Blindness & Vision Impairment News

Seeing the light ( Guardian 18-Nov-08 )

Fernando Meirelles, director of City of God, tells Ryan Gilbey how making a film about blindness helped him to see the light

Bionic Vision A Step Closer ( UNSW 17-Nov-08 )

Life-changing bionic vision is a step closer following the announcement this week of a new partnership between UNSW and other world-leading Australian research institutes to fast-track development of a bionic eye.

Contact Lenses Are Home To Pathogenic Amoebae ( SGM 27-Oct-08 )

Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness.

Blind Aboriginal Singer Spurns Critical Acclaim ( Independent 24-Oct-08 )

A blind Aboriginal man hailed as the greatest voice Australia has ever recorded, carried the night at the country's top music awards, despite most awards going to a 17-year-old schoolgirl.

Disease Leads To Vision Loss More Often In Men ( AAN 22-Oct-08 )

A new study shows that men are more likely to lose vision as a result of a particular cause of intracranial hypertension, or increased pressure in the brain, than women with the condition.

One In Five Losing Sight Lacks Critical Support ( ABP 15-Oct-08 )

In the time it takes for one revolution of the London Eye, two more people in the UK will begin to lose their sight. Shockingly, one in five people newly-diagnosed with sight loss has to wait more than a year for any advice or support.

Blind Masseurs Protest At Sighted Competition ( Independent 13-Oct-08 )

Unheralded and largely out of sight, a small army of blind masseurs has been kneading South Korea's tired muscles for nearly half a century. Now, demands that the masseurs share their profession with the non-blind have forced them out of the massage parlours and onto the streets into dramatic, sometimes suicidal, protests.

One Third Of Aussies Risking Blindness ( Mendleson Communication 13-Oct-08 )

Around 7 million Australians could be at risk of blindness or vision impairment because they don't know the basic facts about their eyes.

Royal National Institute For Blind People Research Launch ( RNIB 7-Oct-08 )

On 30th September, RNIB launched a new report on the 'Labour Market Experiences of People with Seeing Difficulties - a Secondary Analysis of the Labour Force Survey' (LFS).

Dramatic Results In Eye Gene Op ( BBCNews 25-Sep-08 )

US scientists have claimed success using gene therapy to try to reverse a severe inherited sight disorder.

Blindness Is No Barrier To Being A Housemate ( RNIB 10-Sep-08 )

RNIB, the UK's leading sight loss charity, said: "By making it to the final of Big Brother, Mikey has proved that his blindness is no barrier to being a housemate. He has demanded to be treated equally, with the same opportunities as his fellow contestants and provided viewers with a unique opportunity to watch a blind person living their day-to-day life.

Experimental Therapy May Lead To Macular Degeneration ( JHM 2-Sep-08 )

Having discovered a genetic trigger for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in people over 50, researchers report that an experimental state-of-the-art therapy for treating eye disease could adversely affect the vision of some patients with the "wrong" genetic makeup.

Justice For Thousands Facing Blindness ( RNIB 2-Sep-08 )

Guidance published yesterday by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will save the sight of thousands affected by the UK's leading cause of blindness, says the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Wonder Eye Drug Brings Hope To Thousands ( Independent 29-Aug-08 )

Thousands of people with a devastating eye disease could have their sight saved by a drug being made available on the NHS under new guidelines published today.

Using Plastic Coatings To Help Medical Implants Connect With Neurons ( OSU 25-Aug-08 )

Plastic coatings could someday help neural implants treat conditions as diverse as Parkinson's disease and macular degeneration. The coatings encourage neurons in the body to grow and connect with the electrodes that provide treatment.

Eye Abnormality Associated With Increased Heart Disease Death ( BHJ 14-Aug-08 )

Oily Fish Consumption At Least Once A Week Will Protect Your Eyesight ( LSHTM 12-Aug-08 )

Dachshund Gene Offers Blindness Clue ( BBCNews 12-Aug-08 )

Visually Impaired May Soon Benefit FromTelescope Embedded In Glasses Lens ( SERI 28-Jul-08 )

New Air Regulations To Improve Travel For Blind And Partially Sighted In Europe ( NFBUK 24-Jul-08 )

Increased Suicide Risk Associated With Visual Impairment ( 22-Jul-08 )

People With Function Limitations Benefit From Computer Custom Interfaces ( University of Washington 21-Jul-08 )

Retina Transplants Show Promise In Patients With Retinal Degeneration ( Elsevier 15-Jul-08 )

Charity Welcomes Broadcasters Success In Promoting Audio Description ( RNIB 8-Jul-08 )

Microscopic Needles Could Revolutionise Eye Treatment ( RPSGB 8-Jul-08 )

Online Service Lets Blind Surf The Internet From Any Computer, Anywhere ( UW 1-Jul-08 )

Gimmick or ambassador for blind people? ( BBC 13-Jun-08 )