Brothers Bradford and Bryan Manning are living with Stargardt disease, a type of macular degeneration affecting central vision. The brothers are committed to helping fund blindness research; they started a charitable apparel company called Blind Brothers – 100 percent of profits go to retinal research. This Christmas, the Mannings are inviting people to "shop blind." Their website states:"The ethos behind Shop Blind is simple: we blacked out our website so that you won't be able to see any of the items we normally sell. The premise of Shop Blind is 'trust' — we’re asking you to trust us to get a product we think you will LOVE without ever having seen it; the same way we place our trust in others to accomplish everyday tasks many often take for granted."
If you need assistance with vision loss, then you have come to the right place. SDCB offers several innovative programs to assist people living with visual impairment.
“Would you shop blind (for a cause)?”
Why do people have such completely inaccurate ideas about blind parents? It's a question that someone joining a Facebook group for blind parents might ask. Despite there being about 10 million blind people in the United States, it is possible for someone with vision loss to go their entire life without forming a meaningful relationship with other blind members in their community. Stacy Cervenka, who serves as the Chair of the National Federation of the Blind’s Blind Parents Group, opens a dialogue about the common myths and misconceptions the general public has about blind parents.
Leader Dogs for the Blind is a guide dog training school in Michigan founded in 1939 by Lions Club members. Over the decades, the organization has paired more than 14,000 guide dogs with the visually impaired. Blooming Prairie Lions Club member Paul Dale has retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease causing vision problems and blindness. Mr. Dale and his Leader Dog, Summit, recently met with a group of fourth graders to discuss how his guide dog helped him overcome vision loss.
Aira, a free-to-use app, connects airline passengers living with visual impairment directly to a trained professional agent for guidance on navigating through Heathrow airport. Those who use Aira can get help finding specific locations, such as gates and special assistance facilities. The airport is also SignLive-friendly, this app connects passengers to trained British Sign Language translators on demand.
Prion diseases result from abnormal prion proteins accumulating in the brain. The proteins form lesions that can precipitate progressive neurodegeneration. One such condition of this type is Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease or sCJD, which researchers believe can be passed on to patients receiving corneal grafts from the donor. Blindness will ultimately develop in up to 42% of sCJD patients.
Laser pointers are commonplace in homes with cats; felines will chase the red or green dot for hours if given the opportunity. While the devices may be scads of fun for cats, severe problems can crop up when directed toward the human eye. Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation; if the beam hits the retina, it can lead to blind spots and blindness. The damage can happen in seconds—users beware!
A research team is using gene therapy to combat blindness and give some patients the gift of sight. Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire – a husband-and-wife research team at the University of Pennsylvania – gave Misty Lovelace the ultimate gift, thanks to a treatment they developed. Lovelace has, or had, a genetic condition called Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), but thanks to the Maguire’s treatment she can see again. The procedure is better known today under the name Luxturna. Lovelace said:
While color blindness is not the most severe form of visual impairment, it has a serious impact on the lives of millions of people. Recently, Humboldt County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Dishmon was given a life-changing gift from his co-workers. Deputy Dishmon is color blind, so his colleagues joined forces and purchased him a pair of EnChroma glasses. The smart lenses correct color blindness! When asked what he sees, he responded, "A different world."
Treating eye conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration often involves the use of eye drops: but is that the most effective method for preventing blindness? Researchers in Singapore contend that an eyepatch – laden with microneedles – could be more beneficial to patients than eye drops; the new way of administering drugs to treat eye diseases may be the future.
In the 21st Century many young people spend the bulk of their time staring at smartphones and computers. Children today who spurn outdoor activities may be putting their vision at risk. While short-sightedness, or myopia, is often attributed to genetics, experts say otherwise; researchers say that children who do not spend enough time outdoors are at a higher risk of visual impairment.
Tyler Henderson is a chorus teacher who is colorblind. His students pooled their resources and purchased special glasses which allow Mr. Henderson to experience color. Henderson’s students had to determine which kind of color blindness he had so they could get the proper lenses. Color blindness or color vision deficiency is the decreased ability to see color or variations in color.
Cody Marbutt, a Kishwaukee Community College student, is not letting blindness stand in the path of achieving his goals. Marbutt is studying audio production; he hopes to do voice-overs and narrate audiobooks in the future. What’s more, the 23-year-old student is also a talented pianist. On November 2, Marbutt spoke to elementary students about living with vision loss and read Braille to the youngsters.
A student at Texas Tech lost his vision after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. Colin Baxter, 22, a senior at Texas Tech, underwent a 14-hour surgery to remove some of a tumor that (among other things) put pressure on his optic nerve causing him to go blind. Following the surgery, Baxter woke up to find he was now living with blindness. In spite of his unfortunate discovery, Colin decided he was not going to let his disability prevent him from finishing his education.
USF student Zoe Garcia has – like all visually impaired people – dealt with significant challenges in her life; then she was matched with a black lab guide dog named Fezzi who is helping the young student work towards her dreams. Zoe has a genetic eye condition called Bilateral Colobomas; the disease causes degenerative eyesight and retinal detachment issues.
Blind tenor and award-winning classical singer Andrea Bocelli is joining forces with his youngest son, Matteo. The duet can be heard performing together on Bocelli’s first album with new songs in 14 years. Interestingly, Bocelli first discovered his son could sing just two years ago.
November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month! Diabetes is one of the more common causes of eye disease and vision loss; diabetes is, in fact, the leading cause of new cases of blindness in adults, according to Prevent Blindness America. This month, our goal is to encourage more people with diabetes to seek care for vision problems.
With Veterans Day on the horizon, it is important to remember the 1 million veterans have suffered visual impairment; 130,000 service men and women are living in blindness. Lawmakers hope to one day restore vision for Veterans through the Faster Treatments and Cures for Eye Diseases Act (H.R. 6421). The bipartisan bill would give birth to Eye Bonds that finance research for the entire eye. Eye bonds could help new research get from the first stage to federal regulatory approval.
A new study shows that diabetes medication can do more than influence blood-sugar levels. The research indicates that metformin, a common diabetes medication, could protect against blindness. Researchers found that patients taking the drug had a significantly lower risk of developing age-related macular degeneration or AMD. The findings were presented at an American Academy of Ophthalmology conference. 
Albert Jordan Arguilla, born with septo-optic dysplasia – the disease caused total blindness in his right eye and partial vision in his left eye – is a Southwestern College Arts Major. He plans to become an art therapist so that he can help others with disabilities. After all, painting helped Arguilla cope with his visual impairment; he says that art helped him deal with his depression.
It is astonishing the things that human beings can accomplish in spite of disabilities. Those living with blindness prove – time-and-time-again – that nothing is impossible. For one artist, living with vision loss hasn’t kept her from pursuing her passion. Kate Cardamone is legally blind; with the help of those she loves and technology, Kate is able to create masterpieces.
Today is Halloween! If you are planning on dressing up and your costume includes fun-looking contact lenses, please consider the risks. The Association of Optometrists warns that costume contact lenses can hurt people’s eyes and even cause blindness. Research shows that fun contact lenses are poor quality and are more likely to carry harmful bacteria.
Genetic eye diseases disrupt the lives of one or two people out of every 10,000. Lea Bennett is a researcher studying the genetic causes of blindness; together with eye surgeon Dr. Sun Young Lee, she is opening a clinic for patients living with inherited conditions that eventually result in blindness. The recent FDA approval of Luxturna, a drug used to treat one form of inherited eye disease, gives hope that other genetic mutations that cause blindness could someday have a treatment option.
Cassandra Foster, 47, is the author and publisher of "The Blind Gift;" a book which recounts her experience living with retinitis pigmentosa. The rare disorder damages cells in the retina which causes blindness. Her goal wasn’t just to tell a good story; she wanted to accomplish something. Despite her vision loss, Foster leads a remarkable life!
White Cane Day celebrates people living with blindness! However, the observance is often used as an opportunity to educate people about vision loss. At Garfield Elementary in Washington State, students walked around with canes to get a better understanding of what a day-in-the-life is like for six of their fellow students. Wearing blindfolds, the students also played beep kickball.
Many people understand that those who suffer a stroke are at risk of having a dropped face on one side and difficulty speaking; it is fair to say that the majority of individuals are unaware that strokes can affect vision. What’s more, stroke-related vision problems can be hard to treat, according to the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB). Stroke victims can have field of vision deficiencies; it can be hard to see either left or right.
Having regular eye exams is a proactive way to prevent or address common eye diseases; an eye specialist in an office usually conducts such procedures. In the age of the internet, it’s possible to do online vision screenings for determining if you need corrective lenses. However, such processes are not a substitute for eye exams administered by ophthalmologists. What is more, the American Optometric Association (AOA) puts forth that online screenings are known to provide faulty information.
Findings published in Nature Medicine reveal positive takeaways from a gene therapy trial for choroideremia, a genetic cause of blindness. Among the 14 participants in the trial, the entire group showed a significant gain in vision. Patients were treated with an injection to the eye that contained a virus hosting the missing gene. Of the 12 patients that had no complications, 100% either gained or maintained vision for at least five years (the time of the last follow up).
Generally speaking, babies born prematurely are at a heightened risk of experiencing health problems; and, in some cases, they can be severe. A joint study between researchers in Sweden and the United States reveals that preemies with low levels of platelets in their blood have a much higher risk of developing a harsh variation of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The condition often leads to blindness.
Some 13 million people in the U.S. could be struggling with low vision! A partnership between Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) and Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) will continue in the RPB/LCIF Low Vision Research Award. The organizations will grant one award of $300,000 each year in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The research grants are part of a commitment to end infectious blindness, reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment.
Visiting the chiropractor is a routine experience for many Americans, but in some cases the results are hardly routine. In fact, forceful manipulation of a person’s neck can result in severe injury, including vision loss. Yannis Paulus, M.D., a retina specialist at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center, suggests that people inform their physicians before seeing chiropractors and consider how high-velocity neck manipulation can stress the eyes.
Diet is believed to play a role in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. A large study conducted by researchers in Europe found that individuals who stick to a Mediterranean diet reduce their risk of AMD significantly—41 percent. The findings of the research can be reviewed in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. 
Adonis Watt lost his eyesight at the age of 5, the result of rare congenital glaucoma. Adonis decided that he would not let his vision loss prevent him from being an athlete like the rest of his family members. The freshman running back dreams of one day being a force to reckon with in the NFL. Watt has undergone several procedures to improve his vision, but it’s possible that the condition could correct itself.
A growing number of patients are being diagnosed with a rare eye infection that can cause blindness. Research appearing in the British Journal of Ophthalmology shows that some people who wear contact lenses are at risk of exposure to Acanthamoeba keratitis, a microscopic amoeba that infects the cornea. The amoebas are often found in water; people who rinse their lenses with water rather than solution are at a heightened risk. The infection is more common in the U.K.
In the next two decades the number of diabetes cases around the world is expected to increase by 50 percent. The rise means that a staggering amount of people are at risk of severe health conditions, including blindness. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $2.8 million grant to the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to aid in the discovery of new treatments for diabetic blindness.
A Las Vegas mother plans to tackle a marathon this November. While plenty of moms attempt and complete such feats, Terri Rupp intends to cross the finish line despite living with blindness. Rupp, a mother to two and the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada, was diagnosed at roughly five years old with optic nerve atrophy, an often progressive disease that damages the nerve connecting the eyes to the brain, and causes blindness. The condition is incurable.
Lifelong Atlanta Braves fan Katie Hearn started losing her eyesight at 28. Thanks to her dogged determination Hearn was able to hit a home run, scoring a job with the baseball team she loves. Katie was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri, a rare disorder that leads to blindness. Despite her impairment, she’s got a dream job in the social media department for the Braves.
It is no secret that sighted men and women take what seems like the simplest things for granted, such as choosing the color or brand of a particular item. The same goes for grocery shopping, deciding on Folgers Coffee over Maxwell House is easy even though they both come in practically the same packaging. Now the visually impaired can receive assistance in exercising discretion at the grocery store aided by an app service known as Aira. Blind shoppers at Wegmans, at nearly 100 stores in six states, can use the service which connects the user to a live operator who instructs the shopper on what they are looking at via the smartphone camera.
Shortly after her birth, actor and writer Anna Shiels-McNamee’s father lost his vision. Retinitis Pigmentosa left her father living with blindness, a reality that would impact Shiels-McNamee’s life significantly. She is hopeful that her performance will help raise awareness about those who are living with disabilities and lead to greater dialogue.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that afflicts more than 9 million Americans - millions more worldwide – and it often results in severe vision loss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) projects that the number of people 50 and older with early-stage AMD will nearly double to 17.8 million in the United States by 2050. Several companies have developed or are developing treatments to keep the condition from progressing. Such therapies could help with other diseases, as well.
Last week, ABC's "Good Morning America" announced the contestants in this coming season of "Dancing With the Stars." Now, you may be wondering what ballroom dancing has to do with vision loss; the answer, one of the contestants in this year's competition, Danelle Umstead, lost her vision due to retinitis pigmentosa. Umstead is an American Alpine skier and Paralympian who won a bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.
Merle Caples is an Orioles’ fan and has been one for almost 60 years now. While she once watched the team play with her eyes, now her ears keep her head in the game. Despite Caples’ (95) blindness, she still follows her team diligently. On September 18, 2018, in honor of Caples’ steadfast dedication and other fans living with vision loss, the Orioles will host National Federation of the Blind Night. During the occasion, Orioles players and coaches will wear jerseys with their names spelled in Braille.
A University of Michigan-AARP National Poll on Healthy Aging indicates that primary care providers (PCPs) could do more to promote eye care for people over the age of 50. The poll of 2,013 adults, ages 50 to 80, was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and it shows that 18 percent of respondents have not had their eyes checked in three years or more. Eye exams are one of the most effective methods of identifying eye disease and preventing vision loss. During Healthy Aging Month this September, Americans over 50 are encouraged to have their eyes checked.
Former art teacher, Ron Ferguson’s passion for painting, continues even though he is living with blindness. In an effort to keep track of each color of paint he is using, Ferguson created a paint bottle braille system. The technique allows him to identify primary colors, which then enables him to mix up other hues. His wife initially helps him identify each color so that he can label the bottles correctly.
After 82 days at sea, a 57-year-old blind man from South Brent, Devon, finished rowing across the Pacific Ocean with his teammate. The race began in Monterey, California, this June and was to be 2,400 miles to the finish line in Hawaii. However, severe weather conditions meant the pair would row approximately 3,000 miles before it was all over. Steve Sparkes is the first blind person to row across the world's biggest ocean.
Kim Janda, of the Scripps Research Institute, led the development of a new test for river blindness. The condition is the result of a parasitic tropical infection common in sub-Saharan Africa that affects more than 18 million people. The practical test for the disease does not require access to a laboratory; now the infection is diagnosable with a dipstick urine test. Research on the test appears in the journal ACS Infectious Diseases.
The STD syphilis may seem like a condition that no longer affects people; however, there is a marked rise in syphilis cases around the world. This is critical to organizations working with the blind, because people who are exposed are at risk of blindness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that occurrences in the United States have more than doubled from 2.1 cases per 100,000 people in 2000 to 5.3 cases per 100,000 in 2013. A study on the heightened risk of ocular syphilis appears in the journal Scientific Reports.
"When it rained, he had to sit in certain spots so the rain wouldn't pour in on him," said Mike Graham, about his neighbor's camper. "He had no running water, no heat, no nothing."
David Lai, spent the summer at Brevard Music Center honing his piano talent. Nobody can deny Lai’s skill, which he mastered even though he is living with blindness. Playing the piano has enabled Mr. Lai to traverse obstacles in his life since childhood. Lai’s vision loss stems from oxygen therapy at birth; he was born 10-weeks premature with underdeveloped lungs.
Researchers have found a method for reversing congenital blindness in mice. The technique involves changing cells in the retina – called Müller glia – into rod photoreceptors, light-sensitive cells which help people see in low light. The findings of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study appear in the journal Nature.
Daria Finley is living with blindness because of glaucoma, but she has not let her condition hold her back, and she is trying things for the first time. Since going blind, Finley is modeling, she has acted in a short film, and she wrote a one-woman play about her experiences and was the star. Blindness can be the beginning of a new chapter in life, not the end of a person’s story.