All articles tagged with #blindness
Lisa Reid, who lost her sight at 11 due to a cancerous brain tumor, lived 13 years blind before a clumsy night-time fall—hitting her head on a coffee table while kissing her guide dog Ami—that incident coincided with a partial restoration of her vision. She woke up the next morning to sight she hadn’t had in years, a phenomenon doctors can’t explain, and later spoke publicly to raise awareness for Blind Week in New Zealand.
Across seven decades of observations and a major 2018 study, scientists have repeatedly found that people born blind due to cortical (brain) damage do not develop schizophrenia, unlike those who become blind later or whose blindness comes from eye disease. The protection seems tied to how the visual cortex is repurposed early in life, potentially stabilizing the brain’s predictive processing and reducing misfired predictions that underlie psychosis. Timing matters: loss of vision later in life doesn’t confer the same protection. These findings point to new directions for treatment that could target perception, learning, and brain circuits (including glutamate systems in the visual cortex) alongside traditional dopamine-focused approaches, though blindness is not a practical safeguard. This line of research deepens our understanding of brain development and the origins of schizophrenia.”
An EEG study comparing expert echolocators to sighted participants shows that returning echoes help the brain build a spatial map of the surroundings, with the best performance from individuals who were blind from an early age. Echo-based perception improves over successive clicks, engaging both auditory and visual brain pathways and illustrating brain plasticity when vision is absent.
AI-powered apps like Be My Eyes and Envision act as audible mirrors for blind users, providing real-time feedback on appearance and makeup guidance, a development that can empower self-image but also raises concerns about AI bias, accuracy (including hallucinations), and potential mental-health effects, with limited research on long-term impact.
The article discusses how Jehovah's Witnesses support and provide resources for people who are blind or have low vision, emphasizing God's care and the biblical hope for the future where the blind will see. They offer accessible Bible publications in braille, large print, and audio, along with inclusive meetings and community support, demonstrating compassion and respect for individuals with visual impairments.
Tiesha Milne, a blind single mother of two, battles Graves' disease and seeks minimally invasive thyroid surgery in Florida to improve her health and be there for her children, facing financial and health challenges with faith and resilience.
Several patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) regained partial vision using a retinal implant paired with smart glasses, allowing them to perform tasks like reading and puzzles, with an 80% success rate in a clinical trial.
A study shows that a tiny wireless eye implant combined with special glasses can help some patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration regain the ability to read, representing a significant breakthrough in vision restoration technology, despite some risks and limitations.
Scientists have developed an eye implant that significantly improves vision in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration, with 81% experiencing meaningful improvements, marking a major breakthrough in restoring central vision for the blind.
A groundbreaking electronic eye implant, the Prima device, has successfully helped 84% of elderly patients with incurable dry age-related macular degeneration regain the ability to read, marking a significant advancement in artificial vision and offering new hope for those with sight loss.
A new microchip implant developed at Moorfields Eye Hospital has enabled five patients with advanced dry age-related macular degeneration to regain some central vision, allowing them to read and perform daily tasks, representing a significant breakthrough in vision restoration technology.
A Maryland man claims that the popular diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic caused his sudden, irreversible blindness due to a rare condition called NAION, raising concerns about the drug's safety and the need for clearer warnings. Emerging research and regulatory reviews are investigating the potential link between semaglutide medications and this serious side effect.
Andy Evans, who became blind a year ago, has returned to work and improved his quality of life using Meta's AI glasses, which feature a camera, speakers, and voice-activated AI to help with daily tasks and obstacle detection, demonstrating the transformative potential of assistive technology.
Stevie Wonder humorously addressed rumors that he is not truly blind during a concert, affirming his blindness since shortly after birth and highlighting his positive perspective on life and seeing the world through the spirit.
Kaylee Muthart, a 20-year-old from South Carolina, blinded herself while under the influence of crystal meth, believing she needed to sacrifice her eyes to save the world. Despite the traumatic event, Kaylee, who had been using drugs since she was 18, now feels happier and on the right path after losing her sight. The incident highlights the severe impact of drug abuse and mental health issues. For support, individuals can contact American Addiction Centers.