MAY NEWSLETTER No 336
Virtual reality restores lost pleasure of hillwalking for sight loss veterans
Virtual reality goggles are helping restore the lost pleasure of hillwalking for veterans affected by sight loss.
The VR platform is being used by Sight Scotland Veterans, allowing ex-servicemen and women to enjoy the experience of Munro bagging without ascending rocky outcrops.
Veterans with visual impairments are now able to enjoy the great outdoors once again with VR headsets. Full details here:
HiVis2023 resources
The HiVis2023 resources are live on the Reading Sight website, you can also download the HiVis 2023 digital promotional assets. These images will work on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and the content has been provided in formats that will allow local libraries to add in their own content. There is also an additional toolkit designed to help with planning.
The Twitter account: @ReadingSight and the hashtag #HiVis2023 will help to spread the word and feature activities that are going on.
Research funding gives hope for sight loss breakthrough
A team of scientists led by a Northumbria University academic has won funding to research an eye disease suffered by over 190 million people worldwide. The award, from the Academy of Medical Sciences’ Springboard scheme, will help fund ground-breaking techniques to study age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common disease that affects vision, particularly in the elderly.
It is believed that the research, led by Dr Gerrit Hilgen, Assistant Professor in Northumbria’s Department of Applied Sciences, has the potential to lead to new treatments for AMD and could also help develop new and faster ways to diagnose and prevent the condition.
A National Eye Health Strategy is vital to prevent avoidable sight loss
Marsha de Cordova MP argues that with demographic changes and age-related macular degeneration cases predicted to rise by 59 per cent over the next two decades, and cataract operations increasing by 50 per cent, we cannot afford to continue with the current piecemeal approach to eye health in the UK.
Charity calls for sight-loss friendly public transport
A former Paralympic athlete from Leicestershire is calling for more to be done to help people with sight loss use public transport. Libby Clegg from Loughborough, who has limited vision, is heading a campaign by local charity Vista. Vista is calling for developments such as talking bus stops, better signage and high-contrast colours. The charity said these changes would allow people with disabilities to keep their independence for longer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-65130412
Follow the 20-20-20 rule for eye health
The 20-20-20 rule involves taking screen breaks every 20 minutes to focus on a fixed point 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This exercise will relieve the stress on your eyes and can be easily integrated into your daily routine.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/optician-urges-everyone-follow-important-29815085
Type 2 Diabetes and Your Vision
Annual eye examinations are important to keep on top of any potential issues. Symptoms to watch out for include: floaters, blurred or distorted vision, halos appearing round light sources and difficulty seeing with prescription glasses.
It is essential to stay alert to any changes in your vision and to be proactive about your eye health. By taking the necessary steps to manage your diabetes and keep your blood sugar levels under control, you can reduce the risk of developing eye problems and preserve your sight for years to come.
https://www.diabetesincontrol.com/type-2-diabetes-and-your-vision-why-it-pays-to-be-proactive/
Over half of people with sight loss find it difficult to navigate public transport facilities
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has published an insightful new report that details the range of barriers that blind and partially people face due to inaccessible public transport. There are around 340,000 people registered blind or partially sighted in the UK and an estimated two million people are living with sight loss that affects their daily lives, the report emphasises.
Many blind and partially sighted people tell RNIB that better accessibility to transport and public places is the most important factor to improve their quality of life.
More awareness is needed around genetic sight loss
Inherited sight loss conditions are the most common cause of blindness in working age adults in the UK. While there is currently no cure for inherited sight loss conditions, there is increasing work in the development of treatments – driven by advancements in genomic science.
Experts suggest the key to additional progress lies in more people having genetic tests.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/experts-nhs-people-dna-university-of-oxford-b2325391.html
New treatment offers hope to 500,000 Britons suffering dry age-related macular degeneration
The first drug treatment for one of the leading causes of blindness could become available on the NHS. Pegcetacoplan tackles dry age-related macular degeneration, or dry AMD, which affects more than 500,000 Britons and causes a quarter of severe sight- loss cases in the UK. The jabs can slow the eye damage that causes vision loss by more than a third, according to research.
Virgin Atlantic cabin crew to get training to support people with sight loss
Crew will learn how to guide someone to their seat and where is best for guide dogs