tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56683932011-09-05T14:58:12.364+08:00Resources for people affected by retinal degenerationDeannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.comBlogger3541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-4597238143667529012007-04-09T19:25:00.000+08:002007-04-09T19:44:08.633+08:00

Senses Foundation is hosting the 14th Deafblind International World Conference from 25 - 30 September 2007 here in Perth, Western Australia, at the Burswood Convention Centre. The theme is Ending the Isolation - fitting given that Perth is said to be the most isolated city in the world. For more information and to find out how to volunteer at the event, visit http://www.dbiconference2007.asn.au/.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1163162884427254852006-11-10T20:15:00.000+08:002006-11-10T20:48:04.640+08:00

Jacqueline McGrath is a freelance journalist who has retinitis pigmentosa. McGrath reviewed the Parisian restaurant Dans Le Noir?' - yet another place where diners can eat in total darkness. I sometimes find it difficult to manage a knife and fork in the dark, but I can't imagine making this mistake:?That is watermelon, isn?t it?? I asked the young man. ?Absolutely,? he replied. (A glance at the

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1163141036639406722006-11-10T13:49:00.000+08:002006-11-10T14:49:32.453+08:00

Researchers from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and the University of Michigan Medical School have successfully transplanted retinal cells in mice with genetic forms of retinal degeneration. The researchers hope that this could lead to a treatment for retinal degeneration in humans within the next decade. Instead of using stem cells, the researchers are investigating the use of cells taken

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1162045798826277872006-10-28T22:19:00.000+08:002006-10-28T22:54:32.123+08:00

Blogger Gordon C. Cardona has recently regained some sight after three years "of lights and shadows." In Too Blind To See? (24 October, Gordon's D-Zone) he argues that regaining sight does not necessarily make his life 'better', as many people presume.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1157522434631098242006-09-06T13:39:00.000+08:002006-09-06T14:03:43.263+08:00

For many years Dan Roberts has offered support to people, like himself, who have macular degeneration through the MD Support Web site. Dan has sought advice from professionals about new treatments and adaptive technology so that he can offer information to visitors. He has also maintained a forum, discussion list and chat group so that people with MD can support and learn from each other.Dan's

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1157520553263115482006-09-06T13:11:00.000+08:002006-09-06T13:29:14.506+08:00

New Zealander Simon James is about to undergo his second treatment with Avastin for myopic macular degeneration. Simon is 22 years old and significantly younger than most people affected by macular degeneration. You can read about his treatment, which has so far brought positive results, in My Eyes Diary.Avastin is the drug produced by Genentech and which some ophthalmologists are using as a

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1156867351269703102006-08-30T00:02:00.000+08:002006-08-30T00:02:31.496+08:00

Australians who have Stargardt's Disease, a juvenile form of macular degeneration, now have a source of online support. Vaughan H from Sydney has set up a non-profit organisation called Stargardt's Australia. The Web site includes personal stories, research news and forums. Vaughan has visited the United States to receive Echothiophate (Echo) Therapy and the site also provides information about

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1155572235425982422006-08-15T00:16:00.000+08:002006-08-15T00:17:15.886+08:00

A review of Nintendo's Sound Voyager mini-games is at AudioGames.net.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1154329672732092692006-07-31T14:54:00.000+08:002006-07-31T15:07:53.043+08:00

German researchers are continuing work on a retinal implant, according to English-language site Deutsche Welle:... researchers at the RWTH Aachen University of Technology developed a special device for sufferers of retinitis pigmentosa. The prosthetic consists of two parts: a high-tech pair of glasses and an implant that is surgically placed in the eye.A tiny video camera is built into the

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1154099364387594032006-07-28T23:06:00.000+08:002006-07-28T23:09:28.026+08:00

Compare Google Web Search with Google Accessible Search thanks to Google Blogoscoped. I thought the accessible search would rank accessible sites higher but it looks like it cuts some sites out of the accessible results altogether.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1154098320580882102006-07-28T22:26:00.000+08:002006-07-28T22:52:00.926+08:00

Newcastle woman Elizabeth Fordham, who has age-related macular degeneration, is featured in a Sydney Morning Herald article about the withdrawal of Avastin. Mrs Fordham has experienced improvement in her vision as a result of Avastin injections, but her next injection of Avastin will be her last:Eugene Hollenbach, the retinal specialist who treats Mrs Fordham, said he was reaching the end of his

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1154061707747784622006-07-28T12:40:00.000+08:002006-07-28T12:41:48.076+08:00

The The Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) questionnaire for individuals with Retinitis Pigmentosa is now back online and the researcher is requesting that people with RP respond in the next four days. The questionnaire has been altered and people who have already completed the survey are asked to fill it in again. To respond, you must use the Internet Explorer browser and there is a

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153754078435782042006-07-24T23:09:00.000+08:002006-07-24T23:14:45.733+08:00

Web sites that are more easy to access by blind and vision impaired users should rank more highly when searching with Google Accessible Search.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153206179600419902006-07-18T15:02:00.000+08:002006-07-18T15:03:00.286+08:00

ScreenReader.net is a UK non-profit that has produced a free screen reading program for the PC called Thunder. Other products include the Lightning magnifier and Scan2Text, which converts scanned printed material into text.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153198104367053762006-07-18T12:31:00.000+08:002006-07-18T12:48:24.743+08:00

Annals of Internal Medicine provides summaries of recent research articles for patients. 'Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Stroke' (18 July 2006, volume 145, issue 2, page I-37) explains recent research that shows an association between AMD and stroke.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153196695778874292006-07-18T11:43:00.000+08:002006-07-18T12:24:56.186+08:00

The Other Film Festival is on in Melbourne 25-27 August. New cinema by, with and about people with disabilities will screen in an accessible venue, with all films audio-described and captioned. The program includes forums on topics related to disability culture.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153133669605397212006-07-17T18:36:00.000+08:002006-07-17T18:54:29.960+08:00

The last RetGen post (Internet Business for Brothers With RP) referred to a Cambridge Evening News article about Andrew Hall, who has RP and has recently opened his own online business. The story mentioned that Mr Hall experienced improved vision for his wedding by taking an unnamed prescribed drug. The Guardian gives more information:Mr Hall, who was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa during

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153126822938083642006-07-17T16:52:00.000+08:002006-07-17T17:07:04.770+08:00

UK brothers Andrew and Chris Hall started an online business when RP made finding suitable employment more difficult:With his mind still full of thoughts about his wedding, Andrew hit on a bright idea. "We'd found it hard to find all the finishing touches," he says. "I thought there must be a market out there for all the accessories - not just for weddings, but for all kinds of events."And so

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153122707410383132006-07-17T15:27:00.000+08:002006-07-17T17:09:35.373+08:00

Melbourne's The Age reports that Australians with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration could miss out on an affordable treatment:Roche Australia said yesterday it would stop supplying Avastin to pharmacies that repackage it for the treatment of wet macular degeneration, a common age-related cause of legal blindness."Patients will go blind, there's no doubt about it," said retinal

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153121244299629132006-07-17T15:22:00.000+08:002006-07-17T17:11:32.130+08:00

Scientists in Australia and the United States report further evidence that eating fish may help protect against age-related macular degeneration:The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon are already known to help the heart and brain stay healthy. The new studies, appearing Monday in the Archives of Ophthalmology, add to evidence that fish eaters also protect their eyes.The new studies

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1153120896933084452006-07-17T14:38:00.000+08:002006-07-17T15:21:37.336+08:00

Dr Keith Mathieson and colleagues from the University of Glasgow are receiving media attention for their work on a retinal implant:Dr Mathieson, said: "Around 500 pixels would allow people to walk down the street and recognise faces."Beyond where we are today it might be possible to make smart chips which have memory in them which would allow action replay and slow motion."Dr Mathieson, from the

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1152244046244213142006-07-07T11:39:00.000+08:002006-07-07T11:47:27.226+08:00

The South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment Association will hold their biennial conference in Fremantle, Western Australia next January. Abstracts are due by 17 July 2006. More information is available at the SPEVI Conference Web site.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1152242663420800792006-07-07T11:01:00.000+08:002006-07-07T11:24:24.106+08:00

Nike and Bausch & Lomb have produced amber contact lenses that reduce glare. The lenses are designed for use by athletes and sportspeople. The amber lens is for fast-moving ball sports, such as tennis, baseball, football or soccer. Grey-green is better for blocking glare for runners or helping a golfer read the contour of the ground.'Contact lense designed to give athlete and edge' (CNN, 7 July

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1151902416859290772006-07-03T11:19:00.000+08:002006-07-03T13:09:28.133+08:00

The Victorian state government is considering legalising therapeutic cloning despite opposition from the Commonwealth government. The Age reports:The Commonwealth, through the National Health and Medical Research Council and the National Stem Cell Centre, is a key investor in stem cell research. Current laws allow some embryonic stem cell research, but ban the therapeutic cloning techniques under

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1151896742195921342006-07-03T10:52:00.000+08:002006-07-03T11:19:02.663+08:00

Stephen Lyles plays beep baseball for the Colorado Storm. Lyles has retinitis pigmentosa and has played the sport, which is a variation on baseball adapted for people who are blind, for a decade. The Denver Post quotes him:"It made me feel more self-confident and made me feel that there was something more out there," Lyles said. "It's a chance to forget that you're blind."To actually throw down

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1151853726991667862006-07-02T23:21:00.000+08:002006-07-02T23:22:07.450+08:00

Genentech's anti-angiogenesis drug Lucentis is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Lucentis (ranibizumab injection) for the treatment of patients with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lucentis is the first treatment which, when dosed monthly, can maintain the vision of more than 90 percent of patients

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1151772427813758272006-07-01T22:14:00.000+08:002006-07-02T00:47:08.103+08:00

A US researcher is planning to apply for a grant to fund a study of retinitis pigmentosa and complementary/alternative medicine. To help her application, she would like people who have RP to respond to an online survey that asks about current use and knowledge of alternative therapies. If you're interested in participating (you do not need to have used alternative therapies and the survey is

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1151763266682485902006-07-01T22:04:00.000+08:002006-07-01T22:14:26.966+08:00

The Albinism Fellowship of Australia is hosting a conference for people who have albinism, parents of children with albinism, and interested professionals. The conference is on 25 - 27 August 2006 at the Y Hotel in Sydney.People who can't make the conference but who are still interested in receiving support or information from the fellowship are encouraged to become members. Members receive

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1151062049148032242006-06-23T19:27:00.000+08:002006-07-03T13:18:42.696+08:00

A Pennsylvania man with retinal degeneration is accused of vehicular homicide, according to Pennsylvania's CentralDaily.com ('Driver to go to trial in death of cyclist', 22 June 2006).Thomas Fry was diagnosed with a vision impairment in 1981 but began driving again three years later. Two eye specialists who saw Fry have been cross-examined as to why they did not inform the state that Fry should

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1150909251069975562006-06-22T00:48:00.000+08:002006-06-22T01:00:57.420+08:00

Seeing Eye Partners is an e-mail discussion list that aims to support people whose partners have a vision impairment. Other adult family members are welcome, although the list is restricted to people who are sighted. Members are then free to vent and to ask questions that they might feel are too silly or sensitive to broach with their partner. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1150646940468046672006-06-18T23:35:00.000+08:002006-06-19T00:09:01.113+08:00

The UK's Guardian newspaper reports that drug company Genentech is seeking approval only for Lucentis, and not the cheaper drug Avastin, for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration in the UK.Unless Avastin is approved in the UK by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) it will not be universally available within the NHS. But because Genentech declines to apply for a

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1150433816255824302006-06-16T12:02:00.000+08:002006-06-16T12:56:56.643+08:00

Ryan Knighton is a Canadian writer and teacher. Reviews of his latest book, Cockeyed, talk about his humourous, clear-eyed look at how a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa has affected his daily life. According to Angus and Robertson, the hardcover edition will be published in Australia through The Perseus Books Group on 31 July 2006. The book will retail for $35.95 and can be ordered in advance.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1150185927527167942006-06-13T15:24:00.000+08:002006-06-13T16:05:35.303+08:00

Speech-Over Studio is a product developed by Tuval Software Industries that gives voice to PowerPoint presentations.Another recent addition to my list of Speech Technology Links is KingLine Data Center, which specialises in speech data processing in languages including Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1150183292682206952006-06-13T15:10:00.000+08:002006-06-13T15:21:55.486+08:00

Vision Outdoors is a tour company specialising in tours for people who are blind or have a vision impairment. Their tours of East Germany take in Berlin, the Mecklenburger Lakeplateau, the Herz Mountains and the city of Leipzig. Along the way tour participants will sleep on a boat, hike through forests, travel on steam trains, and visit historic museums and the gathering place of the witches of

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1150182605465748282006-06-13T15:05:00.000+08:002006-06-13T15:10:19.803+08:00

If you've visited RetGen recently, you'll have noticed that I haven't updated in a while. Since I last posted I've shifted from country Western Australia to our state's capital city, Perth.I hope to slowly begin to add new entries and to find out more about the latest research into retinal degeneration.If you have any news to share, please let me know!

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1140754921654702832006-02-24T11:32:00.000+08:002006-02-24T12:26:48.783+08:00

University of Newcastle PhD student Robert Sullivan has discovered that nerve cells in the retina will make new connections in response to damage caused by macular degeneration. His research has also shown that eyes affected by macular degeneration show changes over the whole retina, not just the macula. More information is available in The Adelaide Advertiser (' Human nerve cells 'can reconnect'

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1140537150000476942006-02-21T23:52:00.000+08:002006-02-21T23:52:30.286+08:00

AudioGames.net offer the number puzzle Su Doku in an accessible format online. Sudo-San is a Macromedia Flash game that gives the numbers via audio, as well as on the screen, and is played via the keyboard.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1140513109539240212006-02-21T17:03:00.000+08:002006-02-21T17:13:05.996+08:00

The Hawaii Channel reports that goji berries, used by Chinese herbalists, have the highest concentration of zeaxanthin, a caratenoid known to protect the macula from light damage ('Study Finds Chinese Herb Protects Eyes', 20 February 2006).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1140511926689230732006-02-21T16:37:00.000+08:002006-02-21T16:52:12.516+08:00

Dennis Rickman, a researcher from Duke University in North Carolina is working towards future research into stem cells and eye disease through an organisation called SCIfEyes. From North Carolina's Herald Sun:Glaucoma, macular degeneration and the effects of diabetes destroy photoreceptors and other neurons in the retina, the inner lining of the back of the eyeball. Unlike other cells in our

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1140277571204073112006-02-18T23:25:00.000+08:002006-02-18T23:53:02.093+08:00

Estelle Condra is a keynote performer who talks about how humour has helped her through the loss of her vision due to retinitis pignemtosa. Ms Condra is based in the United States and her current performances include 'Blind People Shouldn't Vacuum--Laughter is the best medicine' and 'Living in the light of laughter--a keynote unlike any other.'

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1140013820827148072006-02-15T22:22:00.000+08:002006-02-15T22:30:21.190+08:00

People affected by RP from all over the world will meet at the RP Social in Los Angeles, USA, from Thursday 13 July to Monday 17 July 2006. For more details, visit RP & Usher Social.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1139491170425155012006-02-09T16:09:00.000+08:002006-02-09T21:19:30.820+08:00

Lee Pearce, a photographer who has macular degeneration, appeared on ABCTV's The 7.30 Report last night to warn others about the possible effects of ibuprofen in people who have wet MD. Mr Pearce experienced bleeding in both eyes two days after taking an ibuprofen-based drug. His case was used to illustrate why some professionals believe ibuprofen, currently available in Australian supermarkets

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1138947267014307392006-02-03T13:35:00.000+08:002006-02-03T14:15:16.786+08:00

The results of a Phase I trial of PEDF, a gene therapy for a specific type of the wet form of macular degeneration, are reported in the current issue of Human Gene Therapy. The research involved 28 patients from the United States and took place at several research centres.Researchers took a gene, the pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) gene, and placed it in an adenovirus then injected it

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1138865573605236182006-02-02T15:32:00.000+08:002006-02-03T15:16:18.446+08:00

The Sight Exchange Network is a new grassroots group that's open to anyone who wants to share, donate or recycle items of use to people who have a vision impairment - from computers to small assistive technology devices. The main rule is that all items posted for exchange must be free.The group shares information about items available for exchange through the Sight Exchange Yahoo! Group.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1138804826866138152006-02-01T22:39:00.000+08:002006-02-03T15:19:28.863+08:00

Two recent discoveries that will affect future research and treatment of macular degeneration have both involved University of Kentucky researcher Jayakrishna Ambati.Firstly, research published in the current issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (1 February 2006, online) shows how drusen may give clues about the likelihood of dry MD progressing to wet MD.Drusen in patients

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1138426997484717132006-01-28T13:42:00.000+08:002006-01-28T13:43:17.683+08:00

Both smoking and exposure to passive smoke are associated with a higher risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, according to research published recently in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The researchers, from Cambridge University, also found that former smokers who had not smoked for twenty years or more had the same risk of developing AMD as non-smokers. Read more in 'Smoking

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1138178317008169212006-01-25T16:24:00.000+08:002006-01-25T16:46:42.600+08:00

Genentech, Inc. have released positive results after the first year of their two-year Phase III trial of the wet MD drug Lucentis.Data from the ANCHOR study comparing Lucentis to verteporfin (Visudyne(R)) photodynamic therapy (PDT) showed a difference in mean change in visual acuity of 18 letters for patients treated with 0.3 mg of Lucentis and 21 letters for patients treated with 0.5 mg of

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1138029645905745252006-01-23T19:43:00.000+08:002006-01-23T23:20:46.256+08:00

If you're visiting Melbourne, have a disability, and need to know how to get around, the new Melbourne Mobility Centre at Federation Square is the place to go. Found on the first floor of the Federation Square Car Park, you can learn more by telephone on (03) 9650 6499 (freecall 1800 735 266) or TTY on (03) 9650 9316. You can also visit the Web site at: www.accessmelbourne.vic.gov.au.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1137947897735704402006-01-23T00:10:00.000+08:002006-01-23T00:38:18.076+08:00

Some Google services, including Blogger, require that users type a series of letters, shown in a graphic, during sign up. The procedure is known as word verification and prevents spammers from creating accounts automatically. Graphical word verification, however, renders such services inaccessible to people who are blind.The Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition asks Google, Inc. to

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1137863508792009692006-01-22T01:11:00.000+08:002006-01-22T01:11:48.966+08:00

Two patients with retinal degeneration received retinal implants from European company Intelligent Medical Implants AG during December 2005. The Learning Retinal Implant System will be clinically tested in the patients this month, according to Medgadget ('Learning Retinal Implant System', 13 January 2005).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1137860236511931042006-01-22T00:16:00.000+08:002006-01-22T00:17:16.716+08:00

Now, a team of researchers at UW-Madison has taken a small but crucial step forward in the ongoing fight against retinal degeneration. Working with fruit flies, the scientists have discovered that a mutation in a common gene called calnexin can derail the light-processing activity of cells and set in motion the gradual breakdown of vision. They report their findings today in the journal

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1137859211041004742006-01-21T23:37:00.000+08:002006-01-22T00:00:11.430+08:00

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the US have successfully injected a vector containing the gene for human pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) directly into the eyes of 28 patients who have wet age-related MD. The gene therapy appeared to stop further progression of the disease. The research will be published in print in the February 2006 issue (Volume 17, Number 2) of Human Gene

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1137857810114213702006-01-21T23:35:00.000+08:002006-01-21T23:36:50.496+08:00

The Retinal Degeneration Discussion List (RPList) is now hosted by ICORS. Visit the RPList home page for current subscription information.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1137770347336001892006-01-20T22:44:00.000+08:002006-01-20T23:20:40.936+08:00

Joanne Greenberg's latest novel Appearances includes a character diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. According to Amazon, Appearances will be published by Montemayor Press in the US on 30 January 2006. Reviews are already available online, including 'Uncomfortable secrets drive 'Appearances'' by Jennie A. Camp of Rocky Mountain News (13 January 2006) and 'Joanne Greenberg stumbles in examining "

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1136892305307773252006-01-10T16:59:00.000+08:002006-01-10T19:25:05.646+08:00

A Dutch study by Dr Redmer van Leeuwen and colleagues from the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam has found diet to affect the risk of developing AMD.A diet with a high intake of beta carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc is associated with a substantially reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration in elderly persons, according to a study in the December 28 issue of JAMA.'Dietary Intake Of

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1136883191882120042006-01-10T15:04:00.000+08:002006-01-10T16:53:11.973+08:00

Researchers lead by Dr Johanna M. Seddon at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Devers Eye Institute in Oregon, have discovered that higher levels of an amino acid called homocysteine in the blood may show an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration.Dietary intake of vitamins B6, B12 and folate, homocysteine levels can be reduced.The study is published in the January issue

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135430781141732912005-12-24T20:59:00.000+08:002005-12-24T21:26:21.823+08:00

I'm celebrating Christmas here. If you are too, I hope you have a very merry time!Best wishes,Dee

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135416633774336882005-12-24T15:44:00.000+08:002005-12-24T17:31:59.976+08:00

Carole Holmes, one of the founders of the British RP Society recently visited friends in Perth, Western Australia. During her stay, she met local researchers at the Lions Eye Institute, where gene therapy for RP is being tested in dogs. Read more in 'Light at the end of tunnel vision' (The Post, 21 December 2005).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135262926211436132005-12-22T22:27:00.000+08:002005-12-22T22:48:46.283+08:00

For most of my own longer work, I use NoteTab Light, a text editor in which I can change the display of the background colour, font colour and font size to suit myself. I write all of my Web pages using NoteTab and have the font colour set to orange and the background set to black.Over the next few weeks I'll need to proofread a large document in Microsoft Word. In Microsoft Word, it appears that

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135260287062760912005-12-22T21:47:00.000+08:002005-12-22T22:04:47.110+08:00

Most people who have low vision like to tweak their computer settings so that they can more easily see the screen and surf the Web. BBC - My Web My Way gives tips on how to do it, with instructions for Windows, Apple Mac and Linux users.If you enjoy Internet Relay Chat and have a vision impairment, you might find TalkingIRC (tIRC) - mIRC scripts for the visually impaired to be useful.WordPress is

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135258817160419692005-12-22T19:52:00.000+08:002005-12-22T21:40:17.210+08:00

Live images of human retinas reveal that even normal retinas differ in the amount of red, green and blue cones, and that the brain plays a bigger role in vision than we think. The technology used to take the images could also be used to investigate forms of retinal disease. The research was published in The Journal of Neuroscience."[This] suggests that there is a compensatory mechanism in our

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135243841125611732005-12-22T16:55:00.000+08:002005-12-22T17:30:41.200+08:00

Drug and Supplement Information from the Mayo Clinic allows users to search or browse for information on drugs, supplements and herbs. The site gives two search boxes, one for drugs and the other specifically for supplements and herbs. When I searched today, the site gave no information about lutein but did provide information about Vitamin A and retinitis pigmentosa.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135241672705039102005-12-22T16:41:00.000+08:002005-12-22T16:54:32.720+08:00

The Times reports that Glaswegian Amar Latif, who has RP and starred in the BBC documentary 'Beyond Boundaries' has opened a travel business. Traveleyes pairs blind and sighted travellers for organised holidays. Sighted guides travel at a 25% discount and receive training before they leave. The advantage for blind travellers is that they do not need to rely on guidance from family or friends.Read

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135238805227361162005-12-22T15:57:00.000+08:002005-12-22T16:06:45.226+08:00

LibriVox is a non-profit project to offer free public domain audio books. Volunteers read a chapter or two using free recording software and listeners can then download completed audio books from the LibriVox catalogue.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135237958678744892005-12-22T15:33:00.000+08:002005-12-22T15:52:38.730+08:00

Queenslander Jeffrey Dougall has created the Australian Blind And Vision Impaired Community Billboard For Selling Accessibility Aids. If you have adaptive technology you no longer require, or would like to buy adaptive technology or equipment secondhand, this could be the place to do it.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1135234517290677362005-12-22T14:28:00.000+08:002005-12-22T14:55:17.390+08:00

US scientists studying mice have learnt that retinal cells unrelated to vision but which do detect light develop faster than other light sensing cells:Although ipRGCs sense light in mice and humans, they don't connect to the brain's visual cortex. Instead, they send signals to deeper, more ancient parts of the brain, such as the hypothalamus, from which they project to the brain regions that

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1134828993088469052005-12-17T22:04:00.000+08:002005-12-17T22:16:33.756+08:00

The Retinal Vascular Imaging Centre (RetVIC) is currently under development by Associate Professor Tien Yin Wong from the University of Melbourne's Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA). The centre is hoped to provide a way to detect early signs of cardiovascular disease by looking at blood vessels in the back of the eye. From the University of Melbourne media release:?It is an ambitious goal

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1134828195927804582005-12-17T21:58:00.000+08:002005-12-17T22:03:16.696+08:00

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved Alcon Inc's drug Retaane for the treatment of some forms of wet age-related macular degeneration. From the Alcon Inc media release:"We are pleased to gain approval of RETAANE(R) suspension in Australia for all lesions with a classic component because we believe RETAANE(R) suspension can provide retinal specialists with a unique new therapy

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1134826466535488572005-12-17T21:13:00.000+08:002005-12-17T21:34:27.946+08:00

Two Israeli researchers have shown that there is a strong correlation between obesity and eye disease, including age-related macular degeneration:Following a review of than 20 research studies on thousands of patients around the world, Prof. Michael Belkin and Dr. Zohar Habot-Wilner of the Goldschleger Eye Institute at the Sheba Medical Center found a consistently strong correlation between

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1134048900802196422005-12-08T21:22:00.000+08:002005-12-08T21:35:00.846+08:00

The story of Ronald Broadnax experience of sight loss due to retinitis pigmentosa will be told in a series of articles to appear in North Carolina's The News & Observer'Going blind: one man's story' (7 December 2005).'' (, December 2005).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1132656055384140632005-11-22T18:33:00.000+08:002005-11-22T18:40:55.396+08:00

The summer edition of Retina Australia (Queensland)'s newsletter Eye-Q is now available online. As well as important dates and research news, this issue includes information about retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and a review of talking mobile phones by Jeffrey Dougall.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131881496028291752005-11-13T18:18:00.000+08:002005-11-13T19:31:37.536+08:00

Australians may have tuned into Beyond Tomorrow on Seven last Wednesday to learn more about the retinal implant under development at the University of Southern California's Doheny Eye Institute. A short synopsis of the story is available at WABeyond Tomorrow - Bionic Eye.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131869685252987702005-11-13T16:03:00.000+08:002005-11-13T16:14:45.263+08:00

TV chefs with a difference are Cooking Without Looking on US television station WXEL. Read more in 'The blind now have a cooking show of their own' (Associated Press at Tallahassee.com, 12 November 2005). I'd love to see this show air here in Australia. Or maybe we could blindfold Geoff Jansz for a few episodes of FreshTV?

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131868975576251232005-11-13T15:40:00.000+08:002005-11-13T16:02:55.590+08:00

Connections in the retina may not be as fixed as first imagined, according to scientists from Oregon Health & Science University. Read more in 'Retina Adapts To Light Changes By Rewiring Itself' (Oregon Health & Science University media release, 24 May 2005). Their research is published in the May 5 issue of the journal Neuron and Henrique von Gersdorff, PhD, is a co-author. The research may help

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131857391093103462005-11-13T12:42:00.000+08:002005-11-13T12:49:51.093+08:00

Blind Chance is an audio weblog by David Faucheux from Lafayette, Louisiana in the United States. The weblog looks much the same as any other blog but includes links to audio material and commentary by Faucheux. I enjoyed my visit and hope to return again to read and hear more.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131856911212587592005-11-13T12:27:00.000+08:002005-11-13T12:41:51.226+08:00

Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) held their national convention in Perth, Western Australia, from 30 September to 3 October this year. The BCA National Convention 2005 Audio Archives are now available online. If you enjoy travel stories, I can recommend listening to Session 6: Blindness - Travel and Tourism - in particular, Zel's talk about her visit to Iceland for the summer solstice.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131697240777459692005-11-11T16:18:00.000+08:002005-11-11T18:52:13.856+08:00

If you're interested in digital books and new technology, Digital Books for Visually Impaired Persons could be the weblog for you.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1131697022870914552005-11-11T15:12:00.000+08:002005-11-22T19:42:41.520+08:00

Researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary have discovered a link between a bacteria called Chlamydia pneumoniae and wet MD. The bacteria causes infection in the eye, leading to increased production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein responsible for blood vessel growth in the retina.The researchers believe that people with wet MD caused by variations in the

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130919374829215892005-11-02T15:45:00.000+08:002005-11-02T16:16:14.900+08:00

Results from a safety trial of the siRNA drug Cand5, developed by Acuity Pharmaceuticals to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, were presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. John Thompson MD, from the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in the US, presented the trial results, explaining that Cand5 works by inhibiting the production of

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130917261251459682005-11-02T15:09:00.000+08:002005-11-02T15:42:32.956+08:00

Imagine having the work of dying photoreceptors taken over by tiny pumps implanted into the retina. Laxman Saggere, an assistant professor in the University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering is working to develop micro-pumps that can be implanted in the retinas of people with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration.Saggere believes the answer lies in

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130910608295999362005-11-02T13:29:00.000+08:002005-11-02T14:23:58.640+08:00

Two approaches to treating a form of Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) caused by the loss of an enzyme known as LRAT have been tested together by researchers at Case Western Reserve University in the United States. LCA is a form of retinal degeneration that results in congenital blindness. The researchers conducted their experiments, which combined gene therapy and a drug treatment, in mice.The

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130679022397765272005-10-30T21:12:00.000+08:002005-11-02T16:20:29.813+08:00

Disrupted sleep patterns affect many people who are blind or vision impaired. Researchers in New Zealand hope to study the problem and find ways to alleviate it:Researchers from The University of Auckland are about to begin a study to find how to better help blind and vision-impaired people manage the chronic sleeping disorders many face.Dr Guy Warman, a lecturer at the Department of

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130576603930664402005-10-29T17:00:00.000+08:002005-10-29T20:33:59.946+08:00

Professor John Heckenlively from the University of Michigan gave a presentation on the current research into retinitis pigmentosa at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Read more in 'Promising Treatments for Retinitis Pigmentosa are in the Pipeline: Presented at AAO' (Doctor's Guide, 26 October 2005).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130575668883286222005-10-29T15:36:00.000+08:002005-10-29T17:00:13.246+08:00

The potential of the drug Avastin (bevacizumab) in treating patients with wet age-related macular degeneration is covered again in Doctor's Guide. Dr Robert Avery, an ophthalmologist at the California Retinal Consultants and Research Foundation, presented findings from a study of patients treated for wet MD with Avastin at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "Our

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130418126470728302005-10-27T19:51:00.000+08:002005-10-27T21:02:06.523+08:00

No Limits is a community television show about living life to the full with a disability. No Limits screens on Channel 31 in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and there are three more episodes before the current season ends. Tapes of the show are also available from the No Limits Web site.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130402070499531142005-10-27T16:30:00.000+08:002005-10-27T19:51:30.033+08:00

There is no association between cataract surgery and the wet form of age-related macular degeneration, according to findings of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.According to Doctor's Guide, this research contradicts other studies into cataract surgery and wet AMD.The differences between the

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1130041016346212872005-10-23T11:52:00.000+08:002005-10-23T12:23:55.976+08:00

Researchers are studying patients in Canada and Germany who have the dry form of age-related macular degeneration and have received a treatment that filters their blood. The process is known as rheopheresis and preliminary results have been presented at the annual meeting of American Academy of Ophthalmology on Friday 14 October.The immediate effect of the procedure is to reduce the plasma

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1129978342989218532005-10-22T18:37:00.000+08:002005-10-22T18:52:24.470+08:00

A Massachusetts artist talks about his passion for painting, a passion that has not diminished since he lost his sight to retinitis pigmentosa, in '10 questions with Bernard Petruzziello, who paints with his mind's eye' (Lowell Sun, 21 October 2005).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1129904213003099052005-10-21T21:34:00.000+08:002005-10-21T22:16:53.050+08:00

Inspired by four-year-old Toby Addison, who has retinitis pigmentosa, Mark Bissett, 33, stood on guard outside a Hertfordshire, UK, shopping centre for 12 hours - in the same spot and without rest breaks or refreshment - to raise money for the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society. Fellow members of the Napoleonic Association expressed interest in joining Mark for another fundraiser next year.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1129818129555794762005-10-20T20:43:00.000+08:002005-10-20T22:22:09.606+08:00

The use of cancer drug Avastin as a treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)was first mentioned in RetGen last month ('Wet MD - Lucentis Vs Avastin', 28 September 2005).Doctor's Guide reports that Dr Philip Rosenfeld from the University of Miami Miller Medical School in the United States has presented the findings from a study into Avastin and AMD at the annual meeting of the

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1129805286622711272005-10-20T18:22:00.000+08:002005-10-20T20:29:32.776+08:00

Several companies trialing treatments for age-related macular degeneration chose to announce positive data or results from safety trials at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago last weekend.Media releases outlining the results for trials of Alcon, Inc's drug Retaane, Sirna Therapeutics short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecule Sirna-027, Genaera's Evizon (with

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1129012589872246752005-10-11T14:07:00.000+08:002005-10-11T14:36:29.933+08:00

Miravant Medical Technologies have announced a confirmatory Phase III clinical trial of their light-activated drug, Photrex (TM), also known as SnET2 and rostaporfin. Around 650 patients at 50 sites in the UK and Central and Eastern Europe, who have either the classic or occult forms of wet macular degeneration, will receive the treatment. The trial will be reviewed by the US Food and Drug

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1128927553380744042005-10-10T14:25:00.000+08:002005-10-10T14:59:13.436+08:00

A new BBC television show challenges 11 people with disabilities to cross Nicaragua from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Amar Latif, who has retinitis pigmentosa and is registered blind, participated in the show, describing some of his experiences to BBC News: "One of the magical moments was when we first arrived in the jungle. "It was about 5pm and it suddenly got dark and then for the first time

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1128673943129718992005-10-07T16:20:00.000+08:002005-10-07T16:32:23.190+08:00

US company Acuity Medical are currently developing a system to treat the dry form of macular degeneration with electrical stimulation.Called TheraMac(TM), it delivers minute amounts of biocurrent to the retina through a probe that touches the skin around the eye. The total time for treating one eye is approximately 15 minutes. A series of clinical trials have been completed to date.'Acuity

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1127985592348024202005-09-29T16:55:00.000+08:002005-09-29T17:19:52.383+08:00

Researchers at Emory University in the United States are studying 20 patients treated with radiation for MD. The researchers have developed a special device for delivering radiation treatment to the patients' eyes ('Radiation for macular degeneration', News 8 Austin, 28 September 2005).

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1127921050793087842005-09-28T22:40:00.000+08:002005-09-28T23:34:19.323+08:00

Genentech's drug Lucentis is expected to be approved for use in patients with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. Lucentis is a fragment of another drug developed by Genentech called Avastin. Avastin is approved to treat colorectal cancer and both drugs work by blocking a protein responsible for blood vessel growth. Avastin, not specifically trialed for use in the eye, is

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1127876062949619982005-09-28T10:36:00.000+08:002005-09-28T10:54:22.956+08:00

The latest version of the Opera browser, Opera 8.5, is now available, free and without ads.If you have a vision impairment and you're wondering how Opera can improve your Web experience, I recommend reading 'Visual Impairments and Opera at the Opera Web site.

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1127835617184401522005-09-27T23:23:00.000+08:002005-09-27T23:40:17.620+08:00

Adequate lighting can make a big difference when reading, writing or working with everyday objects such as nail scissors or knitting needles. I have now added a small section to my Adaptive Equipment page that gives links to information about lights. The first item listed is an article by Dan Roberts of MD Support. I recommend reading Dan's article, 'Artificial Lighting and the Blue Light Hazard

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1127821151337767812005-09-27T19:34:00.000+08:002005-09-27T21:01:09.393+08:00

Five members of the same family from the Las Tunas province of Cuba are affected by the rare Kearns-Sayre syndrome. One of the characteristics of Kearns-Sayre syndrome is pigmentary degeneration of the retina. The affected family members are participating in an ongoing study by doctors in Havana ('Family with Rare Eye Disease in Las Tunas, Cuba', Periodico26, 26 September 2005).More information

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5668393.post-1127743631221275932005-09-26T21:58:00.000+08:002005-09-26T22:07:11.223+08:00

Kissing wolphins and drinking coconut juice made Ken and Annie Sting's holiday to Hawaii memorable. Both Ken and Annie have Usher Syndrome Type 1 and communicate with each other and their companions using tactile sign language. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports on their recent trip, including visits to a pineapple plantation and local markets and beaches, in 'A hands-on adventure' (25 September

Deannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08055762451134650733noreply@blogger.com0