NEWSLETTER No. 366

A group of blind patients can now read again after being fitted with a life-changing implant at the back of the eye.

A surgeon who inserted the microchips in five patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London says the results of the international trial are “astounding”. Sheila Irvine, 70, who is registered blind, told the BBC it was “out of this world” to be able to read and do crosswords again. “It’s beautiful, wonderful. It gives me such pleasure.”

The technology offers hope to people with an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), called geographic atrophy (GA), which affects more than 250,000 people in the UK and five million worldwide. In those with the condition – which is more common in older people – cells in a tiny area of the retina at the back of the eye gradually become damaged and die, resulting in blurred or distorted central vision. Colour and fine detail are often lost. The new procedure involves inserting a tiny 2mm-square photovoltaic microchip, with the thickness of a human hair, under the retina. Patients then put on glasses with a built-in video camera. The camera sends an infrared beam of video images to the implant at the back of the eye, which sends them on to a small pocket processor to be enhanced and made clearer. The images are then sent back to the patient’s brain, via the implant and optic nerve, giving them some vision again. The patients spent months learning how to interpret the images.

Mahi Muqit, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, who led the UK arm of the trial, told the BBC it was “pioneering and life-changing technology”.

Read the full story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qpz39jpj7o

Thousands of children across the UK are struggling to read standard text school books according to a new poll from The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). RNIB is calling for every school to adopt Bookshare – a free on-line hub of over 1.2 million accessible texts in formats like audio, ePub, electronic Braille and digital PDFs. A new YouGov poll commissioned by RNIB reveals that almost one in five (18.5%) of UK parents say their child has struggled to read school books because of the way the text was printed. Whether the text is too small, too crowded, or not available in audio or digital form, these challenges don’t just affect children with print disabilities like dyslexia or a vision impairment. They can impact any child who processes information differently, has physical or sensory needs, or simply struggles with standard formats. Without accessible materials, children risk falling behind and missing their full potential. “Reading should be the great enabler – not the thing that holds a child back,” said Anna Tylor, Chair of RNIB and founder of Bookshare – a free, accessible reading and resource on-line hub. “If you can’t see the words clearly or access them in a format that works for you, you simply can’t do the learning. That affects every aspect of a child’s development and leads to poor educational outcomes and in many cases long-term unemployment and higher welfare costs.’

Read the full story here: https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/nearly-one-in-five-parents-say-theirchildren-find-standard-school-books-hard-to-see/

Millions of people aged 50 or over in the UK have undiagnosed sight or hearing problems, according to research, prompting calls for that age group to have checkups more regularly. Doctors involved in the research said the findings were “deeply concerning” and warned that those affected were at risk of falls, mental ill-health and of leading socially restricted lives.

One in four people aged 50 and over – 6.7 million people – cannot see clearly out of one or both eyes, according to a pilot stage of the UK national eye health and hearing study. And three in four older Britons – 20.3 million people – suffer from some form of hearing loss in one or bothears, according to the study, the first of its kind. The research uncovered “widespread hidden sensory loss”, the sight and hearing experts involved in the study said, with many of those affected unaware of their condition.

Rupert Bourne, a professor of ophthalmology at Anglia Ruskin University and the study’s principal investigator, said: “These figures are deeply concerning. They show that sensory health is being overlooked, even among high-risk groups. We are missing critical opportunities to prevent avoidable sight and hearing loss.”

Read the full story here: https://www.pslhub.org/blogs/entry/9092-millions-of-over-50s-haveundiagnosed-sight-and-hearing-problems-uk-study-suggests

A bronze bust of Labour peer, the Rt Hon Lord David Blunkett – the UK’s first blind cabinet minister – has been unveiled at the House of Lords. The unveiling is part of a special event by national charity Fight for Sight to celebrate the achievements of people with vision loss ahead of Disability History Month (14 November – 20 December).

The bust is fully accessible: it is the first instalment in the House of Lords that is tactile and also has an audio button, enabling people to experience the artwork through touch as well as sight. This is especially significant given Lord Blunkett’s achievements as the UK’s first blind Cabinet minister, who challenged assumptions and reshaped expectations of what vision-impaired
people can achieve.

Read the full story here: https://www.fightforsight.org.uk/news-and-insights/news/charitynews/labour-peer-immortalised-in-bronze-to-celebrate-achievements-of-vision-impairedpeople/

A new partnership lets blind and partially sighted customers connect with trained Tesco staff through the Be My Eyes app for real‑time, personalised visual support while they shop.

A six-month pilot began on 9th October where Be My Eyes and Tesco are rolling out direct, instore assistance so blind and partially sighted customers can get quick help with everyday tasks. Directly through the Be My Eyes Service Directory, available in the Be My Eyes app, customers can reach Tesco colleagues who can help identify the right products, confirm sizes and variants, check expiry dates, and find items more easily throughout the store.

For many in the vision-impaired community, grocery shopping can involve guesswork, extra trips, or waiting for assistance. This collaboration is about removing those barriers.

Read the full story here: https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/be-my-eyes-and-tesco-teamup/?utm_source=accessinformationnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=10132025&utm_content=editorial

Simon Antrobus, current CEO of Children in Need, will be joining as Chief Executive of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Simon joins RNIB having been Chief Executive of BBC Children in Need since November 2016 and has a wealth of experience in the charity sector – as previous Chief Executive of both Clubs for Young People and With You, as well as holding senior roles at Parkinson’s UK and Scope.

Read the full press release here: https://www.rnib.org.uk/news/welcoming-our-new-ceo/