of 13, and yet she continues to excel in school with the help of her visual impairment teacher.
A UCLA study shows that 9 percent of adults in California have been diagnosed with diabetes, a severe health condition that can result in blindness, heart disease, stroke and infections resulting in amputations. High-sugar intake is one of the leading causes of diabetes. A significant number of Californians meet the criteria for prediabetes, which means the need for prevention programs is enormous.
Blindness or paralysis doesn’t keep people from fulfilling their dreams of achievement. Last week, more than 75 adaptive athletes competed at the 2017 Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship in La Jolla, CA. The four-day competition concluded with Team Brazil taking gold, Australia the silver, and Team USA the bronze.
Ron Long’s service in the U.S. military shaped his life in more ways than one, stealing his eyesight and developing his principles for living a meaningful life. After being blinded by a chemical agent, Long’s honorable discharge for being visually impaired led to becoming a restaurant and mobile food service businessman. His delicious “Santa Maria Style Barbecue” and the speed in which it can be made, and served, landed him a dining contract for the Navy in San Diego. He also has a portable barbecue pit stationed at the U.S. Army National Training Center in Fort Irwin, CA. Long also hosts fundraising events for the Army Emergency Relief Program and Toys for Tots.
A variety of assistive devices and gadgets are available due to advances in technology in recent years. Often with the goal of granting access to services or products to as many people as possible while minimizing barriers and usability difficulties, various assistive devices are coming to market rapidly. These handy inventions can make daily tasks less challenging for people with disabilities.
At 6 years old, an undeniable musical gift emerged in Henry Butler. Today, at the age of 68, Mr. Butler is a nationally recognized pianist, vocalist, and composer despite losing his sight as an infant due to glaucoma. He explores various genres including jazz, gospel, blues and classical. Mr. Butler’s talent does not end with him being a brilliant musician. He also possesses a passion for photography. His work can be seen in various exhibits and in the HBO documentary “Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers.” 
Statistics indicate that vision loss makes academic success challenging. Low vision and blind students who graduate from high school and college are a minority. Facts like these don't seem to phase 13-year-old Lindsey Towns who experienced vision loss just before entering 8th grade. Lindsey's favorite subject is math although a universal audio tool for learning math does not exist today. She has found creative ways to accommodate her disability. In the meantime, a system is being developed that can reduce learning barriers for disabled students. 
Many who suffer with glaucoma use eye drops as part of their treatment plan. The medication can prevent irreversible blindness if done in the early stages. Typically, the drops need to be administered 3 times per day though. It can be arduous to keep up with a timetable of this intensity. To make it even more challenging, much of the medication is drained into the patient's blood instead of inside the eye. Researchers at the UCSF Schools of Pharmacy and Medicine believe that dissolving implants could be the answer. 
Peanut was born without sight. Her owner knew right away as the lamb stuck close to her mother and seemed to find her way by using sound. Peanut soon learned how to find food, water and face challenges though. Watching the little lamb, inspired owner Jim Thompson to pen a children's book that is motivating readers of all ages to fight through adversity and live their best life. 
With a few modifications, most sports can be adapted for the visually impaired. This goes for ice hockey as well. While adaptive hockey has been enjoyed in Canada for several decades, it has only recently been introduced in the United States. The players appreciate having the opportunity to use their athletic ability and are experiencing the benefits of community connection with their teammates at the same time. 
When vision deteriorates, the morning routine can bring on feelings of frustration. Tasks like hair styling, shaving or applying make-up which were once routine turn into challenging exploits that seem impossible. Fortunately, those who are willing to make a few simple adjustments can enjoy less frustration, smoother mornings and the confidence that comes from starting the day looking neat and put together. 
Those living with vision loss, often visit new locations ahead of time to memorize the space. They sometimes worry about getting lost. For this reason, Rasha Said developed a program that uses a smart phone app to provide information to the blind that many sighted people take for granted. This information helps the visually impaired navigate independently and also offers the freedom to explore. 
Echolocation uses sound waves and echoes to determine the location of objects. This method, used by bats to find food and navigate in the dark can also be used by humans. In fact, with training, the visually impaired can learn to be skilled at echolocation giving them the ability to see the world around them through their ears. It's another tool that can be used to give independence to those who live with vision loss. 
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal lost his vision in 2004 and learned first-hand about the difficulty of engaging with a community that was often inaccessible to those living with a disability. This experience fuelled his passion to help others gain the skills needed to create more inclusivity. Since that time, he has helped close to 10,000 people with disabilities obtain skills and jobs in different sectors of business.
Companies have a few good reasons to improve digital accessibility. Increasing bottom line profits and avoiding litigation top the list. Corporate giant, eBay has appointed an Ambassador for Accessibility and suggests that improvements to this area can offer great returns and provide surprising opportunities for growth.
For people living with vision impairment, getting out socially can be challenging. It may seem unlikely that visiting an art museum could be a social event for the blind. The Seattle Art Museum does not think so. Every month, the museum hosts guided tours complete with trained escorts prepared to describe art pieces to the sight-impaired. 
Running a marathon is hard work. Running a marathon without vision assisted by a guide is hard work. Running a marathon without vision and without a guide seems impossible. Thanks to assistive technology, called Wayband, a blind runner will cross the finish line at the New York Marathon unassisted for the first time. 
Due to a degenerative eye disease, Walfre Lopez experienced vision loss over 20 years ago. He recently underwent a complex surgery which implanted a computer chip in the back of his eyes. With the use of special glasses he can now see shapes and contrasting images and is learning to use his new found 7th sense as vision. 
Painter Ken Alexander's life is full of challenges. Mr. Alexander has faced each one with the determination and courage. From being a single dad to beating prostate cancer, Ken has persevered through hardship. He was diagnosed with glaucoma which eventually caused vision loss. That has not stopped him from moving forward with his dreams to pursue an art career. He just opened studio. 
