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."I think we're all given talents and things we're good at and we should share those things with others," Rylea added. "That's why we're here. If we can make life better for others, put a smile on someone's face and keep the fairytale alive for someone, it's what we should do."
SDCB helps people living with vision loss and blindness. Our programs and services can significantly improve your quality of life.
"Blindness didn't stop Mansfield Legacy sophomore from cheer, gymnastics, helping others"
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.
Two blind women living with blindness provide computer training and job services to people with disabilities at a nonprofit called Donka. Ann Byrne and Kimberly Delaney in the suburbs of Chicago are helping others succeed. Byrne lost her vision from congenital glaucoma. Delaney lost all vision in one eye from injuries sustained during a Vietnam War massacre; she went completely blind because of leukemia, which may be the result of Agent Orange exposure.
Blind and visually impaired people benefit from community support. Those who are living with eye diseases and conditions in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, now have support groups. Such residents living in the area can join the Blindness Support Group and meet once a month to learn how to overcome barriers specific to their disability.
Animals are susceptible to vision problems, just like humans. A gorilla named Leslie residing at the San Diego Zoo recently underwent cataract surgery. The three-year-old gorilla is the first at the zoo ever to receive lens replacement surgery. The procedure was conducted by a University of California at San Diego surgical team.
On top of Glaucoma Awareness Month, January is also Braille Literacy Month. We celebrate and honor the birthday of Louis Braille, who was born on January 4th, 1809, this month. January 4th was also National World Braille Day. Louis Braille was twelve years old when he discovered the braille code. In the 21st Century, new technology has allowed Braille to be more accessible for people living with blindness.
Low vision is any deterioration in one's sight that cannot be corrected by glasses or surgery. While the company EnChroma is known for its smart glasses for color blindness, they just released a new line for people living with low vision. The EnChroma® Lx Series will also assist people with age-related eye conditions.
Even though millions of Americans have glaucoma, a condition that damages the optic nerve, most people are not aware they have the eye disease. It's no wonder that people often refer to the condition as the "sneak thief of sight." During National Glaucoma Awareness Month, it's vital to teach the general public about this disorder.
Glaucoma or the "sneak thief of sight" impacts more than 3.2 million Americans age 40 and over, according to estimates from the Prevent Blindness report, "Future of Vision: Forecasting the Prevalence and Costs of Vision Problems." Naturally, the number of people who will be affected will steadily increase in the years to come. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. This month, Prevent Blindness wants to educate the public about glaucoma and its risk factors. The organization also would like to share treatment options.
The Library of Congress, the most important library in the U.S., announced a significant endowment in support of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). It will allow the library to increase its resources and services for the blind and visually impaired.
In January, a legally blind artist’s works will be on display at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. This will be the first time that Therese Verner will show her art in San Diego. Verner has myopic macular degeneration in her right eye and glaucoma. Despite being legally blind, she was able to teach herself how to paint.
New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, which means that countless bottles of champagne will be opened around the world. We hope that you understand the dangers that corks can pose to your eyes. Always point the champagne bottle away from your face when opening. A champagne cork travels at around 50 mph and can shatter glass. If it hits you in the eye, it can cause abrasion, intraocular bleeding, cataract, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness.
If you watch the Today show, then you are familiar with the anchor Savannah Guthrie. You might be aware that she recently experienced severe eye trauma. Her retina was damaged when her 3-year-old son Charley stabbed her in the eye with a toy train.
Braille allows people living with vision loss and blindness to gain knowledge through reading. What many people who rely on Braille do not know is that prisoners in Arizona make many of the books available. The Foundation for Blind Children’s Prison Braille Program involves inmates who transcribe books into Braille.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four adults or 61 million people in the United States are living with a disability. In October, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) joined the country in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The NNSY hosted two events that focused on “invisible disabilities” such as vision loss and blindness.
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) warns about a link between tattoos and a severe eye condition that can lead to vision loss. Uveitis affects the inner structures of the eye; it can cause pain, redness, and blurry vision. Associate Professor Lyndell Lim says:
Marvel's Heroes Project's "Unstoppable Adonis" is a comic book about a young high school football running back named Adonis. The young athlete is entirely blind; and, the comic book is fittingly available in Braille.
Carl Soderberg plays for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League. What makes Soderberg unique is that he's legally blind in his left eye. His vision was compromised in 2006 when an opponent's stick hit his eye and detached his retina leaving him living with blindness.
Visually impaired students may soon benefit from a Braille daily schedule. It was created by the 3D Tech Doves, an all-girls team from Christine Donnell School of the Arts, by using 3D printed plastic letters and number tiles. They call their invention the Teacher Classroom Kit. It’s "usable to visually impaired students so they can be more independent," Amber McVey, the girls mentor said.
In November, a British Olympic field hockey hopeful sustained a significant injury when he was hit in the face by a ball. The damage resulted in vision loss in his left eye. After surgery and seeing eye specialists, Sam Ward is committed to playing for his country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted through bites by blackflies and it is common in Africa. The worm attacks the eyes and causes visual impairment or blindness. The World Health Organization (WHO) would like to eradicate this preventable and treatable condition by 2030.
Low vision is defined as significant visual impairment that can't be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, medication, or eye surgery. However, technology is allowing people living with visual impairments, IrisVision utilizes a virtual reality headset and smartphone to helps users living with low vision see things better.
Over-the-counter niacin or Vitamin B3 can cause vision loss if it is taken in high doses. Researchers at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) found that Vitamin B3 can result in a rare toxic reaction known as niacin-induced cystoid maculopathy (a type of retinal swelling). Findings published in the fall issue of the Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases suggest that discontinuing use can reverse the effects of retinal swelling.
If left untreated, dry eye symptoms can result in damage to the cornea and lead to vision loss and blindness for you or a loved one. The Mayo Clinic states that dry eyes are caused by either too little tear production or an increase in tear evaporation. A myriad of causes can lead to dry eyes: lupus, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, and prescription drugs. Fortunately, specific lifestyle changes and prescription eye drops can counter dryness and prevent permanent damage to the eyes that can cause blindness.
Scientists from Singapore and the United States have discovered new evidence that there is a link between degeneration of the eye and brain. The researchers found that genetic variation at a beta-amyloid gene was significantly associated with increased risk of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), a form of irreversible blindness worldwide. Moreover, the study confirmed a hypothesis that glaucoma may not just be an eye disease, but that it is linked to degeneration of the brain as well.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of eye disease in the United States. During Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month it is vital to inform the public about diabetes and vision loss, as well as the risk factors and treatment options. For more information on diabetic eye diseases, you can look at the “Diabetes and the Eyes” educational 
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes loss of central vision in the retina. AMD is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Fortunately, researchers from Yale, MIT, and Harvard have discovered the cellular culprits of this incurable eye disease. The findings could lead to more permanent therapeutics for macular degeneration patients. The research was published in Nature Communications.
A team of researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine combined high-resolution eye scans and genetic tests to identify three genes involved in the complement immune pathway that is linked to more rapid degeneration of nervous tissue in the eye and loss of sight. Mutations in genes are associated with a higher likelihood of more severe forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and are linked to faster vision loss.
New research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and UT Health's McGovern Medical School, highlights the development and application of new imaging methods for viewing retinal cells. The research teams were interested in retinal cilia, hair-like fibers that work as light. Higher-resolution viewing techniques allow scientists to see the internal structure of healthy and diseased retinal cilia.
The Plusoptix is a noninvasive vision screener that can check young people's eyes for refractive errors and eye misalignment in just under a minute. If further review is necessary, the device will instruct the subject to see an eye doctor. Last year, the tool helped detect blindness in the left eye of a first-grader named Elliott Wasem. An eye doctor discovered that Elliot has optic nerve edema: a leaky blood vessel causing swelling and blindness.
Vision is a precious gift that too many of us take for granted. There are several things we can do differently to protect against blindness, including prioritizing a healthy diet, exercise, and avoiding alcohol and smoking. The five most common causes of blindness are diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and eye injury or trauma.
In the United States, the lives of more than 18 million adults are impacted by sleep apnea. Scientists had already linked the sleep condition to several health problems, but researchers now associate the disorder with blindness. Severe sleep apnea could heighten people's risk of diabetic macular edema: a disease that causes vision loss or blindness.
Some 2.2 billion people are living with eye conditions and visual impairment today, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Report On Vision. The UN health agency warns that the need for eye care is increasing as exponentially more people are expected to suffer from vision loss in the coming years. WHO suggests that lifestyle choices are a driving force behind staggering visual impairment rates.
New York City is a well-planned city, but it can still prove challenging to navigate, especially if you are living with blindness. Author Elizabeth Savage says that you are vulnerable when you can’t see. However, she shares with readers that memory and mental tricks helped her manage with poor vision. Then, vision loss progressed to blindness; she had multiple surgeries to treat her uveitis, an inflammatory disease of the eye.
What we eat can have a significant impact on our health. Those who eat more nutrient-rich foods benefit in several ways. While genetics play a role in causing vision loss, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that what we eat can wreak havoc on our vision. Leafy greens, carrots, bell peppers, pumpkin, butternut squash, and turkey can help you with long-term eye health. Foods containing vitamins A, C, E, and zinc are beneficial to our eyes.
An Israeli company is working on eye drops that could reverse a common type of vision loss: farsightedness or the inability to see or read nearby objects. Research on the Israel-based Orasis, Pharmaceuticals, eye drops indicates that the eye drops improve farsightedness and are tolerable.
Eye injuries are leading causes of blindness and vision loss. With Halloween around the corner, it's vital that people of all ages protect their eyes from costume-related injuries. Cosmetic contact lenses and specific masks can hurt your eyes. Prevent Blindness offers several tips to safeguard your vision over the holiday, such as:
Perhaps you have heard of a PBS television program called “Cooking Without Looking.” The show features people who are visually impaired cooking their favorite recipes. Now the program is available via podcast. The “Cooking Without Looking TV Show Podcast” will allow more people to enjoy the series. The show’s creator, Renee Rentmeester, says:
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a chronic disease that affects millions of people in the United States. In fact, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss among people age 50 or older. By 2020, an estimated 196 million people will be living with AMD, according to the BrightFocus Foundation. Cases vary in severity, and some men and women will require surgery.
In previous posts we wrote about Braille Bricks: Legos that have Braille on them. The company went a step further last month when it began offering building instructions for the visually impaired via Braille readers.
The University of Wisconsin has a health program that aims to spot the signs of diabetes-related blindness early. The project, which involves the use of telemedicine, is headed by Dr. Yao Liu. Dr. Liu is a glaucoma specialist, eye surgeon and assistant professor at UW-Madison.
The hit NBC show “This Is Us” season 4 premiered on Tuesday, September 24. One of the new primary characters featured this season is a blind musician played by actor Blake Stadnik. Blind characters in television shows is not unheard of; however, it is rare that the actor cast to play this type of role is in fact blind in real life.
A recent poll in the UK found that nearly 50% of people had little to no understanding of what nutrients and vitamins can impact eye health. Only 45% of those polled knew that diet can impact your vision. They also found that although the eye is the fastest moving muscle in the body with two million moving parts, most people take no preventative measures to protect their eyes. 
Your risk of developing Glaucoma increases after the age of 40. But do you know the early signs and symptoms of the disease? 
Anyone living with low vision knows that small changes around your home and living space can make bit improvements in your quality of life. Although, ideally, you will be able to work with an occupational therapist to help you figure out what changes to make, if you are trying to figure it out on your own for the time being, these 13 suggestions might help. 
October is Eye Injury Prevention Month. Did you know that half of all eye injuries happen at home? Take precautions to prevent eye injuries, don't risk a lifetime of vision loss—protect your eyes. Wearing eye protection when working outside and inside can help prevent eye injuries. Read and follow the directions when working with chemicals like bleach. Adequately lighted stairways prevent falls. Safely store chemicals away from children.
September is Healthy Aging Month! The American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasizes the importance of eye exams for maintaining healthy eyes and preventing vision loss. Regular eye exams result in early detection of common age-related eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Early detection leads to treatment, and treatment can prevent vision loss.
The cornea is the transparent front section of the eye covering the iris and pupil. Scientists in Japan are treating damaged corneas using stem cells. The surgeon reports that the procedure has led to improved vision. Stem cells in the cornea may be the future with regard to refreshing and repairing corneas and vision loss.
Japan is a country located in the "ring of fire." Which means it is highly susceptible to tectonic activity like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A government task force is planning to redesign its hazard maps to better assist people living with color blindness.
A gene therapy approved by the FDA for treating Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a rare, inherited form of blindness, has given many people hope. However, new research from the University of Pennsylvania has found that it may only be effective when used at the proper time. The research team worked with canine models of advanced stage LCA; their findings appear in the journal Molecular Therapy.