StemCell Therapy

Equity markets seem to have lost their compass at present. Politics and trade deals dominate our analysis, leaving hardly any room for standard stock talk that many of us love. Its tempting to abandon logic for emotion and resort to passive investing rather than individual stock picking. But that would be a big mistake! There are too many obvious themes that are durable and easily lead to solid stock selections.

During times of great tumult, I focus on thematic trends that have the greatest success of prevailing despite political or even economic shifts. For example, I have discussed the relentless need for cyber security that will never end, and the way to invest in that theme. I also invest in cloud storage facilities, because we need a bottomless well to store our endless data production. Are there any other themes out there? Absolutely: the aging population that is growing at a very rapid rate will create demand for many medical services.

According to the United Nations Population Division, in the next 25 years, the global population of people aged 65-and-older will double to almost 1.3 billion. Think thats a lot? The ovrt-80 age group is expected to more than triple in absolute size over the next 35 years! That age group is expected to rise from 1.7% of the global population today to 4.5% by 2050. In thinking about these demographics, seniors will need many services that are inelastic and not dependent on economic conditions. Just like we will continue to need data storage or data security, our aging population will need maintenance services to stay in the best physical shape possible for active seniors. From a health care perspective, the low-lying fruits for seniors are eyesight and hearing.

Consider vision first. The numbers are simple: 50% of people above 80 years old will develop cataracts, which cause vision problems. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. About 5 million people in the U.S. have cataract surgery. This is the most performed surgery in the United States and is a very large number. World-wide there are about 10 million performed. Since the aging population is growing and at least one-half of them will develop cataracts, this is one of the most obvious investing opportunities to research.

There are many areas to examine, but I search for companies that are developing exciting medications to treat vision problems for seniors. Eyepoint (EYPT) is a tiny public company that has gained FDA approval for treatment in post-cataract care, and other sight-threatening diseases.

Simply put, EYPTs products replace the patients need for 100 eye drops to a single, tiny time-release implant administered during the surgery. This treatment is extremely important to prevent post-surgical inflammation and other complications. Additionally, EYPT uses the same time release delivery technology to administer therapies for various sight-threatening eye diseases with very good results. Their patents dont expire until 2034, giving the company plenty of time to capture a large market share.

At about $2 per share, I think that buying EYPT now is getting in early, but the company has already locked down FDA and insurance approval. I estimate that every 1% market share in U.S. cataract surgery market bolsters annual revenue $30 million. Every 1% capture in the eye disease market adds another $8 million to the top line. Given that the companys latest 12-month revenue was $12 million, a 1% market gain in both segments would triple revenue. Keep in mind that China trade wars, threats of impeachment, etc. should have no impact on this simple analysis.

Lets move on to hearing. Like vision, understanding the addressable market for hearing issues is simple and straightforward. More than 50% of people over 75 years old will develop disabling hearing loss. Currently, there are more than 16 million people in the U.S. that are over 75. That number is expected to grow as a percent of our total population, so I think the market for hearing aides is an obvious opportunity. But unlike vision research, the hearing aid market has been astonishingly slow to leverage the latest technologies that other consumer products employ (think Alexa for example).

I like Sonova Holding (SONVY) because it has incorporated the latest sophisticated technologies to improve hearing aid product. I have written in detail about this company before, and still think this little-followed stock is has great potential for growth.

At first, it seems that the data security and storage markets would have very little in common with the senior healthcare industry. But when viewed through the common lens of future demand driven by growing customer bases, there are striking similarities. Contrast this to the failed unicorns like Peloton, Wework, Smile Direct Club, which also share a common ground: difficult-to-predict future markets. When choosing my investments, I prefer to take the easier, obvious path. Shouldnt you?

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Two Great Stocks Of Sight And Sound - Forbes

(PRESS RELEASE) NEW YORK Lighthouse Guild, a not-for-profit vision and healthcare organization, presented the Bressler Prize to Dr. Vladimir Kefalov and the Pisart Award to Dr. Tiffany Schmidt at the 2019 Alfred W. Bressler Vision Science Symposium and Pisart Seminar in New York on Oct. 5.

These two outstanding researchers, chosen by an independent panel of judges who are leading physicians and scientists in the field of vision care and research, are being recognized for their significant contributions to vision science and research, said Alan R. Morse, JD, PhD, president and CEO of Lighthouse Guild.

The theme of the Symposium was Understanding and Preserving Photoreceptor Function. Kefalovs lecture was entitled Mechanisms Mediating the Function of Cone Photoreceptors and Daytime Vision. Schmidts lecture was entitled Illuminating Visual Circuits.

Dr. Kefalov, Bressler Prize Recipient

Kefalov, one of the leading retinal scientists in the world, is a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and the Department of Neuroscience, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. His work has generated new insights into mechanisms of multiple human vision disorders, including the causes of photoreceptor dysfunction and degeneration, which affect color and night vision, that are spurring treatments for vision loss.

Every year since 2003, the Bressler Prize has recognized a mid-career vision clinician or scientist whose leadership, research and service have led to important advancements in the understanding of vision loss, treatment of eye disease, or the rehabilitation of people with vision loss.

I am humbled to be named the recipient of the prestigious Bressler Prize, said Kefalov. I am honored to be recognized for my research contributions and believe the Bressler Prize will further energize our efforts to study the mechanisms of human vision disorders.

Dr. Schmidt Pisart Award Recipient

Schmidt was recognized for her significant contributions in sensory research and circadian biology, which is advancing the understanding of adult retinal function and retinal development. Schmidt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Associate Director of the Neurobiology Masters Program at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

The Pisart Award recognizes an early-career vision clinician or scientist whose contributions have the potential to substantially influence vision care and/or vision science and has a proven record of accomplishment.

I am honored to be the recipient of the 2019 Pisart Award, said Schmidt. I share Lighthouse Guilds commitment to improving the lives of people with vision loss and look forward to further advancing our understanding of the circuits by which light influences our behavior and physiology.

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University Optometry Acquired by VSP Ventures - InvisionMag

Human Resources Online is heading to Bangkok with the Accelerate HR conference on November 26-27. HR leaders from Agoda, DKSH, Fonterra, FWD, Kasikornbank, Minor Food, Nissan Motor and more have already confirmed to speak. Bring your team for additional group discounts.

Quality eye care is important to your overall health and wellness. Did you know that a comprehensive eye exam is more than a simple vision check? Comprehensive eye exams not only evaluate how well you can see, but they also may discover signs of general health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol often before you experience any symptoms.

Many sight-threatening eye diseases:

You and your family deserve the best eye care. Now with VSP you can take an important step in protecting your vision and health with exclusive savings on a comprehensive eye exam and luxury brand eyewear choices youll love. VSP offers direct-to-consumer vision plans for your eye health needs at http://vsp-hongkong.hk/enrollhk so you can take care of your eyesight, and your overall health.

Uncover and learn about complex HR innovation tools and strategies at Accelerate HR from Thailand's largest employers including Agoda, DKSH, Fonterra, FWD, Kasikornbank, Minor Food, Nissan Motor and more. Happening in Bangkok on 26-27 November, group discounts when you bring your team.

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You only have one set of eyes. Are you taking care of them? - Human Resources Online

A Mabopane family was elated when Gogo Joyce Khunyedi (70) was given her full sight back as part of World Sight Day recently.

Last Thursday, miracles were performed on 160 patients as they received the gift of sight at the Pretoria eye institute in Arcadia.

Clear vision was brought back to the patients for free, by various ophthalmologists from the institute as part of their unclouding cataracts campaign which aims to remove cataracts through surgery.

READ MORE:UPDATE: Construction worker doing well after cement mixer mishap

Khunyedi said over the years, she had noticed that her eyesight was not 100 percent, which led her to get subscription glasses.

However, the glasses did not really assist her for long.

I noticed that my eyesight was deteriorating even more. I knew there was an issue with my eyes.

At some stage, an unknown substance oozed from her eyes.

A cataract removed from a patient.

Khunyedi said she complained to her daughter and her husband about her eyesight and they took action.

Kenneth Malema said he was happy that his mother-in-law was well after surgery.

READ MORE:Government to scrap the controversial birth certificate regulation

She would constantly complain about her right eyesight and at that point, we were very worried as we did not know what was wrong.

Malema said what saddened him was when they first went to George Mukhari hospital and they were told that she could only be assisted in two years time.

Two years was a long period, and we feared that it might get worse within that time. Thats when we approached the institute.

Malema said, however, the institute was very expensive especially without medical aid.

Dr Sanushka Moodley busy removing cataract from a patient.

He said he was pleased to hear of the free initiative the institute offered.

It was a major relief, he said.

Khunyedi said: I am grateful to God. I am extremely happy and I can continue keeping busy.

READ MORE:93-years jail term for one of SAs most wanted criminals

Now I can continue taking care of my garden and washing clothes.

She said keeping herself busy through chores was soothing.

The institute has operated on more than 3 000 patients as part of the unclouding cataracts campaign.

Dr Sanushka Moodley busy removing cataract from a patient.

Institute marketing and communication manager Maryke Lotz said: For us at the institute and the many other people who help make this possible, sight is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving. Year after year, operation after operation, we are humbled by the enormous difference that this relatively small procedure makes in peoples lives.

Lotz said the impact of cataracts often extended beyond the trauma of lost sight.

READ MORE:Clean-up operation around Pretoria mountain

Small childrens motor development is delayed, people lose their jobs as a result of losing their ability to see, and solutions are delayed by a lack of medical aid or dwindling funds.

She said the consequences of cataracts were endless and impacting not only the sufferers, but those around them.

That is one of the reasons why each individual story and the challenges behind each operation continue to inspire us on to even greater things.

Dr Sanushka Moodley busy removing cataract from a patient.

Cataracts are formed by the clouding of the normally transparent crystalline lens in the eye, causing blurry vision.

An ophthalmologist at the institute Dr Sanushka Moodley said there was currently a waiting list of 500 patients, and it was growing daily.

This may sound like a source of concern, which it is, but above all, it motivates and inspires us and many other stakeholders to try even harder to keep on giving the gift of sight, she said.

Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to[emailprotected]or phone us on 083625 4114.

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Families happy as sight returns to many on World Sight Day - Rekord North

As per the WHO vision report, eye conditions and vision impairment are widespread. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

According to the World Health Organizations first report on vision, more than one billion people worldwide are living with vision impairment because they do not get the required care for conditions like short and far sightedness, glaucoma and cataract. Launched ahead of World Sight Day on October 10, the report found that ageing populations, changing lifestyles and limited access to eye care, particularly in low and middle-income countries, are among the main drivers of the rising numbers of people living with vision impairment.

ALSO READ | Notice flashes or black spots in your vision? Heres what you need to know

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment or blindness, of whom at least 1 billion have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.

Eye conditions and vision impairment are widespread, and far too often they still go untreated, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General while presenting the report. People who need eye care must be able to receive quality interventions without suffering financial hardship. Including eye care in national health plans and essential packages of care is an important part of every countrys journey towards universal health coverage, he added.

Other findings of the report indicated that the burden of eye conditions and vision impairment is not borne equally: it is often far greater in people living in rural areas, those with low incomes, women, older people, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and indigenous populations.

The unmet need of distance vision impairment in low and middle-income regions is estimated to be four times higher than in high-income regions, the report says.

Low and middle-income regions of western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have rates of blindness that are eight times higher than in all high-income countries. Rates of cataract and trachomatous trichiasis are higher among women, particularly in low and middle-income countries. US $14.3 billion is needed to address the backlog of one billion people living with vision impairment or blindness due to short and far sightedness, and cataracts.

ALSO READ | Ten ways: How to keep your eyes healthy

Eating habits are also a factor, since, in type 2 diabetes, the number of retinopathy cases increase.With age, the possibilities of eyesight worsening increase, but WHO warned that these should not be seen as irreparable old age problems.

It is not necessary to accept the loss of vision as a natural consequence or part of the aging process, because with the appropriate treatment, there is no reason to develop a visual impairment, said Spanish doctor Alarcos Cieza, WHO coordinator of blindness and deafness prevention, who presented the report.

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Vision problems affect 2.2 billion people, warns WHO - The Indian Express

Reducing macular scarring to avoid vision loss is the aim of a new Griffith University study led by Dr Audra Shadforth from the School of Environment and Science.

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia with one in seven Australians over the age of 50 showing early signs of AMD, said Dr Shadforth, who was one of three recepients awarded a research grant as part of the Macular Disease Foundation Australias Research Grants Program on World Sight Day (October 9).

The macula is responsible for our sharp central vision, the vision we use for reading, driving, and recognising faces. The eventual scar that forms in this region is the defining cause of major visual impairment in AMD.

Dr Shadforth said although anti-VEGF therapies (medicines injected into the eye on a regular basis to control abnormal blood vessel growth) had proven valuable in halting vascular symptoms experienced by some AMD patients, nearly half of eyes receiving these treatments will continue to develop blinding scars within two years.

This scar tissue distorts the macula leading to further reductions in vision.

As there are currently no treatments available to reduce or prevent the scar tissue from forming, our project will investigate the cells and mechanisms responsible for scar tissue formation under the macula, using emergent technologies and important clues from studies on human tissues capable of regenerative healing.

This study aims to inform the development of new, sustainable treatments for AMD patients.

Dr Shadforth is working with researchers from the Queensland University of Technology, the University of Queensland and the Queensland Eye Institute on the three-year study funded by the Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA).

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Study aims to reduce macular scarring and avoid vision loss - Mirage News

DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company with more than 70 years of heritage in eye care, today announced a national education campaign called My Glaucoma. The campaign is designed to help people understand the burden of living with glaucoma and empower those with the disease and their caregivers to feel comfortable speaking with their doctor about a treatment regimen that fits their lifestyle. The resources available on http://www.MyGlaucoma.com are supported by a new survey of patients living with glaucoma and eye doctors, conducted in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), that found more than 75 percent of patients worry about vision loss because of the disease, but nearly half consider glaucoma to be only somewhat or not serious. In fact, research published by the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that 27 percent of patients with glaucoma are estimated to go blind in one eye over a 10-year period.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8584151-allergan-my-glaucoma-world-sight-day/

"Glaucoma is clearly a national health issue and one that is overlooked in favor of other diseases perceived as more critical. Given the potential for vision loss, it is increasingly important that we highlight the seriousness of glaucoma, the emotional toll it takes on those living with the disease every day and the importance of doctor-patient communication," said Thomas M. Brunner, President and CEO, Glaucoma Research Foundation. "As we mark this year's World Sight Day, we are proud to partner with Allergan to magnify this data for the general public and offer resources that help preserve people's sight."

"Our perception of glaucoma must change from one that characterizes the disease as 'part of getting old' to one that reinforces its severity and the importance of active treatment," said Ramin Valian, Vice President, Allergan Interventional Glaucoma. "Our interactive website and partnership with the eye care community and Glaucoma Research Foundation is a major step forward in ensuring patients and their caregivers feel comfortable and confident taking greater control of their glaucoma in the doctor's office and at home."

As a leader in eye care, Allergan sought to listen to the voices of patients with glaucoma and eye care professionals to put together meaningful resources that everyone living with glaucoma can benefit from. The interactive website http://www.MyGlaucoma.com offers access to videos that include perspectives from patients living with glaucoma and their caregivers, more information from the survey and patient resources, such as a conversation guide and facts about glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.

"More than 3 million Americans are estimated to be living with glaucoma. As such, it is vital patients keep an open-line of communication with their eye doctors about struggles they may be having with their glaucoma and treatment routine, as well as what they may be experiencing emotionally," said Sahar Bedrood, M.D., Ph.D., Glaucoma Specialist at Acuity Eye Group and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. "A patient should not hold back discussing their challenges, as every piece of information can be important to customize their care and lessen the burden of the disease."

About the SurveyIn an online survey commissioned by Allergan, in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation, of 500 glaucoma patients and 100 eye doctors in the United States, results showed that glaucoma takes a significant emotional toll on people with the disease, as 4 in 5 glaucoma patients admit that they worry about how their lifestyle will change as a result of the disease. Additionally, there is a need for a more proactive two-way dialogue between eye care doctors and patients, especially around treatment, as patients stated current treatment options cause disruption in their lives. Almost 9 in 10 eye doctors wish their patients would take their medication as prescribed. Specifically, 79 percent want their patients to tell them if they're struggling with it.

About GlaucomaGlaucoma is one of the primary causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness. An estimated 70 million people globally are living with glaucoma. This progressive disease is characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Uncontrolled, elevated IOP causes damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Reduction of elevated IOP is the only proven way to slow the progression of vision loss associated with glaucoma.

Current treatments to lower IOP include topical medications (eye drops), laser trabeculoplasty, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and incisional surgery. Eye drop medications are the standard first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, but low patient adherence to these medications is common up to 80 percent of patients are not using topical medications as prescribed. Poor adherence to glaucoma medication could result in disease progression and vision loss. According to a study published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, up to 59 percent of patients on treatment for glaucoma continue to progress, meaning they experience vision loss and damage to the optic nerve.

About Allergan Eye CareAs a leader in eye care, Allergan has discovered, developed, and delivered some of the most innovative products in the industry for more than 70 years. Allergan has launched over 125 eye care products and invested billions of dollars in new treatments for the most prevalent eye conditions including glaucoma, ocular surface disease, and retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Our eye care pipeline includes 13 additional agents for multiple ocular conditions.

Our commitment to the well-being of patients is also reflected in social responsibility. Allergan, The Allergan Foundation and The Allergan International Foundation support more than 150 organizations around the world working to improve lives and communities. We remain steadfast in helping eye care providers deliver the best in patient care through innovative products and outreach programs.

About Allergan plcAllergan plc (NYSE:AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global pharmaceutical leader focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products primarily focused on four key therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system and gastroenterology. As part of its approach to delivering innovation for better patient care, Allergan has built one of the broadest pharmaceutical and device research and development pipelines in the industry.

With colleagues and commercial operations located in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at http://www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking StatementStatements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS, on our financial results; risks associated with divestitures, acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; risks related to impairments; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected debt reduction, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS: Allergan: Investors:Manisha Narasimhan, PhD (862) 261-7162

Media: Lisa Brown (862) 261-7320

Lisa Kim(714) 246-3843

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-world-sight-day-allergan-launches-national-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-the-toll-glaucoma-takes-on-everyday-living-300936174.html

SOURCE Allergan plc

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On World Sight Day, Allergan Launches National Campaign to Raise Awareness of the Toll Glaucoma Takes on Everyday Living - Benzinga

New Delhi, Delhi, India: SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, on World Sight Day, reiterated its commitment to the health and wellness of the society and communities it operates in. As part of this commitment, SABIC has partnered with Rotary, Mission for Vision and United Way of Baroda, to support the large-scale comprehensive eye-care initiative They See, They Learn. The program is specifically aimed at students of government and government aided schools.

They see, they learn aims at ensuring that poor eyesight is not a reason for dropping out of school. Under the program, more than 300,000 students have been screened across 900+ Government schools in Delhi NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Vadodara, with a frequency of two camps for each academic year. Over 20,000 children have been provided free spectacles while many have been referred to hospitals when in need of additional attention. SABIC aims to screen 5Lakh students in the next two years.

Janardhanan Ramanujalu, Vice President, South Asia & ANZ for SABIC said on the program, While working with these schools, we observed that government school children rarely wear spectacles as compared to private school children. This was even more noticeable among girl students. This is where SABICs They See They Learn finds its origins. At SABIC, we want to continue to focus on health and wellness of the society, and ensure this has positive impact on peoples lives. The program has come a long way since its inception and we will continue to expand on it as much as possible. We inherently believe that things like lack of spectacles should not come in the way of a quality education.

The impact of the program has been far-reaching.

Take the case of Lavanya, the youngest of three sisters of a subsistence farming family from Kudenuru village, Malur district, Karnataka. Her father Nataraj is a small farmer and just about manages to sustain his family through the year. But despite being impoverished, he has ensured that the daughters received education in the village school. Lavanya was considered one of the brightest students. However, some time when she was in the fifth standard, she started experiencing difficulty seeing the blackboard and would be forced to copy from her friends notebooks, which would disrupt the class. The teachers would reprimand her often and her grades fell sharply. During the They See They Learn screening at her school, she was identified with uncorrected refractive error and her vision (without spectacles) was noted as poor 6/60 in both eyes. After visiting the hospital for a detailed examination, she was prescribed spectacles and today her vision is improved 6/6 in both eyes. Not only have her grades improved, but her confidence is back and so is her mischievous smile.

Then there is Shashank, from village Pichanguntrahalli, the youngest of a family of four. His father Narayanaswamy, had an accident some years back and is disabled leaving him unable to work. His mother Yashodhamma and elder sister Shweta scrape through by doing odd jobs largely as agricultural laborers and domestic jobs in others households. In the fifth standard, Shashank was diagnosed with uncorrected refractive error and referred to the hospital for check-up. His teachers complained about him sitting close to the board to see the writing and taking his friends copies to note down class notes. At the hospital, Shashank was prescribed spectacles (vision without correction was 6/24 in the right eye and 6 / 60 in the left eye and with correction, his vision improved to 6/9 in right eye and 6/12 in left eye). Now he can go back to playing and watching cricket and his mother is grateful for seeing her son being his cheerful and bubbly self again.

For a long time, Ramcharan was considered shy and an introvert. During the They See, They Learn screening, he was diagnosed with cataract in his left eye (right eye was perfect). After his condition was brought to the notice of the teachers and his parents were called, it was revealed that he used to always copy down class notes from friends and he never volunteered to participate in any class activities or even in reading out to the class, when called to do so by his teachers. His parents admitted that they never had the time or the awareness to do any further medical examination and were later hesitant and afraid to take their son for surgery. After intervention of the SABIC team and by some of the community elders, whom the team asked to intervene, Ramcharan was provided with quality care at the hospital. While he did not recover complete vision, he proudly wears his spectacles now. He is at the forefront of activities and actively takes parts in class and is not shy he voluntarily comes forward to read passages from books whenever opportunity presents. His teachers say that they not only see a bright child in front of them but one who has a lot of positive attitude today.

Currently, poor vision is considered one of the worlds largest unaddressed disabilities. Data from the WHO says that globally, approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment. Of this, around 80% is avoidable. Further, impaired vision among children translates to poorer learning outcomes as the inability to see what is written on the board, or in a book, results in motivation loss and consequently, higher drop-out numbers. In fact, similar research on primary school children in China, from last year, showed that correcting vision enables an additional average 3-6 months of schooling. In India, this is a bigger issue as school drop-out numbers are extremely alarming, especially among girls.

SABIC partners with organizations like Rotary, Mission for Vision and United Way of Baroda to conduct eye tests in collaboration with doctors/hospitals. Each program is comprehensively documented and the analysis of the data has thrown some interesting results regarding demographics among other insight. We would be keen share the detailed reports with you, should you like to peruse on the same.

SABIC has been present in India for the last 25 years and has been working to address critical local issues and challenges with a specific focus on driving quality education. As part of this program, since 2014, SABIC has adopted 10 Government schools across Gujarat and Karnataka and upgraded/renovated them, directly impacting 8,000 students.

SABICs various CSR activities include the restoration of Lake and sponsorship of a community hall in Hosahalli village near Bengaluru, Blood donation drive, tree plantation and education drives etc.

Originally posted here:
SABIC Aims to Screen 5 Lakh Students Under 'They See, They Learn' Eye Care Initiative in the Next Two Years - Business Wire India

Dr Felicity Gill

Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist says the current eyesight test for drivers is long out of date and not fit for purpose. GEM is calling for a detailed check of every drivers visual acuity and field of view every 10 years.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth renewed the organisations call for the government to update driver vision laws to ensure that a detailed eye examination formed part of the driver photocard licence renewal process, every 10 years.

If you cant see properly, you shouldnt be driving, he said. Poor eyesight is linked to more than 3,000 fatal and serious injury collisions every year. We are worried that there are just too many people driving whose eyesight has deteriorated to an unacceptable level.

We believe it is entirely practical and sensible to require a test of visual acuity and field of view every 10 years, something that would fit in with licence renewal. Tests of this kind would not only make our roads safer, saving lives, disability and many millions of pounds through the reduction in the number of crashes, but they would also play a vital role valuable tool in the early diagnosis of many other costly medical conditions, irrespective of driving.

The professional perspective

GEM has been working with community optometrist Felicity Gill, who outlined the extent of the issue. Day to day, I talk both to patients concerned about their own driving experiences and also to those worried about an elderly friend or family member who is driving, she said.

Remember that driving is not just about clarity of central vision, so asking your loved one to read a number plate at 20.5 metres (67 feet) is not the best way of ensuring they are safe to continue driving.

Eye examinations are free for over 60s on a two-yearly basis or more frequently if recommended by an optometrist. They offer an opportunity for a professional to check that vision is clear enough for driving and that field of vision is sufficient using a visual fields machine. The tests offer the opportunity to identify at an early stage any eye conditions that might affect driving, and to address them if necessary.

The most common ageing change in the eye is cataract (clouding of the lens inside the eye). An optometrist is best placed to detect these and to give advice on how to live with the early stages of cataracts. If they worsen, a patient can be referred to the local eye hospital for treatment.

Other common conditions include diabetes/diabetic eye disease, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

Any condition is better detected early, as intervention can often help delay or stop it from progressing.

Responsible mobility

GEM believes that regular mandatory eyesight tests for drivers is now even more important, as so many more people are staying behind the wheel into their 80s and beyond.

There are many benefits for a driver to staying mobile as long as possible, concluded Neil Worth. However, safety must remain the number one priority for everyone.

We also cannot ignore the greater volume of traffic and the general increase in distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle, which further point to the clear need for more regular and detailed eyesight testing.

Felicity Gills practice, Jackson and Gill Opticians, is based in Hay-on-Wye

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Why being able to read a number plate just isn't good enough - FleetPoint

Maintaining good eye health is crucial for having unobstructed, clear vision, in the long run.

However, given the unhealthy environment surrounding us, fast-paced lifestyles, and bad eating habits we've developed, our eyes remain at a significant risk.

Rest assured, a healthy lifestyle and good diet can help you maintain strong eyesight.

Here are five natural ways to help improve your eyesight.

Certain vitamins, including Vitamin A, C, and E, and minerals like zinc and copper, are essential for good eyesight.

Carrots, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, and citrus fruits are great sources of all these vitamins and minerals, and green/yellow vegetables, in general, are beneficial for your eyes.

Furthermore, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, nuts etc. can also help.

Performing eye exercises regularly can go a long way in giving you good eyesight.

Rubbing, warming, gentle eye massages are a few such exercises.

Additionally, staying physically fit is important, especially if you're overweight or obese, since obesity increases the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes which, in turn, can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, thus affecting eyesight.

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Enough quality rest is instrumental in maintaining good eyesight.

Sleep helps your eyes to repair and recover from the stress of the day and continued exposure to computer screens.

One should aim for sound, undisturbed, 7-9 hours of sleep each night to improve eyesight.

Frequent mini-breaks and power-naps during the workday also go a long way in providing some much-needed rest to your eyes.

When working in environments harmful for your eyes, like a laboratory or a garage, wearing appropriate protective eye-gear is a must.

Additionally, when heading out during the day, consider wearing good quality sunglasses. This will help protect your eyes from the harmful UVA and UVB radiation from sunlight.

Also, go for regular eye checkups and see if there's a need for spectacles or not.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits are also known to adversely affect eye health.

Smoking, among other harms, significantly raises your risk of developing cataract and age-related macular-degeneration.

Fortunately, however, your eyes, lungs, and other body parts start recovering from tobacco-induced damages fairly soon after you quit smoking.

So quit now, if you want yourself (and your eyes) to live a healthy and long life.

More:
Five simple ways to improve your eyesight - NewsBytes

Eye check-ups essential to avoid long-term damage. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

A public campaign that seeks to promote eye health care among people in Uttar Pradesh and is supported by legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, is all set to be intensified after its eight-week pilot project in five districts of the state bore good results, an Australia-based foundation said.

See Now campaign was launched in June with pilot in Lucknow, Lakhimpur Kheri, Rae Bareilly, Unnao and Sitapur districts. We are truly honoured that megastar Amitabh Bachchan agreed to become the face of this important campaign. And, we aggressively use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp to reach out to as many people as possible, besides printed literature. And, Bachchans face on that has made a difference, a senior official of Fred Hollows Foundation said.

ALSO READ | Vision problems affect 2.2 billion people, warns WHO

The Australia-based foundation was started in 1993 by doctor Fred Hollows and currently operates in 27 countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Vietnam, Malaysia, Suriname and Indonesia, said Nick Martin, director of public affairs at the foundation.

During the pilot period, through pamphlets bearing messages delivered by Amitabh Bachchan or the video featuring him, we have been able to reach out to people, both patients and their families, with the primary focus of urging them to get the eyesight checked, he said.

And, now we are going to intensify this campaign possibly by December this year and going to give to a more formal shape. The results of that should start coming by next February, he added.

The See Now campaign is funded by The Fred Hollows Foundation and in part by Essilor Vision Foundation, and in partnership with Sightsavers India and Vision2020 India, among others.

The India Vision Institute (IVI), a not-for-profit trust that works in the field of eye care, has also decided to join hands with the foundation to strengthen the campaign, CEO of IVI Vinod Daniel said.

Martin and Daniel, both Australia-based, recently also met senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh government in Lucknow to seek support.The campaign, besides raising awareness on eye care also aims to put together all stakeholders and connect them so that people can raise their knowledge or get eyesight checked or seek treatment at the earliest, Martin said.

ALSO READ | World Sight Day 2019: Simple home remedies to keep your eyes healthy

He said during the pilot phase, the team found out that many people were not going for eye testing because they thought it was a curse.Vision problems are extremely common in India. Currently about 550 million Indians have serious vision problems which affect their families, their work and their quality of life, Bachchan had said in his campaign message after the launch.

It really is so simple to avoid a lot of different sorts of blindness, he had said.

Amitabh Bachchan hails from Uttar Pradesh and wears glasses, so he telling people to go get eyesight checked really gets heard, Martin said.

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See Now campaign will be soon intensified: Fred Hollows Foundation - The Indian Express

Cataract is the principal cause of blindness for people above 50 years in India, according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey of India (2015-19), adding that barriers to accessing treatment include the following no one to accompany [the patient], seasonal preferences, and financial constraints.

Among men, the most important barriers are financial constraints (31%) and local reasons (21.5%).

Among women, local reasons (23.1%) and financial constraints (21.2%) were the most important barriers.

Cataract is the cause for 66.2% cases of blindness, 80.7% cases of severe visual impairment, and 70.2% cases of moderate visual impairment in the age group.

Also, blindness is more pronounced among illiterate (3.23%) than literates (0.43%) and more prevalent in the rural population (2.14%) than urban (1.80%).

What makes this worse for India is the fact that approximately 93% of cases of blindness and 96.2% visual impairment cases in this age group were avoidable.

Of all the avoidable causes, more than half were treatable, found the survey.

The survey was conducted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Opthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, for Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The survey was conducted in 31 districts of 24 States in the country.

Financial constraint was found to be the biggest barrier in accessing a cataract surgery with this being a reason for 22.1% blindness cases and lack of awareness was behind 18.4% cases, who did not feel any need of the surgery, the survey noted.

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Cataract major cause of blindness above 50 - The Hindu

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Michele McDonnall, Mississippi State University and Jennifer L. Cmar, Mississippi State University

(THE CONVERSATION) Communities across the world observe White Cane Day on Oct. 15 to recognize the contributions of people with blindness and low vision and to promote equal opportunities. The day was first observed in the U.S. in 1964, when Congress passed a law to increase awareness about the white canes role in promoting independent, safe travel for people with blindness or low vision.

More than 7.5 million Americans, or 2.4% of the population, are blind or have low vision. Some people are born with blindness or low vision, but most people acquire vision loss, often at older ages. Researchers estimate that the incidence of blindness and low vision will rise rapidly through 2050 as the population ages.

As researchers who study issues related to blindness and low vision, we are interested in how society, its institutions, businesses and individuals currently perceive members of this population and how these perceptions may influence opportunities, particularly in terms of employment.

How the world has changed

Since passage of that law 55 years ago, the world we live in has changed drastically. Advances in technology have significantly changed our everyday lives, and much progress in accessibility and inclusivity has occurred. Federal laws that protect people with disabilities from employment discrimination have been passed, and many companies have since adopted inclusive hiring practices.

Assistive technology such as screen readers and screen magnifiers improve access to information and jobs. Built-in accessibility features in mainstream technologies are increasingly common. Accessible transportation options are continually evolving, including ride-hailing services and autonomous vehicles.

These changes and innovations have increased opportunities and reduced some barriers for people who are blind or those who have low vision (for simplicity, we will use the term blind going forward).

Ongoing employment challenges

One thing that has not changed for many people who are blind is lack of access to the workforce. This is true for people with all types of disabilities, hence the celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October. Our team of researchers at the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision is addressing this issue for people who are blind.

The large disparities in employment rates that have historically existed for people who are blind still exist today. The most recent data from the American Community Survey indicates that 44.2% of people who are blind are employed and 10% are unemployed. This compares to an employment rate of 77.2% and unemployment rate of 4.8% for people without disabilities.

Why does employment continue to be a challenge for so many people who are blind? It may be that perceptions about the capabilities of the population have not changed.

Employer perceptions about blind people

One of the most common barriers to employment for people who are blind is negative employer attitudes. In several studies conducted between 2012 and 2017 with almost 1,000 employers, we measured employer attitudes and knowledge about how blind people can perform basic job functions. We included a measure of explicit (self-reported) attitudes toward individuals who are blind as employees and a measure of implicit attitudes about the competence of people who are blind. Implicit attitudes refer to subconscious beliefs or stereotypes that a person may hold but not be aware of and thus would be unable to report.

Our research with employers revealed the following:

-

Employer knowledge is limited about how people who are blind can perform basic job tasks.

-

Self-reported attitudes vary widely among employers, from extremely negative to completely positive, but on average they fall in the middle, or neutral, range of our attitude measure.

-

Implicit attitudes also vary, but on average are strongly negative, indicating that employers tend to automatically associate competence with sighted people and incompetence with blind people.

-

Knowing how blind people can perform job tasks is related to more positive self-reported and implicit attitudes.

-

More positive self-reported employer attitudes are associated with a greater likelihood of hiring someone who is blind.

Our results verify the importance of employer attitudes toward blind people because of the association between attitudes and hiring. We know that knowledge is associated with more positive employer attitudes, but that knowledge is lacking among employers, and presumably among society in general. One potential avenue to improve employer attitudes is through increasing knowledge about how people who are blind function on the job. Most employers likely assume that a blind person cannot perform many essential job functions when in reality this is incorrect.

People who are blind can perform most jobs that sighted people can. There are not jobs for blind people, rather, most occupations in the economy are available to this population, given appropriate accommodations. You might be surprised to learn that people who are blind work in a variety of jobs.

They are architects, artists, auto mechanics, fashion designers, engineers, scientists, physicians and judges. Many jobs previously unavailable to people who are blind are now accessible thanks to advances in technology.

What people can do to open up opportunities

Many employers have inaccessible job application sites, and people who are blind have filed lawsuits regarding their inability to use a screen reader to access job-related information on websites. Giving this group of people equal access to learn about and apply for any job of interest is an important first step. Employers should make all digital information related to jobs accessible, including the application process. Accessibility is not difficult, and much support is available for this effort.

In addition, employers and society in general should learn about how people who are blind can perform tasks for which sighted people rely on their vision. This is one of the best ways to change perceptions. Attending your local White Cane Day event is a great opportunity to learn about this population. Events such as this and National Disability Employment Awareness Month are important to increase awareness about the capabilities of people who are blind and the employment challenges they continue to face.

[ Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter. ]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/blind-people-have-increased-opportunities-but-employers-perceptions-are-still-a-barrier-124977.

Originally posted here:
Blind people have increased opportunities, but employers perceptions are still a barrier - The Edwardsville Intelligencer

The sun was shining with a chill in the air as beep baseball teams from all over Texas gathered Saturday at Moore MST Magnet School in Tyler for the 11th annual Great Texas Shoot Out, an event intended to raise awareness for breast cancer and blindness.

Beep baseball is a form of baseball for those who are blind or visually impaired. There are six fielders and two bases that are randomly triggered by an operator. When the batter hits the ball, they must run to the base that is beeping before a fielder picks up the ball. If they get to the base first, the batting team gets a run. Just like traditional baseball, each team gets three outs per inning, but each batter gets four strikes per at-bat in beep baseball.

The Tyler Tigers, in conjunction with the National Beep Baseball Association, hosted the tournament to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen foundation and help pay for their trip to the Beep Baseball World Series in Ames, Iowa, happening in July 2020.

Texas teams from Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston came out to participate and support the cause in recognition of breast cancer and Blind Awareness Day.

During opening ceremonies, Tracy Sawyer was named the 2019 Breast Cancer Queen, John Ingram was crowned the 2019 Shoot Out King and Tatyana Contreras, 12, was deemed the 2019 KOOL (Kids of the League) Kid.

Members of the Tyler Lions Club also presented the Tyler Tigers with a $1,000 check donation.

Tyler Lions Club Member Rip Duncan threw out the ceremonial first pitch, Contreras hit the ceremonial first ball and the games began.

Once in the swing of things, players from every team showed support for one another during each play and fun was had by all.

Originally posted here:
Tyler Tigers raise awareness of breast cancer and blindness with beep baseball tournament - Tyler Morning Telegraph

New Delhi: The estimated prevalence of blindness in India has reduced by approximately 47% in last 12 years, while untreated cataract continue to be leading cause of blindness, a government survey has revealed.

According to the National Blindness and Visually Impaired Survey (2019) released by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday, the estimated blindness has came down to 0.36% from 1% in 2006-2007since the last survey. According to the survey report,the visual impairment has come down by 51.9% to 2.55% as a compared to 2010.

As per the survey report, the maximum prevalence of blindness was seen in age group of above 80 (11.6%), followed by 70-79 age group (4.1%), 60-69 age group (1.6%) and 50-59 age group (0.5%). The survey noted that the most of the blindness (92.9%) and visual impairment (96.2%)cases were due to avoidable causes.

The current survey was conducted between 2015 and 2018 by Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi in association with ministry of health and family welfare. The survey covered over 93,000 people aged equal and above 50 years using Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) method in 31 districts of 24 states and Union Territories.

People suffering from blindness have reduced from 12 million in 2006-07 to 4.8 million in 2019. This indicates that the country is close to achieving the World Health Organizations (WHO) goal of reducing it to 0.3% of the total population by 2020," said Harsh Vardhan.

This is 47% decline and the findings of the current survey are for blindness as defined to be vision of less than 3/60 in the better eye.The WHO had set the goal of lowering the prevalence of visual impairment by 25% by 2019 as compared to 2010 levels," he said.

India changed its over four-decade-old definition of blindness in 2017, bringing it in line with the WHO criteria. According to the new definition, a person who is unable to count fingers from a distance of three metres would be considered "blind" as against the earlier stipulation of six metres, which was adopted in 1976.

The survey also revealed that in 66.2% cases the cause of blindness was untreated cataract. The survey found a higher prevalence of blindness in illiterates i.e. 3.23% in comparison to 0.43% among 10 pass and above. Further the report noting a rural urban divide, said that blindness was more prevalent in rural population i.e. 2.14% as compared to 1.80% in rural population.

Blindness was found to be lowest in Thrissur district in Kerala and in Thoubal district in Manipur whereas Bijnor distirct in Uttar Pradesh witnessed the highest prevalence. The house-to-house survey was designed to generate representative data for the sampled districts as well as for India. An additional survey was conducted between 0-49 years age group in Jan-Feb 2019 and covered 18,000 people in six districts across various regions of India," Promila Gupta, Principal Consultant, National Programme for Control of Blindness, Ministry of Health said.

"The results of both surveys, in 0-49 age group and in equal and above 50 years population, were used to estimate the prevalence of blindness and visual impairment in India across all age group," she said.

Link:
Estimates of blindness reduced by 47% in 12 years: Govt survey - Livemint

Sleep apnea linked to blindness in diabetic patients

New York, Oct 15 (IANS) Severe sleep apnea is a risk factor for developing diabetic macular edema, a complication of diabetes that can cause vision loss or blindness, a study said.

For the study, the research team looked at the data from all patients diagnosed over an 8-year period at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

"Based on the results, we hope that more medical professionals will approach sleep apnea as a risk factor for diabetic macular edema," said study researcher Juifan Chiang from Taiwan.

This condition is called ''Diabetic Retinopathy'' and is a leading cause of blindness in the US.

Diabetic macular edema is more difficult to treat in patients with severe sleep apnea, the researchers said.

When diabetics have poor control over the blood sugar levels, tiny blood vessels at the back of the eye can become damaged.

Sometimes, tiny bulges protrude from the blood vessels, leaking fluid and blood into the retina. This fluid can cause swelling or edema in an area of the retina that allows us to see clearly.

According to the researchers, sleep apnea may contribute to the development and worsening of Diabetic Retinopathy by increasing insulin resistance, elevating inflammation and raising blood pressure, all of which can damage the blood vessels at the back of the eye.

They found the rate of severe sleep apnea was significantly higher in patients with diabetic macular edema compared with those without diabetic macular edema (80.6 per cent vs. 45.5 per cent).

They also found that the worse their sleep apnea was, the worse their macular edema.

Severe sleep apnea was also more prevalent in patients who needed more treatment to control their macular edema.

The study was presented at the 123rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in the US.

--IANS

bu/ar/kr

Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: IANS

The rest is here:
Sleep apnea linked to blindness in diabetic patients - Outlook India

In an effort to prevent post-operative vision loss, Dr. David Anschel is on a mission to convince hospitals to adopt his invention.

Its not common for patients to lose their vision after surgery. But when it happens, its devastating. Of the 2 million spine, brain and cardiac surgeries performed each year, 3,500 result in whats known as post-operative vision loss, or POVL.

Thats according to research by Dr. David Anschel, who is board-certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and epilepsy and currently heads up the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center of Long Island at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. Through his company, Rocky Point-based Anschel Technology, he has invented SightSaver, an FDA-approved and patented device that monitors the visual system during surgery and helps reduce the risk of POVL. To hospitals across the country, Anschel is pitching SightSaver as an upgrade to the system they might already have in place, claiming his device is more comfortable, more hygienic and more reliable. And, he said, the device has already been used on hundreds of patients across the country. Anschel spoke with LIBN about the process and what compelled him to become an inventor.

Is there a direct connection between your medical specializations and your invention?

I have a sub-specialization in clinical neurophysiology including intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. I was serving on the faculty of Stony Brook University Hospital as its director of intraoperative monitoring when I made the decision to develop a better solution for monitoring the visual system during surgery. This involves monitoring and preserving the integrity of the nervous system during surgery. In 2006, my patient went blind during spine surgery and I wanted to find a way to prevent this horrible complication.

That must have been terrible. What is the process of developing such an invention?

After my patient went blind, I tried using the various products on the market at that time for monitoring vision function during surgery, but they did not provide good results. I then began making modifications to some of the off-the-shelf products, which ultimately led to my inventing a new solution the SightSaver, to prevent blindness, which is nearly the worst possible surgical complication, second only to death.

Is there a specific problem that SightSaver addresses?

Post-operative visual loss, or POVL. Many people have no idea that the risk of vision loss during surgery exists. This is particularly true for the over 2 million higher risk operations performed in the U.S. each year. It is not fully understood why some patients become blind during non-intracranial surgeries, but we do know that most are due to optic nerve ischemia [damage of the optic nerve that caused by a blockage of its blood supply, according to Merck Manuals]. The SightSaver helps prevent potential vision loss through better detection and intervention using visual evoked potentials, which is a highly sensitive method for detecting optic nerve dysfunction such as ischemia.

Do certain surgeries pose a higher risk of potential vision loss?

Certain brain and ocular procedures are the highest risk. Additionally, cardiac and spine surgery each are associated with much higher rates of POVL than other non-ocular procedures. However, POVL can occur in a wide range of surgeries, from joint replacements and peripheral vascular to rhinoplasty and certain urological and gynecological procedures using robotics.

What do you tell hospitals as to why they should choose your device over what they are currently using in their surgical units?

SightSaver may help prevent the second worst possible surgical complication. The risks posed by SightSaver appear to be negligible, with a minimal additional cost, which should be recovered likely at a profit by the hospital. These would seem compelling enough reasons for hospitals to explore a better way to monitor the visual system during surgery. For the hospitals across the nation who have already been using the SightSaver on hundreds of patients, I think its value proposition has been demonstrated.

You mention profits, but would your device play a role in helping contain healthcare costs?

The costs of blindness are tremendous. Each case of prevented blindness represents an enormous savings to our healthcare system and allows that person to remain a more productive member of society.

Tell us about what its like to pitch your device in regions where there is a broad selection of high quality hospitals and other healthcare providers?

Competition encourages innovation and implementation of new treatments, so it is very important. Unfortunately, the trend in this country is towards a more centralized and less innovative environment. Thats why in presenting the SightSaver my first outreach within a hospital is to its surgeons, neurologists and anesthesiologists, because their primary focus is on their patients and not on maintaining the status quo.

Did you always want to be a doctor or do you believe there was always an inventor inside you that possibly could have taken you down another career path?

I have always been a curious person and interested in science. Over time, I eventually focused on medicine, but could see myself shifting paths at some point. Where that path may lead, I dont know yet.

What advice do you have for other inventors as they seek to secure FDA approval?

Be persistent and try to lead each step of the process, but dont be afraid to seek help. I did work with a design engineer on the product design and an electrical engineer on the circuitry. Once the device was produced, I subjected it to clinical trials leading to research abstracts attesting to its performance efficacy [and] presented at scientific conferences and ultimately peer-reviewed publications.

Read the original post:
Executive Profile: Dr. David Anschel - Long Island Business News

President of the St. Kitts Society for the Blind, Mr Rockliffe Bowen, has on behalf of the executive and members of the society thanked the St. Kitts (Basseterre) Lions Club for remembering and positively engaging persons with disabilities at a beach picnic celebration Saturday at the Anchorage in Frigate Bay.

I want to say on behalf of our executive how appreciative we are in the Lions Club remembering us, because too many times we feel left out and we feel that nobody is studying us, he said. But I must say that the Lions Club they have come forward and they have put on this wonderful beach picnic for us and we must give our sincere thanks to them.

I must say thanks on behalf of both organisations, to the St. Kitts Basseterre Lions Club for the invitation they have extended to us by providing this wonderful food and everything that we are partaking of, Bowen, who is also the Vice President of the McKnight Community Centre-based St. Kitts and Nevis Association for Persons with Disabilities, added.

October is observed as the Blindness Awareness Month and Lions Clubs worldwide celebrate the blind in the month according to the President of the St. Kitts (Basseterre) Lions Club, Ms. Charmaine Pemberton. World Sight Day was observed on Thursday and this years call to action was Vision First!

Today we are here with the members from the St. Kitts Society for the Blind having a picnic out for them, said Ms Pemberton. Every year we do this picnic, bring out the blind to socialise with us, and have some fun, play dominos, cards we do games, we do swimming. This morning went on a walk from the Cenotaph and we are now here at the beach having fun.

The walk, themed Journey for Sight, started at 6 a.m. from the Cenotaph at the War Memorial in Fortlands, down on the Bay Road, on to Sandown Road, left to Pond Road, straight up Cayon Street via Greenlands, left to Burden Street, and back to the Cenotaph. In the afternoon they assembled under a large tent on the beach at the Anchorage in Frigate Bay where they had a sumptuous meal, played dominos and others swam in the sea.

The St. Kitts (Basseterre) Lions Club will also make a presentation Tuesday to the St. Kitts Society for the Blind and the St. Kitts and Nevis Association for Persons with Disabilities at the McKnight Community Centre. According to Ms Pemberton the presentation will include dominos and cards in braille for their enjoyment, and braille books for their reading.

Members of the McKnight Community Centre-based St. Kitts and Nevis Association for Persons with Disabilities are sponsored by the government of St. Kitts and Nevis agency, Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP).

Also I want to say thanks to the persons who showed up here this afternoon to participate in this social event, members of both organisations, the St. Kitts Society for the Blind and the St. Kitts and Nevis Association for Persons with Disabilities which is located at the McKnight Community Centre, Bowen said.

Others present and who helped out included St. Kitts (Basseterre) Lions Clubs 2ndVice President Ms. Heather Grant; Secretary Ms. Toshie Davis; Past President Ms. Adora Warner; and members of the club.

View post:
Lions Club honours visually impaired in celebration of Blindness Awareness Month - The St. Kitts-Nevis Observer

Benjamin Yerxa, chief executive of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, said results from a recent clinical trial represented a major step forward for sufferers of a degenerative disease called retinitis pigmentosa

A leading non-profit group funding research into treatments for retinal degenerative diseases has hailed as major step forward a potential therapy developed by ().

The comments from Benjamin Yerxa, chief executive of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, followed the presentation of data from a phase I/IIa clinical study by trial investigator Pravin Dugel.

He has been working on ReNeurons human retinal progenitor (hRPC) stem cell line, which has shown early promiseimproving, or stabilising clarity of vision in people with the degenerative disease retinitis pigmentosa.

Dugel's address to the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in San Francisco was based on the latest results from the clinical assessment of the drug candidate, published on October 2.

After the presentation, Yerxa said: "We're excited by the progress of ReNeuron's hRPC therapy.

From the Foundation's perspective, any gain in vision, or even stabilisation, is a major step forward for patients with RP as currently it is a condition where progressive loss of vision leads to blindness."

Earlier this month ReNeuron said it had seen rapid and profound results in the first three patients of the second phase of clinical studies of its human retinal progenitor cells.

The phase IIa trials saw noticeable improvements in visual acuity as measured by the number of letters that could be read on a standard eye chart.

Six months after treatment there was a mean improvement of 18.5 letters per treated eye, with a mean improvement of 12 letters per treated eye after nine months, whereas inexorable disease progression is the norm for this disease.

With total of 22 patients now treated and the study still ongoing, ReNeuron said the efficacy in subsequent patients was seen but at a lower rate and magnitude, with improvement in visual acuity ranging from +5 to +11 letters in the treated eye three months after treatment.

I believe that we are seeing a clear signal of efficacy in this patient population where any gain in vision, let alone the levels seen in some of these patients, is so hard to come by and so very much appreciated," said Dr Pravin Dugel, managing partner at Retinal Consultants of Arizona and clinical professor at the Roski Eye Institute in Los Angeles.

Read the original post:
ReNeuron cell-based treatment hailed by leading non-profit group funding research into treatments for retinal degenerative diseases - Proactive...

Sarah Ferguson is telling all on how shes fighting the signs of aging.

Ive had a lot of help to look like this at 60! the ex-wife of Prince Andrew told UKs Daily Mail newspaper on Thursday. Ferguson, nicknamedFergie, revealed shes a fan of non-invasive laser facelifts to keep her features youthful.

Ive started the laser treatment, but its not finished yet, said the proud mom of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. The collagen needs to rebuild. I hope it will all be done by my birthday.

PRINCESS MADELEINE, PRINCE CARL PHILIP OF SWEDENS CHILDREN LOSE THEIR ROYAL TITLES

The Duchess of York said she used the same treatmentlast year to prepare forPrincess Eugenies royal wedding. People magazine reported the laser lift is meant to work as a natural facelift, stimulating collagen and refinishing skin texture.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and Princess Beatrice of York arrive for the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Britain October 12, 2018. (Reuters)

I dont like the frozen look, said Ferguson, who turns the big 6-0 on Oct. 15. Im so animated and I like to be myself. I dont like the thoughts of needles and am very glad if I look well and happy Im really happy to be open about what Ive had done.

ELIZABETH HURLEY MET MEGHAN MARKLE BEFORE PRINCE HARRY DID: 'SHE WAS FANTASTIC'

Ferguson admitted that in the past, she has tried Botox. But these days, Ferguson insisted she relies on more minimally invasive treatments. Shes a fan of mesotherapy, which uses injections of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to boost collagen production. Ferguson said the treatment was the right choice for her after years of sun damage.

I need to repair the damage that was done on the beach when I was a child, she said. Its why I had the mesotherapy, the vitamin cocktail to hydrate and boost the skin.

After that therapy session in 2013, Ferguson said she had a facial thread lift, which involves inserting amesh of medically advanced threads under the skin, lifting the face and smoothing away fine lines.

KATE MIDDLETON'S BROTHER JAMES ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENT TO FRENCH GIRLFRIEND ALIZEE THEVENET

Sarah Ferguson arrives for the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, near London, England, Saturday, May 19, 2018. (AP)

ELTON JOHN WRITES QUEEN ELIZABETH SLAPPED HER NEPHEW ACROSS THE FACE IN FRONT OF HIM IN NEW BOOK

Its like garden trellising for sweat peas, said Ferguson. You insert the threads under the skin with a fine needle and they hold everything up. They also encourage collagen production. It takes a couple of months, then the sweat peas blood.

Before I had it done I thought, Oh, this is going to be so painful, but it wasnt bad, Ferguson continued. My skin responded well. I think if you look at photos of me after I had it done, I look much better.

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And her face wasnt the only thing Ferguson focused on.

According to the outlet, Ferguson traveled to the Bahamas earlier this year to have regenerative stem cell therapy on her feet.

PRINCESS BEATRICE ENGAGED TO EDOARDO MAPELLI MOZZI

Sarah Ferguson is getting candid about how she's fighting the signs of aging. (Reuters)

PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 'LOVES' UNICORNS, DAD PRINCE WILLIAM SAYS

I think my toes were ruined by all the riding I did when I was young, she explained, pointing to her big toe. They shaved the bone here and implanted stem cells, 20 million of them taken from my midriff, into my feet to make new cartilage. It takes about six months to heal but now I can walk in heels!

Visit link:
Sarah Ferguson gets candid on using Botox, laser facelifts and stem cell therapy for her feet - Fox News