An estimated 39 million people in the world are affected by blindness. Advancements in technology are helping scientists discover novel methods for combating vision loss. Researchers from EPFL in Switzerland and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Italy are working on developing techniques for treating blindness that transmit visual signals to the brain that bypass the eyeball altogether."We believe that intraneural stimulation can be a valuable solution for several neuroprosthetic devices for sensory and motor function restoration. The translational potentials of this approach are indeed extremely promising," says Silvestro Micera, EPFL's Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, and Professor of Bioelectronics at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna.
We invite you to reach out to SDCB if you require assistance for vision impairment or blindness. We offer several innovative vision rehabilitation programs.
"Optic nerve stimulation to aid the blind"
Hope Zentz, 43, has been an inmate in the Michigan state prison system for 11 years and has another seven to go before she is eligible for parole. However, Zentz has decided to use her time behind bars productively. This month she earned her literary braille certification from the Library of Congress. When she gets out of prison, Zentz hopes to have a career transcribing braille.
Charles King went blind at 39; his blindness stole his will to live. His disability brought him to dark places literally and figuratively. After struggling for years, King managed to rediscover a new sense of purpose through weightlifting. The 69-year-old Philadelphian is a blind powerlifter; he finished first in his weight and age class last month at the United States Association of Blind Athletes National Powerlifting Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“Vision Portraits” is an essay documentary from filmmaker Rodney Evans. The director believes that losing one’s vision can result in people seeing the world in novel ways. The film showcases artists who have different degrees of vision loss. Hopefully, you will have an opportunity to view the movie; it just may change your perspective
Mary Sedgwick was diagnosed with optic neuritis in 1997. The disease causes inflammation of the optic nerve, which leads to vision loss. She always held onto the hope that one day, something would come along that restored her vision. Now, thanks to E-Sight, glasses that magnify and brighten the world, she has a new perspective.
The food we eat changes how we feel. Those who eat healthily tend to feel better and are better able to function in life. An unhealthy diet, on the other hand, can severely impact one’s well-being, and it is associated with myriad health problems. A new book delves into the role that diet plays on our vision.
Losing one’s vision is a life-changing experience that can severely disrupt the course of your life. However, it is still possible to lead a fulfilling and productive life despite vision loss. Blindness does not hold Curt Jones back; he will not allow being blind to keep him from enjoying life. Jones’ parents never treated him any different after losing his vision at the age of three; which may explain why he has such a developed outlook on life.
Tablets like iPads have become ubiquitous in today’s world. Wherever you go, there they are - in the hands of businesspeople or children alike. While often they serve as a distraction for kids, they can also be a powerful tool for learning.
Earlier this year we 
CRISPR – clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats – is a method of genome editing that allows scientists to change an organism's DNA. The possibilities of this technology seem without limit. A new study is about to begin that plans to use CRISPR to treat an inherited eye disorder that causes blindness—Leber congenital amaurosis. The research will involve 18 patients, both children (ages 3 and up) and adults.
Healthy vision for kids is of the utmost importance, which is why Prevent Blindness and the National Optometric Association (NOA) are joining forces to declare August as Children's Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month. Untreated eye diseases can worsen as children grow and inhibit kids from excelling in school. The goal for August is to educate parents and caregivers on how to take action and have children screened for vision problems.
It is prudent that all Americans take steps to educate themselves about eye diseases and to protect their vision. The human eye is a complex organ that is highly susceptible to encountering problems that can lead to vision loss. Taking the time to learn about common eye conditions and prioritizing routine check-ups can spare people from experiencing vision loss down the road. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.
Acanthamoeba keratitis is a condition that seems like the stuff of science-fiction. However, it's a real-life condition caused by an amoeba. The microbial is commonly found in water, and it can make its way into a person's cornea. People who wear contacts in water, please be advised that you could be putting your eyes at risk. Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare eye infection which can cause permanent vision loss.
New research suggests that vision loss or hearing loss can increase a person's chance of developing dementia. A team of researchers from the University of Washington found that having both hearing and sight problems increased dementia risk by 86 percent. If an individual loses one of their senses, then their risk is much smaller—11 percent.
A mother's determination to help her child knows no limits. Gracie Benedith-Cane's son has a rare condition - septo-optic nerve dysplasia - that causes serious visual impairment. A quest to help him live more independently led her to create adhesive braille patches for his clothing. Cane started a company called Braille Code Inc.; she sells the Braille patches to help others utilize her innovative patches.
Six people who were living with blindness had their sight partially restored, thanks to an implant which transmits video images from a camera to the brain. A study, led by a US team of specialists, shows that implanting electrodes in the brain's visual cortex can receive footage from a camera mounted on glasses. Interestingly, the technology bypasses both the eye and the optic nerve altogether.
People living with vision loss rely on Braille to lead an independent life. However, an investigation reveals incorrect Braille at many public facilities across the country. Vencer Cotton, 41, said that he once entered the women's bathroom because of bad Braille in Washington D.C. Incidents like the one Cotton experienced are not isolated.
Two brothers living with blindness completed a 10-kilometer race (6.2 miles) in 2 hours and 41 minutes. Willard J. Walker and John W. Smith walked side by side with their white canes in opposite hands. They were determined to finish the race and were not concerned with how fast they moved. Onlookers shouted out words of encouragement to support the blind athletes.
Did you know that John Milton produced "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained" more than ten years after going blind? Joel Burcat, 64, is an environmental lawyer and author in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who recently published his first novel. While Burcat's book hasn't received much notoriety, it is novel. You see, he completed "Drink to Every Beast" while legally blind.
On June 17th, Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) and Pilestone Color Blind officials gifted seven students and local community members with glasses to correct color blindness. Goshuami “Gigi” Valoy-Tineo, Dieruff High School graduate, is one of the recipients. Students also received a Chrome book. Equipped with her new glasses and computer, Valoy-Tineo will be better prepared for college in the fall.
A benefit concert was held to raise money for a boy with a super rare disease, panhypopituitarism. The condition led to severe autism and blindness in 5-year-old Terren Weidman. However, there is a treatment that could help the young boy called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Unfortunately, it will cost Terren’s family roughly $4,000.
Glaucoma is an incurable eye disease that kills vital nerve cells at the back of the retina, which leads to vision loss. More than 70 million people have the blinding eye condition; 3 million of such people are already living with blindness.
Students at Texas Tech took part in a simulation to understand what living with blindness is like. The simulation asked participants to put on blindfolds and ambulate with only the assistance of a white can. Instructors taught the students how to cross streets and use public transportation. The exercise was part of the Sowell Center’s Orientation and Mobility Program.
Last weekend, the Braille Institute of America Braille Challenge Finals was held in Los Angeles June 21-22. While Braille is invaluable to people living with blindness, there are indications that many children are not learning it today.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness has made childhood blindness a significant priority for their VISION 2020 joint global initiative. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye condition that strikes premature babies.
Dr. Yutao Liu, a vision scientist, is studying keratoconus’ causes; he hopes to discover a way to better diagnose, treat, and prevent this progressive eye disease. Keratoconus is an eye condition that alters the curvature of the cornea, causing people to experience double vision and nearsightedness. The condition affects an estimated 1 in 2,000. The National Eye Institute is helping Dr. Yutao Liu with his research through a $2.1 million grant.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision. You may find it surprising to discover that roughly 200 million people in the world are living with AMD. Moreover, about one-fifth of AMD cases progress to an advanced stage, leading to visual impairment.
Did you know that the last week in June is “Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week?” At this time, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults (HKNC) recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of people who are living with blindness and hearing loss.
What could be better than giving back the ability to read and enjoy stories to veterans who are living with vision loss? Not much! The National Library Service (NLS) and the Library of Congress have teamed up to create the Braille and Talking Book Program.
A new study indicates that cataract surgery may help people beyond giving patients better vision. Research published in JAMA Ophthalmology shows that patients with new lenses following cataract surgery got more REM sleep or deep sleep. They also did better on cognition tests. The findings suggest that the amount of light entering the eye regulates the internal clock of humans.
Color blindness is a condition that affects millions of people around the globe. Dental hygienist, Savannah Allen (22), has been living with the condition since she was a small child. Naturally, her inability to precisely identify colors makes her job more difficult.
Ian Treherne was born deaf, and then began losing his vision at 15. Treherne has a rare genetic condition called Usher syndrome. Even though the disease stole 95 percent of his vision, Ian is a self-taught photographer who takes stunningly beautiful still frames. "My blindness has spurred me on to achieve more and focus more," said Mr. Treherne.
Dr. Patricia Bath was the first African American female doctor to receive a medical patent. She invented a better treatment of cataracts, Dr. Bath passed away last week at the age of 76. She led a remarkable life, being the first African American surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. The pioneer was also the first woman ophthalmologist on the faculty of UCLA's Jules Stein Eye Institute.
Ian is an 8-month-old puppy receiving lessons on how to be a guide dog for individuals living with vision loss. Last week, Ian and ten other Labrador retrievers (6 to 17 months old) descended upon John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA. Guide dogs need to be comfortable in any place a blind person can go. Naturally, people waiting for their planes on June 1, 2019, had big smiles on their faces in response to the puppy parade. 
Blind people show that they do understand what sighted people process through vision, according to a new study. The findings prove that “visual” ideas don’t require vision. The research, published in PNAS, involved 20 blind and 20 sighted adults. Rather than rely on rote learning, scientists found that blind people make sense of the visual world by using a catalog of clues.
D.C. Metro’s new trains will now include features to protect the safety of blind riders after some passenger injuries. The safety fixes should be complete this week, such as chain barriers between every car to prevent people from falling on the tracks. Reports indicate that at least two people fell off platforms mistaking the gap between cars for an open door.
Did you know that more than 25 million Americans are estimated to have a cataract? Prevent Blindness has declared June as Cataract Awareness Month, a time to educate people about the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment. Cataract symptoms may include blurred vision, double vision, ghost images, or the sense of a “film” over the eyes.
The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness (NCCVEH) is accepting nominations for the upcoming Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award Ceremony. Individuals or organizations worthy of the award are those who demonstrate significant contributions to advancing public health approaches for children’s vision and eye health at the state or national level.
Cornea donors may be a thing of the past one day thanks to new technologies. Millions of people around the globe have bilateral loss of vision due to corneal disorders. Cornea transplants can help men and women living with corneal blindness, but there are only so many transplants to go around each year.
Bradford Manning and his younger brother Bryan own a New York clothing company. What’s unique about the company is that its profits are earmarked for vision loss research. The brothers have a genetic eye disorder called Stargardt disease, juvenile form of macular degeneration which damages center vision over time and leads to blindness.
Tyler Merren, 34, is a Paralympic USA goalball silver medalist. Merren is living with blindness, but that does not keep him from making a difference in his community and beyond. On top of training for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020, he is a father of four, personal trainer, and public speaker.
It is essential that blind and sighted children play together! Braille Bricks by Lego allows for children living with blindness to engage with kids with perfect vision. The Lego Foundation, which is funded by the Lego Group, has a new project that will alter the knobs on the regular bricks into Braille dots. Braille Bricks will feature both Braille dots and written letters.
Grace Fisher is a junior in high school. Despite living with blindness, she has found a way to sing her heart out in women’s choir. “I’ve always been into music. I wanted to be in choir,” Fisher said.
About 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women in the world see things a little differently than the majority. Such people have what is known as color blindness or color deficiency. There are three types of color blindness: protanopia (the inability to process red light), deuteranopia (the inability to process green light), and tritanopia (the inability to process blue light).
Jazz pianist Marcus Roberts has led a remarkable life. At the age of 5 he suffered major vision loss, resulting in him living with blindness. He recently agreed to an interview and spoke about his experience in becoming a musician despite his condition. At 12 or 13, he had a band while he was in a school for the blind. He taught each member how to play music. Today, he still helps young people hone their ear for music, especially those who live with vision loss.
Researchers identified some of the genetic variants that cause age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study involved stem cells to learn more about this common cause of vision loss. While there is still much scientists do not know about AMD, people with a family history of the blinding eye disease are at higher risk.
Nicky Dawson was born with a cataract in her right eye. It had to be removed, resulting in blindness. However, being legally blind hasn’t stopped the young lady from being the second baseman for the Baylor University softball team. She learned how to compensate for the disability; Dawson doesn’t just play, she excels on the diamond!
Prevent Blindness is holding its eighth annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit on July 17, 2019. The event is being held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Lifetime of Vision.”
Have you had your eyes checked lately? The National Eye Institute (NEI) would like to know: what’s your vision of the future? May is Healthy Vision Month! You can take steps today to ensure that you see clearly tomorrow. The NEI is encouraging young adults to prioritize healthy vision during the month of May and beyond.
Did you know that women are at a higher risk of experiencing vision loss and blindness? If not, please know that you are not alone. Less than 10 percent of women realize that they are at a higher risk of suffering permanent vision loss than men, according to a survey conducted by Prevent Blindness.