People suffering from Stargardt's macular degeneration, where the retina cells at the back of eye are destroyed in early childhood may soon be able to have injections of embryonic stem cells with the hope of repairing damaged photo-sensitive cells.
Clinical trials have been given the go ahead, in only the second group of people in the world to receive stem cells derived from spare IVF embryos left over from fertility treatment. Pro-life groups are against the use of stem-cells taken from embrionic "potential human lives".
The trails could place take early next year and although they are designed to test the safety of the treatment in humans, improvement in the sight of patients may also become aparent within the first six weeks.
It is believed that medicine could be revolutionished by stem cell treatment due to their ability to repir tissue and organs with-in the body without need for transplant. Robert Lanza, chief scientific officer
of US technology firm Advanced Cell Technology, the company conducting the trails, said "We've tested these cells in animal models of eye disease. In rats, we've seen 100 per cent improvement in visual performance over untreated animals without any adverse effects,"
Click here to read the news story from The Independent
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Monday, 22 November 2010
Prosthetic retinas help blind mice see
Trials of prosthetic retinas in mice have given hope that people with vision loss due to retinal degeneration or damage could regain their sight. Previous attempts at prosthetic retinas have only managed to relay simple pixilated shapes and patterns to the brain from the photoreceptors at the back of the eye. The current research by Sheila Nirenberg and colleagues at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York has produced a visual information sent to the brain similar to that of healthy eyes.
When light enters a healthy retina it activates light-sensitive photoreceptors which process and send information to ganglion cells. These cells transmit a pattern of electrical activity to the brain, which interprets the image. Previous attempts at prosthetic retinas stimulate the ganglion cells directly. However they don't use the patterns or "codes" that the cells use to send messages to the brain so only simple messages can be transmitted.
Nirenberg's team compared the signals going into healthy mice retinas with the output from ganglion cells, and produced an algorithm to recreate this "code". Then using gene therapy they transfered the protein channelrhodopsin into the ganglion cells of blind mice, in order to make them responsive to light. A computer processor, using Nirenberg's algorithm, encodes images from a tiny video campera imbedded into a pair of glasses rapid light pulses shone into the eye.
The ganglion cells treated with channelrhodopsin send signals to the brain in the normal way. As the image is already "encoded" the brain sees a much more detailed image than images sent directly to the ganglion cells. By analysing the ganglion cell output from blind mice with prosthetic retinas compared to this of normally sighted mice it was shown that the output resembled each other, suggesting the technique presented a clearer image than old prostheics.
As people with retinal degeneration's retinas no longer send visual information to the brain, these prosethetics could be a way of restoring the sight of people with damaged retinas. Though human trials have yet to be carried out, the research is an exciting prospect for many people suffering loss of vision due to retinal degerneration.
For the full story from New Scientist click this link:
New Scientist "Blind mice can see where they run" article
When light enters a healthy retina it activates light-sensitive photoreceptors which process and send information to ganglion cells. These cells transmit a pattern of electrical activity to the brain, which interprets the image. Previous attempts at prosthetic retinas stimulate the ganglion cells directly. However they don't use the patterns or "codes" that the cells use to send messages to the brain so only simple messages can be transmitted.
Nirenberg's team compared the signals going into healthy mice retinas with the output from ganglion cells, and produced an algorithm to recreate this "code". Then using gene therapy they transfered the protein channelrhodopsin into the ganglion cells of blind mice, in order to make them responsive to light. A computer processor, using Nirenberg's algorithm, encodes images from a tiny video campera imbedded into a pair of glasses rapid light pulses shone into the eye.
The ganglion cells treated with channelrhodopsin send signals to the brain in the normal way. As the image is already "encoded" the brain sees a much more detailed image than images sent directly to the ganglion cells. By analysing the ganglion cell output from blind mice with prosthetic retinas compared to this of normally sighted mice it was shown that the output resembled each other, suggesting the technique presented a clearer image than old prostheics.
As people with retinal degeneration's retinas no longer send visual information to the brain, these prosethetics could be a way of restoring the sight of people with damaged retinas. Though human trials have yet to be carried out, the research is an exciting prospect for many people suffering loss of vision due to retinal degerneration.
For the full story from New Scientist click this link:
New Scientist "Blind mice can see where they run" article
Sunday, 21 November 2010
First three weeks at the RNCB
Well I've been at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNCB) for three weeks now and I'm settling in nicely. After a year in limbo after being officially diagnosed as visually impaired and finding myself unable to work, I am finally studying at the UK's premier establishment for education and training for the blind and visually impaired.
Getting here:
I found out about the college at the beginning of the year via my local Action for Blind People branch. After visiting the college on an open day in April and seeing it's excellent facilities, I decided the RNCB would be a great way to train for work in an area I was interested in and not disimilar to what I had done before (broadcasting graphic design). I would apply for a course in Music Technology and Media Production.
After many chats with my local DEA (Disabity Employment Advisor) to arrange funding, I had an assessment at the college in August to see if my disabilty was appropriate for the college, that the place would be suitable for my needs, and it would be useful for me to gaining future employment (the whole point in the college). I spent two days here, being put up in the college's lovely accododation block, with a comprehensive day of interviews by staff from different section of the college. Though quite intense, the staff made me and the other assessees feel very welcome and that everything was being done to make sure coming to the college would be the right thing for both parties.
So after a few months of finaising funding so that I was able to stay at the residential college whilst keeping my flat back home and benefits for everyday living (ESA Employment Support Allowance etc) and a CRB (Criminal Records Background) check to see if I was suitable to attend a college with 16 year old plus students, I was given a start date of November 1st.
The first week:
Having been dropped off by my parents on Monday afternoon with all my stuff, I was shown to my "lodge", the accomodation I'd be staying in. The lodge is like a holiday chalet, with four small bedrooms, a living room, dining area, fully fitted kitchen and two bathrooms. Not big but plenty of room. I was alone for a few hours to sort my stuff out before one of my lodgemates turned up, back from half term. I'd met Jamie (also studying Music Tech) before, when I'd first visited the college for the first time. Nice to see a friendly face and we spent the everning chatting about the ins and outs of college life. Because of the roll on/roll off nature of the college people can start at different times. Jamie had started the beginning of term in September.
I also visited the refectory, where three meals a day are available for students (up to a certain value before you have to pay extra but you get plenty). Being in a lodge we have breakfast things (cereals, bread, milk, juice) provided at the lodge. The food is standard canteern style, perfectly edible and with a choice of a few hot meals and sandwiches and some wonderful puddings! I certainly won't starve here.
All of Tuesday was spent being told all about the college, health and safety, diversity, rules etc. We were also given an introduction to the college gym. A long day in all and we were given a provisional timetable. As well as Music Tech, I had been expecting Braille training, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Mobility (white cane training), these would be timetabled in at a later date. It all seemed a bit chaotic but I expected it to settle down.
For the rest of the week the lectures started properly (as well as having an iduction at the gym and seeing the nurse for a brief chat about any medical needs and a quick health check). Having started half way through term, I got a bit worried being thrown in and being told to mic up a drum kit "like you were shown before half term"! There'd be a lot of catching up to do. Luckily as the weeks have gone on the lecturers have gone over everything again, reinforcing that had been learned before. Everything is explained well and I found that a lot in music/sound recording are similar to principles in the visual world (ie compression in sound is like adjusting the levels in a photo in Photoshop) so I'm able to correlate the two and understand it easier.
Settling in:
After a few days, Mobility and ICT were added to the gaps in my timetable and after a lot of hassle (with the college netword not liking Windows Vista and having to upgrade to Windows 7) I could finally get back in contact with the real world from my lodge on the WiFi network (and being connected to the college intranet, email and notice boards). I'm still waiting to get onto the Braille course, which is frustrating as I think it's going to be the thing I struggle with the most, being a completely new way of thinking. I see a personal tutor every week and he's on the case.
My other two lodgemates appeared too. Both totally blind, Kevin is on the same couse as me, a similar age to me and with a guide dog. I met Owen before at the assessment, a young guy on the Sports Therapy course who is also a keen blind footballer, on the Hereford team and fringes of the England squad. A nice bunch of guys (as are most of the people around campus and on the course) we have a good laugh. More to follow on living amongst other blind and VI people.
There aren't quite as many activities available as advertised (or I still haven't found out where they are announced: communication of such things are quite difficult to find (especially difficult before I was online). Still, I've visited the student bar (The Dog and Cane) a few times and there's always something going on in the other lodges or with other students. I've walked into Hereford city centre a few times (checking out one of the pubs yesterday!) and there was even a fundraising event for Children in Need this weekend, with a live band.
I'm certainly settled in now and understand things more in Music Tech. On my first long white cane training in Mobility I was told I was picking it up very quickly and I think I'm picking up Jaws screen reading software well in ICT (though they are skills I hope I'll never need, if my vision stablises). Life is very different after living alone for a while, not working, student life again so many years on and being around blind people, but I'll be exploring that in future blog posts.
Getting here:
I found out about the college at the beginning of the year via my local Action for Blind People branch. After visiting the college on an open day in April and seeing it's excellent facilities, I decided the RNCB would be a great way to train for work in an area I was interested in and not disimilar to what I had done before (broadcasting graphic design). I would apply for a course in Music Technology and Media Production.
After many chats with my local DEA (Disabity Employment Advisor) to arrange funding, I had an assessment at the college in August to see if my disabilty was appropriate for the college, that the place would be suitable for my needs, and it would be useful for me to gaining future employment (the whole point in the college). I spent two days here, being put up in the college's lovely accododation block, with a comprehensive day of interviews by staff from different section of the college. Though quite intense, the staff made me and the other assessees feel very welcome and that everything was being done to make sure coming to the college would be the right thing for both parties.
So after a few months of finaising funding so that I was able to stay at the residential college whilst keeping my flat back home and benefits for everyday living (ESA Employment Support Allowance etc) and a CRB (Criminal Records Background) check to see if I was suitable to attend a college with 16 year old plus students, I was given a start date of November 1st.
The first week:
Having been dropped off by my parents on Monday afternoon with all my stuff, I was shown to my "lodge", the accomodation I'd be staying in. The lodge is like a holiday chalet, with four small bedrooms, a living room, dining area, fully fitted kitchen and two bathrooms. Not big but plenty of room. I was alone for a few hours to sort my stuff out before one of my lodgemates turned up, back from half term. I'd met Jamie (also studying Music Tech) before, when I'd first visited the college for the first time. Nice to see a friendly face and we spent the everning chatting about the ins and outs of college life. Because of the roll on/roll off nature of the college people can start at different times. Jamie had started the beginning of term in September.
I also visited the refectory, where three meals a day are available for students (up to a certain value before you have to pay extra but you get plenty). Being in a lodge we have breakfast things (cereals, bread, milk, juice) provided at the lodge. The food is standard canteern style, perfectly edible and with a choice of a few hot meals and sandwiches and some wonderful puddings! I certainly won't starve here.
All of Tuesday was spent being told all about the college, health and safety, diversity, rules etc. We were also given an introduction to the college gym. A long day in all and we were given a provisional timetable. As well as Music Tech, I had been expecting Braille training, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Mobility (white cane training), these would be timetabled in at a later date. It all seemed a bit chaotic but I expected it to settle down.
For the rest of the week the lectures started properly (as well as having an iduction at the gym and seeing the nurse for a brief chat about any medical needs and a quick health check). Having started half way through term, I got a bit worried being thrown in and being told to mic up a drum kit "like you were shown before half term"! There'd be a lot of catching up to do. Luckily as the weeks have gone on the lecturers have gone over everything again, reinforcing that had been learned before. Everything is explained well and I found that a lot in music/sound recording are similar to principles in the visual world (ie compression in sound is like adjusting the levels in a photo in Photoshop) so I'm able to correlate the two and understand it easier.
Settling in:
After a few days, Mobility and ICT were added to the gaps in my timetable and after a lot of hassle (with the college netword not liking Windows Vista and having to upgrade to Windows 7) I could finally get back in contact with the real world from my lodge on the WiFi network (and being connected to the college intranet, email and notice boards). I'm still waiting to get onto the Braille course, which is frustrating as I think it's going to be the thing I struggle with the most, being a completely new way of thinking. I see a personal tutor every week and he's on the case.
My other two lodgemates appeared too. Both totally blind, Kevin is on the same couse as me, a similar age to me and with a guide dog. I met Owen before at the assessment, a young guy on the Sports Therapy course who is also a keen blind footballer, on the Hereford team and fringes of the England squad. A nice bunch of guys (as are most of the people around campus and on the course) we have a good laugh. More to follow on living amongst other blind and VI people.
There aren't quite as many activities available as advertised (or I still haven't found out where they are announced: communication of such things are quite difficult to find (especially difficult before I was online). Still, I've visited the student bar (The Dog and Cane) a few times and there's always something going on in the other lodges or with other students. I've walked into Hereford city centre a few times (checking out one of the pubs yesterday!) and there was even a fundraising event for Children in Need this weekend, with a live band.
I'm certainly settled in now and understand things more in Music Tech. On my first long white cane training in Mobility I was told I was picking it up very quickly and I think I'm picking up Jaws screen reading software well in ICT (though they are skills I hope I'll never need, if my vision stablises). Life is very different after living alone for a while, not working, student life again so many years on and being around blind people, but I'll be exploring that in future blog posts.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
The Royal National College for the Blind
After 10 days trying to get my computer onto the college network I am finally free to write a post about the college I am attending. Before I post anything about my time here I will give you a brief history of the place.
The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC or RNCB) is the UK's leading college of further education and training for people with sight loss. A residential college, it offers academic qualifications or vocational training in a wide range of award winning courses for people from the ages of 16 to 65. As well as aiming to help the blind and visually into the workplace it also offers courses on independent living, mobility and basic everyday skills. It is also home to the UK's first academy of football for the visually impaired and the England Blind Football team, hosting this years World Blind Football Championship and being on of thge training venues for the 2012 Paralympics.
Relocations:
Having a number of homes before settling in it's current location in Hereford, Herefordshire, the RNC was founded as the "Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind" in London in 1871 by philathropist and physician Thomas Armatage and the American anti-slave campaigner, Joseph Cambell, who himself lost his sight at an early age. Unhappy that British schools didn't provide skills for thbe blind they set up the college to train students to become piano tuners and music teachers.
The college was seen as very progressive and experimental and quickly outgrew it's original premisis in Anerley Hill near Crystal Palace so moved to larger accododation in Upperf Norwood. Campbell was the first Principal of the college, bing knighted for services to the blind. Queen Victoria was it's oroginal patron.
During the Second World War the college was relocated to tempory accomodation, first in Kent then Dorton, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The London site was used as a hospital during the war and was bombed in the Blitz, meaning a new permanent lolcation was needed, so they bought Roqton Castle and other buildings near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Before the war the college accepted students aged 11 to 15 year old but after the war a college in Worcester took the secondary student whilst RNC would retain students over 16.
The college remained in ther Shrewsbury area until 1978 when it moved to it's current location in Hereford, taking over the former Hereford College of Education teacher training college, which had the advantage of having the teaching and residential accomodation on one campus. It was officially opened by Prince Charles in 1979.
Through the 2000's the accomadtion was completely referbished and new modern halls of residence were built, along with an outdorr sports pitch, sports and complimentary therapy building added. In 2009 "thePoint4" complex opened, with sports development fudning, a venue for the 2010 World Blind Football Championship which includes conerference facilities, gym and bistro.
Learning and training:
Over the years the college has changed it's courses depending on the nature of the times. Piano tuning, once seen as a stable job for the blind, has been reduced with more vocational courses coming in to help students cope and navigate the modern world. Training in computers and other skills for the working office sit alongside courses such as music technology and media, business, art and design, performance art, massage and complimentary therapy. Basic English amd Numeracy are also offered for students who struggled with learning in conventional schools.
AS and A Levels, BTEC and ITEC qualifivations can be gained, though many students train in purely vocational subjects to gain valuable experience for the workplace. In fact the college's goal is to help people into the work place, offering help, advice and encouragement at the end of the course eto find work placements either at the colloege itself or at the students home area.
College life and accomodation:
Students stay in accomodation on cumpus, either an en-suite room in halls of residence or sharing a "lodge" with 3 others. Lodges are chalet style buildings for the more with more independent living skills, with two bathrooms, living room and kitchen. Warden's check on students everyday, sorting out any problems encountered. Cleaners visit every day and clean bedding provided every fortnight. Staff are on hand at all times for xourse related or everyyday problems. There are even nurses on site. Everything needed for the blind and visually impaiered is catered for as well as provision of other disabilities.
Cooking facilities are available at the accomodation but the refectory serves three meals a day, offering a few choces of hot meals and sandwiches, all funded by the student's local authority, (as are the courses the accomodation).
The college has a Student Union subsidised bar (The Dog and Cane) with students DJing most nights and a pool table. Activities such as an art club and creative writing are available and students can use the spa and gym facilities so there is plenty going on. Students can also take advantage of travel warrents paid for by the college to return home at weekends every two weeks if they want to keep in touch with their home life. And of course there's always the city of Hereford to explore.
Visit the RNC web site for more details by clicking here
The Royal National College for the Blind (RNC or RNCB) is the UK's leading college of further education and training for people with sight loss. A residential college, it offers academic qualifications or vocational training in a wide range of award winning courses for people from the ages of 16 to 65. As well as aiming to help the blind and visually into the workplace it also offers courses on independent living, mobility and basic everyday skills. It is also home to the UK's first academy of football for the visually impaired and the England Blind Football team, hosting this years World Blind Football Championship and being on of thge training venues for the 2012 Paralympics.
Relocations:
Having a number of homes before settling in it's current location in Hereford, Herefordshire, the RNC was founded as the "Royal Normal College and Academy for the Blind" in London in 1871 by philathropist and physician Thomas Armatage and the American anti-slave campaigner, Joseph Cambell, who himself lost his sight at an early age. Unhappy that British schools didn't provide skills for thbe blind they set up the college to train students to become piano tuners and music teachers.
The college was seen as very progressive and experimental and quickly outgrew it's original premisis in Anerley Hill near Crystal Palace so moved to larger accododation in Upperf Norwood. Campbell was the first Principal of the college, bing knighted for services to the blind. Queen Victoria was it's oroginal patron.
During the Second World War the college was relocated to tempory accomodation, first in Kent then Dorton, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The London site was used as a hospital during the war and was bombed in the Blitz, meaning a new permanent lolcation was needed, so they bought Roqton Castle and other buildings near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Before the war the college accepted students aged 11 to 15 year old but after the war a college in Worcester took the secondary student whilst RNC would retain students over 16.
The college remained in ther Shrewsbury area until 1978 when it moved to it's current location in Hereford, taking over the former Hereford College of Education teacher training college, which had the advantage of having the teaching and residential accomodation on one campus. It was officially opened by Prince Charles in 1979.
Through the 2000's the accomadtion was completely referbished and new modern halls of residence were built, along with an outdorr sports pitch, sports and complimentary therapy building added. In 2009 "thePoint4" complex opened, with sports development fudning, a venue for the 2010 World Blind Football Championship which includes conerference facilities, gym and bistro.
Learning and training:
Over the years the college has changed it's courses depending on the nature of the times. Piano tuning, once seen as a stable job for the blind, has been reduced with more vocational courses coming in to help students cope and navigate the modern world. Training in computers and other skills for the working office sit alongside courses such as music technology and media, business, art and design, performance art, massage and complimentary therapy. Basic English amd Numeracy are also offered for students who struggled with learning in conventional schools.
AS and A Levels, BTEC and ITEC qualifivations can be gained, though many students train in purely vocational subjects to gain valuable experience for the workplace. In fact the college's goal is to help people into the work place, offering help, advice and encouragement at the end of the course eto find work placements either at the colloege itself or at the students home area.
College life and accomodation:
Students stay in accomodation on cumpus, either an en-suite room in halls of residence or sharing a "lodge" with 3 others. Lodges are chalet style buildings for the more with more independent living skills, with two bathrooms, living room and kitchen. Warden's check on students everyday, sorting out any problems encountered. Cleaners visit every day and clean bedding provided every fortnight. Staff are on hand at all times for xourse related or everyyday problems. There are even nurses on site. Everything needed for the blind and visually impaiered is catered for as well as provision of other disabilities.
Cooking facilities are available at the accomodation but the refectory serves three meals a day, offering a few choces of hot meals and sandwiches, all funded by the student's local authority, (as are the courses the accomodation).
The college has a Student Union subsidised bar (The Dog and Cane) with students DJing most nights and a pool table. Activities such as an art club and creative writing are available and students can use the spa and gym facilities so there is plenty going on. Students can also take advantage of travel warrents paid for by the college to return home at weekends every two weeks if they want to keep in touch with their home life. And of course there's always the city of Hereford to explore.
Visit the RNC web site for more details by clicking here
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Concerns for the blind after Governement Spending Review
Yesterday's Government Spending review has raised concerns about the welfare of vulnerable members of society, including the blind and visually impaired.
It is a known fact that blind and VI people have great difficulty in finding work due to employers reluctance to employ them and the limited number of jobs they are able to do. A 12 month cap on the receipt of Contribution Based Employment Support Allowance (ESA) means that many disabled people's benefits will be cut after a year despite the disadvantages they have over fully sighted job seekers.
The"savings" suggest that the elegibilty for DLA may become more difficult to achieve, meaning many will lose out on the support in care and mobility that is essential to an acceptable standard of living.
With local authorities reduction in spending budgets it is unclear where the cuts will be made and there are worries that support and training budgets for the most vulnerable, resulting in finacial difficulties and loss of living standards, independence and dignity for those with sight loss.
Amongst other annoucement include the removal of the mobility componant of people on DLA in residential care, caps on housing benefit will have a huge impact on living standards and local government grants for transport will be reduced by a third, which could effect many visually impaired people who have no other means to get around.
The full effect of the Spending Review is yet to be seen but there is no doubt that many disabled people will be disavantaged, especially those of working age but with the greatest need, many of whom have lost their vision and have contributed tax and national insurance in the expectation that the state would support them if things went wrong and they found themselves unable to work.
Links:
It is a known fact that blind and VI people have great difficulty in finding work due to employers reluctance to employ them and the limited number of jobs they are able to do. A 12 month cap on the receipt of Contribution Based Employment Support Allowance (ESA) means that many disabled people's benefits will be cut after a year despite the disadvantages they have over fully sighted job seekers.
The"savings" suggest that the elegibilty for DLA may become more difficult to achieve, meaning many will lose out on the support in care and mobility that is essential to an acceptable standard of living.
With local authorities reduction in spending budgets it is unclear where the cuts will be made and there are worries that support and training budgets for the most vulnerable, resulting in finacial difficulties and loss of living standards, independence and dignity for those with sight loss.
Amongst other annoucement include the removal of the mobility componant of people on DLA in residential care, caps on housing benefit will have a huge impact on living standards and local government grants for transport will be reduced by a third, which could effect many visually impaired people who have no other means to get around.
The full effect of the Spending Review is yet to be seen but there is no doubt that many disabled people will be disavantaged, especially those of working age but with the greatest need, many of whom have lost their vision and have contributed tax and national insurance in the expectation that the state would support them if things went wrong and they found themselves unable to work.
"At RNIB we were optimistic when Iain Duncan Smith outlined his vision to help people into work and make work pay, so it is shocking that in reality it is disabled people of working age who will be worst hit."
Quote from Steve Winyard, RNIB Head of Policy and Campaigns
Links:
Monday, 4 October 2010
Off to the RNC
Not many posts recently as I've been having trouble with my laptop but I have exciting news. I have secured a place at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) and will be studying Music Production.
After a year in limbo, not being able to work, I'm so excited to be joining this amazing college in Hereford. It's an amazing place with incredible staff and facilities, working towards training it's students to cope with their disabilities and finding them the skills and places to work out in the real world. As well as the music production course I'll be learning basic Braille and mobility with a white cane, future-proofing myself if my sight continues to deteriorate.
So, this blog will now include entries about my time at the college as and when time permits. It'll be good to be busy again, I can't wait.
After a year in limbo, not being able to work, I'm so excited to be joining this amazing college in Hereford. It's an amazing place with incredible staff and facilities, working towards training it's students to cope with their disabilities and finding them the skills and places to work out in the real world. As well as the music production course I'll be learning basic Braille and mobility with a white cane, future-proofing myself if my sight continues to deteriorate.
So, this blog will now include entries about my time at the college as and when time permits. It'll be good to be busy again, I can't wait.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Seeing things that aren't there - Charles Bonnet Syndrome
What is a Charles Bonnet Syndrome?:
Though not a specific eye condotion, Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is the term used for the situation when people with sight problems have vivid and recurrent visual hallucinations and see things that aren't there.
CBS was first described by Swiss philospher Charles Bonnet in 1760 when his almost blind grandfather noticed seeing a range of birds, objects, patterns, buildings and even people that weren't there.
CBS affects people with serious sight loss and usually those who have lost their sight later in life.
Symptoms:
Visions can range from regular patterns, like brickwork, lines or netting to more complex pictures, objects or people, even whole scenes. They can be in black and white or colour and objects can appear larger or smaller than the real life equivelent. These hallucinations are purely visual and don't stimulate other senses such as smell or touch. These images seem to appear out of nowhere and can last for a few minutes to a few hours.
It is thought that between 10% and as many as 40% of people with sight loss experience Charles Bonnet syndrome. The exact number isn't known as many people don't admit to having hallucinations for fear of being labelled mentally ill, which they are not.
Little is still known about Charles Bonnet syndrome and what causes it. It is still unknown exactly how the brain processes images but it is thought that the syndrome affects people who have lost sight because the brain is no longer processing incoming images, so it releases old, stored pictures, to make up for the lack of visual stimulation.
Treatment:
As the exact cause is unknown, other than the brain "playing tricks" on the sufferer due to underlying sight problems, there is no actual cure. However, most cases generally disappear after about a year to 18 months.
Hallucinations can be quite disturbing but as long as the sufferer understands that it is just the sight loss causing the visions, then ignoring or coming to terms with them can be the most effective way of dealing with them. Sometimes the pictures can get in the way of what vision the patient has left, so can be quite problematic. Some suffers find changing conditions, such as turning on lights if its dark, blinking, changing position (standing up if sitting) etc can "reset" the vision and get rid of the hallusination.
Other health conditions can cause hallucinations, such as Altzheimer's, strokes or mental illness but suffers should be aware it is their vision problems causing the syndrome.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion visit:
Though not a specific eye condotion, Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is the term used for the situation when people with sight problems have vivid and recurrent visual hallucinations and see things that aren't there.
CBS was first described by Swiss philospher Charles Bonnet in 1760 when his almost blind grandfather noticed seeing a range of birds, objects, patterns, buildings and even people that weren't there.
CBS affects people with serious sight loss and usually those who have lost their sight later in life.
Symptoms:
Visions can range from regular patterns, like brickwork, lines or netting to more complex pictures, objects or people, even whole scenes. They can be in black and white or colour and objects can appear larger or smaller than the real life equivelent. These hallucinations are purely visual and don't stimulate other senses such as smell or touch. These images seem to appear out of nowhere and can last for a few minutes to a few hours.
It is thought that between 10% and as many as 40% of people with sight loss experience Charles Bonnet syndrome. The exact number isn't known as many people don't admit to having hallucinations for fear of being labelled mentally ill, which they are not.
Causes:
Little is still known about Charles Bonnet syndrome and what causes it. It is still unknown exactly how the brain processes images but it is thought that the syndrome affects people who have lost sight because the brain is no longer processing incoming images, so it releases old, stored pictures, to make up for the lack of visual stimulation.
Treatment:
As the exact cause is unknown, other than the brain "playing tricks" on the sufferer due to underlying sight problems, there is no actual cure. However, most cases generally disappear after about a year to 18 months.
Hallucinations can be quite disturbing but as long as the sufferer understands that it is just the sight loss causing the visions, then ignoring or coming to terms with them can be the most effective way of dealing with them. Sometimes the pictures can get in the way of what vision the patient has left, so can be quite problematic. Some suffers find changing conditions, such as turning on lights if its dark, blinking, changing position (standing up if sitting) etc can "reset" the vision and get rid of the hallusination.
Other health conditions can cause hallucinations, such as Altzheimer's, strokes or mental illness but suffers should be aware it is their vision problems causing the syndrome.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion visit:
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Free Audio Books
Audio books are a great resource for the visually impaired and blind who have trouble reading. With many outlets such as Amazon and the new Apple iBooks in iTunes, the number of books in a variety of genres is growing. The advantage of audiobooks over using a screenreader to read the text to you is a specially recorded narrator reads the book rather than bein read by the screen reader's computer generated voice. Books are available in a number of formats depending on the equipment being used for playback, such as CDs, cassette tapes, downloadable digital formats (eg MP3).
Whilst most audiobooks, newspapers and magazines are paid for there are a number of downloadable books available for free. Copyright laws mean that many classic books are now in the public domain and can legally be distributed freely. Well known books such as Tom Sawyer, Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock Holmes and authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and H.G. Wells can all be found in audio formats at no cost.
The British charity Listening Books distributes a library of cd's, internet streaming or downloadable audiobooks for people who have trouble reading. The service costs as little as £1.67 a month. Members have free access to the ever expanding free library of fiction, non fiction and national ciriculum textbooks from the download service.
Below is a list of some of the many web sites that offer free audiobooks:
Audio Books for Free
"MP3, iPOD and DVD audiobooks (adventures, detectives, horrors, classics, children, non-fictions, philosophy, etc.) for you to download and enjoy.
Every audio book produced and recorded by professional actors/narrators and experienced directors. No computerised text-to-voice convertions have been used."
Books Should Be Free
Hundreds of classic audio books in MP3, iTunes and iPod formats in genres such as adventure, science fiction, history, childrens, poetry and many more.
Learn Out Loud
"LearnOutLoud.com has scoured the Internet to bring you over 2000 free audio and video titles. This directory features free audio books, lectures, speeches, sermons, interviews, and many other great free audio and video resources."
NewFiction
"NewFiction offers a library o$$$◘f audio books that are performed by multiple actors. We call them iSoaps. Consider them modern-day radio dramas." Subscribers get an update of these "iSoaps" delivered to them daily.
Open Culture
"The best free cultural & educational media on the web" with a free audiobook section. Focuses on education, including online courses and language lessons.
Storynory
Specializing in books for children, including classic literature, fairytales and educational books.
Thought Audio
"Our journey has always been one of making classic literature available to anyone willing to listen, and now in this next phase, to expand our scope to include more thinkers, writers and essayists."
Podio Books
Serialised contemporary audiobooks.
Gutenberg Project
"Project" Gutenberg is the place where you can download over 33,000 free ebooks to read on your PC, iPad, Kindle, Sony Reader, iPhone, Android or other portable device." Also has an audiobook section.
Many of the audiobook sellers, such as Talking Book Store, do trial offers or free samples for becoming a member, so are worth checking out.
Whilst most audiobooks, newspapers and magazines are paid for there are a number of downloadable books available for free. Copyright laws mean that many classic books are now in the public domain and can legally be distributed freely. Well known books such as Tom Sawyer, Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock Holmes and authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and H.G. Wells can all be found in audio formats at no cost.
The British charity Listening Books distributes a library of cd's, internet streaming or downloadable audiobooks for people who have trouble reading. The service costs as little as £1.67 a month. Members have free access to the ever expanding free library of fiction, non fiction and national ciriculum textbooks from the download service.
Below is a list of some of the many web sites that offer free audiobooks:
Audio Books for Free
"MP3, iPOD and DVD audiobooks (adventures, detectives, horrors, classics, children, non-fictions, philosophy, etc.) for you to download and enjoy.
Every audio book produced and recorded by professional actors/narrators and experienced directors. No computerised text-to-voice convertions have been used."
Books Should Be Free
Hundreds of classic audio books in MP3, iTunes and iPod formats in genres such as adventure, science fiction, history, childrens, poetry and many more.
Learn Out Loud
"LearnOutLoud.com has scoured the Internet to bring you over 2000 free audio and video titles. This directory features free audio books, lectures, speeches, sermons, interviews, and many other great free audio and video resources."
NewFiction
"NewFiction offers a library o$$$◘f audio books that are performed by multiple actors. We call them iSoaps. Consider them modern-day radio dramas." Subscribers get an update of these "iSoaps" delivered to them daily.
Open Culture
"The best free cultural & educational media on the web" with a free audiobook section. Focuses on education, including online courses and language lessons.
Storynory
Specializing in books for children, including classic literature, fairytales and educational books.
Thought Audio
"Our journey has always been one of making classic literature available to anyone willing to listen, and now in this next phase, to expand our scope to include more thinkers, writers and essayists."
Podio Books
Serialised contemporary audiobooks.
Gutenberg Project
"Project" Gutenberg is the place where you can download over 33,000 free ebooks to read on your PC, iPad, Kindle, Sony Reader, iPhone, Android or other portable device." Also has an audiobook section.
Many of the audiobook sellers, such as Talking Book Store, do trial offers or free samples for becoming a member, so are worth checking out.
Monday, 23 August 2010
Brazil win World Cup
Congratulationto England on their fourth place in the IBSA World Blind Football Championship 2010. The eventual winners of the "Blind World Cup" were Brazil who beat Spain 2-0 in the final at the weekend.
The part-time players of England were beaten 1-0 by China, who took third place. The Brazilian, Spainish and Chinese teams all play their football fulltime in bigger leagues in their respective countries, so well done to the English team.
For full results, match reports and more details on the competition, visit the Blind2010 web site by clicking here.
The part-time players of England were beaten 1-0 by China, who took third place. The Brazilian, Spainish and Chinese teams all play their football fulltime in bigger leagues in their respective countries, so well done to the English team.
For full results, match reports and more details on the competition, visit the Blind2010 web site by clicking here.
"Children's eyesight at risk"
In the same way parents get their children to brush their teeth and have regular visits to the dentist, they should taske steps to protect their children's eyes from harmful UV and have regular eye checks.
A story in yesterday's Observer newspaper highlights a report that suggests "British parents and teachers are unwittingly putting children's eyes at risk by not making them wear sunglasses and not having their sight tested during the critical first eight years". All children in the UK have the right to free eye tests every two years.
Diagnosing sight problems early is essential in avoid further problems in later life. Eye tests can spot problems that could otherwise be thought to be learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, or prevent conditions progressing into untreatable sight loss as the child gets older.
New research by the Association of Optometrists estimates that a million children have an undetected sight problem and almost 70% of schools do not have eye screening. Whilst most schools insist on hats and sunscreen during hot weather, sunglasses are seen as a fashion accessory rather than helping protect a child's health. Young eyes are susceptible to UV glare which is a major cause of long term damage in later life. Up to haf of all sight loss in later life can be prevented if cuaght early enough.
The lack of eye tests can mean vision problems go undetected and the child has difficulty learning and their behaviour may be effected, becoming shy and reserved or over comprensating by becoming loud and disruptive. With many conditions being easily treated, testing a child's eyesight can be essential for their development as well as their future eye health.
The article lists a number of facts about eye health:
A story in yesterday's Observer newspaper highlights a report that suggests "British parents and teachers are unwittingly putting children's eyes at risk by not making them wear sunglasses and not having their sight tested during the critical first eight years". All children in the UK have the right to free eye tests every two years.
Diagnosing sight problems early is essential in avoid further problems in later life. Eye tests can spot problems that could otherwise be thought to be learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, or prevent conditions progressing into untreatable sight loss as the child gets older.
New research by the Association of Optometrists estimates that a million children have an undetected sight problem and almost 70% of schools do not have eye screening. Whilst most schools insist on hats and sunscreen during hot weather, sunglasses are seen as a fashion accessory rather than helping protect a child's health. Young eyes are susceptible to UV glare which is a major cause of long term damage in later life. Up to haf of all sight loss in later life can be prevented if cuaght early enough.
"The World Health Organisation estimates that, because young people's eyes are more sensitive to UV absorption, up to 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to UV will occur before the age of 18. Under-12s are particularly susceptible because the clear lenses in their eyes are not yet properly formed and one in five parents does not take any measures to protect their children's eyes."Quote from The Observer, 22 August 2010
The lack of eye tests can mean vision problems go undetected and the child has difficulty learning and their behaviour may be effected, becoming shy and reserved or over comprensating by becoming loud and disruptive. With many conditions being easily treated, testing a child's eyesight can be essential for their development as well as their future eye health.
The article lists a number of facts about eye health:
■ NHS sight tests are free to children aged up to 18 in full-time education, and help towards the cost of glasses is available.Read the full article by clicking here.
■ Children do not need to be able to read to have a sight test, as optometrists can use pictures instead of letters.
■ Only 7% of children aged under 5 are taken to the opticians.
■ 15% of secondary schoolchildren have never had their eyes tested.
■ 63% of parents say their children only wear sunglasses on holiday.
■ An eye test can detect health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
■ As children spend more time outside, their eyes receive on average three times more annual UV exposure than adults.
■ A Transitions Optical survey revealed 90% of British people are unaware of the need to protect their eyes from the sun."
Thursday, 12 August 2010
IBSA World Blind Football Championship 2010 - this weekend
Best of luck to England in the blind football's World Cup, the IBSA World Blind Football Championship 2010, which starts this weekend (14 to 22 August 2010 at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford).
For more information on the tournament visit the blind2010 official web site by clicking here.
Fixtures (Knockout stages)
England v Spain (14 August)
Colombia v Japan (15 August)
Spain v Colombia (16 August)
England v South Korea (16 August)
Spain v South Korea (17 August)
England v Japan (17 August)
Spain v Japan (18 August)
Colombia v South Korea (18 August)
Japan v South Korea (19 August)
England v Colombia (19 August)
For more information on the tournament visit the blind2010 official web site by clicking here.
Blind 2010 will showcase the very best blind footballers from across the globe as they compete for the most prestigious prize in the sport - to be crowned world champions and win the right to compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.Quote from blind2010.com website
Fixtures (Knockout stages)
England v Spain (14 August)
Colombia v Japan (15 August)
Spain v Colombia (16 August)
England v South Korea (16 August)
Spain v South Korea (17 August)
England v Japan (17 August)
Spain v Japan (18 August)
Colombia v South Korea (18 August)
Japan v South Korea (19 August)
England v Colombia (19 August)
Thursday, 22 July 2010
The Blind Me documentary on BBC iPlayer
If you missed the documentary "The Blind Me" on BBC Three last night it is available to view online on the BBC iPlayer for a week.
The documentary is an interesting look at the lives of four teenagers facing the ups and downs of life and coping with blindness. It's unfortunate that programmes like this are only watched by people who have are themselves, or someone they know, is affected by the subject matter. The documenatary would show the sighted the everyday problems that the blind face, that most people take for granted.
Click here to go to the BBC iPlayer page.
The documentary is an interesting look at the lives of four teenagers facing the ups and downs of life and coping with blindness. It's unfortunate that programmes like this are only watched by people who have are themselves, or someone they know, is affected by the subject matter. The documenatary would show the sighted the everyday problems that the blind face, that most people take for granted.
Click here to go to the BBC iPlayer page.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Disney theme parks, the good and the bad
A couple of news items caught my attention regrading the world famous Disney theme part resorts, relevant to the blind and visually impaired. They highlight opposing ways that Disney help and hinder the enjoyment of the theme parks for people with visual impairments.
The first is the news that two American visually impaired annual pass holders, Cari Shields and Amber Boggs, are filling a class action against The Walt Disney Company for an alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They claimn a number of policies discriminate against blind and visually impaired people, 9including not allowing costumed staff not being allowed to interact with visually impaired guests who visit the park with their guide dogs.
The second story concerns how Walt Disney World and Disneyland are actively making moves to help the visually impaired (and people with other disabilites) to enjoy their attractions on a more level playing field as the fully sighted.
A newly designed hand-held device gives audio description on attractions, including rides and outdoor areas. The wireless device can detect the guests location and transmit appropriate information for the area.
The service is free for disabled guests and Disney and development partners WGNB have patented the device and hope to make the technology available outside of Disney resorts in a variety of other applications such as retail, sports events and museums. It is already being used in a number of other attraction and will receive the National Society of Professional Engineers 2010 “New Product Award” next month.
Disney does offer other services for disabled guests including brail guide books and maps and accessiblity for wheelchairs and specially designed wheelchairs for sand and aquatic attractions.
The first is the news that two American visually impaired annual pass holders, Cari Shields and Amber Boggs, are filling a class action against The Walt Disney Company for an alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They claimn a number of policies discriminate against blind and visually impaired people, 9including not allowing costumed staff not being allowed to interact with visually impaired guests who visit the park with their guide dogs.
"Mrs. Boggs and Ms. Shields allege other violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They are not seeking monetary damages, but only demand that Disney provide more reasonable accommodations for the visually impaired, such as portable Braille maps of the parks, areas to cage or leave service animals during rides, reduced or free admission for service aides, keyed rather than digital lockers, Braille menus in the park restaurants, and adequate lodging for service animal while visually impaired guests visit the park."Quote from the PRWeb Online, Visabilty from Vocus web site. Read more about the story by clicking here.
The second story concerns how Walt Disney World and Disneyland are actively making moves to help the visually impaired (and people with other disabilites) to enjoy their attractions on a more level playing field as the fully sighted.
A newly designed hand-held device gives audio description on attractions, including rides and outdoor areas. The wireless device can detect the guests location and transmit appropriate information for the area.
• Detailed audio description of key visual elements, including action and scenery, for more than 50 attractions.Quote from Orlando Attractions web site. Click here for the full story.
• Amplified audio for most theater-type attractions for guests with mild to moderate hearing loss.
• Handheld captioning that enables guests to read captions while enjoying specific rides.
• Activation of closed captioning in pre-show areas where television
The service is free for disabled guests and Disney and development partners WGNB have patented the device and hope to make the technology available outside of Disney resorts in a variety of other applications such as retail, sports events and museums. It is already being used in a number of other attraction and will receive the National Society of Professional Engineers 2010 “New Product Award” next month.
Disney does offer other services for disabled guests including brail guide books and maps and accessiblity for wheelchairs and specially designed wheelchairs for sand and aquatic attractions.
The Blind Me - BBC Three 9pm
A documenary about growing up with sight loss airs on BBC Three tonight at 9pm. "The Blind Me" follows four teenagers coping with the normal issues of life with the added complication of being blind.
Growing up is hard enough for most young people, but how different would it be if you couldn't view the world through your eyes. This documentary follows four young blind people on the rollercoaster ride to adulthood as they try to work out what they want from their lives.Quote from the BBC web site.
Eighteen-year-old Dwight is seeking love and independence, Karen dreams of a career designing jewellery and blind couple Katy and Scott are facing dilemmas about their future together.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
QAC Sight Village event, Birmingham July 12-15
The Queen Alexandra College (QAC), Birmingham is holding it's Sight Village event from today (July 13) til 15 July 2010 at New Bingley Hall, Hockley Circus in Birmingham. Exhibitors and major sponsors from around the globe will showcase new technology at the exhibition, which can aid the blind and visually impaired.
Visitors can see how mobile phones can be transformed into text magnifying CCTV devices or experience handling guide dogs. Affordable gadgets to improve accessibilty, from magnifiers, computer software and audio devices will be on show and give users the chance to compare and contrast and work out which products can fit with their personal lifestyle and disability.
The QAC are a national charity, specialising in training and education for the blind and visually impaired. They hold regular Sight Village exhibitions in England, Scotland and Ireland.
For more information click here to find out about future events, including the next Sight Village in London on 2 and 3 November 2010.
Visitors can see how mobile phones can be transformed into text magnifying CCTV devices or experience handling guide dogs. Affordable gadgets to improve accessibilty, from magnifiers, computer software and audio devices will be on show and give users the chance to compare and contrast and work out which products can fit with their personal lifestyle and disability.
The QAC are a national charity, specialising in training and education for the blind and visually impaired. They hold regular Sight Village exhibitions in England, Scotland and Ireland.
For more information click here to find out about future events, including the next Sight Village in London on 2 and 3 November 2010.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Moorfields, Glastonbury and the RNC
This is the continuing story of my vision loss. For the first part please click here.
After numerous tests, including MRI scans, field tests, blood tests, electrodes on my head and across my eyeballs (not as bad as it sounds!), liquids squirted and lights shon into my eyes and even a lumber puncture, the local eye specialists and neurologist came to a dead end with what was causing my optic nerve to degenerate. So they refered me to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, arguably the best in the world.
Moorfields is the oldest and biggest eye hospital in the world and is internationally renowned for its comprehensive clinical and research activities. I had more tests and the specialists there told me that they too couldn't find any underlying problem or a cause and therefore treatment for my condition. As it is my nerves dying off it is extremely unlikely my sight will improve and they can't tell me if it will continue to get worse or if it will level off and I will keep my remaining useful sight.
Obviously this is quite worrying as the vision in my left eye has decreased rapidly in recent weeks, to the extent that most of my sight in this one eye is frosted. It is quite possible that my condition is congenital and has been slowly getting worse all my life. An analogy was used: that nerves have a built in lifespan and that most people have long life batteries whilst, for some unknown reason, mine are cheaper batteries that are running out quicker.
It's not until I try to do things that I have done for years that I really notice I have a problem. Sometimes reading can be difficult, watching the World Cup has becomer interesting as I lose the ball on screen because of my narrow field of vision. And it was impossible to watch Wimbledon, which to me just look liked a couple of people running from side to side, spotting the ball being luck more than actually following the game. I have learned to live with this "new normal", a phrase borrowed from Laura Lawson in her excellently written blog about her own sight loss, "Believing is Seeing".
Since 1993 I have been going to the Glastonbury Festival and this year was no exception. This year, since my vision has really deteriorated, the festival was a very different experience. Glastonbury is the biggest music and contempory performing arts festival in Europe. With nearly 200,000 people on site it is the size of a tented city. Over 1000 acts play over the last weekend of June and it has become my annual pilgramage.
Though I was able to really enjoy some great music, many of the things that colour the festival and differentiate the place from many other pretenders the the crown of best festival, I struggled with. The random street theatre acts, the madness and characters that populate the place were so difficult for me to spot, even when pointed out by friends. The multitude of eclectic stalls selling a vast varietry if wonders, the beautiful site artworks and craftwork decorations, in the main, passd me by. Watching Muse's brilliant headline set was more like watching an amazing light show than actually seeing them. I had to be told U2's The Edge had joined them on stage when I asked a friend what the cheers were all about.
Although using my white symbol cane helped amongst the crowds of people, if my sight gets too bad it might be too much for me to even get around the huge site so it was quite an emotional festival for me in the end. Especially with the final act of the weekend. Stevie Wonder headlined the main Pyramid Stage on the Sunday night and I watched with the thought I might be watching my last ever Glastonbury performance. When he ended his set with a monologue about making the world more accessable to everyone: the blind, the deaf, disabled, people of different races and religions, it felt very personal to me. I was in floods of tears.
But I have to look forward. I have been given no idea how long my limited sight will last and therefore can't fully plan or mentally prepare for "the worst", however I am looking to the future. I have applied to the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford, to train in Media (Radio) and Music Production. I am due to have an assessment before I start, hopefully in September and I'll update Vision Web Sight with stories of the college, the course and my progress.
The college is an amazing place with state of the art equipment, specialist tutoring and all the needs of blind or visually impaired students. The courses are vocational and not just as case of training people then leavin them to fend for themselves in the real world. The college actively helps place you in relevant work placements during and after the course. I'm really looking forward to exploring what I CAN do and not worry about what I can't.
To find out more about the RNC, click here.
It was Glastonbury Festival's 40th anniversary this year and I will be 40 later in a few months. And you know what they say, life begins at 40!
After numerous tests, including MRI scans, field tests, blood tests, electrodes on my head and across my eyeballs (not as bad as it sounds!), liquids squirted and lights shon into my eyes and even a lumber puncture, the local eye specialists and neurologist came to a dead end with what was causing my optic nerve to degenerate. So they refered me to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, arguably the best in the world.
Moorfields is the oldest and biggest eye hospital in the world and is internationally renowned for its comprehensive clinical and research activities. I had more tests and the specialists there told me that they too couldn't find any underlying problem or a cause and therefore treatment for my condition. As it is my nerves dying off it is extremely unlikely my sight will improve and they can't tell me if it will continue to get worse or if it will level off and I will keep my remaining useful sight.
Obviously this is quite worrying as the vision in my left eye has decreased rapidly in recent weeks, to the extent that most of my sight in this one eye is frosted. It is quite possible that my condition is congenital and has been slowly getting worse all my life. An analogy was used: that nerves have a built in lifespan and that most people have long life batteries whilst, for some unknown reason, mine are cheaper batteries that are running out quicker.
It's not until I try to do things that I have done for years that I really notice I have a problem. Sometimes reading can be difficult, watching the World Cup has becomer interesting as I lose the ball on screen because of my narrow field of vision. And it was impossible to watch Wimbledon, which to me just look liked a couple of people running from side to side, spotting the ball being luck more than actually following the game. I have learned to live with this "new normal", a phrase borrowed from Laura Lawson in her excellently written blog about her own sight loss, "Believing is Seeing".
Since 1993 I have been going to the Glastonbury Festival and this year was no exception. This year, since my vision has really deteriorated, the festival was a very different experience. Glastonbury is the biggest music and contempory performing arts festival in Europe. With nearly 200,000 people on site it is the size of a tented city. Over 1000 acts play over the last weekend of June and it has become my annual pilgramage.
Though I was able to really enjoy some great music, many of the things that colour the festival and differentiate the place from many other pretenders the the crown of best festival, I struggled with. The random street theatre acts, the madness and characters that populate the place were so difficult for me to spot, even when pointed out by friends. The multitude of eclectic stalls selling a vast varietry if wonders, the beautiful site artworks and craftwork decorations, in the main, passd me by. Watching Muse's brilliant headline set was more like watching an amazing light show than actually seeing them. I had to be told U2's The Edge had joined them on stage when I asked a friend what the cheers were all about.
Although using my white symbol cane helped amongst the crowds of people, if my sight gets too bad it might be too much for me to even get around the huge site so it was quite an emotional festival for me in the end. Especially with the final act of the weekend. Stevie Wonder headlined the main Pyramid Stage on the Sunday night and I watched with the thought I might be watching my last ever Glastonbury performance. When he ended his set with a monologue about making the world more accessable to everyone: the blind, the deaf, disabled, people of different races and religions, it felt very personal to me. I was in floods of tears.
But I have to look forward. I have been given no idea how long my limited sight will last and therefore can't fully plan or mentally prepare for "the worst", however I am looking to the future. I have applied to the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC) in Hereford, to train in Media (Radio) and Music Production. I am due to have an assessment before I start, hopefully in September and I'll update Vision Web Sight with stories of the college, the course and my progress.
The college is an amazing place with state of the art equipment, specialist tutoring and all the needs of blind or visually impaired students. The courses are vocational and not just as case of training people then leavin them to fend for themselves in the real world. The college actively helps place you in relevant work placements during and after the course. I'm really looking forward to exploring what I CAN do and not worry about what I can't.
To find out more about the RNC, click here.
It was Glastonbury Festival's 40th anniversary this year and I will be 40 later in a few months. And you know what they say, life begins at 40!
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Sight matters
With the slogan "Vision Matters", eye care charities, organisations and health professionals have got together to promote ways of keeping your eyes healthy, the importance of eye care and regular eye tests.
Sight is the sense people fear losing the most, so visit the National Eye Health Week "Vision Matters" web site by clicking here to find out about events and learn about eye tests.
Did you know?Quote from Vision Matters web site
1.8 million people in the UK are living with sight loss. For 53% of these, a simple sight test and new spectacles could really help.*
A sight test can detect early signs of conditions like glaucoma, which can be treated if found soon enough
During a sight test, other health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure may be detected.
For healthy eyes, eat well, don’t smoke and wear eye protection in bright sunlight.
Get involved and tell your friends about the importance of eye checks. Most vision loss is preventable, so catching problems early is essential.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Nystagmus - uncontrolled movement of the eyes
What is a Nystagmus?:
Nystagmus is the uncontrollable movement of the eye, usually from side to side but sometimes up and down or in a circular motion. Vision can be difficult for the brain to decipher the constantly moving image, known as "oscillopsia".
There are two main types: "early onset nystagmus" or "congenital nystagmus" is when the condition appears in the first few months of life, whilst "acquired nystagmus" may appear later in life.
However some other eye conditions are related to nystagmus. Early onset nystagmus does not usually get worse with time but underlying eye conditions may cause deteriorating vision. Though treatment of the underlying condition may improve nystagmus, the condition itself is usually permanent.
Between 1 in 1000 - 2000 people are affected by the condition.
Symptoms:
With early onset nystagmus, the brain has more chance to get used to the moving image so doesn't effect sight as much as I does if it develops later in life as it can be difficult to adjust to oscillopsia.
Sight impairment varies from mild to having to be registered as severly visually impairedor blind. Vision may vary due to a number of factors such as tiredness, nervousness and stress and may change in severity during the day.
Nystagmus is painless but suffers may get tired more quickly because of the extra effort needed to look at things. Reading, concentrating on whats going on around them and getting around in unfamiliar and busy places can be difficult.
Depth perception (and sometimes as a concesquence, balance) is usually affected, making orientation and mobility more difficult and suffers can seem slow and clumsy. Most of those with Nystagmus have vision which is well below what is considered to be short sighted
Causes:
Nystagmus is not contageous or infectous but may sometimes be hereditry.
Congenital nystagmus is usually an indication of a problem with the eye or optic nerve. It occurs in conjuction with numerous other eye conditions such as albinism, cataracts and glaucoma. It can also be linked to other disabilities such Down's Syndrome.
Many children with nystagmus have no other problems and the cause is unknown. Some types of nystagmus can be inherited.
Acquired nystagmus may be a sympton of another condition such as multiple sclerosis, a stroke or even trauma to the head. Alcoholism and drug abuse is also known to be a factor.
For a comprehensive list of possible causes click here.
As nystagmus is often related to other conditions it is important for people who develop it to be refered to an ophalmologist or neurologist to check for other problems.
Treatment:
Nystagmus is incurable but there are a number of ways to minimise it's effects.
Correcting the underlying cause of the problem can help dramatically, such as wearing glasses for sufferers who also have focal problems.
Many people with the condition have a "null" point in their vision, a certain position, angle and distance away from them, that they can focus on and see more easily. Some sufferers can read small text but it is usually easier to read larger, clear text and establishing the corect distance and angle to increases the ability to read.
Many people with nystagmus have been observed turning their head to a certain angle or noddubg or shaking their head which may conteract the eye movement.
Surgery may be performed on some cases to alter the position of the eye muscles, reducing the amount a person has to turn their head to se better.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion visit:
Nystagmus is the uncontrollable movement of the eye, usually from side to side but sometimes up and down or in a circular motion. Vision can be difficult for the brain to decipher the constantly moving image, known as "oscillopsia".
There are two main types: "early onset nystagmus" or "congenital nystagmus" is when the condition appears in the first few months of life, whilst "acquired nystagmus" may appear later in life.
However some other eye conditions are related to nystagmus. Early onset nystagmus does not usually get worse with time but underlying eye conditions may cause deteriorating vision. Though treatment of the underlying condition may improve nystagmus, the condition itself is usually permanent.
Between 1 in 1000 - 2000 people are affected by the condition.
Symptoms:
With early onset nystagmus, the brain has more chance to get used to the moving image so doesn't effect sight as much as I does if it develops later in life as it can be difficult to adjust to oscillopsia.
Sight impairment varies from mild to having to be registered as severly visually impairedor blind. Vision may vary due to a number of factors such as tiredness, nervousness and stress and may change in severity during the day.
Nystagmus is painless but suffers may get tired more quickly because of the extra effort needed to look at things. Reading, concentrating on whats going on around them and getting around in unfamiliar and busy places can be difficult.
Depth perception (and sometimes as a concesquence, balance) is usually affected, making orientation and mobility more difficult and suffers can seem slow and clumsy. Most of those with Nystagmus have vision which is well below what is considered to be short sighted
Causes:
Nystagmus is not contageous or infectous but may sometimes be hereditry.
Congenital nystagmus is usually an indication of a problem with the eye or optic nerve. It occurs in conjuction with numerous other eye conditions such as albinism, cataracts and glaucoma. It can also be linked to other disabilities such Down's Syndrome.
Many children with nystagmus have no other problems and the cause is unknown. Some types of nystagmus can be inherited.
Acquired nystagmus may be a sympton of another condition such as multiple sclerosis, a stroke or even trauma to the head. Alcoholism and drug abuse is also known to be a factor.
For a comprehensive list of possible causes click here.
As nystagmus is often related to other conditions it is important for people who develop it to be refered to an ophalmologist or neurologist to check for other problems.
Treatment:
Nystagmus is incurable but there are a number of ways to minimise it's effects.
Correcting the underlying cause of the problem can help dramatically, such as wearing glasses for sufferers who also have focal problems.
Many people with the condition have a "null" point in their vision, a certain position, angle and distance away from them, that they can focus on and see more easily. Some sufferers can read small text but it is usually easier to read larger, clear text and establishing the corect distance and angle to increases the ability to read.
Many people with nystagmus have been observed turning their head to a certain angle or noddubg or shaking their head which may conteract the eye movement.
Surgery may be performed on some cases to alter the position of the eye muscles, reducing the amount a person has to turn their head to se better.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion visit:
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
England win football tournament!
Congratulations to the England football team who won the Four Nations Partially Sighted Tournament by beating Republic of Ireland 2-1 in the final at the Royal National College for the Blind (RNC), Hereford on Sunday.
Let's hope the full national team can emulate this in South Africa.
For a match report, click here.
The IBSA Blind Football Championship is being held at the RNC from 14 August. Read details of the draw, fixture list and a link to the official web site by clicking here.
Let's hope the full national team can emulate this in South Africa.
For a match report, click here.
The IBSA Blind Football Championship is being held at the RNC from 14 August. Read details of the draw, fixture list and a link to the official web site by clicking here.
National Glaucoma Awareness Week
This week is National Glaucoma Awareness Week (7 - 13 June 2010). Glaucoma can only be detected by an eye test and the International Glaucoma Association (ICA) are using the week to try raise awareness to the 50% of people who are unaware they have the condition.
Glaucoma is a preventable cause of sight loss. You can read all about glaucoma on Vision Web Sight by clicking here. Testing for the condition is key and the painless eye tests are free to the most at risk group, the over 40s and those with a family history of Glaucoma.
The Press Association has published a press release of news of a new treatment for glaucoma. Surgeons have inserted the smallest medical device ever implanted into the human body into the eye of a Belfast woman, Mary McCall. The iStent is a 60 microgramme piece of titanium which drains the fluid away from the eye, reducing the pressure which causes the condition. Read all about it by clicking here.
Friday, 4 June 2010
Bionic vision with-in four years
Researchers in Australia claim that we could see successful "bionic eyes" with-in four years, which could help people with advanced retinal degeneration.
News.com.au reports a prototype for the 98 electrode eye processing system has been showcased at the CeBit Exhibition by experts from the ICT Research Centre of Excellence at the National ICT Australia (NICTA) and could be ready by the year 2014.
The NICTA are working on developing a microelectronic chip consisting of more than 1,000 electrodes with a tiny wireless data link, which will be implanted in a patient’s eye.
The intrenwsion is to create a divice that helps blind and visually impaired people in the same way that hearing ainds help the deaf. Guide dogs and whote canes are useful in helping the blind navigate their way around bit don;t overcomethe problems with over-hanging objects. The bionic eye will help distinguish such obsticals and help give back independence to people with sight loss.
Read more about ther bionic eye from the NICTA by clicking here.
News.com.au reports a prototype for the 98 electrode eye processing system has been showcased at the CeBit Exhibition by experts from the ICT Research Centre of Excellence at the National ICT Australia (NICTA) and could be ready by the year 2014.
A video camera built into a pair of glasses transmits images in real time to a handheld, video processing unit. Light patterns represented as electrical pulses are transmitted from the unit to a rentinal implant contaimning an array of electrodes. These electrodes will activate remaining retinal cells that send visual information along the optic nerve to the brain, where the image is interpreted.Quote from Centre for Eye Research Australia
The NICTA are working on developing a microelectronic chip consisting of more than 1,000 electrodes with a tiny wireless data link, which will be implanted in a patient’s eye.
The intrenwsion is to create a divice that helps blind and visually impaired people in the same way that hearing ainds help the deaf. Guide dogs and whote canes are useful in helping the blind navigate their way around bit don;t overcomethe problems with over-hanging objects. The bionic eye will help distinguish such obsticals and help give back independence to people with sight loss.
Read more about ther bionic eye from the NICTA by clicking here.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
First steps to future cure of retina related eye problems?
Reports of the creation of early-stage retinas in the laboratory give hopes for the future development of transplant ready retinas, which could help treat as yet incureable eye conditions such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
Scientists at UC Irvine in the USA have created the first ever three-dimentional tissue structure usining human embryonic stem cells, an eight layer, early-stage retina. In the process, called differentiation, the stem cells can be directed to become specific cells types that make up the retina. Tests are being performed to see if these lab created retinas improve vision in animals before human clinical trials are carried out.
Millions of people could benefit from retinal transplant with macular degeneration being the leading cause of age-related blindness and retinal pigmentose being a common form of sight-loss from an early age.
Read the full story at The Medical News by clicking here.
Scientists at UC Irvine in the USA have created the first ever three-dimentional tissue structure usining human embryonic stem cells, an eight layer, early-stage retina. In the process, called differentiation, the stem cells can be directed to become specific cells types that make up the retina. Tests are being performed to see if these lab created retinas improve vision in animals before human clinical trials are carried out.
Millions of people could benefit from retinal transplant with macular degeneration being the leading cause of age-related blindness and retinal pigmentose being a common form of sight-loss from an early age.
Read the full story at The Medical News by clicking here.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Guide Dog of the Year 2010 nominations
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association UK are taking nominations for 2010's Guide Dog of the Year awards.
There are three catagories to find the dog which has helped their blind owner avoid danger in a heroic manner, changed their owners life for the better or has adapted outstandingly to new and unusual situations. One dog from these winners will be named Guide Dog of the Year 2010.
For details on how to nominate a dog visit the Guide Dogs web sight by clicking here.
Nominations must be in by 23 June. Winners will be announced on Wednesday 8 September at a ceremony at the Museum of London, Docklands, London.
There are three catagories to find the dog which has helped their blind owner avoid danger in a heroic manner, changed their owners life for the better or has adapted outstandingly to new and unusual situations. One dog from these winners will be named Guide Dog of the Year 2010.
Beyond the Call of Duty – for dogs that have performed a heroic act, or helped their owner avoid a dangerous situation.Quote for the Guide Dogs web site
Life Changing – for dogs who have given their owners the mobility and confidence to take on a new challenge; e.g. going to work, trying a new hobby…or something completely different.
Outstanding Work – for dogs whose work is exceptional; e.g. adapting to a new environment or circumstances, or mastering complex skills.
For details on how to nominate a dog visit the Guide Dogs web sight by clicking here.
Nominations must be in by 23 June. Winners will be announced on Wednesday 8 September at a ceremony at the Museum of London, Docklands, London.
Audio Description - TV, Film, Theatre and Sport
Just because someone is blind or visually impaired does not mean that they can't enjoy television, films, the theatre or sport. People forget that video, art and sport can be audio as well as visual media and that most people with loss of vision have some useful sight and they still have the right to consume and get pleasure from them.
Audio Description (AD):
TV and video:
Some television programmes in the UK, as well as DVD/BluRay movies, are broadcast with Audio Description or have AD options on the disk. AD is an extra audio track with a professional narrative that describes action happening on the screen, making it possible to follow what is going on if you are visually impaired. Anything visual, such as locations, facial expressions and on screen text is described to convey important information to the viewer.
Many TVs and DVD/BluRay players have an option to turn on the description. The problem is that most options are hidden away in the options menus which can be difficult to find for unsighted people.
Television:
TVHelp.org is a useful web site which lists equipment designed for the visually impaired or blind user. Details on how to find out and set up your existing equipment is alspavailable. The site has TV listings for programmes that broadcast AD. AltNot all channels or programmes have AD but the number is increasing.
Links to Audio Description TV listings:
Freeview
FreeSat
Sky
Virgin Media
Blind people get a 50% reduction on the TV licence fee - click here for more info.
DVD/BluRay:
RNIB list of DVDs that carry Audio Description
YourLocalCinema list of current audio description DVDs
Video tapes could only hold one audio track but now with digital media like DVD and BluRay extra tracks can be set aside for Audio Description tracks. Although it can ofter be difficult to find the AD option in a DVD menu that are invariably visual and in non-standard formats, many DVD player remote controls have a dedicated "audio" button for turning on different audio tracks. This means that AD can be accessed without setup from a sighted person.
Although the number of disks with AD is growing, DVD extras and special features often fail to have descriptive tracks. Why manufacturers don't think that blind or visually impaired viewers wouldn't be interested in how their films are made or whatever the extras have to offer is a reflection of the lack of access that the blind and VI have to endure in many walks of life.
Some video equipment is designed especially for the visually impaired, including big button and talking remote controls. TVHelp web site has regular news of new equipment available to those with sight problems. Other features that can help the visually impaired are beeping sounds when buttons are pressed on the remote, surround sound and the ability to also play audio CDs. So choosing the right equipment can make the viewing experience easier and more pleasurable. Click here to view the site.
DVDs can also be watched on most modern PCs and the programs WinDVD and PowerDVD work with many screen readers so accessing menus can be easier than on equipment connected to a television.
Cinema:
Although in limited numbers so far, some cinemas have a service which can help visually impaired and blind people experience films in the cinema environment. The only way people with sight problems could enjoy the cinema was to go with soneone who could whisper what was going on on screen, spoiling the experience for the narrator and others in the theatre. Now some cinemas offer audio descriptio via headphones or even special showings with audio description over the cinema's sound system.
YourLocalCinema.com has a list of films currently showing with audio description and the participating cinemas, click here.
TVHelp has a list of cinemas that offer audio description - click here.
Another available Audio Despription:
Theatre:
AD is also available in some theatres and even some opera houses. Approximately 90 theatres around the country have sou d proof booths so the performance can be described as it happens and transmitted to headphones. TVHelp have a list of participating theatrtes - click here.
Sports Grounds:
Many sports stadiums are beginning to offer Audio Description so people can experience the atmosphere of live sport. Live sport is more exciting and disablked fans are being given more and more access to joining their sighted counterparts. Association of Wheelchair and Ambulant Disabled Supporters (AWADS) lists and reviews football grounds that offer the service- click here.
There are also reports that at least 15 seats will be made available to blind or partially sighted people with Audio Description at the stadiums at the South Africa 2010 World Cup next month. The London Olympics in 2012 willo also have AD available.
Link to RNIB page on other sports grounds offering AD.
Further links:
Audio Description (AD):
TV and video:
Some television programmes in the UK, as well as DVD/BluRay movies, are broadcast with Audio Description or have AD options on the disk. AD is an extra audio track with a professional narrative that describes action happening on the screen, making it possible to follow what is going on if you are visually impaired. Anything visual, such as locations, facial expressions and on screen text is described to convey important information to the viewer.
Many TVs and DVD/BluRay players have an option to turn on the description. The problem is that most options are hidden away in the options menus which can be difficult to find for unsighted people.
Television:
TVHelp.org is a useful web site which lists equipment designed for the visually impaired or blind user. Details on how to find out and set up your existing equipment is alspavailable. The site has TV listings for programmes that broadcast AD. AltNot all channels or programmes have AD but the number is increasing.
Links to Audio Description TV listings:
Freeview
FreeSat
Sky
Virgin Media
Blind people get a 50% reduction on the TV licence fee - click here for more info.
DVD/BluRay:
RNIB list of DVDs that carry Audio Description
YourLocalCinema list of current audio description DVDs
Video tapes could only hold one audio track but now with digital media like DVD and BluRay extra tracks can be set aside for Audio Description tracks. Although it can ofter be difficult to find the AD option in a DVD menu that are invariably visual and in non-standard formats, many DVD player remote controls have a dedicated "audio" button for turning on different audio tracks. This means that AD can be accessed without setup from a sighted person.
Although the number of disks with AD is growing, DVD extras and special features often fail to have descriptive tracks. Why manufacturers don't think that blind or visually impaired viewers wouldn't be interested in how their films are made or whatever the extras have to offer is a reflection of the lack of access that the blind and VI have to endure in many walks of life.
Some video equipment is designed especially for the visually impaired, including big button and talking remote controls. TVHelp web site has regular news of new equipment available to those with sight problems. Other features that can help the visually impaired are beeping sounds when buttons are pressed on the remote, surround sound and the ability to also play audio CDs. So choosing the right equipment can make the viewing experience easier and more pleasurable. Click here to view the site.
DVDs can also be watched on most modern PCs and the programs WinDVD and PowerDVD work with many screen readers so accessing menus can be easier than on equipment connected to a television.
Cinema:
Although in limited numbers so far, some cinemas have a service which can help visually impaired and blind people experience films in the cinema environment. The only way people with sight problems could enjoy the cinema was to go with soneone who could whisper what was going on on screen, spoiling the experience for the narrator and others in the theatre. Now some cinemas offer audio descriptio via headphones or even special showings with audio description over the cinema's sound system.
YourLocalCinema.com has a list of films currently showing with audio description and the participating cinemas, click here.
TVHelp has a list of cinemas that offer audio description - click here.
Another available Audio Despription:
Theatre:
AD is also available in some theatres and even some opera houses. Approximately 90 theatres around the country have sou d proof booths so the performance can be described as it happens and transmitted to headphones. TVHelp have a list of participating theatrtes - click here.
Sports Grounds:
Many sports stadiums are beginning to offer Audio Description so people can experience the atmosphere of live sport. Live sport is more exciting and disablked fans are being given more and more access to joining their sighted counterparts. Association of Wheelchair and Ambulant Disabled Supporters (AWADS) lists and reviews football grounds that offer the service- click here.
There are also reports that at least 15 seats will be made available to blind or partially sighted people with Audio Description at the stadiums at the South Africa 2010 World Cup next month. The London Olympics in 2012 willo also have AD available.
Link to RNIB page on other sports grounds offering AD.
Further links:
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Blind bloggers
There are a number of blogs out in the blogosphere dealing with blind and visually impaired issues. This is specifically a list of blogs by people who are blind of partially sighted themselves, their thoughts with dealing with their disability, advice or just about everyday life from a blind perspective. Often their posts are nothing about their disability, we are normal people with random thoughts too!
Take a look.
If you are a blind or visually impaired blogger contact me and I'll add you to the list. email deedubya@visionwebsight.com
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED AS I FIND MORE BLOGS BY BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. You can find it easily from the link on the right hand panel.
Take a look.
If you are a blind or visually impaired blogger contact me and I'll add you to the list. email deedubya@visionwebsight.com
- Action for Blind People official blog
With contributions from visually impaired bloggers including Sandi Wassmer, Kevin Nuttall and Shezan Hirjee
- Believing is Seeing (Laura Lawson)"An artist-turned-writer with deteriorating vision and an expanding heart. This is my story"
- The Blind Blogger (UK)
"Margaret and I are blind people and we run a company which delivers free software so that other blind people can use a computer and read and write again. The software makes the computer talk. It's great and free."
- Blindinglygood's Blog
"I am starting this blog as a visually impaired person with a keen interest in accessibility for the blind and the use of technology in particular... This blog will start by recording my experiences of learning to blog using WordPress and my experiences of going to my local college to learn how to use JAWS – software that enables the blind to use a computer."
- Fred's Head
"The Fred's Head blog contains tips, techniques, tutorials, in-depth articles, and resources for and by blind or visually impaired people. Fred's Head is offered by the American Printing House for the Blind."
- Perspectives from a Blind Point of View
"A blog dedicated to how I see the world as a 20 something blind woman, as well as news inportant to the blind community. Not all of my opinions will be based on my disability, but I hope to bring a new perspective to the blogging world."
- Random Happenings and Observations (Mel Spooner)"I live and work in Nottingham, England and am blind. This blog is often centred around things that happen to me because of being blind. This is my space to write and sometimes people will disagree with what I write, but its the one place I have in which to rant. I also like to reflect on the funnier side of life from time to time."
- Tim O'Brien's Photos
"A blind photographer’s exploration of his vision through photography and accessibility"
- Understand Connect Respect
"...this blog is to inform the general population regarding visual impairments. This blog is not designed to bash the visual community or make the population of those with vlindness or Visual impairments seem like victims or martyrs. This blog will serve as a method to blend the visual and non-visual worlds."
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED AS I FIND MORE BLOGS BY BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. You can find it easily from the link on the right hand panel.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)
The eye is filled with a clear, jelly-like substance called the vitreous. Made up of 99% water and 1% other substances, such as collagen, that maintain the shape of the eye. The vitreous is attached to the retina (the back of the eye which receives light and sends messages to the brain).
What is Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)?
Some parts of the vitreous are more firmly attached than others. As people age the vitreous changes. The central part becomes more liquid and the outer layer (the cortex) starts to peel away from the retina.
In a small number of cases, if the vitreous is more strongly attached to the retina, tears may occur, which can lead to retinal detachment but this is rare.
PVD is very common, effecting 75% of people over 65.
Symptoms:
Sufferers usually notice "floaters" or flashing lights in their vision when they first develop PVD.
Floaters are shapes that drift across the vision. These can be in various forms, from small dots or circles to lines or cobweb-like strands but also one large shape that obsures vision as it floats across the eye. They are usually more of a problem in bright light.
The appearance of flashing lights can also occur when the vitreous detaches from the retina, pulling and stimulating the light sensitive membrane which sends messages to the brain. The brain interprets this stimulation as flashes of bright, white light. An increase of floaters normally occurs when this happens and could lead to a detached retina.
If there is a sudden increase in floaters, especially with flashes of bright light, it is urgent the sufferer seeks immediate medical advice from from an eye specialist.
Retinal detachment can cause a "shadow" to spread across the vision of the effected eye, impairing vision.
Treatment:
There is currently no safe treatment for PVD. The symptoms usually calm down after a few months and the sufferer gets used to the floaters, as the brain adapts and ignores them. Although PVD takes time getting used to, the condition itself is essentially harmless and more of an annoyance than a permenant threat to sight.
The only real threat to vision is the small chance of a retinal tear or retinal detachment. Early treatment to a retinal tear or detachment increases the chance of recovery, so seeking medical advice is very important. If caught early enough simple laser or freezinf treatment can be performed under local anisthetic. However an operation may need to be performed to repair or put the retina back in place.
The amount of vision resored by the operation depending on the scale of the detachment and for how long it has been detached. The shadow caused by the detachment is completely restored in most cases. If the area of the retina used for seeing fine detail has been damaged this may not fully recover.
If no operation is performed for a detached retina most people will lose useful sight so if PVA symptoms increase it is important to see a doctor.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion amd advice visit:
RNIB page Posterior Vitrous Detachment
Moorfields hospital on floater
Illustrated guide from Good Hope hospital
What is Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)?
Some parts of the vitreous are more firmly attached than others. As people age the vitreous changes. The central part becomes more liquid and the outer layer (the cortex) starts to peel away from the retina.
In a small number of cases, if the vitreous is more strongly attached to the retina, tears may occur, which can lead to retinal detachment but this is rare.
PVD is very common, effecting 75% of people over 65.
Symptoms:
Sufferers usually notice "floaters" or flashing lights in their vision when they first develop PVD.
Floaters are shapes that drift across the vision. These can be in various forms, from small dots or circles to lines or cobweb-like strands but also one large shape that obsures vision as it floats across the eye. They are usually more of a problem in bright light.
The appearance of flashing lights can also occur when the vitreous detaches from the retina, pulling and stimulating the light sensitive membrane which sends messages to the brain. The brain interprets this stimulation as flashes of bright, white light. An increase of floaters normally occurs when this happens and could lead to a detached retina.
If there is a sudden increase in floaters, especially with flashes of bright light, it is urgent the sufferer seeks immediate medical advice from from an eye specialist.
Retinal detachment can cause a "shadow" to spread across the vision of the effected eye, impairing vision.
Treatment:
There is currently no safe treatment for PVD. The symptoms usually calm down after a few months and the sufferer gets used to the floaters, as the brain adapts and ignores them. Although PVD takes time getting used to, the condition itself is essentially harmless and more of an annoyance than a permenant threat to sight.
The only real threat to vision is the small chance of a retinal tear or retinal detachment. Early treatment to a retinal tear or detachment increases the chance of recovery, so seeking medical advice is very important. If caught early enough simple laser or freezinf treatment can be performed under local anisthetic. However an operation may need to be performed to repair or put the retina back in place.
The amount of vision resored by the operation depending on the scale of the detachment and for how long it has been detached. The shadow caused by the detachment is completely restored in most cases. If the area of the retina used for seeing fine detail has been damaged this may not fully recover.
If no operation is performed for a detached retina most people will lose useful sight so if PVA symptoms increase it is important to see a doctor.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion amd advice visit:
RNIB page Posterior Vitrous Detachment
Moorfields hospital on floater
Illustrated guide from Good Hope hospital
Monday, 17 May 2010
Cooking for the visually impaired
A new cookery book has been published with recipes and tips for the visually impaired.
Author, Maxine Turkington, is partially sigted herself and has written the book Cookery for VIPs with over 120 recipes and practical advice for the blind and visually impaired. Cooking can be a chore with limited vision and it can be all to easy to fall back on less healthy convenience food or expensive takeaway. Cooking is made pleasuable and tips on where to start and how to be safe and more organised in the kitchen are included in the large print book.
Priced £12.50 plus £2.50 postage and packing from the RNIB web site, 30% of proceeds go the the RNIB.
Click here to order Cookery for VIPs
Author, Maxine Turkington, is partially sigted herself and has written the book Cookery for VIPs with over 120 recipes and practical advice for the blind and visually impaired. Cooking can be a chore with limited vision and it can be all to easy to fall back on less healthy convenience food or expensive takeaway. Cooking is made pleasuable and tips on where to start and how to be safe and more organised in the kitchen are included in the large print book.
Priced £12.50 plus £2.50 postage and packing from the RNIB web site, 30% of proceeds go the the RNIB.
Click here to order Cookery for VIPs
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Diabetes-related sight loss
Diabetes is a major cause of visual impairment (and sometimes total blindness) but if caught early, sight loss can be prevented. Diabetes effects the body's ability to produce insulin, which means the body cannot cope normally with sugar and other carbohydrates in the diet. This can lead to many complications, including a higher risk of eye problems.
Diabetes effects the eyes in a number of ways:
Treatment:
Laser surgery can be used to treat diabetic retinopathy is caught early enough. Precision high intensity light is used to seal damaged and leaking blood vessels preventing further loss of sight. It cannot restore sight already lost.
Managing diabetes is the best revention. Keeping good control on your blood sugar level and high blood pressure reduces the risk of diabetes-related sight loss. Good diet and low cholesterol is important and smoking raises both blood sugar level and blood pressure so should be avoided.
Links:
Many thanks to Ben Jephcote from the Diabetes UK Digital Media team
Diabetes effects the eyes in a number of ways:
- Diabetic retinopathy is when the blood vessels feeding the retina (the light sensitive cells at the back of the eye) are effected (background retinopathy). They may swell or haemorage, effecting sight.
- After time Maculopathy may occur as retinopathy becomes more severe. Central vision will gradually get worse. Peripheral vision is usually left uneffected.
- •Proliferative retinopathy: If left untreated the blood vessels may become blocked and new blood vessels form naturally to replace the damaged one. However these blood vessels are usually weaker than the originals and may grow in the wrong places. If these vessels bleed they cause scar tissue in the eye which can distort the retina and pull it out of it's correct possition (detached retina). This can be very sudden and more severe than the earlier problems caused by diabetes.
- For expert advice read Diabetes UK's page on diabetic retinopthay by click here.
- Cataracts: Cataracts, the clouding of the eye's lens, is very common eye condition, usually related to age. They may occur earlier in people with diabetes. To find out more about cataracts click here to read the VWS blof entry on cataracts.
- Blurred vision: When diabetes is not correctly controlled temporary blurred vision can occur. This is due to the lens of the eye swelling and will return to normal once the diabetes is managed properly and brought under control.
Treatment:
Laser surgery can be used to treat diabetic retinopathy is caught early enough. Precision high intensity light is used to seal damaged and leaking blood vessels preventing further loss of sight. It cannot restore sight already lost.
Managing diabetes is the best revention. Keeping good control on your blood sugar level and high blood pressure reduces the risk of diabetes-related sight loss. Good diet and low cholesterol is important and smoking raises both blood sugar level and blood pressure so should be avoided.
Links:
- Diabetes UK
"Diabetes UK is the leading charity for the three million people in the UK with diabetes, funding research, campaigning and helping people living with the condition. Our mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and work towards a future without diabetes. For more information visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk/ "Quote from Diabetes UK email to VisionWebSight
Many thanks to Ben Jephcote from the Diabetes UK Digital Media team
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
The car that the blind can drive
Losing my sight has meant I have had to give up driving. Maybe I need one of these. Wired.com reports on a new car which is so technologically advanced even blind people can drive.
The dune buggy was developed by undergraduate students at Virginia Tech, as part of a challenge from the National Federation of the Blind. It tells the driver which way to go and gives a countdown to upcoming corners. The cars laser range finder estimates distance and various vibrations in a specially worn vest and voice software convey commands to the driver so they know when to turn, break and other actions.
Read the full story by clicking here.
The dune buggy was developed by undergraduate students at Virginia Tech, as part of a challenge from the National Federation of the Blind. It tells the driver which way to go and gives a countdown to upcoming corners. The cars laser range finder estimates distance and various vibrations in a specially worn vest and voice software convey commands to the driver so they know when to turn, break and other actions.
"We are not only excited about the vehicle itself, but also the potential spinoff technologies from this project that could end up helping the blind,"Quote from Dennis Hong, the director of the Virginia Tech's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory on Wired.com
Read the full story by clicking here.
RNIB - in their own words
Following an invitation by VisionWebSight to contribute to this blog and outline what the Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) do as an organisation, this is their response:
Many thanks to Justin Butler afrom the RNIB Information Resource team.
The RNIB is a registered charity, if you would like to donate visit their web site by clicking here.
1. What we do
RNIB is a charity and we have three clear priorities: stopping people losing their sight unnecessarily, supporting blind and partially sighted people to live independently and creating an inclusive society.
We listen, campaign, work energetically with others and show what can be achieved. Our work includes:
2. Our Helpline
- Campaigning to ensure proven treatments for sight-threatening conditions are available on the NHS.
- Offering emotional and practical support, products to make life easier and advice about money, eye health and local services.
- Improving educational opportunities for blind and partially sighted children and adults, including those with complex needs.
- Enabling people with sight loss to retain and gain jobs.
- Working with transport operators, retailers and banks to enable more people with sight loss to travel, shop and run their own finances.
- Influencing partners across the world to make computers, television, mobile phones and satellite navigation systems easier to use
- for people with sight loss.
If you, someone you know, or someone you support has a sight problem, RNIB can help.
Our helpline is your direct line to the support, advice and products you
need to remain independent. We're there to:
- give you free information about your eye condition and availabletreatments
- direct you to support available in your local area and beyond,
- from RNIB and other organisations including Action for Blind People
- let you know about any financial benefits and discounts that you could be entitled to
- recommend everyday products that can help make life easier,
- available from RNIB and other centres
- suggest ways you can continue to enjoy your hobbies and leisure time
- help you join and use our library service of over 40,000 titles in braille, moon, giant print and audio
- let you know about employment, training and education opportunities
- advise on housing options, whether staying in your own home or moving elsewhere
- provide access to emotional support and counselling services
- or simply to offer a listening ear.
Our specialist advice workers will spend time with you over the phone, making sure the support they give is right for you. We'll call you back a few weeks later to find out how you're getting on and what else we can do to help.
RNIB Helpline
Telephone: 0303 123 9999
Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk
Website: rnib.org.uk
What would you lose from your life if you lost your sight? RNIB helps people who have lost their sight to find their lives again. Right now we can only reach one in three of those who need our help the most. You can help us reach everyone. Visit rnib.org.uk/lost
Many thanks to Justin Butler afrom the RNIB Information Resource team.
The RNIB is a registered charity, if you would like to donate visit their web site by clicking here.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Accessible online book archive
A press release last week from the Associated Press announced a project which plans to put over one million books online for people who have difficulty reading.
The "Internet Archive" in San Francisco have hired hundreds of people to scan thousands of books so they can be put into a digital format that screenreaders can read and make them available to the blind and visually impaired. The percentage of books even available in audio format is miniscule compared to the number of hard copy textx available to sighted readers. Only about 5% of published books are converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired.
It is usually only profitable, popular books from the last few years that are currently converted into accessible forms. The Internet Archive "working to get all books online".
Now people unable to read standard books will have a choice unavailable to them before.
Visit the Internet Archive by clicking here. Most texts are free to read or download though some have restrictions. They also have free audio, movie and image files and links to projects like the Open Library, which has a list of 20 million books that are already available in accessible formats and where to find or buy them.
The "Internet Archive" in San Francisco have hired hundreds of people to scan thousands of books so they can be put into a digital format that screenreaders can read and make them available to the blind and visually impaired. The percentage of books even available in audio format is miniscule compared to the number of hard copy textx available to sighted readers. Only about 5% of published books are converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired.
Brewster Kahle, the organization's founder, says the project will initially make 1 million books available to the visually impaired, using money from foundations, libraries, corporations and the government. He's hoping a subsequent book drive will add even more titles to the collection.Quote from Associated Press
"We'll offer current novels, educational books, anything. If somebody then donates a book to the archive, we can digitize it and add it to the collection," he said.
The problems with many of the digitized books sold commercially is that they're expensive, they're often abridged, and they don't come in a format that is easily accessed by the visually impaired.
It is usually only profitable, popular books from the last few years that are currently converted into accessible forms. The Internet Archive "working to get all books online".
Now people unable to read standard books will have a choice unavailable to them before.
Visit the Internet Archive by clicking here. Most texts are free to read or download though some have restrictions. They also have free audio, movie and image files and links to projects like the Open Library, which has a list of 20 million books that are already available in accessible formats and where to find or buy them.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
UK Election 2010
It's nice to know that my local polling station were more than happy to make it easy for me, a visually impaired person, to vote. They offered me help and a magnifier so I was able to read the ballot paper, without question. My "VIP Visually Impaired Person" badge is always useful in situations like that.
To read what rights you have as a disabled voter see you previous post by clicking here.
For the main welfare policies of the main parties that may effect you as a disabled voter read my post here.
You have until 10pm tonight to vote. Don't miss you chance.
To read what rights you have as a disabled voter see you previous post by clicking here.
For the main welfare policies of the main parties that may effect you as a disabled voter read my post here.
You have until 10pm tonight to vote. Don't miss you chance.
Electric cars to sound like the Millennium Falcon?
Regulators in the European Union, the United States and Japan are considering allowing manufacturers of electric and hybrid cars to emmit an array of sounds, from the usual car engine noise to sci-fi style sounds, to combat the problem that these cars can be eerily silent compared to their petrol engined counterparts.
They could even have their own "signature" sounds so they can be differentiated. Engine sounds could also help drivers who may feeling disconcerted when accellerating silently.
A recent study by the University of California has highlighed the dangers of these silent cars, especially at low speeds such as pulling away from parking spaces, when running only on their electric engines. Accidents involving blind and visually impaired people are more likely as they can't hear the danger, like ordinary cars.
The charities Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired people (NALSVI) have been campaigning for a sound to be added to the vehicles to increase safety:
Reports that the cars may make sci-fi sounds like the spaceships from the Star Wars movies might even be a selling point!
They could even have their own "signature" sounds so they can be differentiated. Engine sounds could also help drivers who may feeling disconcerted when accellerating silently.
A recent study by the University of California has highlighed the dangers of these silent cars, especially at low speeds such as pulling away from parking spaces, when running only on their electric engines. Accidents involving blind and visually impaired people are more likely as they can't hear the danger, like ordinary cars.
The charities Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Association of Local Societies for Visually Impaired people (NALSVI) have been campaigning for a sound to be added to the vehicles to increase safety:
The silent engines of newly introduced hybrid and electric cars and buses pose another safety threat to all those who rely mainly on their hearing to assess whether it is safe to cross the street. While supportive of greener engines, the challenge should be to identify a technology that is both environmentally-friendly and safe for pedestrians, thus benefiting all, say the charities.Statement from Guide Dogs for the Blind web site
Shared Space schemes and silent vehicles affect a wide range of pedestrians: blind and partially sighted people (including those with hearing and other impairments), young children, seniors, runners, cyclists, and any inattentive pedestrian.
Reports that the cars may make sci-fi sounds like the spaceships from the Star Wars movies might even be a selling point!
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Retinitis Pigmentosa
The light sensitive part of the back of the eye (retina) is made up of two types of photoreceptive cells, cones and rods. Approximately 6 million cones cells make up the macular, the central part of the retina which accounts for the sharp central vision and sees colour. Approximately 125 million rods form the outer part of the retina and account for the outer, peripheral vision. Whilst the cones work better in bright light the rods are used for night vision, hence colour perception being less accurate in low light.
What is a Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?:
People with Retinitis Pigmentosa ofter develop cataracts, Ushers Syndrom (hearing loss) and other conditions.
Children that show signs of Retinitis Pigmentosa may also have other symptoms with no relation to their vision, such as learning difficulties, impaired hearing and reduced growth. In most cases early symptons appear between the ages of 10 and 30.
Causes:
Links:
What is a Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)?:
Retinitis is disease or inflammation of the retina causing dark spots of pigment (pigmentosa). Retinitis Pigmentosa actually covers a wide range of different types of hereditary eye problem. Sight loss is gradularly progressive as the cones or rods are effected though complete blindness from Retinitis Pigmentosa is rare. Retinitis Pigmentosa causes nearly 2% of blindness or visual impairment in the UK.
Symptoms:
Some types of Retinitis Pigmentosa effect the cone cells, making central vision impaired, making detailed work like reading, difficult. Retinitis Pigmentosa which effects the rod cells causes a narrowed visual field, or tunnel vision. Sufferes can have difficulties seeing in very bright on dim light, though this normally develops as the condition progresses.
People with Retinitis Pigmentosa ofter develop cataracts, Ushers Syndrom (hearing loss) and other conditions.
Children that show signs of Retinitis Pigmentosa may also have other symptoms with no relation to their vision, such as learning difficulties, impaired hearing and reduced growth. In most cases early symptons appear between the ages of 10 and 30.
Causes:
Retinitis Pigmentosa is genetic and is often caused by a gene inherited from one or more parent, though it can skip generations.
Treatment:
As Retinitis Pigmentosa is genetic, as yet, there is no cure or prevention for the progression the condition. There is currently research into the possibilty of retinal implants, drugs and stem cell research.
Links:
For a more detailed and expert opinion visit:
NHS call for cheaper Macular Degeneration drug use
The NHS is pushing for a drug used to treat bowel cancer to be licenced as a more cost effective cure for wet form Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). In America and around the world, the drug, Avastin (bevacizumab), is increasingly used by injecting tiny doses into the eye to prevent blindness from the most common cause of blindness in the UK.
The current drug used by the NHS, Lucentis, is derived from Avastin and costs to the NHS have been a lot higher than anticipated, due to the large number of cases of AMD. A full course of treatment with Lucentis can cost as much as 100 times more than that of Avastin. Drug manufacturers Genentech are resisting the clinical trials and licencing for Avastin to be used for the treatment of AMD. Genentech also produces Lucentis.
The Department of Health has asked NICE (the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence), which assessed Lucentis for cost effectiveness, to consider assessing Avastin for the use on eyes despite normally only only assessing licenced drugs. This is a departure from normal prodeedures and could be seen as a comment on the drug industry which is often criticised for it's high prices.
Read the full story from The Guardian by click here.
The current drug used by the NHS, Lucentis, is derived from Avastin and costs to the NHS have been a lot higher than anticipated, due to the large number of cases of AMD. A full course of treatment with Lucentis can cost as much as 100 times more than that of Avastin. Drug manufacturers Genentech are resisting the clinical trials and licencing for Avastin to be used for the treatment of AMD. Genentech also produces Lucentis.
The Department of Health has asked NICE (the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence), which assessed Lucentis for cost effectiveness, to consider assessing Avastin for the use on eyes despite normally only only assessing licenced drugs. This is a departure from normal prodeedures and could be seen as a comment on the drug industry which is often criticised for it's high prices.
Read the full story from The Guardian by click here.
Seeing with sound
Reports of a young boy who uses echo-location to "see" caught my eye.
Daniel Aspland, aged four, clicks his tongue and by listening to the way the noise bounces off nearby objects can work out his environment, in a similar way to dolphins and bats use echo-location. Blind from birth, Daniel can now go out without having to hold his mother's hand or use his white stick and can even negotiate stairs.
The technique was pioneered by blind Calafornian Daniel Kish, founder of World Access for the Blind. In time Daniel should be able to distinguish the location and even size of buildings, objects and people up to 100m away. The method has also helped behavioural problems caused by Daniel's frustration.
Read the full story and watch a video of Daniel on the Sky News web site.
I also discovered this inspiring web site about Ben Underwood (click here) an American boy who discovered echo-location himself after losing his sight at an early age to Retnoblastoma (childhood eye cancer). Using his hearing Ben could rollerblade, ride bikes and many other things thought impossible for the blind. Tragically Ben died of cancer at the age of 16 but his legacy has been an insiration to many.
Below is a video about Ben Underwood from the documentary Extraordinary People":
Wikipedia has a page dedicated to human echo-location here. It deals with the history of human echo-location and gives more examples of the phenomenon.
Daniel Aspland, aged four, clicks his tongue and by listening to the way the noise bounces off nearby objects can work out his environment, in a similar way to dolphins and bats use echo-location. Blind from birth, Daniel can now go out without having to hold his mother's hand or use his white stick and can even negotiate stairs.
"We could see him walking towards a fence and my heart stopped. But literally without using a stick or anything he just knew it was there and walked around it. I was so amazed."Quote from Jamie Aspland, Daniel's mother from Sky News
The technique was pioneered by blind Calafornian Daniel Kish, founder of World Access for the Blind. In time Daniel should be able to distinguish the location and even size of buildings, objects and people up to 100m away. The method has also helped behavioural problems caused by Daniel's frustration.
Read the full story and watch a video of Daniel on the Sky News web site.
I also discovered this inspiring web site about Ben Underwood (click here) an American boy who discovered echo-location himself after losing his sight at an early age to Retnoblastoma (childhood eye cancer). Using his hearing Ben could rollerblade, ride bikes and many other things thought impossible for the blind. Tragically Ben died of cancer at the age of 16 but his legacy has been an insiration to many.
Below is a video about Ben Underwood from the documentary Extraordinary People":
Wikipedia has a page dedicated to human echo-location here. It deals with the history of human echo-location and gives more examples of the phenomenon.
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