April Newsletter 287
Free newspaper subscription for people with sight loss
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is helping people with sight loss keep up to date during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering a free subscription to a newspaper or broadcast guide via its Newsagent service.
RNIB Newsagent provides plain text email versions of major UK newspapers, and TV and radio guides, which can be easily read with magnification or screen reading software that many blind and partially sighted people use. This offer means that anyone who finds it difficult to read a paper or TV guide in their current print or online formats can get easy access to their favourite newspaper or broadcast guide for free for up to three months.
Further details here: https://www.wales247.co.uk/free-newspaper-subscription-for-people-with-sight-loss/
Breakthrough technology used to discover eye damage from repeated injections
In a first of its kind study, Mount Sinai researchers are using optimal coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to measure potential retina damage from long-term use of intravitreal eye injections. The findings, published in the April issue of Retina, suggest that repeated use of these injections, a popular therapy for common eye conditions—could contribute to progressive vision loss after many years. The results may also lead to changes in the way eye conditions are treated.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-04-breakthrough-technology-eye-intravitreal.html
COVID-19 Emergency Fund for the Sight Loss Sector
“To support the essential role sight loss organisations play in providing vital services to blind and partially sighted people, Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) has suspended its normal grant funding activities and set up an emergency fund for sight loss organisations.
£500,000 of essential support will be available to sight loss sector organisations which are providing critical services for the physical and emotional well-being of blind and partially sighted people in these uncertain times.
Grants will be available of up to £10,000 pounds or the equivalent of two months’ running costs (whichever is less) for use over the next six months.”