Caption: Scene as Viewed by Person with Retinitis Pigmentosa In December 2017, news broke to great fanfare that the FDA had approved the first ever gene therapy for a genetic disease. Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl) had been proven to restore vision in people living with inherited retinal diseases. Stories about children seeing their parentsā faces for … Continued
How Macular Degeneration Affects Vision A progressive eye disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may occur in one or both eyes and may advance very slowly or quite rapidly. While the condition can be devastating, ophthalmologists reassure patients that macular degeneration alone will not lead to total blindness. The reason is that both the dry and … Continued
Only Comprehensive Eye Exams Can Detect Disease According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, but only 50 percent of those affected are aware they have the disease. Often referred to as the "sneak thief of sight," glaucoma is normally painless, and vision loss may progress … Continued
Treatments for Dry Macular Degeneration: An Unmet Need Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in Americans over 65. There are two distinct types of the disease, both of which result in the deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina that allows a person to see fine detail. … Continued
Editor’s note: January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, and VisionAware is bringing you critical information about management of this serious eye condition. Glaucoma is a diverse group of eye diseases that leads to a characteristic form of damage to the optic nerve. Elevated eye pressure is the primary known risk factor for glaucoma nerve damage … Continued
As an itinerant vision rehabilitation teacher, I travel the highways of Central Indiana making home visits to people learning to adapt to vision loss. Each initial appointment begins on the front porch of a strangerās home. When the door opens, I follow my new client inside to sit at their kitchen table. As I unpack … Continued
Editor’s note: Mary D’Apice, VisionAware Correspondent interviewed Sue about her new book. In Dog We Trust Sue Martin’s first book “Out of the Whirlpool: A Memoir of Remorse and Reconciliation,” chronicles a young woman’s battle with depression, a suicide attempt that resulted in blindness, and a courageous journey to rebuild her life. Her second book, … Continued
91-year-old Barbara Beskind is the toast of Silicon Valley as well the toast of the media, with interviews on National Public Radio and the Today Show. In the high tech industry where youth reigns, Beskind has a coveted job as a designer at IDEO, a world-renowned consulting firm perhaps most famous for designing the first … Continued
Editor’s note: Just in time for World Glaucoma Week, VisionAware is introducing a new Patient’s Guide for Living with Glaucoma, written by a person who has glaucoma from his perspective. By Mary D’Apice, VisionAware peer advisor Author of Patient’s Guide to Living with Glaucoma Is Both Patient and Advocate Stuart Carduner, author of the Patient’s … Continued
Prevention of Falls National Fall Prevention Day is coming. Prevention of falls is of critical concern to people with vision loss. Also, many older adults fear falls because of the risk of serious injury. Unfortunately, the fear can be equally debilitating when a person begins to restrict their activities, leading to social isolation, physical weakness, … Continued