StemCell Therapy

By FELICITY DARVILLE

As October comes to an end, I wanted to recognise a group that deserves just as much attention as other NGOs celebrating important causes this month.

The Bahamas Alliance for the Blind and Visually Impaired (BABVI) recognises October as Blindness Awareness Month. This year, BABVI celebrates 30 years in existence and 23 years as a legal entity for the blind in The Bahamas.

The fact that members of the alliance are blind or visually impaired have not stopped them from being active this month despite the restrictions of the pandemic.

In fact, members have been more active on social media than ever before. This was in keeping with this years theme: Our Vision Still Strong; Pandemic or Not!

BABVI president Ken Rolle said the organisation launched an aggressive campaign via social media platforms centred on eye care tips, breaking barriers in blindness, and living with blindness.

There were also media house interviews, talk show appearances and presentations to civic organisations via Zoom. Since Ken has been president, he has brought a lot of young people to the alliance and they, in turn, have been using their social media platforms to promote their cause.

They celebrated World Sight Day on Thursday, October 8, and International White Cane Day on October 15, pushing the message to friends, family members and followers to get their eyes tested and be conscious of the needs of blind and visually impaired people like them.

The month of celebrations culminated last night with the Vision 2020 Virtual Summit which featured presentations from BABVI members along with representatives from the Caribbean Council for the Blind; Disability Affairs Division; Department of Social Services; The Eye Care Services Department of Public Health and The Erin H Gilmour School for the Blind.

The Alliance remains the trailblazers in the country sensitising the general public on the importance of eye protection, sight preservation and blindness prevention, Ken said.

Additionally, the organisation is still focused on its mission and goals as outlined in the Constitution, employing members to remain vocal, advocating for the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of the blind in the Bahamian society.

This years Blindness Awareness Month highlights included three BABVI members: Jermaine Clarke, Rickia Pratt and Akemi Kenaz Thompson.

Jermaine Clarke is a husband and father of three. He has been blind for over 25 years. Despite this challenge, Jermaine is independent and is a daily provider for his family. He has been employed at the Salvation Armys mop factory for years now.

But thats not all Jermaine is a lumberjack. He is skilled at what he does and because of it, members of his community know who to call after a hurricane to help with clean up, or just to cut down overgrown trees in their yard.

For people without any disabilities, holding down two jobs is quite a feat. But being a lumberjack and a factory worker only scratches the surface of what this talented man can do. Jermaine also has skills in plumbing as well as auto mechanics.

So, his community members, family and friends call on him for all sorts of odd jobs. When he isnt getting his hands dirty and earning money, Jermaine turns to something he loves music.

His passion for music has blossomed into another career. Jermaine is a DJ who specialises in events like birthdays and weddings.

Challenge me to do something and I will find a way to do it, he said.

Anything to feed my family.

Ken called his BABVI colleague a great supporter of all of the organisations initiatives, and a true model of a man who is blind.

The spotlight is also on Rickia Pratt for Blindness Awareness month. Rickia has been visually impaired all her life. She attended the Salvation Army School for the Blind, where she graduated with 6 BJCs and 6 BGCSEs.

At the age of ten, Rickia developed a love for foreign languages. That love blossomed as she pursued tertiary education. She attended Eastern Washington University and successfully pursued a degree in foreign languages.

When Rickia returned home, her skills were put to good use. She made history by being the only person with disability to be accepted into the Ministry of Tourisms Foreign Language Cadet Programme in 2008. She was afforded the opportunity to attend a summer-abroad programme in Costa Rica, one of many places she has travelled to perfect the Spanish language.

Rickia is a seasoned liturgical dancer. She has been dancing from she was eight years old. Today, Rickia is an activist for local people with disabilities. Her personal motto is: All things are possible with hard work and determination.

The youngest to be highlighted this month is Akemi Kenaz Thompson. She is one of the bright stars at the Erin H Gilmour School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Now in her late teens, Akemi was diagnosed at birth with a condition called Hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of fluid within the cavities of the brain. Treatment was administered; however, by sixth grade, Akemis condition took a turn for the worse, leaving her with chronic visual impairment, mostly in her right eye.

Despite this, Akemi still continues to thrive and blossom, obtaining four BJCs due to her hard work and dedication to her studies.

She is now attending classes at RM Bailey Senior High School on a quest to obtain her BGCSEs, with a focus on English Language. Akemi has learned to navigate independently with low vision using the white cane, an essential tool for blind and visually impaired people all around the world.

A white cane primarily allows its user to scan their surroundings for obstacles or orientation marks. As an onlooker, it is important to take notice when you see the white cane, so that you can identify the user as blind or visually impaired and take appropriate care. This becomes very important when you are a motorist and someone is using the white cane and crossing the street, for example. For BABVI, white cane also symbolises self-reliance and accomplishment.

Akemi has a love for reading, traveling and experiencing new cultures. One day, she hopes to be a college graduate and she aspires to become an author. She is confident she can achieve her goals because of her strong support system her parents and three brothers.

Congratulations goes out to the Alliance as it celebrates another milestone in the organisations life, Ken said in an address to his members.

Remain resilient, press on towards your goals, persevere in these unprecedented times despite the emergency orders. As our theme suggests let your vision remain strong, pandemic or not!

For donations to help the causes of the blind and visually impaired, or for general information, BABVI can be contacted through the Disability Affairs Division, telephone 325-2252 or email babvi.101@gmail.com.

Read more from the original source:
FACE TO FACE: Shining a light on those living with blindness - Bahamas Tribune

There are many different types of retinal diseases, but almost all of them lead to damage of the retinal and vision loss. The retinal is a thin layer of tissue on the inside back wall of your eye, which contains millions of light-sensitive cells and nerve cells that receive and send visual information to the brain through the optic nerve. This is what enables you to see. If there are any problems with the retina, available treatment options will stop the progress of the disease and preserve and restore vision. But this is not always successful. Also Read - Working from home? You may be at risk of developing computer vision syndrome

Now researchers have uncovered a potential new strategy for treating eye diseases that affect millions of people around the world, often resulting in blindness. Many serious eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and related disorders of the retina feature abnormal overgrowth of new retinal blood vessel branches, which can lead to progressive loss of vision. Its a phenomenon called neovascularization. Also Read - 5 everyday bad habits that are hurting your eyes

For the past decade and a half, eye doctors have been treating these conditions with drugs that block a protein, VEGF, thats responsible for spurring new vessel growth. Such drugs have improved the treatment of these conditions, but dont always work well and have potential safety issues. The current study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that a new approach that doesnt target VEGF directly is highly effective in mice and has broader benefits than a standard VEGF-blocking treatment. Also Read - Dont rub your itchy eyes: Try these effective home remedies instead

Researchers from Scripps Research Institute in the US were thrilled to see how well this worked in the animal model. There really is a need for another way to treat patients who do not respond well to anti-VEGF treatments, they say. For the findings, the research team conducted tests in a mouse model of retinal hypoxia and neovascularization, using a fragment of CITED2 that contains its functional, hypoxic-response-blocking elements. They showed that when a solution of the CITED2 fragment was injected into the eye, it lowered the activity of genes that are normally switched on by HIF-1a in retinal cells, and significantly reduced neovascularization. Moreover, it did so while preserving, or allowing to re-grow, the healthy capillaries in the retina that would otherwise have been destroyed researchers call it vaso-obliteration in this model of retinal disease.

In the same mouse model, the researchers tested a drug called aflibercept, a standard anti-VEGF treatment. It helped reduce neovascularization but did not prevent the destruction of retinal capillaries. However, reducing the dose of aflibercept and combining it with the CITED2 fragment yielded better results than either alone, strongly reducing neovascularization while preserving and restoring retinal capillaries. CITED2s ability to combine these two benefits appears to represent a key advance, the researchers concluded. The researchers now hope to develop the CITED2-based treatment further, with the ultimate goal of testing it in human clinical trials.

(With inputs from IANS)

Published : October 28, 2020 10:31 pm | Updated:October 29, 2020 9:28 am

Go here to see the original:
Retinal diseases often lead to blindness, but a new treatment shows promise - TheHealthSite

Glaucoma is an eye condition that can cause damage to the optic nerve. This nerve is essential for your eye health. If it becomes damaged, it can cause permanent vision loss and, in some cases, it may even lead to blindness.

Glaucoma is typically caused by high pressure inside your eyes. However, diabetes can also be a risk factor for glaucoma.

In this article, well take a closer look at the link between diabetes and glaucoma, and the steps you can take to help protect your eye health.

Your eyes continuously produce a clear fluid known as the aqueous humor that fills the inside of your eye. New fluid constantly replaces the older fluid, which leaves your eye through a meshwork drainage field and channels.

If something obstructs this drainage mechanism, the natural pressure inside your eye known as your intraocular pressure (IOP) can increase. If your IOP increases too much, it can damage the fibers of your optic nerve.

As damage to this nerve progresses, you may begin losing sight in your eye, especially in your peripheral vision.

There are two primary types of glaucoma: open-angle and closed-angle.

According to a 2017 study, diabetes may raise your risk of open-angle glaucoma by approximately 36 percent. Closed-angle glaucoma does not seem to have a known connection with diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy, which is a complication of diabetes and the most common form of diabetic eye disease, can increase your risk of glaucoma.

Diabetic retinopathy usually affects people who have had diabetes for a long time. The risk of this condition increases with:

With diabetic retinopathy, changes in your glucose levels can cause the blood vessels in your retina to weaken and become damaged. This can eventually lead to glaucoma.

The leading theory is that when the blood vessels in your retina become damaged, it can cause abnormal blood vessels to grow in your eye, known as neurovascular glaucoma. These blood vessels can block your eyes natural drainage system. When this happens, it can cause your eye pressure to increase, which can lead to glaucoma.

Another theory as to how diabetic retinopathy increases the risk of glaucoma points to high blood sugar as the direct cause. According to this theory, high blood sugar can cause an increase in a specific glycoprotein, called fibronectin, to form in your eye. Having more fibronectin in your eye may block your eyes natural drainage system, which can lead to glaucoma.

Glaucoma typically doesnt have any symptoms, especially in the early stages. Because glaucoma causes gradual changes in your vision, you might not notice any symptoms until its more advanced. If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to severe vision loss or blindness.

If you do have symptoms of glaucoma, the symptoms will vary depending on the type of glaucoma and how advanced the disease is.

Symptoms may include:

This type of glaucoma is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment. Symptoms may include:

Symptoms may include:

Because glaucoma often doesnt have symptoms in the early stages, its important to get regular eye exams. This is especially important if you have any risk factors, including diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with diabetes should get a dilated eye exam every year. Having your eyes dilated can help your eye doctor to more easily check for optic nerve damage or other issues.

During your eye exam, your doctor will also measure the pressure in your eyes. Depending on your risk, you might need other tests, such as checking for areas of vision loss, measuring the thickness of your cornea, and looking at the angle at which your eye drains fluid.

If you receive a glaucoma diagnosis, prescription eye drops are usually the first treatment option.

If the eye drops dont help reduce the pressure buildup in your eye, your doctor may suggest medication or surgery.

Surgery options for glaucoma include:

Depending on your diabetes management and other risk factors, you may be at a higher risk of developing other eye issues, too.

Short-term spikes in your blood sugar, which can happen when youre changing your treatment, can cause swelling or high fluid levels in your eye. This can cause temporary blurry vision. This will likely go away once your blood sugar stabilizes.

Long-term elevated blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in your eye and lead to conditions, such as:

If you have diabetes, its very important to protect your eye health, as well as your general health. To lower your risk of glaucoma and other eye issues with diabetes, be sure to:

Diabetes can increase your risk of several eye diseases, including glaucoma.

Diabetic retinopathy, which is a complication of diabetes, can result in damage to the blood vessels in your retina. This can cause abnormal blood vessels to grow in your eye, which can block your eyes natural drainage system and eventually lead to glaucoma.

Because glaucoma often has no symptoms, especially in the early stages, its important to get annual eye exams if you have diabetes.

Go here to see the original:
Glaucoma and Diabetes: Is There a Connection? - Healthline

A new Christchurch art exhibition will give people with blindness or low vision the chance to experience the work with a number of pieces that you can 'touch' and 'feel'.

The Touching Sight exhibition showcases new work by three contemporary Christchurch artists.

"Each of the artists who've contributed to Touching Sight work in different mediums, and we've brought them together for a playful exhibition that celebrates different ways of making and seeing art," said art gallery curator Melanie Oliver.

Being unable to see doesn't need to be a barrier to appreciating visual art, the exhibition includes some works that people can touch and feel.

Photographer Conor Clarke (Ngi Tahu) has worked with participants from the blind and low vision community to make a series of large, touchable photographs that represent landscapes described as they remember them.

Emma Fitts has made brightly coloured, voluminous sculptural textiles, inspired by the form, colour and composition of twentieth-century paintings.

Oliver Perkins's paintings are the result of restless experimentation in the studio.

These works challenge our contemporary understanding of abstraction and how it can represent or reflect our experience.

"We have a reference room at the heart of Touching Sight that includes audio descriptions of each work. They don't describe things in the way a sighted person would, but in a way that would let someone with low vision understand and appreciate them.

"We've tried to talk about things like colour for someone who may never have actually seen one before how do you do that? We've brought in the other senses as much as we can, things like texture and feeling," Oliver said.

"And the title of the exhibition also comes into play, because some of the artworks have been specially crafted so that visitors can touch them and experience art in a way that people don't often get to."

Touching Sight runs from October 31 2020 to February 21 2021 at Christchurch Art Gallery.

There will also be an artist floortalk, where visitors can join the three artists and curator Melanie Oliver for a conversation about their projects.

Touching Sight is one of several exhibitions in the Gallery's All Art All Summer season, designed to make everyone feel welcome this summer.

The season will launch officially on 5 December 2020.

Go here to read the rest:
New Christchurch Art Gallery exhibition aims to include those with blindness or low vision - New Zealand Herald

Newswise Mass Eye and Ear is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its historic campaign, Bold Science. Life-Changing Cures. which raised $252M from philanthropy to advance research to treat and cure diseases of vision, hearing, and the head and neck.

The campaign was led by co-chair Wyc Grousbeck, Boston Celtics CEO and Lead Owner and former Chairman of Mass Eye and Ear. Grousbeck was elected Chairman of the Foundation and Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear in 2010, and stepped down from the position earlier this year. He will continue to serve as a trustee and contribute to advancing Mass Eye and Ears mission, with a lasting legacy that includes two endowed chairs and a gene therapy research center he and his family established.

The campaigns finale culminated in a virtual celebration as part of the hospitals annual Sense-ation! Gala on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 7:30 PM EST. This years gala was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was hosted by longtime Mass Eye and Ear friends, Billy Costa, (Co-Host of KISS 108s Matty in the Morning and NESNs Dining Playbook) and founding gala chair Joey McIntrye (New Kids on the Block).

[Watch the entire 11th Annual Sense-ation Gala!]

Bold Science. Life-Changing Cures. Ends with Enduring Legacy

The Bold Science. Life-Changing Cures. campaign was launched with the goal of expediting cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck by investing in three key areas: people, programs and places (our facilities). Through this campaign, the generosity of donors and organizations infused significant financial resources into Mass Eye and Ears cutting-edge research programs, and supported the facilities needed by the leading physicians and scientists in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery to conduct their world-class work.

The campaign resulted in a powerful and far-reaching impact on research at Mass Eye and Ear by faculty, including:

Additionally, new Research Centers were launched in gene therapy, tinnitus, and head and neck cancer and two world-class surgical training laboratories were built.

The campaign also will leave a lasting legacy of fourteen endowed Chairs for leading physicians and scientists that will remain for generations. The endowment of a Chair provides financial support for researchers, allowing them to focus on their efforts to develop treatments and cures.

Wyc Grousbeck Honored for Dedication to Mass Eye and Ear During 10 years as Chairman

Grousbeck, who served as Board Chairman at Mass Eye and Ear for the past decade, was honored at this years Sense-ation! Gala for his many contributions. During his tenure, he led the organization through remarkable growth, both clinically and as a world-renowned research center. Mass Eye and Ear surgical volume doubled and the number of clinical locations grew from 9 to 21 throughout the region. Grousbecks leadership played critical roles in two highly successful mergers: Schepens Eye Research Institute joining Mass Eye and Ear in 2012 and Mass Eye and Ear joining Mass General Brigham (formerly Partners HealthCare) in 2018. He also initiated and served as co-chair of the Bold Science. Life-Changing Cures. campaign.

Wycs leadership during the campaign has been nothing short of magnificent; he has showed us anything is possible, said John Fernandez, President of Mass Eye and Ear. When we first reached our $100M goal in the campaign, Wyc called on us to double that amount by 2020. With Wycs guidance, we were able to exceed that ambitious goal by more than $50M by the campaigns end.

Grousbeck first became involved with Mass Eye and Ear because his family has been touched by blindness, and since then, they have been devoted to research and educational initiatives relating to blindness and other vision-related conditions for many years.

Grousbeck and his familys philanthropic support established the Grousbeck Center for Gene Therapy at Mass Eye and Ear as well as the Grousbeck Family Chair in Gene Therapy, held by Luk H. Vandenberghe, PhD. Additionally, Wyc and his wife, Emilia Fazzalari, funded the Fazzalari-Grousbeck Chair in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery held by Tessa Hadlock, MD. Most recently, they seeded Dr. Vandenberghes work to develop an experimental and novel genetic vaccine for COVID-19.

Grousbeck was a driving force around establishing the first Sense-ation Gala 11 years ago, which brought celebrities, musicians, philanthropists, and scientists together to help raise funds for Mass Eye and Ear research and patient care. The gala to date has raised more than $12M for the Mass Eye and Ear Curing Kids Fund.

About Mass Eye and Ear

Massachusetts Eye and Ear, founded in 1824, is an international center for treatment and research and a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. A member ofMass General Brigham, Mass Eye and Ear specializes in ophthalmology (eye care) and otolaryngologyhead and neck surgery (ear, nose and throat care). Mass Eye and Ear clinicians provide care ranging from the routine to the very complex. Also home to the world's largest community of hearing and vision researchers, Mass Eye and Ear scientists are driven by a mission to discover the basic biology underlying conditions affecting the eyes, ears, nose, throat, head and neck and to develop new treatments and cures. In the 20202021 Best Hospitals Survey,U.S. News & World Reportranked Mass Eye and Ear #4 in the nation for eye care and #6 for ear, nose and throat care.For more information about life-changing care and research at Mass Eye and Ear, visit our blog,Focus, and follow us onInstagram,TwitterandFacebook.

Originally posted here:
Mass Eye and Ear Capital Campaign Concludes with $252 Million Raised to Advance Research and Patient Care - Newswise

By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, Kaiser Health News

Norma Crosby remembers when she relied on blind faith to cast her vote.

The 64-year-old Texan was born virtually without sight, a side effect of her mother catching rubella while pregnant with her. Friends and relatives stood beside her and filled out her ballot at polling precincts for more than half of her voting life. Then, accessible voting machines rolled out around the year 2000, enabling her to vote in person on her own.

Now, the COVID-19 pandemic makes going to the polls a risky proposition for Crosby. She also has a condition called sarcoidosis that requires her to take immunosuppressant drugs, she said. However, the state does not have a mail-in voting system that accommodates Crosbys visual impairment.

It communicates to me that Im not valued as much as other citizens, said Crosby, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas, that Im a second-class citizen.

A projected 7 million Americans who are eligible to vote in the presidential election live with visual impairments, according to researchers from Rutgers university. For those, like Crosby, who also deal with illnesses that place them at a higher risk of falling seriously ill with COVID-19, voting this year will be especially difficult.

The pandemic exposed glaring holes in absentee and mail-in voting systems around the nation. In some jurisdictions, voters who have whats known as print disabilities conditions that make it difficult to process printed content, such as blindness, low vision or learning or physical disabilities could not cast a ballot remotely without asking for help, thereby compromising their privacy.

Outcry and lawsuits from disability advocates prompted at least 11 states to update their mail-in and absentee ballot systems in an attempt to accommodate these voters. Some changes enable voters to use text-reading software with their ballots and submit them online through a secure portal.

However, some states have been slow to address these needs. In Iowa, voters cannot vote confidentially using the mail-in system because the state requires the use of paper ballots. Texas residents like Crosby must find someone to fill out their ballot and mail it in or take it to the sole drop box in the county all during a pandemic that has required people to physically distance themselves to stay safe.

We should not have to choose, said Chris Danielsen, director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind, between endangering our health and going to the polls in person, or not voting at all.

Several federal laws affirm the right of all people, regardless of disability, to vote in an accessible manner. The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, requires state and local governments to make the voting process user-friendly to voters of various abilities. This includes providing accessible parking spaces and placing voting machines where people using wheelchairs have enough space to move and at a height reachable by all.

In 2002, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act. The law built on the previous legislation by requiring every polling place to have at least one voting machine available during federal elections that accommodates a range of disabilities. These gadgets vary in features by manufacturer, but they can include touch screens, buttons labeled in Braille and audio capabilities. Voters using them must have the same privacy and independence enjoyed by people who dont have such challenges.

However, states largely retained the power to decide how to comply with these federal mandates, said Lisa Schur, co-director of the Program for Disability Research at Rutgers. The result, she said, is an uneven patchwork that voters with disabilities must navigate.

With COVID-19 creating a reason to avoid in-person voting, some states, such as Texas, still failed to take steps to make it possible for a voter with visual or print impairments to fill out a mail-in ballot without assistance. The state government is also embroiled in a lawsuit regarding its decision to limit ballot drop-off boxes to one per county.

Harris County, where Houston is located, covers more than 1,700 square miles and is home to 4.7 million people. The distance becomes an added hardship for voters who opted to vote remotely and would prefer to drop off their ballot to make sure it is counted.

The state declined to comment due to the pending litigation.

Iowa also has fallen short in making systemic changes to improve access, according to disability advocates. Like Texas, the state provides only paper ballots for voters wishing to vote absentee.

Scott Van Gorp, president of the National Federation of the Blind in Iowa, said he initially felt resigned to his lack of privacy when he started voting. He was born three months early, leaving him with little more than light perception for sight. As a college student in the 1990s, Van Gorp rallied his friends to help him cast his vote.

I kept thinking, Thats not a secret ballot. Why?

In a written statement, a spokesperson for the Iowa secretary of state said it has made efforts to even the field by creating a large-print voter registration form and how-to videos on using accessible voting machines at polling locations. It cannot unilaterally make a change to improve accessibility without legislative approval, he added.

Election officials in several other states, though, including the battlegrounds of Nevada, Pennsylvania and Michigan, adopted changes this year to their mail-in ballot systems to accommodate people with visual disabilities.

In Maine, voters with impairments can request, fill out and submit their votes electronically through a new online platform. The ballots are compatible with various types of screen-reader software and will be counted through the same system used for absentee and overseas military voters.

This option became available in early October after the state was notified of confidentiality issues with paper ballots and sued by disability advocates.

Kristen Muszynski, a spokesperson for Maines secretary of state office, said some of the plaintiffs named in the lawsuit helped test the system. Litigation is now on hold, she said, and she is hopeful the new voting option will help resolve some of the issues.

Were hopeful that the word is starting to get out, Muszynski said.

A few jurisdictions around the nation offer Braille ballots. However, said Douglas Kruse, co-director of the Program for Disability Research at Rutgers, voters may still need someone to help them fill one out and submit it. These ballots would also need to be counted separately, compromising the voters privacy.

One of the few states that have not needed to make drastic changes to accommodate voters with disabilities during the pandemic is Oregon, where mail-in ballots have been the primary form of voting for years.

Voters with disabilities can access and fill out ballots electronically using assistive technology like screen readers and sip-and-puff systems through which a person with limited mobility controls the device using their breath and a straw to vote. Then, the ballots must be mailed in.

Sean Carlson, 42, president of the Portland Central Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, said he has never encountered issues while voting in his home state. He and his colleagues are focused on bringing awareness to the importance of having a say in our democracy, he said.

It should not be that if someone has a disability that they should be locked out of that process.

For now, Norma Crosby, who lives outside Houston, plans to vote in person, and she will need to bring a sighted friend to make sure she maintains social distance. After all, she cant see whether other people are wearing masks.

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

More here:
Election Ballots Aren't Accessible to People With Low Vision - The Mighty

There are cases for re-electing President Trump that make sense in their own terms. If your top priorities are tax cuts, immigration restriction, or conservative judges, for example, Trump has proven a remarkably reliable vehicle for achieving those ends. Other cases reflect a willful blindness to reality. Far from draining the swamp, for example, Trump has turned himself into the capital's premier swamp-dweller.

But most voters in the middle care about practical results, and from health care to infrastructure to trade, Trump's efforts have been largely feckless and incompetent. Even discounting the glaring failure of his response to COVID-19, an area where plenty of peer countries have not exactly covered themselves with glory, the administration has a very thin record of accomplishment to run on.

There's one area, though, where Trump can argue he has genuinely distinguished himself from prior administrations, Democratic and Republican, in a way that should matter deeply to the American people. Trump ran in both the primaries and the general election as the man who would keep America out of unnecessary wars and who would end the ones we were in. He hasn't ended any of our wars yet, but Trump is in fact the first president since Jimmy Carter not to have sent American troops into a new conflict.

So it's at least worth hearing out the idea: Is Trump the peace candidate?

The claim, made most prominently by Modern Age editor and The Week contributor Daniel McCarthy, rests on three arguments. First, as noted, Trump did not involve America in any new conflicts. For a normal nation, this would not be an extraordinary accomplishment but for America, it might be. Military intervention has long-since become a way of life in American foreign policy. Even Barack Obama, who was elected on a promise not to get involved in "stupid wars," was convinced to intervene in Libya, with catastrophic results, and it was only at the last moment that he pulled back from a comparable effort in Syria. By contrast, Trump, while he appointed super-hawks like Mike Pompeo and John Bolton to be his advisors, declined to be talked into war with Iran. Shouldn't he get credit for that?

Second, while Trump is the last person anyone would call diplomatic, he has been a promiscuous globe-trotter in search of peace deals. He long advocated a rapprochement with Russia, initiated personal diplomacy with North Korea for the first time at the presidential level, and, most notably, facilitated peace agreements between Israel and three Arab states the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan with the potential for more to come. If this is not the record of a peace-maker, what is it?

The third argument is the most important, because it speaks to overall philosophy, not generally considered this president's strong point. But if Trump has a theory of the world, it is that you should make deals that benefit yourself. Applied to foreign policy, this suggests the goal of American foreign policy should not be to improve other countries or to advance some values we hold dear, but to get the best possible deals for America. So if, for example, we can woo North Korea away from confrontation (and out of a pro-Chinese alignment) by soft-pedaling concerns about human rights or missile development, why not do it?

Is that peace? If so, Trump has a case. But I don't think it's peace.

For one thing, while it's true that Trump did not start a war with Iran, he did take a high-risk gamble in assassinating terrorist mastermind General Qassem Soleimani, and the fact that the gamble has so far paid off doesn't invalidate how risky it was at the time, nor the fact that, in that instance, he did listen to his extremely hawkish advisors. Moreover, Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal that was one of Obama's notable accomplishments, which has, predictably, led Iran to move further toward nuclear potential while shredding any American diplomatic leverage. While Trump has not started any new wars, one of his first acts was to dramatically escalate America's involvement in Saudi Arabia's near-genocidal war in Yemen, a war so unpopular that he had to veto a bi-partisan war-powers resolution to keep fighting. Meanwhile, from North Korea to China to Venezuela, Trump has been as promiscuous with his threats as he has been with his praise of foreign dictators. If he has rarely backed those threats up with military action, that is not a sign of a dove but of a paper tiger.

As for diplomacy, while Trump has claimed to want better relations with Russia, it's hard to discern any actual improvement there. Instead, America has torn up arms agreements with Russia in the hopes of adding China to them, a gambit which failed, leaving the future of New Start in serious question. The same can be said about North Korea, where Trump's bold diplomatic opening has led nowhere. Chalk these failures up to conflict between Trump and his subordinates, or to Russian and North Korean determination to pursue their own interests, or what have you regardless, a stated eagerness for better relations is not the same thing as achieving them, and the achievement is what's lacking.

The only area where Trump can legitimately point to peacemaking is between Israel and some of its erstwhile adversaries. But it's important to understand what underwrites this peace. In the case of the Gulf States, it was mutual fear of Iran stoked by Obama's nuclear deal that led to a behind-the-scenes working relationship with Israel. And what made it possible to bring that relationship into the open is the weakness of the Palestinian position, and their consequent inability to shape events in the Arab world. Trump surely revealed that weakness by moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, so the world could see that nothing much happened in consequence. If he contributed beyond this, it was by being prepared to ask less than most American presidents would of either party, and to offer more. How is that "America First?"

Which leads me to my largest objection to the characterization of Trump as the peace candidate. It's not just that Trump hasn't actually reduced America's military commitments, or ended any of our ongoing conflicts, or improved American relations with any other powers. It's not just that his idea of a good deal is one that benefits America's defense contractors while leaving us more beholden to allies who can offer us little in exchange for our support. It's that the conception of peace implied by this characterization is too thin to deserve the term. Peace is not merely the absence of current conflict. It is the establishment of relations with other powers on a basis that makes conflict less likely over the long term.

That is an idea that strikes me as entirely beyond President Trump's comprehension, convinced as he is that life is a constant zero-sum struggle for dominance. Of course, that's one way to characterize international relations as well perhaps the most realistic one in our fallen world. But it's one that declares "peace" an impossibility, the only hope being either global hegemony, or a dynamic balancing between different powers punctuated by conflict. If the former is no longer realistic (and I agree it's not), then America needs more than ever a shrewd, knowledgeable statesman at the helm, capable of discerning where our true interests lie and maneuvering to advance them as peacefully and cooperatively as possible. A statesman who will only threaten when necessary, but whose threats are always taken seriously.

If that sounds like Trump to you, then I've got a heck of a deal on a swamp to sell you.

Read the original post:
Is Trump the candidate of peace? - The Week Magazine

(PRESS RELEASE) BOSOTON A medication frequently used to treat diabetic macular edema, which is the most common cause of blindness in people with diabetes, is less effective when used to treat the condition in Black patients, new study results show. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center, the study demonstrated that Black patients were significantly less likely than white patients to show short-term visual improvement after both a single injection and a series of three injections with the drug bevacizumab (Avastin), the most common treatment in the U.S. for diabetic macular edema. Published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, the results underscore the need to increase diversity in participation in clinical trials for the treatment of diabetic macular edema in order to develop treatments that are effective for all patients.

This is the first study looking at race as a factor in the treatment of diabetic macular edema, a condition that results from fluid build-up around the macula, producing blurry and distorted vision. Diabetic macular edema is caused by diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults in the U.S. Of the approximately 7.7 million Americans who have diabetic retinopathy, it is estimated that 775,000 of those individuals also have diabetic macular edema, which is the leading cause of vision loss for those with diabetes.

The three medications that are most commonly used to treat diabetic macular edema aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab were initially developed to treat age related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the number one cause of blindness in older patients and a condition that primarily affects white individuals. After these medications were found to be effective for AMD, they were then studied for the treatment of diabetic eye disease, which disproportionately affects Black patients.

The results from our study show a gap in treatment for Black individuals with diabetic macular edema, despite the fact that they are more heavily impacted by this disease, said Manju Subramanian, MD, an ophthalmologic surgeon at Boston Medical Center and the studys senior and corresponding author. When clinical research trials dont include enough diversity, it will not provide comprehensive data about the efficacy across different racial and ethnic groups, which as we can see, results in disparities in care.

For this study, the researchers focused on bevacizumab (Avastin), given that it is a first-line treatment for diabetic macular edema. They used data from electronic medical records of patients treated for the condition at Boston Medical Center 314 received one injection of the medication, and 151 received the series of three injections of the same medication. After the first injection, 26.71 percent of Black patients compared to 39.39 percent of Hispanic and 50 percent of White patients experienced improved visual acuity. For those who received three injections, 33.82 percent of Black patients compared to 54.76 percent of Hispanic patients and 58.54 percent of white patients experienced improvements in their visual acuity.

According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, African American and Black adults are 60 percent more likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes than white, non-Hispanic adults. Evidence points to a variety of factors that play a role in the increased diabetes incidence in Black Americans, including biological risk factors, lower access to health care, and socioeconomic status.

Black individuals represent 13.4 percent of the US population but carry at least twice the prevalence of diabetic macular edema compared to white individuals, and should be represented in future research accordingly, said Subramanian, also an associate professor of ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Read more:
Common Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema Not Effective in Black Individuals - InvisionMag

Newswise CHICAGO (October 29, 2020) Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults, yet most Americans over 40 dont know its symptoms or the risk factors for this common sight-threatening condition, according to a survey commissioned by the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).

The condition affects nearly 8 million Americans, and that number is expected to double by 2050, but adults over 40 lack fundamental knowledge about diabetic retinopathy that could help save their sight. In fact, the survey found fewer than half of those polled (47%) knew that blurry central vision can be a symptom of diabetic retinopathy and only 37% identified seeing spots or floaters as a known symptom.

While most know that having Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes puts patients at risk of diabetic retinopathy, other risk factors fly under the publics radar. Of those polled, nearly two-thirds (64%) did not know that elevated cholesterol increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy, and nearly half (48%) did not identify high blood pressure as a contributing risk factor.

During Novembers Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, Americas retina specialists urge the public to protect their vision by learning the facts about diabetic retinopathy and adopting healthy habits to preserve healthy sight.

Diabetic retinopathy is a preventable cause of blindness, so early identification and treatment is critical, said ASRS president Carl C. Awh, MD. All health care providers who care for diabetic patients should emphasize the importance of controlling known risk factors and the need for regular dilated retina examinations to identify diabetic retinopathy at an early stage. Many patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy have excellent vision and no symptoms, which is the ideal time for a retina specialist to begin treatment. Diabetic patients with vision loss or symptoms should be evaluated more urgently.

Erik Elliott knows all too well how diabetic retinopathy can steal sight. The 39-year-old father of three was diagnosed with diabetes at age two. Over the years, he made his vision a priority, seeing a retina specialist for regular dilated retina exams since he was a teen. Even still, poor control of his blood sugar over time led to symptoms such as floaters and resulted in severe bleeding in his eye called a vitreous hemorrhage.

He lost significant vision in his right eye and had difficulty reading, driving, and working. He also couldnt help coach his sons baseball team as he struggled with his sight.

Thankfully, Erik contacted his retina specialist immediately when the symptoms occurred, and his vision was restored through surgery and ongoing management of his condition. For Erik, losing vision, even temporarily, has reinforced how critical it is to manage his diabetes and care for his sight to avoid future vision loss.

The ASRS encourages the public to take the following steps to safeguard their sight:

Know the risk factors Anyone who has diabetesincluding Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetesis at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Additional factors that can increase the risk include:

Know the symptoms Many people have diabetic retinopathy for a long time without symptoms. By the time symptoms occur, substantial damage may have occurred. Symptoms may include:

Protect your vision through prevention Retina specialists encourage those at risk for diabetic retinopathy to actively manage their health and protect their vision by:

Advances in early detection and treatment of diabetic eye disease made possible by retina specialists can preserve sight and virtually eliminate vision loss, said ASRS Foundation President Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA. If you have diabetes and experience issues with your sight, partner with a retina specialist for expert care that can prevent, treat or reverse damage to the retina from diabetes.

For more information about diabetic retinopathy, visit asrs.org/DiabeticRetinopathy, and tune into ASRSs Retina Health for Life podcast for new episodes on the condition at asrs.org/RetinaPodcast. To find your retina specialist, visit asrs.org/FindYourRetinaSpecialist.

The ASRS survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 40 and older, between July 20 and July 27, 2020, using an email invitation and an online survey.The data was weighted to ensure an accurate representation of adults ages 40 and older.

###

About ASRS

The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS)is the largest retinal organization in the world, representing more than 3,000 members in all 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia,Puerto Rico, and 63 countries. Retina specialists are board-certified ophthalmologists who have completed fellowship training in the medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases. The mission of the ASRS is to provide a collegial and open forum for education, to advance the understanding and treatment of vitreoretinal diseases, and to enhance the ability of its members to provide the highest quality of patient care. Learn more atASRS.org. Like ASRS on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, and follow us on Twitter for the latest retina health information.

View post:
Americans in the Dark on Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms, Risks, Survey Finds - Newswise

Being colour blind in the context of race, or anywhere else, is not something I would choose.

Colour vision deficiency to give it its medical name means that people find it hard to tell the difference between certain colours. In its most common red-green form, this means that oranges, yellows, browns, reds and greens appear duller than they would to someone with normal vision; red is easily confused with black, purple becomes hard to distinguish.

Think about what that means for peoples experiences of life. Simple activities throw up challenges: picking out which clothes to wear, telling the difference between a ripe or unripe tomato, knowing whether meat is cooked through, identifying traffic light colours and making sense of devices with red/green/orange LED displays.

Think about school for children with colour blindness (often undiagnosed in the early years) where colours are used for learning; or encouraging a child to eat green vegetables when they all look brown. In more severe cases, certain career choices becoming a pilot, electrician or train driver, for example are harder, too.

Around three million people mostly men and boys live with some form of colour blindness in Britain. The majority of people are born with it and usually there is no treatment people just have to find ways to adapt to the condition. Colour blindness impacts arguably our most important sense sight. It limits what we see in the colours of nature and the world around us.

So why would we want to be colour blind when it comes to race?

When I hear people claim not to see a persons colour, I question how that can be true. And then I question why someone would make that claim.

It might seem like a progressive, liberal view one that exists a world where weve moved beyond the debate about race, where people just see people. But we dont live in that world I know that from seeing the experiences of my wife and my four mixed-race children growing up.

Instead, claiming to be colour blind shuts down the discussion. It silences people of colour from articulating their experiences and provides a shortcut to avoid a conversation that many people still find uncomfortable.

Far from being a positive, supportive sentiment, it reveals the (conscious or subconscious) prejudices that make people not want to talk about race in the first place. As a consequence, it blocks attempts to build a better understanding of race and ethnicity, which is the first step in tackling the systemic inequalities that persist in our profession and many others like it.

In journalist Reni Eddo-Lodges words: Not seeing race does little to deconstruct racist structures or materially improve the conditions which people of colour are subject to daily.

When you think about it, it really says to a person of colour that its not ok to be different its not ok to take pride in being black. That essentially implies a need for assimilation.

In the context of Black History Month, it must also mean that we cant celebrate the huge amount of black British culture around us. Do we really want to live in a society where we dont appreciate the heritage and influences in the art, music, film, theatre, writing everything that people of colour contribute to Britain because we dont acknowledge different races and ethnicities? Our heritage is surely a hugely important part of all of us.

I know some people dismiss these arguments as another example of political correctness. But look at the anti-racism demonstrations that have spread across the country this year, listen to peoples real experiences and fears and it becomes clear, I hope, that this is not about wokeness or cancel culture. It is about understanding those different experiences and treating people with humanity and respect.

Black History Month is also, of course, about history understanding the story of race in Britain, both in the distant and recent past. Large chunks of this, as historian David Olusoga writes, have been wilfully forgotten. Most of us know about the civil rights movement in America we know about Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks but we dont know about black British history. This creates a sense that we dont have the same problem with racism here and therefore should stop talking about it. But we cant move forwards unless we understand the past.

So while there is no cure for the medical condition that causes people to see the world with less colour, when it comes to race we have a choice. Each of us as individuals can choose to ignore colour to avoid conversations and stifle understanding or we can choose both to see and celebrate our differences. In my experience, it is seeing and listening that drives us to act.

Paul Flanagan is a partner with Allen & Overy and co-chair of the firms Race and Ethnicity network in London.

Read more:
Black History Month: Why would we want to be colour blind when it comes to race? - The Lawyer

A THATCHAM woman has launched a campaign with local traders to wrap support around a little girl diagnosed with an ultra-rare condition.

Nicole Gallaugher is asking people to buy a bow for Addy Clarke a unicorn-loving, smiley, laughy girl with Battens Disease.

Addy, aged four, was diagnosed with the incredibly rare genetic disease that causes dementia, immobility, blindness and early death, a month ago.

There is currently no cure for the disease, which affects roughly 100 children in the world, but a procedure may preserve Addys sight, which Great Ormond Street say could be lost before she turns seven.

Addy is Mrs Gallaughers best friends daughter.

Her parents Hayley and Dave Clarke used to live in Thatcham and were church workers for Glendale Church, but now live in Swindon.

Addy now needs enzyme injections every two weeks for the rest of her life, which may only be another four to six years.

Great Ormond Street could offer the treatment to Addy, as well as the nine other families in the UK facing a Battens CLN2 diagnosis.

Mrs Gallaugher has started a campaign called Bows for Battens, trying to raise 80,000 for the treatment that could preserve Addys eyesight.

She said: Eyesight is particularly important because when Addy is not able to communicate in any other way with her parents any more, its still an important method of communication.

Its not just blindness, its blindness in conjunction with other losses.

Hayley has been my best friend since we were little kids. We have kind of done everything together.

Now we are taking a totally new journey.

Mrs Clarke said: The bows are such a powerful visual symbol of love for our little Addy.

It is a thrill to see cars with bows on knowing that as they go on their journey, they are journeying with us.

It means so very much.

Mrs Gallaugher has teamed up with Best Buds Florist in Thatcham Broadway to kickstart the campaign and is asking people to put a bow on their car bumper as a show of support.

She said: The bows are 5 each; a steep price for a bit of ribbon, a small price for a childs eyesight.

Sweet Imagination in the Kingsland Centre, SA Zim and The White Hart in Thatcham High Street and the Ugly Duckling in Newbury are also selling the ribbons.

One hundred have been made and 30 sold so far, raising more than 500.

Owner of Best Buds Amanda Smith said she felt compelled to help as soon as she heard Addys story.

She said: Being a mum and a nana, you just dontwant to think of any child suffering.

Every spare minute Im making bows.

You just have to try and do your best dont you?

Mrs Gallaugher urged people to back the campaign by either buying a bow from Best Buds Florist or messaging her on Facebook, offering to make bows, or, if shops were able to sell bows on their premises, get in touch.

All money raised will be paid into http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nicole-gallaugher

A separate account to support the family has raised more than 56,000 and donations can be made athttps://uk.gofundme.com/f/support-for-addy-and-her-family

Here is the original post:
Thatcham campaign launched for 4-year-old with ultra-rare Batten's Disease - Newbury Weekly News Group

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy prevails as leading cause of blindness across industrialized countries worldwide. Although remarkable advancements have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, several imperative management questions as well as treatment deficiencies continue to persist unanswered. The diabetic pandemic has threatened overwhelming resources and increasing incidences of blindness, which in turn has necessitated the development of actionable programs for diagnosis and treatment of the disease as well as the diseases caused as a consequence of diabetes such as proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

The global proliferative diabetic retinopathy market has been thoroughly analyzed in the latest research report developed by Transparency Market Research, which issues in-depth insights on prominent factors impacting growth of the market. Growth prospects offered in the report are assessed for the period between 2017 and 2026, and the historical analysis on the market has been delivered for the period between 2012 and 2016.

Request Brochure for Report

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=40637

Global Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Market Witness Most Promising Rise in Demand:

As a consequence of the pandemic of type 2 diabetes, an outbreak of several diabetic complications, particularly diabetic retinopathy is foreseen by several healthcare institutions and pharmaceutical companies across the globe. Among complications of diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy has witnessed a relatively more significant surge worldwide. For example, roughly 1.5% adults suffering from diabetes were affected from proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the U.S. in the recent past.

A recently composed research report of Transparency Market Research has envisaged the global market for proliferative diabetic retinopathy to register a high single-digit CAGR through the forecast period (2017-2026). Revenues from treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy around the world are poised to reach roughly US$ 1,000 Mn by 2026-end.

Request for Analysis of COVID19 Impact on Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Market

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=40637

The rise in disposable income of consumers, coupled with concerns regarding vision loss has rubbed off on spending by patients for availing necessary treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Availability of advanced technology & minimally invasive laser technique that complements faster recovery time is likely to encourage willingness of patients affected from proliferative diabetic retinopathy in adopting surgical treatments.

Key Players of Global Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Market:

Key companies significantly contributing to growth of the global proliferative diabetic retinopathy market include Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Allergan Plc, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck KGaA, Cipla, Ltd., Genentech, Inc. (Roche Holdings), Novartis AG, and Pfizer, Inc.

Buy Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Market Report

https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=40637&ltype=S

About Us

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for several decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact

Transparency Market Research,

90 State Street, Suite 700,

Albany, NY 12207

Tel: +1-518-618-1030

USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

Link:
Global Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Market: Emerging Trends, Business Growth Opportunities, Major Driving Factors - The Think Curiouser

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The economic burden from vision impairment in India for 2020 amounts to Rs 88,900 crore, and 35% of causes of blindness are preventable and early detection can greatly reduce the economic impact, according to the Status of Child Eye Health in India report published by NGO Orbis which works to prevent and treat vision impairment.

The report, released on World Sight Day, also found that between 2019-20, the loss to gross national income due to blindness in adults would be Rs 9,06,200 crore and Rs 3,31,100 crore for children, for 10 and 40 lost working years, respectively. This includes the loss of economically productive years for both the visually impaired and their care-givers.Many of the conditions that affect children are detectable and treatable, said Dr Rishi Raj Borah, country director at Orbis India. The report brings to light 8-10 conditions in children, which, if diagnosed early, can prevent childhood blindness. These include childhood cataract and glaucoma, he said.

Other factors that affect treatment include availability of doctors. Urban areas have one ophthalmologist for 10,000 people but in rural areas it is one for every 2,50,000. Some children have eye problems at birth, while others develop them by the age of 10. Half of them are detectable and treatable, Dr Borah said.

The shortage of paediatric ophthamologists and paediatric optometrists in India apart, the lack of attention to ophthalmological conditions in primary healthcare also has serious implications for early diagnosis. General physicians and nurses at PHCs may not have the knowledge or time to examine a childs eyes. There is a lack of specialists and sufficient staff at PHCs, and in villages. Anganwadi and ASHA workers also arent trained to detect eye problems, said Dr Parikshit Gogate, paediatric ophthalmologist.

The lack of awareness that blindness can be detected early and even treated combined with stigma associated with it also acts as a preventive factor in seeking help. There is a mindset among parents that younger children do not need spectacles and that only older people suffer from blindness, Dr. Gogate added.Another reason is the lack of public health infrastructure such as specialised equipment, screening mechanism and charts to detect and treat cases. There is also a lack of coordination between gynaecologists, paediatricians and ophthalmologists, the report said.

View post:
Blindness to cost India Rs 88k crore in 2020: Report - The New Indian Express

October is Blindness Awareness Month, a day set aside to shed light on the importance of vision care and educational outreach. One local organization works year-round to bring awareness, but also to help people around the globe to have healthy vision.

On Saturday, CharityVision, which is based in Provo, celebrated Blindness Awareness Month by holding World Sight Day Art at the The Shops at Riverwoods. The event was open to all community members who wanted to come celebrate sight and the blessings it brings.

Artists were on hand so visitors could watch them create their works. Easels, art supplies and coloring pages were available and people were encouraged to bring their own art projects. The prompt of the day was, Because I see

Our goal is to help people be aware of their vision and the beauty they can see, said Anadine Marshall, CharityVision program director. We want to bring awareness that, all over the world, people struggle with vision.

According to http://www.charityvision.org, Dr. William Jackson, founder, was serving a mission for his church in the Philippines in 1987. While there, he realized that the optimal healthcare solution was not to be found in foreign doctors making medical mission trips. Rather, the solution was with local healthcare professionals.

He organized teams of local professionals who were willing and able to help the vulnerable of their own country who were living with cleft lip, cleft palate, cataracts and club foot. Then called the Deseret International Foundation, it was the beginning of CharityVision.

In the early 2000s, the organization, which is funded largely through donations and some business partnerships, began focusing on eye care.

In just over 30 years, CharityVision has expanded to 26 countries and hundreds of partnerships with local hospitals, doctors and clinics around the globe, it reads on the website.

Doug Jackson, Dr. Jacksons son, now oversees the organization. According to him, CharityVision provided 146,000 surgeries around the world last year alone. Doug Jackson said that the organization helps to provide help to people with all types of vision-related problems. Cataracts are the most commonly treated condition, he said.

When we think of cataracts, we often think of someones vision getting somewhat blurry, but for most of the people that CharityVision helps in other countries, the cataracts have caused complete blindness.

With surgery, they go from blind to sight, Doug Jackson said.

Many of the people we help have nowhere to turn. They cant work, cant go to school, Doug Jackson said. We say, Youre not forgotten.

The organization sends equipment and supplies and at times, sends expeditions to countries. But mostly, support is given to the local doctors and programs in various locations so local people in need are able to get help.

In addition to the international support that CharityVison gives, the organization helps people locally as well. Through the Sight Buddies program, children in Utah County schools are screened. Based on the initial screenings, those who need further screening are able to do that with an eye doctor and can even receive free eyeglasses through the program.

There are 2.2 billion people in the world who dont have access to eyecare who need it, Doug Jackson said. Many have nowhere to turn, they cant work, they cant go to school. We say, Youre not forgotten. When you give somebody their sight back, you give them the world.

See the article here:
Provo-based organization CharityVision sees way to fight blindness - Daily Herald

Like spring crocuses peeking out of the melting snow, DC-area theaters are beginning to formulate a path back to their audiences, tentative but real. Shakespeare Theatre Company is among the first to do so, with a six-production portfolio not quite a schedule, as dates have not been announced of plays, some virtual, some in person under strict social-distancing protocols, and some both.

On the in person side will be the Donmar Warehouse production of Blindness, an immersive theater production for forty patrons at Harman Hall. Imagine a pandemic which causes blindness and you get the premise of the show, which will be done in darkness. There will be no actors on the stage. The audience will instead hear Juliet Stevensons recorded voice through headphones. Simon Stephens, who adapted The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, has put this show together from Jos Saramagos novel.

STC kicks off its digital season, and its STC Digital program, with the world premiere of Patrick Pages one-actor play All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain. Page, himself an expert theatrical villain (he played a memorable Claudius here, and on Broadway has played Scar, the Grinch, the Green Goblin and, in Hadestown, Hades) here takes on the roles of Macbeth, Iago and Claudius (among others) by way of showing us the evolution of Shakespeares villains and our own. While any ticket holder will be able to see the play, STC Season subscribers will have an opportunity for a talkback session with Page.

Juliet Stevenson purrs and seethes in our headphones: as the only sighted survivor, she records turmoil and violence when the afflicted turn against each other, said the Guardian, Ben and Max Ringhams soundscape brilliantly conjures up spaciousness, movement and intimacy. Stevenson seems to prowl around the spectators; a lighter snaps on as if inside our heads. Walter Meierjohann, who directed the show in London, will direct it here.

Tickets for both All The Devils Are Here and Blindness will become available on November 16.

Some time later were not sure when STC will present Ionescos The Chairs. This is a story about an old man and an old woman, setting up chairs so that the whole world, such as it is, can hear a lecture about the old mans discovery. As the audience files in, the old man and the woman speak to them, but the remarkable thing about the audience is that itsinvisible. Or maybe absent. Is this a post-apocalyptic world? Maybe. Is the old mans discovery about the secret of existence? Maybe. Is there actually going to be a speaker? Maybe. Longtime STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul directs; this play will be available both in person and digitally.

OK, imagine this. It is 1833, and we are at Londons Royal Theatre. The greatest Shakespearean actor of his time, Edmund Kean, is playing Othello in blackface, of course. Suddenly, Kean collapses on stage! Quick! Bring in the understudy! Butcould this be the understudy? An actual Black actor the American Ira Aldridge? In Lolita Chakrabartis Red Velvet, the response is electric: Britain was full of people theater professionals, critics, and audience alike who thought that by taking the stage Aldridge would bring about the end of civilization. Aldridge, who came to England because he knew he would never get a chance to act in America, responded with personal charisma and a gift for confabulation at one point claiming, falsely, to have been born in Senegal. Chakrabartis play is a fascinating character study of Aldridge, who it sees as an essentially tragic figure, a genius and proto-method actor who was hunted and haunted to his professional end and allowed no personal weakness, said the Chicago Tribunes Chris Jones in a somewhat mixed review. And it serves as a reminder that there is nothing new about our conversations over casting and race. Jade King Carroll directs.

DCTS Guide: The 2020-2021 DC area theatrical season

STC will round out its season with two classics. In Arthur Millers The Crucible, the accusations of hysterical children, led by a manipulative teenager, induce a regional psychosis which results in the deaths of dozens of innocent people. Does this have a contemporary resonance? It certainly did for Miller when he wrote it, and it does for director Whitney White, who directed The Amen Corner B.C. (Before Covid). She has an ambitious plan for this production, says STC Artistic Director Simon Godwin. Whitney is going to revitalize Millers political drama for our times.

And Godwin himself will be helming As You Like It, the Bards magical voyage to the Forest of Arden. You remember As You Like It: The brawling de Boys; ancient Adam; the wrestling match; the Good Duke and the Bad Duke; the forbidden passion of Orlando and Rosalind; love poems posted on trees; melancholy Jacques; all the worlds a stage; girls disguised as boys the whole nine yards. Godwin calls it one of my favorite Shakespearean comedies, an escape from the politics of the court into a green world of wonder, love, and family reunions.

The Chairs, Red Velvet, The Crucible and As You Like It will be available both digitally and in (socially distanced) person.

While individual tickets are not yet available, you can get a season ticket by going here.

Read more from the original source:
Shakespeare Theatre announces its 2020-2021 virtual and in person season. - DC Theatre Scene

BERKELEY, Calif., Oct. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seva Foundation is proud to announce the winners of its 2020 Call For Ideas to identify innovative technology-based solutions to improve eye care delivery. The Berkeley-based vision care humanitarian organization has committed up to $250k to spark innovation in technology to transform lives by restoring sight.

This year's winners are as follows:

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, and of these, 1 billion people have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

"For over four decades, Seva has invested in and used cutting edge technology to deliver world-class care for people in need," says Kate Moynihan, Executive Director of Seva Foundation. "Through our Global Sight Network, these innovations will help us to further extend our reach, and transform more lives than ever before."

"With this support from Seva Foundation, we are excited to explore whether artificial intelligence can be applied to low-cost camera systems," says Dr. Parag Shah of Aravind. "This could help us achieve the goal of eliminating blindness from ROP in India and around the world."

About Seva

Seva is a global nonprofit eye care organization that transforms lives by restoring sight and preventing blindness. Since 1978, Seva has provided sight-saving surgeries, eyeglasses, medicine, and other eye care services to more than 44 million people in underserved communities around the world. We work with partners in more than 20 different countries around the world, including the USA. To find out more, visit http://www.seva.orgor email [emailprotected].

SOURCE Seva Foundation

See the original post:
Call for Ideas: Innovative Technology to Reduce Visual Impairment & Blindness - PRNewswire

(Photo by Tony Alter; Attribution 2.0 Generic [CC BY 2.0])

A first-of-its-kind medical journal study published on Sept. 24 shows that as many as 3,217 intended donations of corneas from the eyes of gay and bisexual men in 2018 that could have restored the vision of blind people through cornea transplant surgery were disqualified under an outdated U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy aimed at preventing HIV infection.

The study released by JAMA Ophthalmology, an American Medical Association journal, says the little-known FDA policy prohibits the donation of corneas from men who have had sex with men in the past five years from the time of the planned donation. It points out that the policy has not been revised since the FDA adopted it in 1994 despite major scientific advancements in the detection of HIV in human tissue within eight to 10 days after infection.

With millions of people across the world in need of corneal transplants, these discarded corneas from gay and bisexual men could be used to address the shortage and safely restore vision to thousands of patients with corneal blindness or visual impairment, said Dr. Michael A. Puente, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

With modern virologic testing and a better understanding of the low risk of HIV transmission through corneal transplants, this five-year deferral policy for gay men is not supported by current science, Puente, an eye surgeon, said in a statement. We ask federal regulators to reconsider these outdated policies which are depriving patients of the possibility of sight restoration, he said.

Medical literature on cornea donations and corneal transplant surgery states that similar to heart transplants, corneas can only be donated by people who have died, many of whom have left an advance directive to become an organ or tissue donor.

The statement accompanying the study says all corneal donors in the United States are required to undergo three separate HIV tests. Puente told the Washington Blade the HIV tests can be performed shortly before a terminally ill person dies or shortly after death as long as at least one of the tests is performed within seven days of the time the cornea is donated.

Up until 2015, the FDA adhered to a lifetime ban on men who have sex with men, referred to as MSM, from donating blood. The FDA announced that year that a review it conducted concluded that a lifetime ban was no longer scientifically justified and recommended that MSM considering donating blood be sexually abstinent for one year. In April of this year the FDA lowered the period of abstinence for MSM blood donors to three months.

If its safe for gay men to donate their blood after three months of abstinence, I can think of no scientific reason to continue to require gay men to be abstinent for five years to donate their eyes, Puente said. This policy can be changed without increasing the risk of HIV transmission, and I would urge authorities to act as soon as possible to help patients who are waiting for sight-restoring surgery.

The medical journal article says to the knowledge of the teams of researchers who conducted the study, no case of HIV transmission from a corneal transplant has been reported anywhere in the world. The article notes that in cases where a corneal donor was discovered to be HIV positive after a transplant surgery had taken place, none of the recipients contracted HIV.

One reason for the low transmissibility of HIV via corneal transplant is thought to be the corneas avascularity, which prevents the cornea from being a major reservoir of the virus, according to the article. Studies analyzing the corneas of HIV-infected patients have consistently found that that HIV is not present in most of the corneas of HIV-positive patients, it reports.

The statement accompanying the study says the U.S. and Canada are outliers in policies restricting corneal donations for MSM. It notes that Canada currently requires MSM to have been abstinent for one year prior to a corneal donation.

Many countries, including Spain, Italy, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, allow gay and bisexual men to donate their eye tissue just as easily as heterosexual donors, the statement says. Other countries have deferral periods far shorter than five years, says the statement. For example, the United Kingdom allows corneal donation by gay and bisexual men after only three months of abstinence, while the Netherlands and France only require gay and bisexual corneal donors to be abstinent for four months.

Puente told the Blade he learned that members of Congress urged the FDA to modify its MSM cornea donation policy in 2013 and the Eye Bank Association of America in 2017 also called for a change in the policy, but the FDA chose to leave the 1994 policy in place.

Monique Richards, a spokesperson for the FDA, told the Blade in an email in response to a Blade inquiry about the MSM corneal donor policy, that the current policy is based on recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions 1994 guidelines published in its journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Research has shown that a history of male-to-male sexual contact was associated with a 62-fold increased risk for being HIV positive, whereas the increase in risk for a history of multiple sexual partners of the opposite sex was 2.3 fold, Richards said.

She added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that about two-thirds of all new HIV infections in the United states occur in MSM, who make up only 2 percent of the total U.S. population.

The FDA will continue to review its [tissue] donor deferral policies to ensure they reflect the most up-to-date scientific knowledge, Richards said. This process must be data-driven, so the time frame for future changes is not something we can predict.

The JAMA Ophthalmology article can be accessed here.

Read this article:
Thousands denied cure for blindness due to ban on tissue donation from gay men - Washington Blade

By Express News Service

CHENNAI:The second edition of For Your Eyes Only, a quiz on sight and vision was held on October 8 and October 11, under the auspice of Rajan Eye Care Hospital. This quiz was held as part of World Sight Day, held on the second Thursday of October every year.

World Sight Day aims to focus global attention on vision impairment and blindness. There is a different theme every year, with many of those who mark the day taking the opportunity to both celebrate achievements and advocate for increasing attention towards eye care. Globally, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness has a leadership role in preparing the annual World Sight Day.

X QUIZ IT was the knowledge partner and curated the event. The quiz was for schoolchildren from classes 6-12 and the event saw registrations from more than 1,000 students from all across India. On October 8, the preliminary round was held and six students were qualified for the finals that was held on October 11. Tejas Venkataramanan, a student from PSBB School, KK Nagar, was the winner of the quiz. Prateek, a student from Army Public School, Patna, was the runner-up. Sunaina from Army Public School, Nandambakkam, was declared the second runner-up. Gift vouchers amounting to `10,000 and e-certificates will be awarded to top 11 qualifiers. The questions were both informative and appealing, which made the quiz interactive.

In his closing address, Prof Dr Mojan Rajan, chairman and medical director, and a pioneer in cataract surgery, congratulated the participants for their commendable performance and lauded quiz master R Arvind and team X QUIZ IT for their in-depth research, commitment and professionalism.He urged that the message of eye donation should be spread far and wide so that corneal blindness especially among children can be eradicated to a large extent. He also emphasised that eyedonation is a vital humanitarian gesture and a life-enriching gift.

See original here:
Second edition of vision quiz is a success - The New Indian Express

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The economic burden of blindness in India in 2020 would be Rs 889 billion, stated a report titled 'Status of Child Eye Health in India' published by Orbis, an NGO that works in the prevention and treatment of blindness.

The Cumulative Gross National Income loss due to blindness is Rs 9,062 billion for adults and Rs 3,311 billion for children, for 10 and 40 lost working years, respectively. This can be attributed to the loss of economically productive years not of the visually impaired alone, but that of caregivers as well. The report was released on World Sight Day -- October 8.

Dr. Rishi Raj Borah, Country Director, Orbis India, said, The report brings to light 8 to 10 conditions in children that if diagnosed early can prevent childhood blindness. These include childhood cataract, childhood glaucoma, strabismus (Squint), amblyopia (Lazy Eye), refractive errors, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and retinoblastoma."

The report highlights the urban-rural disparity urban areas have 1 ophthalmologist for 10,000 people but in rural areas it is 1 for every 2,50,000 people.

Some eye problems are present at birth, and others develop as the child grows between the age of 0 years to 10 years. Half of them are detectable and treatable and the remaining are not.

Explaining the reasons why early diagnosis of childhood blindness gets missed out in India, Dr. Parikshit Gogate, paediatric ophthalmologist, public health specialist and volunteer faculty at Orbis said, "There is a lack of trained specialists and sufficient manpower at Primary Health Centre and village level. There are not enough paediatric ophthalmologists and paediatric optometrists in the country. Anganwadi and ASHA workers are not trained to detect eye problems. MBBS doctors and nurses at the PHC may not have the knowledge or time to examine the child's eyes."

"There is a mindset among parents that younger children do not need spectacles and they feel wearing one is a sign of weakness. There is a lack of awareness on child blindness as the assumption is that only older people suffer from it. Another reason is the lack of public health infrastructure to detect and treat these conditions in the country," Dr. Gogate added.

Infrastructure includes specialised equipment, screening mechanism and charts for child screening. There is also a lack of coordination between gynaecologists, paediatricians and ophthalmologists, the report finds.

The report also highlights malnutrition, younger children being unable to comprehend that they have a vision problem, genetic factors, global warming and ultraviolet radiation, thermal pollution, heat pollution, water pollution and increased use of digital devices as other reasons for childhood blindness.

The report talks about the interventions that can improve child eye health in India the preventive model, eye screening, building awareness, focus on refractive error, expansion of healthcare, vaccination, Vitamin A supplementation, provision of visual aids etc.

Early detection of 35% of preventable causes of blindness in children can hugely reduce the economic burden of blindness in India, it added.

Read the rest here:
India will lose Rs 889 billion in 2020 to blindness: Report - The New Indian Express

Dale Cleaver, CEO Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.

DEAR News Of The Area,

ON International White Cane Day (15 October), we at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT want to highlight the need for awareness of white canes.

White Cane Day was created to highlight the important role mobility assistance devices play in helping people with low vision or blindness lead safe and independent lives.

This year, our campaign is celebrating the fun, fearless and adventurous spirit of our young Clients and cane users who live life to the fullest, with many engaging in everything from skateboarding to gymnastics.

For many people with low vision and blindness, a white cane is one of the first tools they may learn how to use as part of orientation and mobility training, and for children, a white cane is often the key to their first experiences of independence and freedom. It is a tool they will count on throughout their life.

A white cane is the mobility tool of choice for the majority of Guide Dogs Clients because of its practicality and the way it can give sensory feedback about the surrounding environment, but also its importance as a visual signifier to others in the community of low vision and blindness.

But right now, a white cane is more than a visual symbol that someone has low vision or blindness. It is also a visual symbol that the person using the white cane cant easily maintain a 1.5-metre distance from others.

Weve heard many stories from our Clients who are being increasingly cautious about what environments they travel in with their white cane, aware of the fact that they cant easily see others to socially distance.

This International White Cane Day, we are asking the community to be aware of people using a white cane.

You can help them continue to move safely, confidently and independently through any environment, by giving them 1.5-metres of space.

Id also like to thank everyone who has extended their support to Guide Dogs or our clients, or to anyone who has shown an extra bit of kindness to someone in need this year.

Regards,Dale CLEAVER, CEO Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

Excerpt from:
International White Cane Day News Of The Area - News Of The Area