MARCH NEWSLETTER No. 346
BBC local radio cuts 'could harm thousands of people registered visually impaired
Sarah Gayton, street access campaign coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind UK, said the BBC’s recent cuts to local radio services hit visually impaired people harder, as they rely on the radio for information, entertainment and companionship.
Writer & Activist Bérénice Magistretti On Revealing Her Sight Loss
Discussion about living with the condition retinitis pigmentosa.
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/berenice-magistretti-eyesight
Improved home lighting promotes physical activity of visually impaired people:
A new study shows that much of an older person with visual impairment’s physical activity is achieved at home. Improved home lighting can help increase those at-home activity rates.
Full details here:
University of Surrey research tackles age-related sight loss
Tiny “solar panels” at the back of the eye could help patients recover from sight loss, according to research from the University of Surrey. Scientists believe the panels could one day restore colour vision. The panels can be printed, like paper, making them cheaper and more accessible.
University researcher Dr Leslie Askew said the research was “really exciting”.
“Just like solar panels convert light to electricity, our flexible device sits at the back of the eye, converting light to electrical signals carrying colour information through to the optical nerve,” said Dr Askew. The findings are patent-pending, but the university hopes they can be used to design an artificial retina to help patients suffering from retinal disease.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-68309511
Understanding and managing age-related eye health issues
Age-related eye health issues are increasingly common as we grow older, affecting millions worldwide. Understanding these issues and how to manage them is crucial for maintaining good vision and quality of life in our later years.
“She’s the Lewis Capaldi of the art world" - the young visually impaired artist transforming creativity
Hannah Evans (17) from Linlithgow, has been creating art since she was three years old and has three group exhibitions and three large solo shows under her belt. She is also partially sighted, autistic, and has specific learning and communication disabilities.
“At first I just dismissed Hannah’s art as kid’s paintings,” says Carol, Hannah’s mum. “But through my late dad’s mentoring and promotion of Hannah’s art, I finally get it and see the talent he saw in her. He said she was the ‘Lewis Capaldi’ of the art world. She never ceases to amaze me with what she produces.”
However, creating art with low vision is not without its difficulties. Carol adds, “She does struggle with conventional drawing and due to her learning disabilities, she always needs constant supervision in her art even although she does it all herself. But she sees colour and the world differently which only adds a new dimension to her art.”
Scientists discover eating a handful of grapes each day can improve eye health
Eating grapes is good for your eyes as well, a new study reveals. Just a couple of handfuls of grapes a day for four months was shown to improve key markers of eye health. The secret lies in the fact that a lot of degeneration of the eyes is down to oxidative stress and grapes are high in anti-oxidants.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/scientists-discover-eating-common-fruit-28633475
Screen time can seriously harm your eyes
Here’s how to avoid it: Every day, more and more patients are seeking medical attention after spending long days in front of computer screens. The most common symptoms include irritated or itchy eyes, and a sensation of dryness or sand on the surface of the eye. By taking precautions, we can ensure that screens work with us, not against us.
How Google Lookout's AI can describe images for the visually impaired
The Google Lookout app leveraged AI to assist the visually impaired and blind community explore their surroundings using their phone cameras. Launched in March 2019, the app recently added a handy AI-powered feature — Image Q+A.
The Image Q+A feature allows users to ask questions about an image by uploading the photo and using their voice or entering text. The user will then receive a detailed description of the image addressing their concerns.
The app is free to download in the UK.
What The Colour Of Your Eye Crust Says About Your Health
You might call it sleep in your eye, eye crust, or simply goop, it turns out there’s a proper name for the thin layer of dried gunk that forms in the corner of your eye when you sleep ― its medical name is rheum. And, despite its association with a good night’s sleep, we actually excrete rheum throughout the day; our eyes just usually blink the substances away when we’re awake. However, having more eye crust than usual ― no matter what colour ― can be a sign of eye conditions, like blepharitis and dry eye. If you struggle to open your eyes or your rhuem is especially thick and sticky, that’s another sign of health issues.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/colour-of-eye-crust-health_uk_65c35e63e4b069b665dd6a03