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.Researchers at the University of Notre Dame conducted a study that involved mathematic modeling which found that a combination of mass drug distribution and removing vegetation may be the most effective method of curbing transmission.
“Modeling is a powerful tool to synthesize myriad information about parasite transmission,” said lead author Edwin Michael, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Notre Dame. “Once we obtain a working model, we have the capability to do forecasting into the future, and we can also use the available short-term, limited data to present decision makers with new information that is not otherwise available.”
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“Study: Transmission of river blindness may be reduced when vegetation is removed”
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.
Vaccinating children is a topic of serious discussion of late. Many parents are choosing not to have their children vaccinated. Vaccine rates are plummeting! This trend is putting many children at risk of death and disability from measles. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there were 110,000 measles deaths globally, mostly among children under age 5, in 2017. Measles can also cause blindness and encephalitis.
The sun emits powerful ultraviolet rays that can damage your skin; it's the cause of sunburns and skin cancer. However, the planet's source of light can also do irreparable harm to one's eyes. UV rays can damage eye proteins increasing the risk for cataracts, according to a 2014 study funded by the U.S. National Eye Institute.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has a new children's book that discusses diabetes and other conditions that kids face, such as blindness and Down syndrome. Justice Sotomayor was diagnosed with diabetes at age 7. She says the impetus for the book came when she was accused of being a drug addict after someone witnessed her take an insulin shot in a bathroom.
A student-produced video showing a young man receiving EnChroma Color Blind glasses, has been nominated for a national award. “Jake Loburak: The Colorblind Videographer," is produced by communications and digital media (CDM) majors Sean Spence and Jake Loburak. Jake has Strong Deutan Color Blindness, a type of color blindness which makes red, yellow, green and brown appear similar. The movie is one of four finalists for a College Broadcasters Best Feature News Reporting Award.
A new study out of Taiwan shows that smog from automobile tailpipes could be contributing to macular degeneration. The researchers found that people who are exposed to high levels of two car exhaust pollutants are at greater risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
We recently wrote about Braille Bricks that help kids living with vision loss. Now, the company is taking its efforts one step further by offering building instructions in braille and audio for the visually impaired. Using AI, blind entrepreneur Matthew Shifrin is uploading building steps into a braille reader.
Being born with blindness is sure to present several challenges. However, vision loss is merely an obstacle, not a dead end. Doug Perez was born premature and without vision. Still, he was able to become an honorary police officer despite blindness. Perez has always been interested in law enforcement, and now he has an opportunity to help.
Chad Allen created an audio-comic titled “Unseen” featuring a blind protagonist. “Unseen” may be the first audio comic book written by a person living with blindness, that is intended for a blind audience. Even still, anyone can enjoy the story. “Unseen” was chosen for the "Self, Made" exhibition at the Exploratorium museum of science, art and human perception in San Francisco.
People living in major cities across the country are acutely familiar with e-scooters. They are an inexpensive means of transportation, allowing people to move quickly from point A to B. However, municipal infrastructure has proven ill-equipped to deal with the thousands of scooters littered around the city. When a person is done riding, they need only drop the transport on the sidewalk. As you can imagine, scooter jetsam is hazardous for people living with vision loss. Lyft scooters have Braille stickers with instructions on how to get them off the sidewalk.
Technology is quickly becoming the answer to vision loss. Smart glasses are giving the gift of sight to countless people around the globe, living with varying degrees of visual impairment. Augmented reality (AR) glasses could prove beneficial for those living with low vision – that is vision loss that cannot be corrected by medical or surgical treatments or conventional eyeglasses.
In 2013, Haben Girma became the first deafblind woman to graduate from Harvard Law School. She has made it her mission to fight for the rights of people living with disabilities, including vision loss and hearing loss. The White House Champion of Change honoree has a new book, “Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.” She recounts what life is like growing up with a disability, and the obstacles that people with vision and hearing loss face.
Marissa Gold lost her vision six years ago because of Type 1 diabetes and a virus she contracted. Living without vision meant that Marissa would have to learn new skills to function in the world, such as learning Braille. To support his adult daughter, Gold's father Michael decided that he would learn how to read Braille too.
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.
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.