News, Links and Commentary
Friday, July 30, 2004
First Glance at Second Sight News
Second Sight News is a newsletter and weblog covering issues related to vision loss and blindness. The Second Sight Center is based in the US but news on medical research, accessibility and human interest is included from all over the world.
(0) comments |
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
MD and Vegetable Oils
Australian current affairs program Today Tonight recently aired reports about age-related macular degeneration and a possible association with vegetable oils. Stories on this issue included 'Oil-eye scare changing diets ' (Today Tonight' on Seven, 19 July 2004) and 'Vegetable oil eye link challenged' (Today Tonight on Seven, 23 July 2004).
In 'Reduce the risk of getting Macular Degeneration' the Macular Degeneration Foundation gives information about lifestyle changes that may prevent further vision loss. Reducing the total intake of fats and oils is recommended. Olive oil is noted to be a possible exception to this.
Research by Johanna Seddon MD and others at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary into dietary fat and macular degeneration was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology in December 2003. More can be read in the Massuchusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary press release called 'Good and Bad Fats Linked to Progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration' (December 2003) or in the Medline abstract 'Progression of age-related macular degeneration: association with dietary fat, transunsaturated fat, nuts, and fish intake..')
(0) comments |
In 'Reduce the risk of getting Macular Degeneration' the Macular Degeneration Foundation gives information about lifestyle changes that may prevent further vision loss. Reducing the total intake of fats and oils is recommended. Olive oil is noted to be a possible exception to this.
Research by Johanna Seddon MD and others at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary into dietary fat and macular degeneration was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology in December 2003. More can be read in the Massuchusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary press release called 'Good and Bad Fats Linked to Progression of Age-related Macular Degeneration' (December 2003) or in the Medline abstract 'Progression of age-related macular degeneration: association with dietary fat, transunsaturated fat, nuts, and fish intake..')
Monday, July 19, 2004
Grant For Utah Cell Transplant Research
Research into a treatment for retinal degeneration at the University of Utah's John A. Moran Eye Center will continue thanks to a recent grant. The research, headed by Raymond D. Lund, involves transplanting cells producing chemicals that stop damage to nerve cells from the limbs to the retina. More about the treatment and the recent grant can be read in 'U. rat study gives boost to eye care' at Deseret News (16 July 2004) and in the media release 'Wynn Foundation grant funds further study of retinal cell transplantation at Utah's Moran Eye Center' at EurekAlert! (14 July 2004).
(0) comments |
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Research into improved night vision and cannabis was recently reported in the Sydney Morning Herald ('Fishermen illuminate a new vision of cannabis', 10 July 2004, from The Guardian).
The research abstract is titled 'Cannabis improves night vision: a case study of dark adaptometry and scotopic sensitivity in kif smokers of the Rif mountains of northern Morocco' (Russo EB et al, Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol. 93 Issue 1 July 2004). The researchers suggest that "Further testing may assess possible clinical application of these results in retinitis pigmentosa or other conditions."
Columnist Sue Arnold has retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and is reported in the SMH article to have experienced some temporary positive changes in vision after cannabis use. Arnold comments at the BBC that the type of cannabis used had a negative impact on her concentration and that she would like further research into vision and cannabinoids. Her comments and an article originally published in The Observer, September 1997 are available at the BBC Web site ('Smoking dope restored my sight', 11 November 1998).
(0) comments |
The research abstract is titled 'Cannabis improves night vision: a case study of dark adaptometry and scotopic sensitivity in kif smokers of the Rif mountains of northern Morocco' (Russo EB et al, Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol. 93 Issue 1 July 2004). The researchers suggest that "Further testing may assess possible clinical application of these results in retinitis pigmentosa or other conditions."
Columnist Sue Arnold has retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and is reported in the SMH article to have experienced some temporary positive changes in vision after cannabis use. Arnold comments at the BBC that the type of cannabis used had a negative impact on her concentration and that she would like further research into vision and cannabinoids. Her comments and an article originally published in The Observer, September 1997 are available at the BBC Web site ('Smoking dope restored my sight', 11 November 1998).
Monday, July 12, 2004
On The Go With GPS
GPS equipment for people who are blind is featured in a Maine Today article called 'GPS helps blind find their way, on Iditarod or at home ' (6 July 2004). A man whose vision loss is due to retinitis pigmentosa tells of how he uses the GPS functions of his BrailleNote to inform him of his surroundings, whether they be in the suburbs or on an Alaskan trail. Both Pulsedata HumanWare's BrailleNote and Visuaide's Trekker are mentioned.
(0) comments |
Monday, July 05, 2004
Jim Knipfel on Coney Island and Ruining It For Everybody
Jim Knipfel, a New York author and columnist, is featured on NPR's Weekend Edition radio program talking about his affection for Brooklyn's Coney Island ('Touring Coney Island with Jim Knipfel', 3 July 2004).
Knipfel is a writer whose stories of life in New York occasionally touch on his experiences of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). An example from his weekly Slackjaw column for the New York Press is 'What the Blind Really Need', which was written after a visit to an adaptive equipment store that appeared to stock equipment for blind drivers.
Ruining It For Everybody is Jim Knipfel's latest book.
(0) comments |
Knipfel is a writer whose stories of life in New York occasionally touch on his experiences of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). An example from his weekly Slackjaw column for the New York Press is 'What the Blind Really Need', which was written after a visit to an adaptive equipment store that appeared to stock equipment for blind drivers.
Ruining It For Everybody is Jim Knipfel's latest book.
