Bionic Eye Promising in Trials
A team of researchers from Australia has built a bionic eye—"Gennaris." The creators say that it can reverse vision loss by using a brain implant. While the device has only been tested on sheep, scientists will begin human clinical trials soon. The researchers point out that optic nerve damage is the leading cause of blindness. Gennaris bypasses damaged optic nerves, allowing signals to be transmitted from the retina to the brain's vision center. The researchers said:
"Our design creates a visual pattern from combinations of up to 172 spots of light (phosphenes) which provides information for the individual to navigate indoor and outdoor environments, and recognize the presence of people and objects around them."
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Doctors Are Prepping for the World's First 'Bionic Eye' Implant
It's National Eye Health Week in the U.K. As the name suggests, the observance is about the importance of vision and receiving eye exams regularly. Early detection can prevent vision loss. In the U.K, about 2 million people are living with severe vision loss. However, around half of this population's vision loss is avoidable.
The VSP Global Premier Program will offer optometrists a free ADA-accredited virtual continuing education (CE) course on diabetes and prediabetes. Doctors with a better grasp of the risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment can help spare patients of diabetic-related blindness. 
Robert Gabbay, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, shares that eye disease caused by diabetes “is still the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that eye doctors are often the ones to spot the signs of diabetes. Once a patient verifies with their primary care doctor that they have diabetes, he or she must receive annual eye exams. 
Choroidal melanoma is cancer that affects a part of the eye; choroidal melanomas can cause vision loss. The tumors can also metastasize to other parts of the body, which can be fatal. It’s the most common eye cancer in adults.
Dr. Carla Abbott’s combined intrigue with vision loss and physical fitness at a young age led her into the field of eye health. She investigates new treatments for retinal diseases, such as advanced retinitis pigmentosa. Dr. Abbott studied retinal circuitry for her postdoctoral at the University of Melbourne. Afterward, she joined the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA).
Researchers know that people living with blindness face many obstacles that sighted people do not. Blind and visually impaired people are more likely to face unemployment, social isolation, and quality of life deficiencies. There is a dire need to cure blindness in our lifetime.
Those who dream of soaring through outer space one day may have cause for many concerns. A new study showing the effects of protracted adventures in space shows that some people may experience vision loss.
In the 17th Century, being a musician was one of the only jobs an Irish person living with blindness could secure. Rather than relying on sheet music to learn how to play an instrument, music in Ireland is mostly an "oral music tradition."
Many Veterans are experiencing vision loss due to age-related issues or combat-inflicted brain injuries. More than a million Veterans are legally blind or live with low vision. Ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals at the VA are helping veterans protect their vision.
Christine Hà lost her vision to the autoimmune condition neuromyelitis optical. Despite her blindness, Hà won Master Chef in 2012 and is the owner of The Blind Goat—a modern Vietnamese gastropub in Houston, Texas.
Preventing vision loss is vital, and there are many things you can do to protect your sight, such as eating healthy. Researchers also suggest that exercise could stave off the loss of vision tied to macular degeneration. A team of scientists at the University of Virginia found evidence that working out led to a reduction in blood vessel overgrowth in the eyes of laboratory mice. 
Between advances in assistive technology for the visually impaired and breakthroughs in genetic research, there have been great strides made in recent years towards independence for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Not all physical impairments can be identified by strangers. Mary Mammoliti shares her experiences during the pandemic as a visually impaired person. She has only limited central vision and often relies on a sighted guide for outings. 
Kyungho Jeon has always loved music. As a child, his teachers warned that he wouldn't be able to join an orchestra because he wouldn't be able to see the conductor's movement and directions. Kyungho is blind. 
When a parent or family member is experiencing vision loss, there are many ways you can be supportive. From helping with transportation to tracking down resources that will help them continue to live independently, there are ways to help. 
Would a suitcase shaped robot help you feel more confident traveling as a person with visual impairment? A group of companies in Japan thinks it will! 
Artist Yvonne Shortt is visually impaired. She has noticed a distinct lack of representation of people like her in works of art. Though many museums and art worlds are trying to become more inclusive with specific programs allowing people to touch works of art or experience art in a different manner, there are few art subjects who are blind or visually impaired. 
After being asked by multiple organizations for blind and visually impaired, LEGO has taken the step to develop Braille bricks.
For the first time, stem cells have been identified in the region of the optic nerve.
Many parents are wondering about the impact screen time has on the eyes of their children. With more online learning, parents working from home while managing childcare and the general situation at the moment, many kids are using screens more than normal. 
Vision experts have had to adapt quickly to address patients' needs during this unprecedented time. COVID-19 has put everyone's safety at risk and led to a more significant reliance on virtual eye health consultations. A group of optometrists has shared the steps being taken to protect their patients' eyesight and overall well-being. Optometrist Nikki Sharma says:
Many Americans think of sunglasses as fashion accessories, but they are so much more. It's vital to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays that can cause sunburns and vision loss. Wearing sunglasses that prevent 100 percent of UV rays can prevent eye problems like cataracts.
A new study delves into the connection between cataract surgery and diabetic retinopathy with type 2 diabetics.
Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness among the elderly. Often irreversible, annual eye examinations can make all the difference in protecting you or a loved one from experiencing vision loss. Researchers led by Baylor College have created a plan for tackling one of the most common forms of macular degeneration.
On numerous occasions, we have warned our readers about a weed that found its way to America and causes dermal burns and blindness. The Giant Hogweed is cropping up in several states and should be approached with severe caution. The invasive species is relatively unmistakable but can be confused with a different large plant (cow parsnip). It can grow 12 feet tall.
Brain-based visual impairment is the focus of new research from the National Eye Institute. Millions of young Americans contend with vision loss; fortunately, some men and women dedicate their lives to helping our youth overcome the same. Ellen Mazel, M.Ed. is one of those individuals. While vision loss is most often associated with ocular conditions, many people's deteriorating vision is rooted in the brain. 
New research shows that a Vitamin A analog may help scientists develop effective treatments for vision loss associated with early diabetic retinopathy. The study indicates that chromophore 9-cis-retinal can dramatically improve visual function in mice with diabetes.
Wearing face masks and carrying around hand sanitizers is the new normal for tens of millions of men and women worldwide. As the number of people contracting COVID-19 increases along with the death toll, we must do everything in our power to protect against contracting the deadly virus.
Millions of Americans contend with color blindness every day; around 8 percent of men and .5 percent of women of Northern European descent. Can you picture what life would be like if you couldn't see the color variations of a beautiful sunset? It's the reality of those living with color blindness. However, advances in technology have led to the creation of special glasses that can correct the disability. The most typical form of the condition, which prevents men and women from distinguishing between specific colors, is red-green color blindness. 
The most special day of one's life for the majority of adults is understandably their wedding day. Naturally, preparing for such an event is demanding and stressful; everyone wants to get hitched without any hitches. You want everything to be perfect from the catering to the cake, which can take hundreds of hours of preparation. Planning a wedding is challenging enough, now imagine having to organize it while living with blindness.
COVID-19 has changed the lives of billions of people in a myriad of ways. All of us have been impacted in one way or another—both in good ways and bad. For artist Sandy Goldberg, whose vision loss in the right eye changes how she sees the world, the pandemic has helped her to be okay with embracing her condition publicly. 
Staying healthy can be achieved by eating right and regular exercise. While Americans are mostly unable to get to the gym these days owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, there are many ways you can stay fit at home and outdoors. Adopting an exercise routine may help protect against vision loss as well.
The majority of children, naturally, know very little about disabilities. Ignorance can lead young people to mistreat other youngsters who are living with hearing, vision loss and blindness. Author Andrew Stoner decided to take it upon himself to help kids better understand what it's like to live with blindness.
Warning: methanol can be toxic to humans when ingested, inhaled, and absorbed through the skin. During a global pandemic that involves a potentially deadly virus, it's vital to wash or sanitize your hands regularly. Safe and effective hand sanitizers contain 60 percent or more of isopropyl alcohol.
These are isolating times for billions of people around the globe. Stay at home orders, and social distancing recommendations are inherently lonely for anyone, but they can be especially challenging for people living with disabilities such as deafness or blindness.
3D printing is always coming up with new assistive devices to help those who are visually impaired. Geometry is a very difficult subject to understand for many, and even more so when you can't see. 
A few cities around the world are trying "smart city projects". The projects implement a combination of technology to aid those with visual impairments and other physical disabilities to traverse the city more easily. 
As we age, changes occur in our bodies, including our eyes. While many issues that can crop up can't be prevented, there are some key care areas for your eyes that may help to keep them healthier as long as possible.
With approximately 45 million Americans wearing contact lenses, it's scary to think that many haven't been told proper care information, or, at least, they haven't properly heard and absorbed it. 
Previous studies have shown fruit and vegetables high in vitamins and other nutrients can be good for your eyes and your vision, just as they are good for most other parts of your body!
Diagnostic errors during routine eye exams may sit as high as 74%. The classic eye chart with letters on a wall has been used for decades and the results are up to the ophthalmologist to decipher and interpret leading to errors in both interpretation and diagnosis of problems. 
Paintings hanging in museums have long been "no touch" zones. There have been multiple efforts to recreate paintings for people who are visually impaired to experience.
In 2017, a team in Europe found a transformative therapy for a young boy with serious skin damage to 80% of his body. Now scientists are building on the gene therapy that was used for that child to tackle macular degeneration. 
The Mexican Cavefish lives in caves with little oxygen and no light. With this habitat, the fish mutated from another species and has no eyes. In fact, with this mutation, blood flow is cut off to the eyes during embryonic development. 
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness on the planet. In fact, the condition is the number one cause of new blindness in working-age adults. Early detection is key to preventing further problems. According to the National Eye Institute, diabetic retinopathy affects between 40 and 45 percent of American diabetics.
A team of researchers led by Leilei Gu at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology may have achieved what was once thought impossible—the creation of an artificial eye. The implications this feat could have for people living with vision loss or blindness could be profound.
Scientists are looking for ways to detect eye disease in earlier stages in countries with limited access to health care. 
With so many people using computers, phones and other screens much more than usual during this time, some people are feeling eye strain through out the day. Understandably, many are concerned about the long term impact of screen time and the associated eye strain. 