StemCell Therapy

DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company with more than 70 years of heritage in eye care, today announced a national education campaign called My Glaucoma. The campaign is designed to help people understand the burden of living with glaucoma and empower those with the disease and their caregivers to feel comfortable speaking with their doctor about a treatment regimen that fits their lifestyle. The resources available on http://www.MyGlaucoma.com are supported by a new survey of patients living with glaucoma and eye doctors, conducted in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), that found more than 75 percent of patients worry about vision loss because of the disease, but nearly half consider glaucoma to be only somewhat or not serious. In fact, research published by the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that 27 percent of patients with glaucoma are estimated to go blind in one eye over a 10-year period.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8584151-allergan-my-glaucoma-world-sight-day/

"Glaucoma is clearly a national health issue and one that is overlooked in favor of other diseases perceived as more critical. Given the potential for vision loss, it is increasingly important that we highlight the seriousness of glaucoma, the emotional toll it takes on those living with the disease every day and the importance of doctor-patient communication," said Thomas M. Brunner, President and CEO, Glaucoma Research Foundation. "As we mark this year's World Sight Day, we are proud to partner with Allergan to magnify this data for the general public and offer resources that help preserve people's sight."

"Our perception of glaucoma must change from one that characterizes the disease as 'part of getting old' to one that reinforces its severity and the importance of active treatment," said Ramin Valian, Vice President, Allergan Interventional Glaucoma. "Our interactive website and partnership with the eye care community and Glaucoma Research Foundation is a major step forward in ensuring patients and their caregivers feel comfortable and confident taking greater control of their glaucoma in the doctor's office and at home."

As a leader in eye care, Allergan sought to listen to the voices of patients with glaucoma and eye care professionals to put together meaningful resources that everyone living with glaucoma can benefit from. The interactive website http://www.MyGlaucoma.com offers access to videos that include perspectives from patients living with glaucoma and their caregivers, more information from the survey and patient resources, such as a conversation guide and facts about glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.

"More than 3 million Americans are estimated to be living with glaucoma. As such, it is vital patients keep an open-line of communication with their eye doctors about struggles they may be having with their glaucoma and treatment routine, as well as what they may be experiencing emotionally," said Sahar Bedrood, M.D., Ph.D., Glaucoma Specialist at Acuity Eye Group and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. "A patient should not hold back discussing their challenges, as every piece of information can be important to customize their care and lessen the burden of the disease."

About the SurveyIn an online survey commissioned by Allergan, in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation, of 500 glaucoma patients and 100 eye doctors in the United States, results showed that glaucoma takes a significant emotional toll on people with the disease, as 4 in 5 glaucoma patients admit that they worry about how their lifestyle will change as a result of the disease. Additionally, there is a need for a more proactive two-way dialogue between eye care doctors and patients, especially around treatment, as patients stated current treatment options cause disruption in their lives. Almost 9 in 10 eye doctors wish their patients would take their medication as prescribed. Specifically, 79 percent want their patients to tell them if they're struggling with it.

About GlaucomaGlaucoma is one of the primary causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness. An estimated 70 million people globally are living with glaucoma. This progressive disease is characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Uncontrolled, elevated IOP causes damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Reduction of elevated IOP is the only proven way to slow the progression of vision loss associated with glaucoma.

Current treatments to lower IOP include topical medications (eye drops), laser trabeculoplasty, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and incisional surgery. Eye drop medications are the standard first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, but low patient adherence to these medications is common up to 80 percent of patients are not using topical medications as prescribed. Poor adherence to glaucoma medication could result in disease progression and vision loss. According to a study published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, up to 59 percent of patients on treatment for glaucoma continue to progress, meaning they experience vision loss and damage to the optic nerve.

About Allergan Eye CareAs a leader in eye care, Allergan has discovered, developed, and delivered some of the most innovative products in the industry for more than 70 years. Allergan has launched over 125 eye care products and invested billions of dollars in new treatments for the most prevalent eye conditions including glaucoma, ocular surface disease, and retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Our eye care pipeline includes 13 additional agents for multiple ocular conditions.

Our commitment to the well-being of patients is also reflected in social responsibility. Allergan, The Allergan Foundation and The Allergan International Foundation support more than 150 organizations around the world working to improve lives and communities. We remain steadfast in helping eye care providers deliver the best in patient care through innovative products and outreach programs.

About Allergan plcAllergan plc (NYSE:AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global pharmaceutical leader focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products primarily focused on four key therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system and gastroenterology. As part of its approach to delivering innovation for better patient care, Allergan has built one of the broadest pharmaceutical and device research and development pipelines in the industry.

With colleagues and commercial operations located in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at http://www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking StatementStatements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS, on our financial results; risks associated with divestitures, acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; risks related to impairments; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected debt reduction, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS: Allergan: Investors:Manisha Narasimhan, PhD (862) 261-7162

Media: Lisa Brown (862) 261-7320

Lisa Kim(714) 246-3843

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-world-sight-day-allergan-launches-national-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-the-toll-glaucoma-takes-on-everyday-living-300936174.html

SOURCE Allergan plc

Excerpt from:
On World Sight Day, Allergan Launches National Campaign to Raise Awareness of the Toll Glaucoma Takes on Everyday Living - Benzinga

New Delhi, Delhi, India: SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, on World Sight Day, reiterated its commitment to the health and wellness of the society and communities it operates in. As part of this commitment, SABIC has partnered with Rotary, Mission for Vision and United Way of Baroda, to support the large-scale comprehensive eye-care initiative They See, They Learn. The program is specifically aimed at students of government and government aided schools.

They see, they learn aims at ensuring that poor eyesight is not a reason for dropping out of school. Under the program, more than 300,000 students have been screened across 900+ Government schools in Delhi NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Vadodara, with a frequency of two camps for each academic year. Over 20,000 children have been provided free spectacles while many have been referred to hospitals when in need of additional attention. SABIC aims to screen 5Lakh students in the next two years.

Janardhanan Ramanujalu, Vice President, South Asia & ANZ for SABIC said on the program, While working with these schools, we observed that government school children rarely wear spectacles as compared to private school children. This was even more noticeable among girl students. This is where SABICs They See They Learn finds its origins. At SABIC, we want to continue to focus on health and wellness of the society, and ensure this has positive impact on peoples lives. The program has come a long way since its inception and we will continue to expand on it as much as possible. We inherently believe that things like lack of spectacles should not come in the way of a quality education.

The impact of the program has been far-reaching.

Take the case of Lavanya, the youngest of three sisters of a subsistence farming family from Kudenuru village, Malur district, Karnataka. Her father Nataraj is a small farmer and just about manages to sustain his family through the year. But despite being impoverished, he has ensured that the daughters received education in the village school. Lavanya was considered one of the brightest students. However, some time when she was in the fifth standard, she started experiencing difficulty seeing the blackboard and would be forced to copy from her friends notebooks, which would disrupt the class. The teachers would reprimand her often and her grades fell sharply. During the They See They Learn screening at her school, she was identified with uncorrected refractive error and her vision (without spectacles) was noted as poor 6/60 in both eyes. After visiting the hospital for a detailed examination, she was prescribed spectacles and today her vision is improved 6/6 in both eyes. Not only have her grades improved, but her confidence is back and so is her mischievous smile.

Then there is Shashank, from village Pichanguntrahalli, the youngest of a family of four. His father Narayanaswamy, had an accident some years back and is disabled leaving him unable to work. His mother Yashodhamma and elder sister Shweta scrape through by doing odd jobs largely as agricultural laborers and domestic jobs in others households. In the fifth standard, Shashank was diagnosed with uncorrected refractive error and referred to the hospital for check-up. His teachers complained about him sitting close to the board to see the writing and taking his friends copies to note down class notes. At the hospital, Shashank was prescribed spectacles (vision without correction was 6/24 in the right eye and 6 / 60 in the left eye and with correction, his vision improved to 6/9 in right eye and 6/12 in left eye). Now he can go back to playing and watching cricket and his mother is grateful for seeing her son being his cheerful and bubbly self again.

For a long time, Ramcharan was considered shy and an introvert. During the They See, They Learn screening, he was diagnosed with cataract in his left eye (right eye was perfect). After his condition was brought to the notice of the teachers and his parents were called, it was revealed that he used to always copy down class notes from friends and he never volunteered to participate in any class activities or even in reading out to the class, when called to do so by his teachers. His parents admitted that they never had the time or the awareness to do any further medical examination and were later hesitant and afraid to take their son for surgery. After intervention of the SABIC team and by some of the community elders, whom the team asked to intervene, Ramcharan was provided with quality care at the hospital. While he did not recover complete vision, he proudly wears his spectacles now. He is at the forefront of activities and actively takes parts in class and is not shy he voluntarily comes forward to read passages from books whenever opportunity presents. His teachers say that they not only see a bright child in front of them but one who has a lot of positive attitude today.

Currently, poor vision is considered one of the worlds largest unaddressed disabilities. Data from the WHO says that globally, approximately 1.3 billion people live with some form of vision impairment. Of this, around 80% is avoidable. Further, impaired vision among children translates to poorer learning outcomes as the inability to see what is written on the board, or in a book, results in motivation loss and consequently, higher drop-out numbers. In fact, similar research on primary school children in China, from last year, showed that correcting vision enables an additional average 3-6 months of schooling. In India, this is a bigger issue as school drop-out numbers are extremely alarming, especially among girls.

SABIC partners with organizations like Rotary, Mission for Vision and United Way of Baroda to conduct eye tests in collaboration with doctors/hospitals. Each program is comprehensively documented and the analysis of the data has thrown some interesting results regarding demographics among other insight. We would be keen share the detailed reports with you, should you like to peruse on the same.

SABIC has been present in India for the last 25 years and has been working to address critical local issues and challenges with a specific focus on driving quality education. As part of this program, since 2014, SABIC has adopted 10 Government schools across Gujarat and Karnataka and upgraded/renovated them, directly impacting 8,000 students.

SABICs various CSR activities include the restoration of Lake and sponsorship of a community hall in Hosahalli village near Bengaluru, Blood donation drive, tree plantation and education drives etc.

Originally posted here:
SABIC Aims to Screen 5 Lakh Students Under 'They See, They Learn' Eye Care Initiative in the Next Two Years - Business Wire India

Dr Felicity Gill

Road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist says the current eyesight test for drivers is long out of date and not fit for purpose. GEM is calling for a detailed check of every drivers visual acuity and field of view every 10 years.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth renewed the organisations call for the government to update driver vision laws to ensure that a detailed eye examination formed part of the driver photocard licence renewal process, every 10 years.

If you cant see properly, you shouldnt be driving, he said. Poor eyesight is linked to more than 3,000 fatal and serious injury collisions every year. We are worried that there are just too many people driving whose eyesight has deteriorated to an unacceptable level.

We believe it is entirely practical and sensible to require a test of visual acuity and field of view every 10 years, something that would fit in with licence renewal. Tests of this kind would not only make our roads safer, saving lives, disability and many millions of pounds through the reduction in the number of crashes, but they would also play a vital role valuable tool in the early diagnosis of many other costly medical conditions, irrespective of driving.

The professional perspective

GEM has been working with community optometrist Felicity Gill, who outlined the extent of the issue. Day to day, I talk both to patients concerned about their own driving experiences and also to those worried about an elderly friend or family member who is driving, she said.

Remember that driving is not just about clarity of central vision, so asking your loved one to read a number plate at 20.5 metres (67 feet) is not the best way of ensuring they are safe to continue driving.

Eye examinations are free for over 60s on a two-yearly basis or more frequently if recommended by an optometrist. They offer an opportunity for a professional to check that vision is clear enough for driving and that field of vision is sufficient using a visual fields machine. The tests offer the opportunity to identify at an early stage any eye conditions that might affect driving, and to address them if necessary.

The most common ageing change in the eye is cataract (clouding of the lens inside the eye). An optometrist is best placed to detect these and to give advice on how to live with the early stages of cataracts. If they worsen, a patient can be referred to the local eye hospital for treatment.

Other common conditions include diabetes/diabetic eye disease, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.

Any condition is better detected early, as intervention can often help delay or stop it from progressing.

Responsible mobility

GEM believes that regular mandatory eyesight tests for drivers is now even more important, as so many more people are staying behind the wheel into their 80s and beyond.

There are many benefits for a driver to staying mobile as long as possible, concluded Neil Worth. However, safety must remain the number one priority for everyone.

We also cannot ignore the greater volume of traffic and the general increase in distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle, which further point to the clear need for more regular and detailed eyesight testing.

Felicity Gills practice, Jackson and Gill Opticians, is based in Hay-on-Wye

Read more from the original source:
Why being able to read a number plate just isn't good enough - FleetPoint

Eye check-ups essential to avoid long-term damage. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

A public campaign that seeks to promote eye health care among people in Uttar Pradesh and is supported by legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, is all set to be intensified after its eight-week pilot project in five districts of the state bore good results, an Australia-based foundation said.

See Now campaign was launched in June with pilot in Lucknow, Lakhimpur Kheri, Rae Bareilly, Unnao and Sitapur districts. We are truly honoured that megastar Amitabh Bachchan agreed to become the face of this important campaign. And, we aggressively use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp to reach out to as many people as possible, besides printed literature. And, Bachchans face on that has made a difference, a senior official of Fred Hollows Foundation said.

ALSO READ | Vision problems affect 2.2 billion people, warns WHO

The Australia-based foundation was started in 1993 by doctor Fred Hollows and currently operates in 27 countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Vietnam, Malaysia, Suriname and Indonesia, said Nick Martin, director of public affairs at the foundation.

During the pilot period, through pamphlets bearing messages delivered by Amitabh Bachchan or the video featuring him, we have been able to reach out to people, both patients and their families, with the primary focus of urging them to get the eyesight checked, he said.

And, now we are going to intensify this campaign possibly by December this year and going to give to a more formal shape. The results of that should start coming by next February, he added.

The See Now campaign is funded by The Fred Hollows Foundation and in part by Essilor Vision Foundation, and in partnership with Sightsavers India and Vision2020 India, among others.

The India Vision Institute (IVI), a not-for-profit trust that works in the field of eye care, has also decided to join hands with the foundation to strengthen the campaign, CEO of IVI Vinod Daniel said.

Martin and Daniel, both Australia-based, recently also met senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh government in Lucknow to seek support.The campaign, besides raising awareness on eye care also aims to put together all stakeholders and connect them so that people can raise their knowledge or get eyesight checked or seek treatment at the earliest, Martin said.

ALSO READ | World Sight Day 2019: Simple home remedies to keep your eyes healthy

He said during the pilot phase, the team found out that many people were not going for eye testing because they thought it was a curse.Vision problems are extremely common in India. Currently about 550 million Indians have serious vision problems which affect their families, their work and their quality of life, Bachchan had said in his campaign message after the launch.

It really is so simple to avoid a lot of different sorts of blindness, he had said.

Amitabh Bachchan hails from Uttar Pradesh and wears glasses, so he telling people to go get eyesight checked really gets heard, Martin said.

Visit link:
See Now campaign will be soon intensified: Fred Hollows Foundation - The Indian Express

Maintaining good eye health is crucial for having unobstructed, clear vision, in the long run.

However, given the unhealthy environment surrounding us, fast-paced lifestyles, and bad eating habits we've developed, our eyes remain at a significant risk.

Rest assured, a healthy lifestyle and good diet can help you maintain strong eyesight.

Here are five natural ways to help improve your eyesight.

Certain vitamins, including Vitamin A, C, and E, and minerals like zinc and copper, are essential for good eyesight.

Carrots, broccoli, spinach, strawberries, and citrus fruits are great sources of all these vitamins and minerals, and green/yellow vegetables, in general, are beneficial for your eyes.

Furthermore, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, nuts etc. can also help.

Performing eye exercises regularly can go a long way in giving you good eyesight.

Rubbing, warming, gentle eye massages are a few such exercises.

Additionally, staying physically fit is important, especially if you're overweight or obese, since obesity increases the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes which, in turn, can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes, thus affecting eyesight.

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Enough quality rest is instrumental in maintaining good eyesight.

Sleep helps your eyes to repair and recover from the stress of the day and continued exposure to computer screens.

One should aim for sound, undisturbed, 7-9 hours of sleep each night to improve eyesight.

Frequent mini-breaks and power-naps during the workday also go a long way in providing some much-needed rest to your eyes.

When working in environments harmful for your eyes, like a laboratory or a garage, wearing appropriate protective eye-gear is a must.

Additionally, when heading out during the day, consider wearing good quality sunglasses. This will help protect your eyes from the harmful UVA and UVB radiation from sunlight.

Also, go for regular eye checkups and see if there's a need for spectacles or not.

Unhealthy lifestyle habits are also known to adversely affect eye health.

Smoking, among other harms, significantly raises your risk of developing cataract and age-related macular-degeneration.

Fortunately, however, your eyes, lungs, and other body parts start recovering from tobacco-induced damages fairly soon after you quit smoking.

So quit now, if you want yourself (and your eyes) to live a healthy and long life.

More:
Five simple ways to improve your eyesight - NewsBytes

Portrait of two nice trendy cute winsome pretty lovely attractive charming cheerful cheery positive straight-haired girls touching glasses lifestyle isolated over pink pastel background

Some of my warmest memories are moments spent nestled in my grandmothers loving arms. She was my primary caregiver, and we spent so much time snuggled up together. Even as a very small child, though, I remember closely studying her face, curious about what had happened but knowing not to ask.

Just before I started school, she took me for an eye exam where I was diagnosed with a very slight lazy eye (amblyopia). Seemingly panicked by this diagnosis, she made me promise to take my exercises very seriously. Im not going to lie and say that I did them as much as I should, but I got lucky and the condition corrected itself within about a year. We were both relieved.

Ill never forget the feeling of hearing family members talking about my grandmothers eye. Shed lost it in a childhood accident and had worn a prosthetic eye ever since. That night, I cried myself to sleep, terrified that, if she ever lost her other eye, shed never see me again. At that very young age, I recognized the preciousness of having good eyesight and Ive tried to never take that for granted.

What Is World Sight Day?

This year, World Sight Day falls on October 10, 2019. Use this as the perfect opportunity to make eye health a priority for you and your loved ones. Have you and your family had an eye exam in the last two years? If not, schedule your appointment right now.

Vision impairment can affect any of us at any time, but the most vulnerable populations are young children, the elderly and those with diabetes. Here are some sobering facts from around the world:

Here in North America, were fortunate to have access to good eye care. Many of us unknowingly drive past an optical clinic every day while commuting or out running errands. We can even order eyeglasses and contact lenses over the internet. Yet, we often take for granted how lucky we are.

Many who are impacted by visual impairment have barriers to receiving eye exams. There may be a lack of qualified professionals in their area or they may lack the financial resources to pay for services.

This year, the call to action on World Sight Day is Vision First! Get involved by helping raise awareness, whether its encouraging your workplace to offer free eye screenings or sharing one of these social media messages from The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

How Can You Protect Your Eyes?

No matter where we are in our lifespan, its important to do the same basic things to protect our eyes. Whether as a new baby or an aging grandparent, we should never take our eyesight for granted. According to Harvard Health Publishing, here are six ways to improve and protect our vision:

While we cant prevent every possible scenario, being proactive about eye health can make a big difference.

Smith Optics

Having grown up in Montreal, Canada, I spent a lot of my childhood skiing in the winter and out on the water in the summer. Id always have sunglasses with me to protect my eyes until I started needing my prescription glasses for everything. My eye shape makes it hard for me to wear contact lenses for extended periods of time, so over the years, it became impossible for me to wear shades because I always have on prescription glasses.

My partner (and the three children we share) is fair-haired and absolutely must wear sunglasses, even for driving. Hes a runner, so we make sure we invest in the best eye protection available. There are a few brands weve used over the years, but one that weve recently tried truly stands out.

Determined to get in a few more runs on the slopes after everyone else called it a day, self-described ski bum Dr. Bob Smith (an orthodontist) designed the very first sealed thermal lenses and breathable vent foam goggles back in 1965. More than 50 years later, Smith Optics continues to be one of the most cutting-edge sunglass brands on the market.

Smith 4D MAG Goggle

After years of innovation, Smith recently introduced the most scientifically advanced polarized lens technology, ChromaPop, while simultaneously creating a dramatically new approach to ventilation and protection in snow and bike helmets through the use of Aerocore technology. For an in-depth discussion of what makes ChromaPop so unique, read this review.

Today, in addition to sunglasses, Smith carries helmets and goggles, including the new 4D MAG goggle featuring BirdsEye Vision, a proprietary new lens shape that extends and curves below the sightline. Wearers can guard their eyes against damage while enjoying a 25% increase in overall field of view, reduced peripheral distraction and ChromaPop lenses.

Smith also sells prescription glasses. Thats right people like me can have their prescription added to the lenses of Smiths impressive frames. Now, I can enjoy my day at a theme park or climbing a mountain without putting my eyes at risk.

AmblyoPlay

As previously mentioned, I was diagnosed with amblyopia (lazy eye) at a young age. Fortunately, with very little intervention, it was corrected. My oldest daughter, however, was not as lucky. Not only did she have a more involved case, but she was resistant to following the optometrists instructions. We fought about it daily for more than a year, and today as an adult, she wishes she had been more vigilant.

In approximately four percent of children, strabismus (crossed or turned eye) will develop, says Dr. Mary Lou French. Amblyopia will develop in three percent, which combined means that of the 4.02 million children born in 2004, as many as 100,000 are at risk for serious eye and vision problems.

Smart Optometry/Marko Cuk

Seeing the need, AmblyoPlay, has come up with a home-based vision therapy solution for children and adults with amblyopia, mild strabismus or convergence insufficiency (eyes unable to focus together). The software-based vision therapy solution recently launched in the U.S. market.

Traditional vision therapy exercises used to treat amblyopia are repetitive and time-consuming, which can be boring, especially for young children. The Amblyoplay program, which is available on iPads and Android tablets, as well as Windows and Mac computers, is comprised of two 15-minute sessions per day using an interactive gaming software to stimulate eye muscles.

While not intended to replace the expertise provided by an eye care specialist, Amblyoplay was developed by Smart Optometry as an additional tool we can use to protect and improve eye health.

For World Sight Day, take a few moments to review your strategy. If its been more than two years or if there are any concerns, make an appointment with your eye doctor today. Dont put your sight at risk because youre too busy. Theres nothing more important than good health!

See the rest here:
Its World Sight Day: Make Eye Health a Priority - Forbes

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Main causes of rising cases of vision impairment

Eye conditions that can cause vision impairment and blindness such as cataract, trachoma and refractive error are the main focus of national prevention and other eye care strategies. But eye conditions that do not typically impair vision, including dry eye and conjunctivitis, must not be overlooked as they are among the main reasons for people to seek eye health care services in all countries, the report states.

The combination of a growing and ageing population will significantly increase the total number of people with eye conditions and vision impairment, since prevalence increases with age.

Other main drivers of the most common eye conditions include:

Access to services

Stronger integration of eye care is needed within national health services, including at primary health care level, to ensure that the eye care needs of more people are addressed, including through prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation, the report found.

Dr Alarcos Cieza, who heads WHOs work to address blindness and vision impairment, says: Millions of people have severe vision impairment and are not able to participate in society to their fullest because they cant access rehabilitation services. In a world built on the ability to see, l eye care services, including rehabilitation, must be provided closer to communities for people to achieve their maximum potential.

The report states that all people living with blindness and severe vision impairment who cannot be treated are still able to lead independent lives if they access rehabilitation services. Options include optical magnifiers and reading use Braille, to smartphone wayfinders and orientation and mobility training with white canes.

Read the WHO World report on vision summaryor the full report.

Read this article:
WHO launches first World report on vision - World Health Organization

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

-- Text the word EYE to 56512 to generate a donation from Horizon to Prevent Blindness to fund TED education --

Today, in support of World Sight Day, Horizon Therapeutics plc (HZNP) and Prevent Blindness launched a campaign that brings together the voices of the thyroid eye disease (TED) community to educate the public on how TED can damage vision and encourage people who are living with TED to put their vision first by sharing their experiences, monitoring their symptoms and finding the right doctor. World Sight Day is an internationally recognized awareness day designed to focus attention on blindness and vision impairment. This years dialogue emphasizes Vision First, with a call to the community to make vision a priority.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191010005204/en/

Now through Oct. 31, 2019, Horizon will donate $1 (up to $10,000) to Prevent Blindness every time someone texts EYE to 56512. The campaign also invites the TED community to visit http://www.MyTEDStory.com to share how they have seen TED affect vision whether it be from experiencing it personally, or watching a friend, loved one or patient endure it. Select stories will be compiled and shared on social media to help people who are living with TED, healthcare professionals and the general public better understand the disease. Spotting the signs and symptoms of TED early can help decrease the chances of permanent eye damage. People who are at risk for TED, including those with Graves disease, are encouraged to pay attention to changes in their eyes such as pain, redness, light sensitivity, bulging, blurry vision and double vision and visit an ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon to get an eye exam.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 80 percent of all vision impairment across the globe is considered avoidable this statistic is both shocking and unacceptable, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO, Prevent Blindness. As a part of our sight-saving mission, we are thrilled to partner with Horizon to raise awareness about TED and inspire patients to actively monitor and successfully manage their symptoms.

TED is a serious, progressive and vision-threatening autoimmune disease.1,2 TED begins with active TED that may last for up to three years, after which damage to the eyes can be irreversible.1,3 Common symptoms include light sensitivity, eye grittiness, bulging eyes and double vision, among others all of which can reduce a persons independence, ability to work and self-confidence.1,4 As TED progresses, it can cause long-term, irreversible damage. Effective management of TED requires early diagnosis and active monitoring to identify the best opportunity for medical intervention.1 Patients who suspect that they may have TED should visit an eye specialist, such as an ophthalmologist or oculoplastic surgeon, to have their eyes examined. To learn more about TED, visit the new Prevent Blindness web resource and visit http://www.ThyroidEyes.com to sign up to receive information about TED.

At Horizon, weve made it our priority to better understand the needs of the TED community, said Matt Flesch, vice president, communications and patient advocacy, Horizon. Through conversations with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals, weve heard how this disease can impair vision making it difficult to do the things we often take for granted, like drive, walk up or down stairs alone and read. By working together with Prevent Blindness, we hope to multiply our efforts and reach even more people with the TED education and support they need to speak up and be good advocates for their eye health.

To learn more about World Sight Day and other ways to get involved, visit the website for The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

About Prevent Blindness

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020. Or, visit us on the Web at preventblindness.org or facebook.com/preventblindness.

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About Horizon

Horizon is focused on researching, developing and commercializing medicines that address critical needs for people impacted by rare and rheumatic diseases. Our pipeline is purposeful: we apply scientific expertise and courage to bring clinically meaningful therapies to patients. We believe science and compassion must work together to transform lives. For more information on how we go to incredible lengths to impact lives, please visit http://www.horizontherapeutics.com, follow us @HorizonNews on Twitter, like us on Facebook or explore career opportunities on LinkedIn.

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For World Sight Day, Horizon and Prevent Blindness Are Calling on the Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) Community to Put Vision First - Yahoo Finance

By: Pearle Vision | 1Shares 16Reads

October 10, 2019 // Franchising.com // MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Pearle Vision and OneSight understand that access to high quality eye care is critical to help children unlock their true potential and achieve their dreams. Thats why they have come together to launch a new program, ABSee, powered by Pearle Vision and OneSight. ABSee will provide no-cost access to eye care and corrective eyewear to children in need in neighborhoods across North America where Pearle Vision EyeCare Centers are located.

Today, on World Sight Day, volunteers from Pearle Vision, one of the largest optical retailers in North America, and OneSight, a global vision care nonprofit, will work together to provide eye exams and glasses to hundreds of students at Earle Brown Elementary School in Brooklyn Center, Minn., at the first of 10 planned vision care clinics. World Sight Day, coordinated by The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, is held annually on the second Thursday in October to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.

Over the next 12 months, ABSee will bring vision care clinics to cities from Atlanta to Seattle and from Toronto to Puerto Rico. At these clinics, volunteers will conduct vision tests and optometrists will perform eye exams on board a state-of-the-art mobile vision unit.

Pearle Vision has been a long-time supporter of OneSight, and we are thrilled to bring our relationship to the next level with ABSee, said Alex Wilkes, General Manager of Pearle Vision. We know that getting a pair of glasses can be life-changing for a child with a vision problem. With ABSee, we are underscoring our longstanding commitment to caring about the people behind the eyes, ensuring that every child, especially those with financial need, has access to quality eye care and corrective eyewear.

One in four school-age children in the U.S. has an undiagnosed vision care problem, according to the American Optometric Association. Because 80 percent of learning is visual for children, it can become a challenge for students to achieve their full potential in school and in life.

Pearle Vision was founded by Dr. Stanley Pearle, whose mandate was, Take care of the people. Pearle Vision has long prided itself on doing just that, inspiring trust in its patients and adopting the now-iconic slogan, Nobody cares for eyes more than Pearle.

Wilkes said, Every day, we see patients in our EyeCare Centers who have vision care needs, and we are there to help them see more clearly. But if we truly are the brand that cares for eyes more than anyone else, we also have an obligation to improve the lives of the community outside our doors, and especially for the most vulnerable members of that community. ABSee provides an excellent opportunity for us to do that.

OneSight is proud to partner with Pearle Vision to bring clear sight to students in need across our local communities, said K-T Overbey, OneSight President and Executive Director. We believe everyone deserves access to clear sight and by working together, we can help students see and learn to their potential this school year and beyond.

In addition to Pearle Visions corporate support for ABSee, patients visiting EyeCare Centers will be invited to support the program.

For more information about ABSee, please visit pearlevision.com/ABSee.

Editors note: ABSee is pronounced A-B-C.

Pearle Vision was founded in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Pearle, who began the concept of one-stop, total eye care with the opening of the Pearle Vision Center in Savannah, Ga. Dr. Pearle combined complete eye exams with an extensive selection of eyewear. In 1981, Pearle Vision began offering franchise opportunities to select doctors and opticians. Today, with more than 500 EyeCare Centers located throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, Pearle Vision is built around a doctor-centered business model with a primary focus to deliver genuine eye care to patients and become the neighborhood trusted source for all their eye care and eye wear needs. Pearle Vision is owned by Luxottica, a leader in premium fashion, luxury and sports eyewear. For more information, visit PearleVision.com. To learn more about the Pearle Vision franchise opportunity, visit ownapearlevision.com or call 1-800-PEARLE-1.

OneSight is the leading global nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing access to an eye exam and glasses to the 1.1 billion people who have no way to get them. We have a proven model that provides permanent access to vision care and glasses and we are pioneering new ways to deliver quality vision care to the most remote communities. We believe one's location and circumstances should not stand in the way of one's potential. Our goal is to create a world where lack of access to vision care is no longer a barrier to human achievement, and every donation gets us one step closer to making that world a reality. For more information, visit http://www.onesight.org.

Emily Ryaneryan@luxotticaretail.com513.265.9255

SOURCE Pearle Vision

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Pearle Vision and OneSight Launch ABSee Program to Provide Quality Eye Care to School-age Children in Need - Franchising.com

Since your eyes are organs, anything you put in your body can either help or harm them (smoking, of course, is an obvious example). A diet that increases your risk or high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes all affect your eyes too, according to Hamada.

To keep your peepers healthy, Hamada suggests getting some key vitamins and nutrients: "Vitamins A, C, E, and B12 help combat free radicals and help protect the retina. Lutein in leafy greens also protects the retina. And anti-inflammatories like clean fish oil has also been proven to reduce dry eye in some individuals," she says.

5. Sleeping with makeup on.

You don't need us to tell you this one, but here's why it's a problem: "When eye makeup like mascara gets into the corneathe front part of the eyethat increases the chances of getting a corneal infection or a scratch," says Hamada.

6. Skipping your eye exams.

When it comes to the health of your eyes over your lifetime, this is a must. Simply put, "As we get older, like everything else, our eyes age," says Hamada. Many of vision's aging processes like cataracts or dry eyes can be diagnosed and treated without affecting vision and quality of life over time," she says. "Nothing against the dentists, but we can get false teethwe only have two eyes, and we can't replace our vision."

For more information about eye health and vision care, visit lenscrafters.com.

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6 Daily Habits That Are Probably Affecting Your Eyesight, According To An Optometrist - mindbodygreen.com

By Frances Clause

When Blessing Offor, season seven finalist on The Voice, had the opportunity to share his music and inspirational story at the forth Annual Eye Ball of the Mahoning Valley, he accepted.

Born in Nigeria with congenital glaucoma in his left eye and an accident that caused his retina to detach in his right eye at 10 years old, Offor has been blind since childhood.

Despite this, he has been performing for most of his life and has wowed audiences, including guests who attended the Eye Ball in the DeYor Performing Arts Center on Saturday.

For me, music has been like a saving grace and something I grew with in some difficult times, Offor said while playing the piano on stage. Work is work, but when its something you have a passion for, you do something you love, which feels infinitely better.

Sight for All United hosts this fundraising event to create support and awareness for the organizations mission to help people in the Valley reach their visual potential.

Stephanie Champlin of Eye Care Associates said the adversity Offor has faced and his ability to overcome it made him the perfect guest artist for the Eye Ball to display its importance to the Valley.

[The Eye Ball] helps give us funds to provide surgery, eye exams and glasses for children and adults, she said. Through donations, [Sight for All United] has been able to serve over 800 people in the tri-county community.

Since 2016, Sight for All Uniteds programs have enabled community members in need to receive glasses for $10 a pair and developed city school vision programs that include follow-up eye exams.

For Offor, this type of care he needed didnt come so quickly when he lived in Nigeria.

No one else in my family had glaucoma or any other eye condition, so when my dad figured this out, he went to a doctor, Offor said. [The doctor] said, Mr. Offor, I can fix your sons eye condition if you give me $1 million American dollars.

Offors only choice was to leave Nigeria and come to the U.S. Although this was difficult for his family, Offor said it was the best decision they could have made for him.

[Medical professionals in the U.S.] did for me what Sight for All does for a lot of kids, which is making it possible for us to get things that we couldnt have gotten on our own, he said.

Through the collaboration of 40 eye doctors in the Valley and generous donations, care continues to be efficiently delivered to those in need. Youngstown State University students have also stepped in to help with the cause.

Saidah Yusuf, a senior biology major, has served as president of Students for Sight on campus for two years and interns for Sight for All United. These organizations work together, with students volunteering at other events Sight for All United plans.

The goal is to raise awareness to the community about vision issues that not many people know about, Yusuf said. A lot of people need injections, cataract surgeries and medications, so we hope to raise funds for that [on campus.]

To donate to Sight for All Uniteds $100,000 goal, visit donate.onecause.com/sfa/home.

Excerpt from:
Eyes Set on Efficient Vision Care to Those in Need - TheJambar.com

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Visions of Awareness, is an exhibit exploring VISION and seeing creatively. Vision does not solely rely on the function of our eyes: sight starts in the brain as an idea or thought. The exhibit is on view October 13 through November 24, 2019. An artists reception will be held on Sunday, October 20 from 2-5 p.m. Please see the attached for additional related programming.

This October is Vision Awareness Month. This exhibit explores the human need for imagery through art by legally blind and low vision artists as well as tactile sighted artists. The human brain is wired for optical input, for visualization. Even when the optic nerve is not getting input, the brain would continue creating images. Why does a blind person take photographs? Further why would he want images? According to Evgen Bavcar ofThe Seeing with Photography Collective, One cant belong to this world if one cannot imagine it in his own way. When a blind person says I imagine, it means he too has an inner representation of external realities. Vision, even in the absence of sight, is a need, above all, to visualize.

What role can art play in bringing awareness of those with physical limitations, how they interact with the world, and the insights they can bring from their perspectives? The unsighted are unbound by assumptions of sight. According to Mina Levent, the Director of Art Education for the Blind and the Art Beyond Sight Institute in New York, People are starting to accept the fact that art and imagery are mental and not visual.The heart of the creative work has nothing to do with sight. Artists choices are internal.

For a blind person, making a photograph is a choice, a radical choice, a political move. Doing so lays claim to the visual world and forces a reevaluation of ideas about blindness. People will ask how can they do this if they cant see anything? Most believe it is unthinkable. The image starts in the brain through mental imagery deep in the mind. The unsighted artist is not bound by sighted assumptions. These acts of creative image-making additionally render the blind artists from The Seeing with Photography Collective more visible to the sighted, an important matter for such a small and marginalized minority.

Sidewalk Sagas, wire sculptures composed of mild steel wire by painter and sculptorBusser Howell. The Sidewalk Sagas series are three-dimensional narratives revealing the influence of modern technology on metropolitan life, the anxieties of todays city dweller, and the mania associated with cellphones which leads to a dangerous cyber-oblivion. Howell claims the result is a potent mixture of aggression, sidewalk rage, amnesia, and a sense of entitlement that too many pedestrians seem to embrace.

In35thStreet and Lexington Avenue, the sculpture reveals panoramic dramas occurring on the north side of the narrow sidewalk of 35thStreet: with houses and their stoops on one side and trees and tree guards on the curb, the blind man and his guide dog try to move through all the dog walkers who make no effort to contain their pets, their leashes fully extended; a couple drinking coffee and sharing gossip are oblivious to their three little barking dogs that will jump between the feet of the blind man causing him to trip on the leash while the dogs distract his service animal; a person is texting while his poodle poops against the tree; and at the end of the block, a woman is deeply involved on her phone while her dog at the end of its leash joins in the mayhem. Each sculpture depicts a moment in time just prior to the collisions and run-ins that are so common to part of the daily fabric of walking the sidewalks of New York City using a guide dog. They depict the sense of entitlement of so many pedestrians either on their phones or simply feeling they have the right of way is something emblematic of this cyber age. People too frequently act as if cyberspace is real and what is happening around them is the fantasy.

Kenn Kotarauses Braille in his paintings. Through these works, he explores the anthropologic quality of Braille. Delving into the essence of the system, where everything is pared down to subtle dots, he thinks of what it is like to possess perfect vision, yet the junction of ones philosophies and ideologies creates impairment. According to Mr Kotara When we cant see beyond our own ideas, we accept them as sufficient. WhatIfwe were to shift, even slightly? Might a glimmer recalibrate our optics, our perceptions? When light catches that little lip of the Braille surface, it creates a shadow effect. It can remind one of basic hieroglyphics, language as image. Poems or thoughts are included in bas-relief Braille over his abstract paintings which are reminiscent of his native Louisiana rivers, marshlands and lush vegetation.

Other artwork in the exhibit will include three-dimensional pieces to touch:Simone Kestelmanstextural landmark buildings created as glass sculptures;Alice Mizrachisrendering of one of the exhibit photographs from The Seeing with Photography Collective.

RoCAs encourages visitors to think of art as a form of healing for the mind, body and spirit in this fast-paced, technology-driven world we live in. Through exhibitions that feature artists who have overcome challenges in their own lives, we hope to provide inspiration for others.Visions of Awarenessis more than an art exhibition, it is considered a service to the community. RoCA strives to create inclusiveness in the arts, a place where patrons who are blind can just be patrons. Sleep shades will be available for sighted patrons so they have a chance to experience art through their other senses. RoCA hopes to increase the accessibility for those of low-vision and legally blind through audio recordings about the artwork, with equipment powered byQuiet Eventshttps://quietevents.com.

RoCAs other two exhibits opening at the same time include:Endless Journey, an exhibit of one mans journey to inform the world of Cambodias experiences through art and heal wounds.Chanthou Oeur,also known as Chakra Oeur, has spanned the globe utilizing his extraordinary multi talents.As a refugee encamped by the Khmer Rouge, he shares his experiences and enduring spirit with those who are willing to see and hear.The Body Reconfigured, an exhibit of one Vietnam Veterans journey creating art to navigate through PTSD.Howard Millersbeautiful compositions resemble parts of the body in layered abstract compositions. Millers situation is representative of many veterans of war. Sometimes soldiers cannot verbally say what the trauma is but they can express it through art where they are removed in a way where they are shielded, safe and protected to express it. This reintegrates the brain and the healing process begins.

RoCA invites the public to attend the artists Opening Reception on Sunday, October 20, 2-5 p.m. Visions of Awarenessis on view Oct. 13 Nov. 24, free to the general public. For more information contact: Rockland Center for the Arts, 845-358-0877,info@rocklandartcenter.orgor visitwww.rocklandartcenter.org. Rockland Center for the Arts is located at 27 S Greenbush Rd., West Nyack. Regular hours are: Mon-Fri 10-4; Sat and Sun 1-4pm.

Exhibition Related Programming:

Oct. 16 White Cane Day

RoCA is partnering with The Association for the Visually Impaired (AVI), which will hold its White Cane Day to celebrate the independence the visually impaired can derive from using a White Cane. The event will be held Oct. 16at Dominican College in the Hennessey Center from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Artist Busser Howell, from RoCAs Visions of Awareness Exhibit, will be the inspirational speaker at AVIs White Cane Day on learning to deal with blindness and continuing on with life. AVI provides Functional Vision Services to all ages as well as providing comprehensive vision rehabilitation services and programs for workforce development and placement at no costs. AVI provides training to ensure independence and the ability to live a healthy and meaningful lifestyle within the community and within the home. For more information call 845-574-4950.

Oct. 21 & Nov. 4 Free Eye Exams

Visions of Awareness and related programs are generously funded by Crystal Run Healthcare. Crystal Run will be holding a free Vision Lab @ RoCA to test your eyes as a preservation for your vision on Monday, Oct. 21 and Monday, Nov. 4 from 12 4 p.m. To schedule a 15 minute appointment call 845-358-0877. Drop-ins are welcome.

Nov. 14Artists Talk

RoCA will present an Artists Talk with Mark Andres of The Seeing with Photography Collective and Busser Howell at 7 p.m. The artists will talk about how their vision impairment has brought a deeper mental imagery of their work, their inspiration and their pieces in the exhibit. Free to the public.

Nov. 16 Music Sessions @ RoCA

A.J. Crocewill perform on Saturday, Nov. 16at 7:30 p.m. A.J., son ofJim Croce, went blind at age four, due to horrific physical abuse from his mothers boyfriend, after his father died. A.J. was hospitalized for half a year and was totally blind in both eyes for six years. It was during this time he started playing piano, inspired by blind pianistsRay CharlesandStevie Wonder. Croce, regained some sight in his left eye when he ten. As a virtuoso piano player, Croce toured with B.B. King and Ray Charles before reaching the age of 21.

A.J. will performCroce Plays Croce, its a special night of music featuring a complete set of classics from his late father, Jim Croce, some of A.J.s own tunes, and songs that influenced both him and his father. A.J.s 25 year career as a pianist, songwriter and singer has produced nine albums, 17 Top 20 singles and he has performed on The Late Show, The Tonight Show, The Today Show, CNN, MTV & VH1.

About the Exhibiting Artists:

The Seeing with Photography Collective

The Seeing with Photography Collective is a group of photographers based in New York City who are visually impaired, low-vision sighted and totally blind. Coming from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, they share an awareness of sight loss, along with the determination to dialogue and integrate imagery into a more universal context. Sighted assistants focus and compose the cameras frame directed by the blind artist. Then, in a darkened room, they leave the cameras shutter open as they slowly paint the subject with a small flashlight creating human-scale exposures, lasting many minutes, rather than the instant shutter click typically heard. Luminous distortions, blurred or glowing forms result from the technique.

The Collective uses two other essential tools for the creation of the photographs. The first is the light switch, and the second is a flashlight. What would make more intuitive sense for a visually impaired photographer than taking pictures in the dark? Their photographs are made by the movement of the subjects bodies as they paint the subjects with hand-held lights.

Busser Howell

At the age of fifteen, Busser Howell lost 98 percent of his vision. At the age of 40 he lost the remaining 2 percent. Prior to being a professional artist, in NYC, he was a partner for twenty-four years in an interior design and restoration business.

Howell is also a painter, who works in richly textured, large-scale, monochromatic surfaces. His objective is to reduce his work to its minimal form while still maintaining a strength of design, color, and form. These large geometric pieces are worked in heavy impastos of acrylic paint. Paints in his studio are arranged by color on a set of shelves. Howell starts a painting by walking into his studio, and meditating. He sees his art in his mind and uses his mind the way a sighted artist might use a sketch pad, working on various ideas and editing ideas to see how it will change the idea. With brushes and canvas at hand, he allows the piece to evolve. Color appears in his mind and he moves intuitively on the canvas, almost like a channel. Often the paint is applied by hand, and the irregular lines are made with his fingers, making the works tactile and the most physically involved works he produces.

Howell has exhibited at Hunt Morgan Museum, Kentucky; the Dayton Art Institute, Ohio; the Museum of the Permian Basin, Texas; the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia; and the collection of the New Britain Museum of American Art, Connecticut. He has given discussions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is the author of the book20/20 Blindsight.Blindsightis an interview with other blind artists unfolding individual point of view by examining the concepts of creativity, perception, touch and accessibility. Howell engages the vibrant, boundless minds of fifteen visually impaired artists. It is the artists telling their story, and an extraordinary look into a world never before fully understood.

Kenn Kotara

Kenn Kotara was is a Louisiana native living and working in North Carolina. As a painter and educator he uses Braille as an anthropologic quality in his work. Kotaras work has been exhibited at such venues of the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, Univ. of LA, Lafayette, LA; Flander Gallery, Raleigh, NC; and Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA.

Kotaras work is in the public collections of Asheville Art Museum, NC, Elon University, Elon, NC, Louisiana State Museum, Baton Rouge, LA, Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point, NC, U.S. Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica. Corporate collections with his work include: Amber Bay Resort, Dalian China, Bellagio, Las Vegas, ClearChoice Management Services, LLC, Tampa, FL, GE Power Systems, Atlanta, Gold Strike Casino, MS, Park Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC Sumisho, Tokyo, Japan and Star City Casino, Penthouse Suites, Sydney, Australia.

Simone Kestelman

Simone Kestelman is a Brazilian born sculptor and multi-media artist living in New York. Kestelman wants to find other ways of bridging verbal and nonverbal means of communication, and of integrating different media to produce work that addresses the disabled and plight of females. She often uses text to help integrate image and concept, and interactive elements to motivate viewers, especially children and the sense-impaired, to respond and express themselves.

Kestelman has exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki, Greece, the United Nations, MOCA, Calgary, Canada, A Hebraica Gallery, San Paulo, Brazil and SCOPE Arts NY,

Alice Mizrachi

Alice Mizrachi is a NY based interdisciplinary artist and educator working in the mediums of painting, murals and installation. As an arts educator for twenty years, she has worked for organizations including BRIC Arts, The Laundromat Project and The Studio Museum in Harlem. She has an extensive body of work as a muralist. Mizrachis work has been featured in exhibitions at the Museum of the City of New York, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, the United Nations and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Washington, DC. She has been commissioned as a mural artist for projects in Amsterdam, Berlin, Tel Aviv and across the United States.

art, creative, october, ROCA, visions of awareness

Rockland Center for the Arts increases accessibility of the arts for the blind and low-vision art enthusiasts in a new exhibition sponsored by Crystal Run Healthcare added by rctadmin on October 10, 2019View all posts by rctadmin

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Rockland Center for the Arts increases accessibility of the arts for the blind and low-vision art enthusiasts in a new exhibition sponsored by Crystal...

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LLamasoft, the leading provider of enterprise supply chain design and decision-making solutions, is proud to announce its partnership with Eversight, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring sight and preventing blindness through eye donation, corneal transplantation and vision research. Eversight will utilize LLamasofts solutions to make data-driven decisions that more accurately predict the future need for and availability of donated eye tissue and how to most efficiently design a delivery network to provide corneas to transplant recipients in need.

Eversight is one of the largest eye banks in the world and offers numerous services beyond traditional eye banking. The organization recovers, evaluates and delivers donated eye tissue for transplantation, supports research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions, promotes donation awareness through public and professional education and provides humanitarian aid to people around the world in need of sight-restoring therapies. By building a complete model of its end-to-end supply chain with LLamasoft, Eversight can more easily identify operational inefficiencies and make recommended improvements as well as evaluate contingency plans based on real-world variables that impact eye donation and transplantation. Testing and planning for various scenarios ensures that the most effective process is in place for tissue recovery, processing and delivery, and that tissue is available to surgeons and their patients when the need arises.

Eversight helps restore vision to more than 8,000 people through corneal transplantation every year, but there is more work to be done, said Ryan Simmons, Clinical Services Director at Eversight. To treat and one day eliminate preventable blindness, Eversight is collaborating with innovative partners who share our commitment to making vision a reality for people around the world. LLamasofts supply chain expertise, coupled with the insights gleaned from the data now available at our fingertips, will be invaluable in making smarter and faster decisions that ultimately will allow us to achieve more with the precious gift of sight.

This partnership enables LLamasoft to reach its commitment to positively impact 100 million lives by 2022. Eighty-nine percent of vision-impaired people live in low- and middle-income countries. Eversight is committed to meeting the need for delivery of tissues in countries where sight-restoring corneal transplant procedures would otherwise be completely unavailable, including the Middle East, Pakistan and South Korea. With LLamasofts technology identifying opportunities for cost savings, Eversight is well positioned to serve more patients in need, increase capacity to reach more corneal surgeons and effectively send more tissue overseas.

As with any transplant, time is of the essence in recovering eye tissue. In a matter of days, with Eversights help, someone who was once blind can begin to enjoy a life of sight, said Ryan Purcell, Director, Global Impact Team at LLamasoft. Eversights dedication to restoring sight and preventing blindness is truly remarkable. Assisting them in finding more effective and efficient ways to plan for, recover and deliver tissue so that more recipients can be supported is fulfilling work for our Global Impact Team. We are excited to have the opportunity to positively impact more people around the world through this collaboration.

For more information on this partnership, join Eversight in San Francisco at the Cornea and Eye Banking Forum October 11 and AAO 2019, the American Academy of Ophthalmologys annual meeting, October 12-15.

About LLamasoft, Inc.

Over 750 of the worlds most innovative companies across multiple industries rely on LLamasoft to answer complex supply chain questions. Powered by advanced analytics, LLamasoft technology helps business leaders design operational strategies to achieve profitability and growth goals. The company creates a true end-to-end view of global supply chains to enable decisions among strategic, tactical and operational time horizons. Its customers have identified more than $13B in value relying on insights from LLamasofts solutions. To reach its goal to positively impact 100 million lives by 2022, LLamasoft has partnered with humanitarian organizations, government entities and the World Economic Forum, and used its solutions to design and optimize health supply chains increase overall efficiency and reach more individuals in need.

About Eversight

Eversight is nonprofit organization with a mission to restore sight and prevent blindness through the healing power of donation, transplantation and research. The Eversight network is responsible for recovering, evaluating and providing human eye tissue for transplantation; supporting research into the causes and cures of blinding eye conditions; promoting donation awareness through public and professional education; and providing humanitarian aid to people around the world in need of corneal transplantation. Operating in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and South Korea, Eversight works in collaboration with surgeons, researchers, academic medical centers and eye banks across the United States and abroad. For more information, visit eversightvision.org.

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LLamasoft Partners with Global Eye Bank, Eversight - Business Wire

-- Allergan launches interactive website, MyGlaucoma.com, to shed light on the burden of the disease, provide patient and caregiver perspectives and resources to help --

-- New survey in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation reveals people with glaucoma understand the toll of the disease but may not take it as seriously as they should --

DUBLIN, Oct. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company with more than 70 years of heritage in eye care, today announced a national education campaign called My Glaucoma. The campaign is designed to help people understand the burden of living with glaucoma and empower those with the disease and their caregivers to feel comfortable speaking with their doctor about a treatment regimen that fits their lifestyle. The resources available on http://www.MyGlaucoma.com are supported by a new survey of patients living with glaucoma and eye doctors, conducted in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), that found more than 75 percent of patients worry about vision loss because of the disease, but nearly half consider glaucoma to be only somewhat or not serious. In fact, research published by the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that 27 percent of patients with glaucoma are estimated to go blind in one eye over a 10-year period.

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8584151-allergan-my-glaucoma-world-sight-day/

"Glaucoma is clearly a national health issue and one that is overlooked in favor of other diseases perceived as more critical. Given the potential for vision loss, it is increasingly important that we highlight the seriousness of glaucoma, the emotional toll it takes on those living with the disease every day and the importance of doctor-patient communication," said Thomas M. Brunner, President and CEO, Glaucoma Research Foundation. "As we mark this year's World Sight Day, we are proud to partner with Allergan to magnify this data for the general public and offer resources that help preserve people's sight."

"Our perception of glaucoma must change from one that characterizes the disease as 'part of getting old' to one that reinforces its severity and the importance of active treatment," said Ramin Valian, Vice President, Allergan Interventional Glaucoma. "Our interactive website and partnership with the eye care community and Glaucoma Research Foundation is a major step forward in ensuring patients and their caregivers feel comfortable and confident taking greater control of their glaucoma in the doctor's office and at home."

As a leader in eye care, Allergan sought to listen to the voices of patients with glaucoma and eye care professionals to put together meaningful resources that everyone living with glaucoma can benefit from. The interactive website http://www.MyGlaucoma.com offers access to videos that include perspectives from patients living with glaucoma and their caregivers, more information from the survey and patient resources, such as a conversation guide and facts about glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.

"More than 3 million Americans are estimated to be living with glaucoma. As such, it is vital patients keep an open-line of communication with their eye doctors about struggles they may be having with their glaucoma and treatment routine, as well as what they may be experiencing emotionally," said Sahar Bedrood, M.D., Ph.D., Glaucoma Specialist at Acuity Eye Group and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. "A patient should not hold back discussing their challenges, as every piece of information can be important to customize their care and lessen the burden of the disease."

About the SurveyIn an online survey commissioned by Allergan, in collaboration with Glaucoma Research Foundation, of 500 glaucoma patients and 100 eye doctors in the United States, results showed that glaucoma takes a significant emotional toll on people with the disease, as 4 in 5 glaucoma patients admit that they worry about how their lifestyle will change as a result of the disease. Additionally, there is a need for a more proactive two-way dialogue between eye care doctors and patients, especially around treatment, as patients stated current treatment options cause disruption in their lives. Almost 9 in 10 eye doctors wish their patients would take their medication as prescribed. Specifically, 79 percent want their patients to tell them if they're struggling with it.

Story continues

About GlaucomaGlaucoma is one of the primary causes of irreversible vision loss and blindness. An estimated 70 million people globally are living with glaucoma. This progressive disease is characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Uncontrolled, elevated IOP causes damage to the optic nerve and loss of vision. Reduction of elevated IOP is the only proven way to slow the progression of vision loss associated with glaucoma.

Current treatments to lower IOP include topical medications (eye drops), laser trabeculoplasty, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery and incisional surgery. Eye drop medications are the standard first-line treatment for open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, but low patient adherence to these medications is common up to 80 percent of patients are not using topical medications as prescribed. Poor adherence to glaucoma medication could result in disease progression and vision loss. According to a study published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, up to 59 percent of patients on treatment for glaucoma continue to progress, meaning they experience vision loss and damage to the optic nerve.

About Allergan Eye CareAs a leader in eye care, Allergan has discovered, developed, and delivered some of the most innovative products in the industry for more than 70 years. Allergan has launched over 125 eye care products and invested billions of dollars in new treatments for the most prevalent eye conditions including glaucoma, ocular surface disease, and retinal diseases such as diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Our eye care pipeline includes 13 additional agents for multiple ocular conditions.

Our commitment to the well-being of patients is also reflected in social responsibility. Allergan, The Allergan Foundation and The Allergan International Foundation support more than 150 organizations around the world working to improve lives and communities. We remain steadfast in helping eye care providers deliver the best in patient care through innovative products and outreach programs.

About Allergan plcAllergan plc (AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global pharmaceutical leader focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products primarily focused on four key therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system and gastroenterology. As part of its approach to delivering innovation for better patient care, Allergan has built one of the broadest pharmaceutical and device research and development pipelines in the industry.

With colleagues and commercial operations located in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at http://www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking StatementStatements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS, on our financial results; risks associated with divestitures, acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; risks related to impairments; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected debt reduction, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS: Allergan: Investors:Manisha Narasimhan, PhD (862) 261-7162

Media: Lisa Brown (862) 261-7320

Lisa Kim(714) 246-3843

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-world-sight-day-allergan-launches-national-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-the-toll-glaucoma-takes-on-everyday-living-300936174.html

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On World Sight Day, Allergan Launches National Campaign to Raise Awareness of the Toll Glaucoma Takes on Everyday Living - Yahoo Finance

Spell check doesnt recognize the word nystagmus. Neither do most people when I explain that its the reason why my eyeballs constantly shift from side to side, sometimes slightly wobbling, sometimes darting rapidly.

As a person with albinism, I was born with congenital nystagmus and the resulting weak eyesight. Whenever I get into candid conversations about my vision, the question Im asked most often is, Does your whole world keep shifting about too, because of the way your eyes move?

Thankfully, it doesnt. But focusing on anything specific is pretty difficult. Thats why I cant recognize faces easily, especially from a distance or within a crowd. Reading signs whether in the streets, shopping malls, or at airports, train and bus stations is impossible, as is deciphering menus printed on walls behind the counter at cafes and restaurants.

Technology helps. I click photos of signage or text on my phone and zoom in to make better sense of the world around me. Im extremely fortunate to have vision thats considerably better on the ocular spectrum of people with some form of albinism. And I acknowledge that Ive had things a lot easier because of a privileged background with access to resources and the support and help of family and friends.

Related: When People Ask Me If the World Shakes Because of My Nystagmus

Nonetheless, nystagmus slows me down. Just like I zoom in on the phone screen, I need to zoom in on get awkwardly close to everything in my physical reality too, whether its a book Im reading, food Im enjoying, an ATM Im withdrawing cash from, or the laptop I work on as a digital nomad reaching for my dreams of traveling the world. Text-to-speech is among my favorite inventions and I saved up to recently splurge on a MacBook Pro for the way its so simple to have any text read out loud to me at the tap of a button, and for the unrivaled trackpad that makes zooming in and out a breeze.

I often get quizzical looks from people who dont immediately understand why I hold my phone screen so close or hunch over my laptop when working, but Im all too used to being stared at and it doesnt make me as uncomfortable as it once did when I was still an anxious and timid teenager.

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People often overlook that living with any kind of different abilities often leads to other issues like low self-esteem, anxiety or depression. Growing up, I have had to work through my fair share of inner turmoil to accept myself and not let my eyesight or my albinism define me.

As a brown person who is whiter than most Caucasians and with hair that a boy I liked once told me is described as strawberry blond, Ive dealt with unwanted attention and probing personal questions all my life. Ive grown to be more amused than offended by the confusion that my Indian identity causes, particularly when I hand over my passport for scrutiny at airports or hotels.

You dont look Indian, is something Ive heard all my life, most of the time with a hint of a positive connotation like its a good thing. And its always strange to experience white privilege when Im not really white Im often treated like a foreigner in my own country.

Related: To Women Who Complain on Social Media About Being Pregnant

My appearance has ceased to bother me as much as it did when I was younger, but thats not to say I dont get self-conscious. I often find it uncomfortable to hold eye contact and still feel wracked with shame when accused of not smiling or waving back at someone or failing to understand their gestures. I never pre-book rides from airports in foreign cities because I know Id never be able to find my name on a placard in a crowd of strangers.

Sometimes, I can sense people pitying me, particularly when I share that I cant drive, and they even go on to recommend ophthalmologists who helped someone they know. Why dont you just get surgery? Im asked. As if Id never have thought to look into this option myself.

Even with all the advances in medical science, there is still no reliable fix for nystagmus and even if there was, Im not entirely sure Id jump at the chance of getting my eyes operated on. Ive made my peace with living with nystagmus, using public transport and thanks to technology once again Uber. I take heart in the fact that this way of getting around is also better for the environment.

I grew up feeling it wasnt fair how I couldnt see as well as everyone around me, how I had to sit right up front in class throughout school and still not be able to read the board, and how I couldnt play ball sports to save my life. But all these years later, cultivating a sense ofgratitude has changed my perspective.

I am deeply appreciativefor the wonderful support network I have and the ways in which Ive been able to reach for my dreams. Im grateful for my job and the ways technology helps me out, and I am hopeful that companies and governments will invest more and more in improving accessibility for a truly inclusive world.

There are still moments of frustration when I think if it wasnt for my eyesight, perhaps I would have achieved a lot more than I have so far, but I refuse to wallow in such negativity. I refuse to make my nystagmus an excuse for not going after my dreams. Just like with everything else in my life, Ill take my own time to get where I want to be.

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Have You Ever Heard of Nystagmus? - Yahoo Lifestyle

PHILADELPHIA Vantage EyeCare LLC has announced the addition of eight providers, bringing its total to 111 practicing in 45 locations.

It has also added a new division, Phoenixville Eye Care Specialists. A 15th division with five providers is actively planning to on-board, according to a press release. The release describes Vantage as the largest ophthalmology group in the country that remains entirely physician owned.

Staying true to the premise that quality physicians can come together to achieve scale without giving up the ability to best serve our patients, is proving to be a model that we can pragmatically grow with confidence and conviction, said Dr. Richard Prince, president of Vantage.

Heres information on the new providers:

John McLaughlin, MD, served as chief resident at Krieger Eye Institute at Sinai Baltimore after earning a medical degree from George Washington University. His experience in residency with advanced cataract procedures and surgical improvement techniques for glaucoma patients will continue the commitment of Horizon Eye Care to staying at the forefront of eye care in the Southern New Jersey Seashore area. During his education McLaughlin was the chief clinical research assistant at Scheie Eye Institute of University of Pennsylvania on the oncology team.

Lindsey Petsch, OD, is a recent graduate of Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University, where she earned her doctorate of optometry after having completed a bachelor of science at Widener University. Petsch adds to the team of optometrists at Horizon Eye Care with additional training in keratoconus (steep curving of the cornea). She is a longtime area resident who is eager to bring her training and experience to the patients of southern New Jersey.

Brenton Finklea, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist with subspecialty training in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery. Finklea attended the University of Florida, where he was a student in the honors college, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in agricultural and biological engineering with a minor in biomechanics. During this time, he also studied music performance with emphasis on jazz saxophone. He went on to attend medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Finklea was an intern at the Inova Fairfax Hospital and Georgetown University Hospitals. Residency was at the world-renowned Wills Eye Hospital, followed by a fellowship in academic global ophthalmology at Wills Eye as well. He completed his training with a fellowship in cornea, external disease and refractive Surgery at the Duke University Eye Center.

Iga Gray, MD, joins Philadelphia Eye Associates and Wills Eye Hospital after completing her ophthalmology residency and glaucoma fellowship at the prestigious Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. Gray treats a wide variety of ocular disease and specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma and cataracts. She performs cataract surgery, traditional glaucoma surgery, minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) as well as a variety of laser procedures for the treatment of glaucoma.

Jamine Schecter, MD, FACS, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Haverford College. She received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and completed her ophthalmology residency training at the Scheie Eye Institute of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Shechter is board-certified in ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and is on the staff at Phoenixville Hospital and Physicians Care Surgical Hospital.

Susan Wilton, MD, graduated from Bucknell University in 1981 with a bachelor of arts with honors. She followed that up with a MA in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in 1985. She graduated from medical school at The Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1989 then completed her residency in ophthalmology. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the Pennsylvania Medical Association.

Thomas Gulibon, OD, graduated magna cum laude from Saint Vincent College and from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Gulibon is board-certified in optometry, holds his therapeutic license, and serves as an examiner for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. He is a member of the American Optometric Association, the Pennsylvania Optometric Association and the Bucks/Montgomery County Optometric Society. Gulibon specializes in contact lenses. He fits difficult cases with the latest technology including lenses for children, high astigmatism, presbyopia, keratoconus and competitive sports.

Continued here:
$37M in Funding to Support Cornea Cell Therapy | InvisionMag.com - InvisionMag

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On World Sight Day 2019, start the healthy habit to exercise your eyes daily - Firstpost

The Greater London Fund for the Blind has rebranded as the Vision Foundation and announced a five-year strategy to coincide with World Sight Day today (10 October).

The charitys strategy outlines a plan to make London more accessible for people living with sight loss.

It explained that the rebrand and strategy has been launched in response to the growing problem of sight loss in London and the decrease in opportunities for people living with a visual impairment.

CEO of the Vision Foundation, Olivia Curno, said: Sight loss costs London 2.7bn each year, which equates to 300 per Londoner. Behind every single pound of economic cost there is a human story of isolation, poverty, discrimination and exclusion. This is the challenge facing the Vision Foundation in the 21st century.

In a survey of 111 adults living with sight loss carried out by the Vision Foundation, 50% stated that they did not feel like an equal citizen in London, compared to 40% who did with 10% who did not respond.

The Vision Foundation highlighted that 28% of respondents said that better education and awareness about sight loss would have the biggest impact on their quality of life.

When respondents were asked if they felt that London is open to visually impaired people in terms of employment, 33% said yes and 57% said no.

In addition, 80% reported having had mental health issues as a result of their sight loss.

In a YouGov survey of 2203 adults commissioned by the Vision Foundation, 6% of people said they thought that someone who is blind would be able to do all of their job, while 26% said they would be able to do some of their job and 60% said a blind person would not be able to do any of their job. When asked the same question about people who live with partial sight loss, the figures rose to 16%, 48% and 29% respectively.

Chair of trustees at the Vision Foundation, Anna Tylor, said: Its hugely disappointing that so many blind and partially sighted Londoners are not living their best lives and are not able to contribute in the way they could to the economic and cultural life of our great city.

Its an unacceptable position and as a charity we're changing the way we do business to try and address it. Step by step, we are proving that things can be different. But we are under no illusion that our task will be easy. It is only with the help of the rest of London that people who are blind and partially sighted can be active, equal members of society and able to live life to the full, she added.

Its new Londons Sight Loss Charity strapline is designed to highlight the charitys purpose and distinguish it from other sight loss organisations, the Vision Foundation explained.

Speaking about the name change, Ms Curno said: Our new name was chosen after a lengthy consultation with blind and partially sighted people who told us that our old name was old-fashioned, unfriendly and bureaucratic. The Vision Foundation describes an optimistic future and presents what we do and who we help, ensuring our work is better recognised and understood.

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Greater London Fund for the Blind rebrands as the Vision Foundation - AOP

Oct. 9, 2019 05:30 UTC

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191008006015/en/

Figure 1: Presence of GS010 DNA in the visual and cerebral systems of test monkeys (Graphic: Business Wire)

GenSight Biologics (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today reported positive proof of GS010 DNA transfer from one eye to the other eye following unilateral intravitreal injection of primates. In a non-clinical study to investigate the local biodistribution of GS010, tissue samples from the non-injected eye of monkeys that had been unilaterally injected with GS010 were found to contain GS010 DNA three months after injection, indicating the expression of the therapeutic gene in the contralateral eye

These results join a growing body of evidence suggesting the two eyes communicate not only in disease, but also in response to treatment, said David J. Calkins, PhD, ODay Professor, Vice Chair and Director for Research Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States. With the new understanding these results provide, we can move forward with more precise treatments.

Performed by CiToxLAB France, a leading CRO for preclinical research, the study was initiated by GenSight to investigate potential mechanisms behind the unexpected contralateral effect seen in two of GS010s Phase III trials, REVERSE and RESCUE. As previously reported, both trials, which this year completed the two-year follow-up of patients unilaterally injected with GS010, documented sustained bilateral improvements in LogMAR mean visual acuity. The contralateral effect did not conform to expectations for gene therapies administered to only one eye.

The CiToxLAB study uses a purpose-bred species of monkeys, which is favored by scientists and accepted by regulatory bodies due to physiological similarities with humans. For testing at three months, a control monkey was given an intravitreal injection of saline solution in its right eye and was not injected in its left eye. Three test monkeys were given an intravitreal injection of GS010 in their right eyes and not injected in their left eyes. The dosage of GS010 was calibrated to be the allometric equivalent of that used in the GS010 Phase III trials. Three months after the injection, tissues from the right and left eyes were sampled and tested using a qPCR test which had been validated in a dedicated prior study. The highly sensitive and accurate test contains a protocol that specifically targets a portion of the GS010 DNA and can detect the GS010 DNA matrix.

As expected, the qPCR test did not detect the GS010 DNA in any of the tissue samples from the control monkey unilaterally injected with saline solution. Also as expected, the test was able to detect, and in many cases, quantify the presence of GS010 DNA in tissue samples from GS010-injected right eye. Remarkably the qPCR test was also able to detect, and even quantify, viral DNA vector in the contralateral eye, which had received no injection.

Note: qPCR test used to detect GS010 DNA was validated in a dedicated study conducted prior to the monkey study. The graph depicts the number of monkeys whose tissues contained DNA that were within the sensitivity of the test to detect. In some cases, the levels were above the quantifiable threshold.

DNA was detected and quantified in the anterior segment, the retina, as well as the optic nerve of the non-injected contralateral eye. In addition, DNA was detected and quantified in the optic chiasm, suggesting that the anatomic route taken by the viral vector DNA from the treated eye to the non-treated eye was via the optic nerves and chiasm.

The identification of viral vector DNA in the contralateral uninjected eye is an important observation with broader relevance to the design of gene therapy trials for optic neuropathies, noted Dr. Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at the University of Cambridge, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom. Although the non-human primate study was not designed to determine the underlying mode of transfer, the presence of viral vector DNA in the optic chiasm and optic nerve of the contralateral uninjected eye points towards a possible diffusion pathway. Further experimental work will clarify these interesting findings.

We are excited about these scientifically significant results, commented Bernard Gilly, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of GenSight. Moreover, they vindicate the companys position that the unexpected bilateral improvements seen in the REVERSE and RESCUE trials have a solid scientific basis. The results help provide a compelling argument in support of GS010s marketing authorization application.

GenSight is working with its panel of scientific experts to prepare the findings for submission to a peer-reviewed journal later this year.

Dr. Yu-Wai-Man will discuss these findings when he presents RESCUE results at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in San Francisco, CA:

Session Date: Sunday, October 13Paper Session: OP04 Neuro-Ophthalmology Original PaperSession Time: 2:00 PM to 3:15 PMLocation: South 152Presenter: Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, FRCOphth MBBS PhDPresentation time: 3:00 p.m.

About GenSight Biologics

GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on discovering and developing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. GenSight Biologics lead product candidate, GS010, is in Phase III trials in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible blindness in teens and young adults. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery.

About GS010

GS010 targets Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) by leveraging a mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) proprietary technology platform, arising from research conducted at the Institut de la Vision in Paris, which, when associated with the gene of interest, allows the platform to specifically address defects inside the mitochondria using an AAV vector (Adeno-Associated Virus). The gene of interest is transferred into the cell to be expressed and produces the functional protein, which will then be shuttled to the mitochondria through specific nucleotidic sequences in order to restore the missing or deficient mitochondrial function.

About Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)

Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is a rare maternally inherited mitochondrial genetic disease, characterized by the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells that results in brutal and irreversible vision loss that can lead to legal blindness, and mainly affects adolescents and young adults. LHON is associated with painless, sudden loss of central vision in the 1st eye, with the 2nd eye sequentially impaired. It is a symmetric disease with poor functional visual recovery. 97% of patients have bilateral involvement at less than one year of onset of vision loss, and in 25% of cases, vision loss occurs in both eyes simultaneously. The estimated incidence of LHON is approximately 1,400 to 1,500 new patients who lose their sight every year in the United States and Europe.

About REVERSE and RESCUE

REVERSE and RESCUE are two separate randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled Phase III trials designed to evaluate the efficacy of a single intravitreal injection of GS010 (rAAV2/2-ND4) in subjects affected by LHON due to the G11778A mutation in the mitochondrial ND4 gene.

The primary endpoint will measure the difference in efficacy of GS010 in treated eyes compared to sham-treated eyes based on BestCorrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), as measured with the ETDRS at 48 weeks post-injection. The patients LogMAR (Logarithm of the Minimal Angle of Resolution) scores, which are derived from the number of letters patients read on the ETDRS chart, will be used for statistical purposes. Both trials have been adequately powered to evaluate a clinically relevant difference of at least 15 ETDRS letters between treated and untreated eyes adjusted to baseline.

The secondary endpoints will involve the application of the primary analysis to bestseeing eyes that received GS010 compared to those receiving sham, and to worseseeing eyes that received GS010 compared to those that received sham. Additionally, a categorical evaluation with a responder analysis will be evaluated, including the proportion of patients who maintain vision (< ETDRS 15L loss), the proportion of patients who gain 15 ETDRS letters from baseline and the proportion of patients with Snellen acuity of >20/200. Complementary vision metrics will include automated visual fields, optical coherence tomography, and color and contrast sensitivity, in addition to quality of life scales, biodissemination and the time course of immune response. Readouts for these endpoints are at 48, 72 and 96 weeks after injection.

The trials are conducted in parallel, in 37 subjects for REVERSE and 39 subjects for RESCUE, in 7 centers across the United States, the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Week 96 results were reported in 2019 for both trials, after which patients were transferred to a long-term follow-up study that will last for three years.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: REVERSE: NCT02652780RESCUE: NCT02652767

About REFLECT

REFLECT is a multi-center, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bilateral injections of GS010 in subjects with LHON due to the NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4) mutation.

The trial planned to enroll 90 patients with vision loss up to 1 year in duration and will be conducted in multiple centers in Europe and in the US.

In the active arm, GS010 will be administered as a single intravitreal injection to both eyes of each subject. In the placebo arm, GS010 will be administered as a single intravitreal injection to the first affected eye, while the fellow eye will receive a placebo injection.

The primary endpoint for the REFLECT trial is the BCVA reported in LogMAR at 1-Year post-treatment in the secondaffected/notyetaffected eye. The change from baseline in secondaffected/notyetaffected eyes receiving GS010 and placebo will be the primary response of interest. The secondary efficacy endpoints include: BCVA reported in LogMAR at 2-Years post-treatment in the secondaffected/notyetaffected eye compared to both placebo and the firstaffected eye receiving GS010, OCT and contrast sensitivity and quality of life scales. The first subject was treated in March 2018, and enrolment was completed in July 2019, ahead of schedule.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: REFLECT: NCT03293524

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GenSight Biologics Reports Evidence of GS010 DNA Transfer to Contralateral Eye of Primates Unilaterally Injected With GS010 Gene Therapy - BioSpace

What would you do if you suddenly lost your sight?

A new project aimed at helping newly-blinded Great Lakes Bay Region residents prepare for the change that experiencing loss of sight lives brings is in the works.

I am the organizer of this project, because years ago, my heart was broken when I returned to Midland after an eight-year absence. Blind all my life, I realized that, although I was born totally blind and learned many valuable skills as a young child, most people who have visual impairments have become so because of eye diseases that began when they were older.

A new project aimed at helping newly-blinded people in the Great Lakes Bay Region prepare for the change that experiencing loss of sight lives brings is in the works.Able to see all their lives; now, they cant go anywhere without someone leading them, they cant read the paper, use a computer or watch TV. Perhaps they struggle to cut their food, they spill their drinks or trip over things around the house.

Sometimes the newly blind dont know whom to talk to, what they need to learn or if they can do any of the everyday things they used to do. And most communities dont have enough of the specialized services and equipment they need.

My new project, called Life After Blindness, is an attempt to help people determine what their future lives will be like. When the ophthalmologist says Sorry; theres no more we can do, I can visit their houses or talk to them on the phone.

I can fully attest to the fact that life need not be over; these people have the power to choose what life with vision loss will be like.

It all can be done, those with sight loss just need to learn some adaptations that may have to be made from their previous way of doing activities.Sometimes, when I first talk to someone with sight loss, he or she says, I dont know what to do. I dont know who to talk to. One woman said she had made the rounds of local pharmacies and had not found a single white cane for sale.

Typically, most adaptive devices for people with visual impairments are available only through the mail. White canes must be ordered to fit a persons height, and canes are made in increments of two inches in length.

Another resource that is available is working with a service dog. But before getting the aid of a service animal, a person should have white-cane training to know the basics of getting around before getting a dog. Besides, a young dog is strong and speedy and probably will try to take control away from the master until they learn to work together.

Most adaptive devices for people with visual impairments are available only through the mail.Here are some of the questions I often ask people about their life plans after blindness: Do you want to learn to use a computer? Do you want to know how to turn on speech in a cell phone and understand how to give it commands? Do you want to learn Braille, and if you do, why? (Braille is English, just like print is, but many characters have multiple uses and there are many contractions think of them as being like the &sign.) Do you want to cook and clean your house independently? That means your stove, microwave, washer and dryer need tactile markings to choose settings. Do you want to continue hobbies such as sewing, woodworking or carpentry? You might need needle threaders and Braille sewing patterns, and a bit of safety training to continue using tools.

It all can be done, those with sight loss just need to learn some adaptations that may have to be made from their previous way of doing activities.

Cheryl Wade started Life After Blindness as a personal passion after seeing the need.One man told me he has definite goals: He wants to hunt, hike and fish the way he used to, and he wants to go to one of his favorite places in Oscoda. So, right now, I am looking for a volunteer to drive him and to describe the lay of the land. Another woman needs someone to teach her how to use an Android phone with the speech turned on, and I cant find anyone locally who knows how to do that.

There are many adaptations that can assist the newly blind. Audible books available from a free lending library, computers that read words on the screen audibly and aid in screen navigation, movies that describe whats happening on the screen.

There is free training through the State of Michigan to help people learn to travel with a white cane, use computers and read Braille. There is bold lined paper and tactile lined paper for writing print. There are options to make Android and iPhones speak out of the box and dozens of gadgets for all kinds of tasks. But users might need specialized training thats not available locally.

A great resource that is available is working with a service dog once a person has learned adaptations on their own.Services in the region include ride services, meals, transportation and help determining home modifications,exercise facilities,and art classes. The Disability Network of Mid-Michigan has a kit filled with adaptive devices that people experiencing sight loss might need, and the organization can provide advocacy and help people adjust to new disabilities.

But there is almost no one who knows how to adapt these events for persons with little or no vision and who have not had training to help them get what they need. Having a teacher point a finger and say the easels are over there doesnt do it for a blind person. Designing art projects that largely are based on the sense of touch is challenging. And how does a person with almost no vision navigate a large exercise facility with multiple strength training machines?

Cheryl Wade and her dog out for a walk in Midland.Thats why I hope to find volunteers who can orient folks to their surroundings using cardinal directions, audible or tactile landmarks to get around a building, or gauging distances and the time it takes to get from one place or thing to another. Perhaps sight-impaired people need to grab a sighted persons elbow to get around a store or an exhibit. We have teachers and counselors from the state who can help train people to adjust to blindness, but they work in multiple counties and cant drop everythingwhen someone has a question such as, I dont know how to make a Braille z. I could answer that question.

As a trained rehabilitation (disability and employment) counselor with a masters degree from Michigan State University, I also am prepared to talk about the psychological changes that a new, expensive, pain-in-the-neck disability might cause. Withdrawal, denial and acceptance are part of the grieving process, and the negative emotions might return from time to time.

Life After Blindness, is an attempt to help people determine what their future lives will be like.I am working with a group of area residents who have sight loss and who meet on the last Saturday of almost every month for a delicious, free lunch and a presentation by a speaker. The group meets at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 2206 Airfield Lane, and the meeting lasts from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Rides are available. To sign up, call Dick Skochdopole, (989) 835-6433.

At this early stage, I am working to meet people who are blind and find local service clubs to provide us with drivers, guides and donations. With a few hundred dollars a year, I hope to buy equipment such as Braillers and accessible aids and games. I also the ability and connections to acquire used equipment.

"I can fully attest to the fact that life need not be over."I hope to have a food-cutting workshop in which people can feel things like cake or meat with their hands, then figure out how to hold a knife so it will cut rather than having the end stick up in the air. By taking the time for this activity, people could practice cutting in a straight line, then cutting perpendicular to that line. As a member of Michigan Ski for Light a group for blind and mobility-impaired skiers I hope to acquire donated ski equipment and get some of my new friends on skis next year.

If youor someone you know has been impacted by vision loss, please know that life isnt over and there are resources and people to help.

For more information or to inquire about being a volunteer for someone with vision loss, contact me at (517) 574-6898 or wadecheryl42@gmail.com.

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Opening the doors for the region's blind residents - Concentrate