Driving With Vision Loss

Challenges Faced by Individuals Driving With Vision Loss

Overview
People of all ages often view driving as the key to independence. Individuals with vision loss are no exception. Three groups of people with vision loss who wish to acquire or maintain the privilege of driving include teenagers with a congenital or acquired visual impairment who have never driven, adults with the same who have never driven, and adults with an acquired visual impairment who have driven in the past but may lose their license because of their vision loss. However, vision standards for driving vary from state to state, and this variation persists despite decades of research demonstrating that there is no absolute cutoff criteria in visual acuity or peripheral vision for safe versus unsafe driving. The fact that states have variable standards results in people with visual impairments not being able to be licensed in some states, including perhaps their own, while being able to be licensed in a neighboring state. Clearly, the ability of these individuals to safely operate a motor vehicle does not change when they cross a state line. Yet, to maintain at least some driving privileges, they may find themselves having to move to a different state.

It is well known that many older drivers modify their driving norms to help keep themselves and others safe. For example, many older drivers voluntarily reduce or stop driving at night, in hazardous weather conditions, or on super highways. By limiting their driving, older drivers, particularly those with visual impairments, are able to continue operating their automobiles safely and efficiently in spite of reduced vision. This is important, considering the vast majority of older adults live in the suburbs or in rural areas where automobiles are required for transportation.

Maximizing Visual Capabilities
It is important for all individuals, but particularly for drivers who are visually impaired, to make sure their spectacle correction is up-to-date. Contrast enhancement and glare control with filtering lenses can also be of great benefit. Most drivers have experienced driving into the glare of the sun, while looking through a dirty windshield. Although wearing sunglasses and keeping windshields clean is not mandatory, they certainly help drivers see more easily and feel more comfortable when driving.

Maximizing Visual Attention
Human factors research has found that inattention blindness and the cost of switching contribute to or directly cause automobile mishaps. Inattention blindness refers to when a person’s attention to one activity undermines his or her attention to other activities. For example, when drivers focus on directional signs, their attention is not on what is happening on the road in front of them. The cost of switching refers to the time it takes a person to switch attention between different activities. A common example that causes driving mishaps is when drivers text while driving. When people focus on texting while driving, their response to the traffic around them is delayed.

Useful Field of View testing research has shown that the time it takes a person to process visual information, especially the complicated visual environment experienced each time a person drives, increases with age. With this in mind, decreasing or eliminating the time it takes older drivers or drivers with visual impairments to look for and visually process signage should help them maintain their concentration on the road ahead and the traffic around them.

A simple way to reduce or eliminate the need to look for directional signage is with the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) device that uses spoken directions. Older drivers and drivers with visual impairments in particular should consider using a GPS device with spoken directions so that they are freed from the distraction of looking for/at road signs and can keep their attention on the traffic around them.

Finally, with the technology, such as adaptive cruise control and lane alert warnings, currently available in cars, it is expected that all drivers will be safer behind the wheel.

Final Considerations
A good driver is someone who has the ability to perceive change in a rapidly changing environment; the mental ability to judge and react to this information quickly and appropriately; and the motor ability to execute these decisions, along with the compensatory skills to compensate for some loss of ability in the other areas. Additionally, a driver’s familiarity with the driving environment and his or her past driving record should be taken into account when considering limiting driving activities or retiring from driving altogether.

For many drivers with vision loss, a limited driver’s license that allows them to drive during daylight hours, within a restricted radius of their home, and at lower rates of speed may be all they desire. However, there are times when an individual will need to retire from driving altogether because of vision loss or a combination of vision and cognitive changes. When this time comes, the individual needs to understand that retiring from driving is for his or her safety and the safety of others.

Finally, it is well known that vision loss in general, as well as the loss of driving privileges, can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. Fortunately, there are many things that can enhance the functional abilities of individuals with vision loss. To learn about available resources for individuals with vision loss, visit the National Eye Health Education Program low vision program page at www.nei.nih.gov/nehep/programs/lowvision.

7/9/15

Mark Wilkinson, OD
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Chair of the National Eye Health Education Program Low Vision Subcommittee

Is There Life After Vision Loss?

Vision loss does not have to result in isolation and withdrawing from rewarding and enjoyable activities that life has to offer. Jim Vorndran, one of my long-time low vision patients who suffers from macular degeneration wrote: “The greatest obstacle is fear…fear of the unknown and of apparent helplessness. It is difficult to admit to myself and to others that I can no longer do the things I used to do with almost no effort. But once I have begun to embrace this, I am ready to begin to learn to walk once again. “

Is There Life After Vision Loss?

Jim wrote: “Vision loss can be a source of frustration but I also see it as an opportunity, and in some strange way as a gift. It has slowed me down so that I can pay greater attention to what is going on around me.”

living with vision loss — Susan F. was able to start reading magazines after simple reading glasses (stronger for low vision patients) and low vision therapy.

In my ten years of providing low vision care, many patients receive the devastating news of potentially progressive vision loss without being presented with resources or support, and families often do not know how to cope. Their determination to maintain or improve their quality of life is often a source of inspiration.

Macular degeneration is the primary cause of vision loss in the US, followed by diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. There are steps to take in order to continue enjoying daily life and reduce the isolation that vision loss can bring.

Following is a list of six steps to follow in order to maintain quality of life and to be pro-active in finding ways to cope.

Be informed about your eye condition

Learn as much as possible about your eye condition. Ask your eye doctor what level of vision you have and where you see best in your field of view. Macular degeneration results in loss of central vision while the peripheral vision is still healthy. Glaucoma has the opposite effect. Ask about the prognosis of your condition, treatment options (both medical and rehabilitative),ways to slow down the progression, and current research and clinical trials in this field. Be proactive about how the progression of your condition is affecting your vision. Most eye doctors will have written materials and you can read these on your own, or ask a spouse or family member to read it to you. This will help them to understand your condition as well.

Schedule a low vision evaluation

Many of my patients and their families had never heard about low vision care. Low vision is defined as “vision which is insufficient to do what you want to do”. Most will mention that their glasses are not

Establish a “Wish List”

Vision loss does not have to mean discontinuing everything you did before. It might just mean a different way of doing things. It is first important to write a list of things you would like to be able to do. The top three are usually: reading, driving, and watching TV. Other wish list items will include sewing, playing bridge, cooking, etc. Once you write this list, you can then track down the resources that will help you fulfill this.

For example, while a handful of low vision patients may still be able to continue driving (to be determined by trained specialists), others will need transportation resources such as Access, talking devices, magnification devices or software, books on tape, etc.

Low vision devices and vision rehabilitation

Some of these devices and/or low vision therapy can help you fulfill your wish list. These include simple hand-held lighted magnifiers to more sophisticated assistive-technology devices such as a CCTV, and prescription telescopes. A low vision specialist can help determine if you are a candidate for low vision therapy, or if one of these devices would be appropriate and what your insurance would cover.

Community resources and volunteering

Support groups, such as the Macular Degeneration Partnership, can be a helpful resource to share and gain experiences from others who are coping with the same condition. One of my patients, Bonnie D., started a support group at her church, when she realized that several others also had AMD. It was successful, and they met once a month, learning from each other.

Some people also find rewarding experiences in volunteering to help others. One patient goes to a nursing home via public transportation twice a month to sit with those who are bedridden and accompany them. She said it helps her to forget her own difficulties and to be more optimistic when she sees there are others who need more help.

Incorporate technology resources

As Jim V. writes “For me, a major challenge has been to overcome resistance to using electronic devices but now that I am freeing myself from that frustrating challenge, I am learning about many opportunities available.” Jim is now an avid iPad user since the font size can be easily increased and the user can switch to voice-over to read what is on the screen. He was able to receive technology training at a local center for the blind and partially sighted. He has discovered magnification software, apps for iPhone an iPad such as ZoomReader.

These are examples of how quality of life can continue even after vision loss. Life can still be enriching, engaging, and enterprising. It all depends on you.

List of Resources:

Braille Institute
Classes, training, on-site demonstrations of assistive-technology
www.brailleinstitute.org

Access Transportation Services
www.accessla.org

Computer Screen Readers
This is a free screen reader for the blind and visually impaired.
www.nvaccess.org

AI Squared
Computer software and other products that magnify and/or read the screen: Zoom Text, Zoom Reader for iPhones
www.aisquared.com

Support Group
Macular Degeneration Partnership
AMD.org

6/25/15

Lisa Limtiaco, OD
Dr. Richlin, OD & Associates
Beverly Hills, CA

Vision Recap Of Previous Articles of Interest

Besides the comments that we get, one of the best parts of putting together this blog is the wonderful group of guests who share their expertise and personal stories. I want to thank all of the eye care professionals and friends that have contributed to make this blog a success.

Here is a quick vision recap of some of the articles we had in the past that you may have missed.

Jullia A. Rosdahl, MD, PhD – Coffee and Glaucoma and Taking Control of Glaucoma

David Liao, MD, PhD – What Are A Macular Pucker and Macular Hole?

Kooshay Malek – Being A Blind Artist

Dan Roberts – 15 Things Doctors Might Like Us To Know

Jennifer Villeneuve – Living With KC Isn’t Easy

Daniel D. Esmaili, MD – Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Donna Cole – Living With Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Pouya N. Dayani, MD – Diabetes And The Potential For Diabetic Retinopathy

Robin Heinz Bratslavsky – Adjustments Can Help With Depression

Judith Delgado – Drugs to Treat Dry AMD and Inflammation

Kate Streit – Hadley’s Online Education for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Catherine Warren, RN – Can Keratoconus Progression Be Predicted?

Richard H. Roe, MD, MHS – Uveitis Explained

Sumit (Sam) Garg, MD – Cataract Surgery and Keratoconus

Howard J. Kaplan, MD – Spotlight Text – A New Way to Read

Gerry Trickle – Imagination and KC

In addition to the topics above, here are few more articles that cover a variety of vision issues:

If you have any topics that you would like to read about, please let us know in the comments section below.

6/23/15

Susan DeRemer, CFRE
Vice President of Development
Discovery Eye Foundation

Coping With Retinitis Pigmentosa

Tribulations, Travels and Tennis Balls

Linda Becker stopped playing tennis at night because she couldn’t see the balls coming at her. “Coincidentally, I saw something about night blindness on TV, so I went to my optometrist,” Becker says. He confirmed she had night blindness and sent her for more testing. An ophthalmologist told her: “I’m sorry, but you have retinis pigmentosa, and you’ll be blind some day.”

“As a young mother, I couldn’t wrap my head around that,” Becker says. So she entered a decade of denial until she started to sideswipe other cars while driving. “I drove into my development one day, and there was a thump over the hood of my car. I thought, ‘Oh my god, what did I do? Did I kill somebody?’ I pulled over, and a police officer who happened to be driving behind me came over to my window. I was devastated. I said, ‘What have I done?’ He told me a jogger who wasn’t paying attention had tripped over the hood of my car. But I knew if I could have seen better, I would have stopped. That was the day I put my car keys down.”

Coping with Retinitis Pigmentosa

Encouraged by her kids to get a guide dog, Becker called Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB). She learned she needed orientation and mobility (O&M) skills, including knowing how to walk with a white cane, before she could be considered for a dog.

“I called the Braille Institute, and it was daunting, to say the least: Thinking about walking with a white cane, having people know I’m blind and feeling disabled. Going through that whole transition — I didn’t want to even face it,” she recalls. “But I went, and I took classes, until I knew it was time for me to have a guide dog. I’ve always been a dog person, and I’d rather use my dog as a mobility tool than a cane. Plus, I wanted the companionship.”

She successfully completed the GDB requirement of walking one mile to and from her home with the cane. She then completed two weeks of on-site training at GDB’s campus in Oregon, where she was paired with Lyla, a yellow English Lab.

Becker started teaching classes at the Braille Institute and helping others navigate their vision-loss transition. She teaches a 14-week sensory-awareness class. “It helps develop and educate your other senses when you start losing your sight,” she says. “It humbles me. I have no sight now. My transition of going to the Braille Institute, learning to use a white cane, then learning to have a guide dog, taught me a whole lot about myself and feeling very independent. I was able to speak about guide dogs and speak about blindness — and be a teacher.”

She became an outreach ambassador for the Braille Institute, facilitating low-vision support groups throughout Orange County, Calif. She also went to work for GDB as an alumni-outreach representative, putting together workshops and helping people learn about the “guide-dog lifestyle.”

Now 66 years old, Becker finds the most enjoyment in traveling. “Being with a guide dog and in the blindness community took me places,” she says. “I was asked to be a keynote speaker here or an ambassador there. I’d never done that type of thing before, and I’d never traveled much. I just kept hopping on airplanes with my guide dog and going to hotels and trying to figure things out. I ask questions and collect tips, so I can share with others how easy it can be to travel with or without usable sight. It is really exciting, and I’m really driven to go different places.”

Since Lyla’s retirement, Becker travels regularly with her guide dog, Anchorage, a yellow lab. “He gives me courage,” she says. The pair is currently planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand. Becker is no longer daunted by learning new skills, exploring new places or even flying tennis balls — Anchorage is quite happy to deal with those when he is off-duty.

For more on traveling with guide dogs, including Becker’s adventures with Lyla and Anchorage, read “Traveling Tails”.

5/26/15

Lauren Hauptman
Lauren Hauptman INK

Living Well With Low Vision Online Courses

As of May 5th, 10 new audio lessons offering tips and techniques for living well with low vision are now available as part of the newly-launched Low Vision Focus @ Hadley (LVF). These low vision online courses offer practical knowledge to make life easier.

Low vision is defined by having significant difficulty seeing even after one’s vision is corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, surgery or medicine. Some typical symptoms of low vision include dimness, haziness, and having difficulty recognizing faces, reading labels and safely moving around. Low vision can make everyday tasks like reading the mail, shopping, cooking and paying the bills difficult. According to 2010 research by the National Eye Institute, the number of Americans with low vision will continue to grow dramatically, from 2.9 million in 2010, to 5 million in 2030, to 8.9 million in 2050, as our population ages. One out of every six older adults will experience age-related vision loss due to conditions such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetes.

As the largest provider of distance education for people who are blind and visually impaired worldwide, The Hadley School for the Blind (www.hadley.edu) is building on its history and expertise with this new program. The LVF is designed to help those living with low vision maintain their independence by sharing practical ways to address daily living skills made difficult by vision loss. Most low vision assistance focuses on a device that is meant to correct the vision problem. The LVF, however, offers ways for older adults to educate themselves on their condition as well as learn adaptive techniques to continue the tasks of daily living. The LVF is unique in that it offers those living with low vision the opportunity to learn and take advantage of our resources from the comfort of their own homes, at a time that is convenient for them, with the benefit of one-on-one counseling and support, at no cost to them.

A newly-revised series of 10 audio lessons is the core component of the LVF. Each lesson is approximately 30 minutes long and is available on a CD that is mailed to the client. The CDs are free for the client to keep. When a new client comes to the LVF, he or she speaks with an intake coordinator to determine which lesson(s) best meet their needs based on their challenges with low vision. Clients will be limited in their requests to two lessons initially. Additional titles may be requested once the client has had the opportunity to listen to these initial lessons and determine future need. The audio lessons include:

Making the Kitchen User Friendly	Getting Around in the House
Basic Tactile Marking	Going Out with a Friend
Doing Simple Kitchen Tasks	Keeping Prescriptions in Order
Low Vision Cooking	Looking Your Best
Going Out for a Meal	Simple Home Modifications

While the LVF is geared primarily toward seniors, adult children of seniors living with low vision are encouraged to take advantage of the resources offered by the LVF to aid their parents in the adjustment process. Additionally, while many of the people who are living with low vision are seniors, the program is open to any individual who is experiencing sight loss. Clients and professionals also are encouraged to utilize the programming of the LVF in either the development of new low vision support groups in local communities or to sustain existing support group networks.

In the future, Hadley will provide free, educational videos and webinars as part of the Low Vision Focus and the program will soon reference popular Hadley courses that may be of interest to individuals with low vision.

“We are so excited to offer the Low Vision Focus @ Hadley and enable this growing population to retain their independence and live with confidence,” says the dean of Educational Programs and Instruction and interim Director of the Low Vision Focus @ Hadley Doug Anzlovar.
For more information or to begin taking advantage of the LVF, please visit www.lowvisionfocus.org or call toll-free at 1-855-830-5355.

5/21/15

Kate Streit
Media and Marketing Specialist
The Hadley School for the Blind

Must Love Dogs

Traveling with Guide Dogs

Adam Lawrence was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) when he was 17, but the disease did not have a profound effect on his life until his early 40s. “I sometimes had trouble with bright sunlight during the day, but I dealt with it by wearing dark sunglasses. Then one morning, I woke up, and it was like I was staring through a haze of pepper,” he says.

Lawrence gave up his job in the banking industry, as he could no longer see the contracts he needed to review. “I had to stop working and driving, and I had to figure out how to adapt,” he recalls. “I was great at organization, so my job became running the house, while my wife went to work. I got a scanner and a JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen-reader for my computer, and I learned to read Braille.”

Lawrence is now legally blind, and his RP had another profound affect on his life about seven years ago, when he and his wife encountered Guide Dogs of America (GDA) at a fundraising event.

“I didn’t plan to get a guide dog, but they had a chocolate Lab puppy on the table” he says with a smile. “They put my hand on the puppy, and there was no turning back.”

Lawrence went through an interview and then an intensive 28-day on-site orientation program at GDA’s school in Sylmar, Calif. He was paired with a black and tan Labrador named Escort — also known as “the greatest dog in the world.”

With Escort, Lawrence feels a sureness and freedom he never experienced with other mobility tools. “When I walk with a cane, I don’t feel as confident, and I’m much slower. He gives me confidence, mobility and ability.”

Now in their sixth year as a team, Lawrence and Escort are virtually inseparable. They even shop together: “A person in the market takes our list, then Escort and I follow them around the store.”

They also travel extensively and have been everywhere from Mexico to New England to Colorado, where they went rock-climbing. “On the way down, Escort chose the more difficult path for himself, and left the easier path for me. He’s amazing,” Lawrence says.

Lawrence is quick to point out that “Escort is not a GPS. I have to plan and know where we are going. He’s there to keep me safe; he’s not there to figure out where to go — that’s my job.”

For more on traveling with guide dogs, including Lawrence’s adventures with Escort, read “Traveling Tails”, an article from our most recent e-newsletter.

5/19/15

Lauren Hauptman
Lauren Hauptman INK

Traveling With Low Or No Vision

What Good is Sitting Alone in Your Room?

Traveling with low or no vision

There is a whole world out there to discover — regardless of whether you can see it all with your eyes. No one will tell you traveling with low or no vision does not present challenges, but there are precious few that cannot be overcome with planning, creativity and patience.

A plethora of for-profit and nonprofit companies exist to help you navigate the complexities of traveling with a vision disability — from technology and websites, to travel agents and tour operators. And don’t overlook helpful — and free! — resources such as your friends and family, assistance pets and even complete strangers.

Travel Tools
Everyday tools become even more essential when you are traveling in unfamiliar surroundings. A mobility cane (consider a small travel version) will let you find your way more easily — and notify others of your vision issues. This is especially helpful for two reasons: Strangers are less likely to get in your way and more likely to help if you ask for it. In a recent DEF blog post (“Visual Aids and Techniques When Traveling”

Linda Becker, who has retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and travels primarily with her guide dog, is planning her next trip to Australia and New Zealand with Mind’s Eye Travel, a company that specializes in creating tours especially for people who are blind or visually impaired, as well as providing sighted guides. There are many such companies that will assist you with all facets of travel, from immigration documents to reservations to tour guides. Traveleyes offers discounts to sighted travelers in exchange for helping guide non-sighted travelers during group vacations around the world. DisabledTravelers.com is a good resource for companies that specialize in travel for people with accessibility issues. It includes reviews and recommendations on everything from airlines and cruises, to travel agents and hotels.

Plan, Prep, Pack
Ask any experienced low-vision traveler, and they will tell you planning, planning and more planning is the key to successful travel. Not only will it make your trip go more smoothly, it will give you peace of mind, as well as the ability to relax and enjoy yourself. The fewer surprises, the more confident and comfortable you will feel. And if something does goes awry, it is easier “go with the flow,” because everything else has been planned.

Right at the top of the list with planning is, well, making a list. Prepare a list of all the items you will need, then double it. That means if you wear contact lenses, pack at least one extra pair, as well as cleaning solutions. Same goes for glasses and sunglasses. Make sure you have plenty of the medications and other supplies you use on a day-to-day basis. Most seasoned travelers suggest you have multiples of all these stashed in different bags: your carry-on, your suitcase and a handbag of some kind that never leaves your side. This way, if one bag gets lost, you still have another one or two. Sample sizes may become your best friend!

Carolyn Hammett, an accomplished photographer and world traveler who has keratoconus (KC), advises: “Be prepared; having backups makes you more comfortable. Be ready to change contact lenses in public restroom if you need to. Have one of everything you need, vision-wise, with you at all times.” To learn more about Hammett and see what she packs for a two-week trip, see “Through a Lens with One Eye Blind,” a story from our recent e-newsletter focused on travel experiences and tips.

“Leave extra time, notify airlines or others in advance that you may need assistance, and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” says Adam Lawrence, who also has RP and travels regularly with his guide dog. (Read more about traveling with guide dogs in “Traveling Tails”, from an article in our recent e-newsletter.

Speaking of help, don’t forget the helper sitting next to you right now, whether it’s a spouse, a friend or a guide dog. Traveling alone can be vexing for people with full vision, so it’s natural for those with low vision to feel even more anxiety.

Dame Judi Dench, who has age-related macular degeneration (AMD), recently told Radio Times she no longer travels alone. “I need someone to say, ‘Look out, there’s a step here!’ or else I fall all over the place like a mad, drunk lady,” she said.

“Don’t travel by yourself the first time — go with someone you trust, and let them know how much help you want,” Hammett says. “I’ve gotten to the point where I tell my husband, ‘Don’t tell me anything until I screw up.’”

With planning, preparation and practice, you may get to a point where you feel comfortable traveling alone. You will only know your limitations if you try to stretch them.

“Just try,” Hammett says. “Do it once to find out if you can.”

Additional Resources

Access-Able Travel Source’s “Travel Tips for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired”

Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality

Transportation Security Administration’s “Passengers Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision”

5/14/15

Lauren Hauptman
Lauren Hauptman INK

Famous People with Vision Loss – Part II

Here is part two of our look at famous people with vision loss. The focus this time is the creative minds of artists, actors and musicians.

Artists

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) – Best known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes, she was recognized as the “Mother of American modernism”. In 1972, O’Keeffe’s eyesight was compromised by age-related macular degeneration (AMD), leading to the loss of central vision and leaving her with only peripheral vision. She stopped oil painting without assistance in 1972, but continued working in pencil and charcoal until 1984.

Claude Monet (1840-1926) – A French impressionist painter who had cataracts that blurred his vision and caused a severe loss of color perception. After complaining about his cataracts for ten years, he had cataract surgery in 1923. Those paintings before the surgery have more of a reddish tone, while those painted before his cataracts and after the surgery show more blue tones.

Edgar Degas (1834-1917) – A French artist known for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. He had a chronic and progressive retinal disease that made him sensitive to light and caused him to lose his central vision. Frustrated by these limitations he switched to oil pastels because less precision was needed. He finally resorted to sculpting to be able to utilize his sense of touch and feeling in order to continue to create art.

Actors

Johnny Depp (1963-) – Known for his many movie roles, Depp doesn’t let his vision loss stop his career. Besides correcting his blurred vision, the tinted lenses of the glasses he wears also help with Meares-Irien ‘visual stress’ syndrome, which causes dizziness, discomfort and eye pain. He is also nearly blind in his left eye.

Issac Lidsky (1979-) – A child actor known for his part in the Saved by the Bell: The New Class TV series, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at 13 and was completely blind by 25 years of age. He changed the course of his career, becoming a lawyer. He was a law clerk for Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2008-09, making him the the first blind US Supreme Court clerk.

Jon Weller (1975-) – A TV actor who has performed on many shows, he is best known for his recurring role of toxicologist Henry Andrews on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He has been diagnosed with RP.

Dame Judith Dench (1934-) – A actress has had a long career in theater and film, receiving many awards including ten BAFTAs, six Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award, and a Tony Award. She is well-known for the part of M in the James Bond series of films. In 2012 She announced that she has age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but has no intentions of slowing down. Scripts are now provided to her in a larger font.

Musicians

Ray Charles (1930-2004) – He was born with congenital glaucoma which resulted in blindness by the age of 7. This American singer, songwriter, musician and composer, received multiple Grammys, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Kennedy Centers Honoree.

Stevie Wonder (1950-) – He is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer who signed with Motown Records at the age of 12. He has won 25 Grammys and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is blind due to retinopathy of prematurity due to excessive oxygen in his incubator when he was born.

Andrea Bocelli (1958-) – An Italian classical tenor, he was born with congenital glaucoma, but lost his vision at the age of 12 following a soccer accident in which he was hit in the head. He started playing piano when he was six, also learning the saxophone and flute. Bocelli has recorded fourteen solo studio albums, of both pop and classical music, three greatest hits albums, and nine complete operas, selling over 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) – An American jazz singer often referred to as the First Lady of Song. She also appeared on TV and in movies. She won 14 Grammy Awards, National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was diagnosed later in life with diabetic retinopathy due to her advanced diabetes, which also cost her both legs.

Do you know of any creative famous people You could add to this list? Please share them below in the comments.

4/30/15

Susan DeRemer, CFRE
Vice President of Development
Discovery Eye Foundation

Famous People with Vision Loss – Part I

With all the recent news about Rosanne Barr’s vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, I thought it would be interesting to see other famous people with vision loss who didn’t let it stop their impact on the world around them. Today’s post will focus on writers, politicians, business and military leaders, scientists. Thursday we will explore artists, actors and musicians.

Authors

Harper Lee (1926-) – Best known for her 1960 Pulitzer Prize winning book To Kill a Mockingbird, she has been diagnosed with AMD. Her second novel, Go Set a Watchman, which was actually written before To Kill a Mockingbird, will be published this July.

John Milton (1608-1674) – English poet who wrote the poem Paradise Lost, among others, and became blind at the age of 43.

Alice Walker (1944-) – American author and activist who wrote The Color Purple which won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1983. She was blinded in one eye as a child when shot with a BB gun.

Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) – American newspaper publisher who established the prestigious journalism award, the Pulitzer Prize. He became blind at the age of 42 due to a retinal detachment.

James Thurber (1894-1961) – American humorist who switched his attention from sports to writing when his brother shot him in the eye with an arrow while recreating the legend of William Tell shooting the apple off his son’s head.

James Joyce (1882-1941) – Irish novelist and poet who had numerous eye surgeries for various conditions starting with iritis.

Stephen King (1947-) – American author of contemporary horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. He has been diagnosed with AMD.

Leaders

Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) – British naval admiral lost an eye as a young seaman. He was said to have used this to his advantage by raising his telescope to his blind and then claim not to see the flags of surrender being raised by enemy ships.

Thomas Gore (1870-1949) – Blinded as a child, he became the first senator from Oklahoma and the first blind member of the US Senate.

Steve Wynn (1942-) – A well-known business leader having helped build up Las Vegas, and the owner of The Wynn and The Encore resorts, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in 1971 and declared legally blind in 2010.

David Alexander Paterson (1954-) – He was the first African American Governor of New York and the second legally blind governor of any state, after Bob Riley of Arkansas. Paterson became blind at the age of three months when an ear infection spread to his optic nerve.

Willie Brown (1934-) – He spent over 30 years in the California State Assembly and served as the first African American Mayor of San Francisco for eight years. He has retinitis pigmentosa.

Hellen Keller (1880-1968) – She was an American activist, lecturer and author. She was the first deaf/blind person to graduate from college. At the age of 19 months she came down with infection that left her deaf and blind. She inspired the Lions Clubs International to become “knight of the blind,” leading them to focus their community service efforts toward vision-related causes.

Science & Medicine

Dr. Jacob Bolotin (1888-1961) – Was the first congenitally blind person to receive a medical license. This Chicago physician’s specialties were diseases of the heart and lungs.

John Glenn (1921-) – He was the first man to orbit the earth in 1963 on the Friendship 7 mission. He suffers from glaucoma.

Joseph Plateau (1801-1883) – Belgian physicist who invented an early stroboscopic device, the phenakistiscope, in 1836 that allowed still images to create an animated effect. It eventually led to the development of cinema. He performed an experiment in which he gazed directly into the sun for 25 seconds, leading to his eventual blindness.

Join us next Tuesday for part two.

4/28/15

Susan DeRemer, CFRE
Vice President of Development
Discovery Eye Foundation

Driving and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The issue of driving and age-related macular degeneration is a particularly sensitive one for seniors losing their vision. Driving means independence and most people want to hold on to their cars as long as possible. When is it time to stop?

A research survey by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Age-Lab and The Hartford Financial Services Group involved 3,824 drivers over age 50, asking them how and why they limited their driving.

The study found that two-thirds of the drivers self-regulated their activities in the car, restricting their driving for certain condition. Time of day was a common factor, with some people choosing to stay home at night or dusk. Bad weather conditions and heavy traffic were other conditions. Over time, drivers developed conscious strategies to compensate for failing vision, slower reflexes and stiffer joints.

Statistically, older drivers are actually very safe drivers, although over age 75, the accident rate per mile increases. The study found that health and medical conditions contributed far more to driving restrictions than age alone.

About ten percent of the nation’s drivers are over 65. However, by 2030, when one in five Americans are over age 65, this percentage will skyrocket. Consider that 23-40% of people over age 65 have macular degeneration – that ís a lot of drivers with a potential visual impairment.

Making the Decision

If your macular degeneration is causing a problem when you drive, you are most likely aware of it. Or, perhaps a friend or family member has pointed it out to you. Does this mean you should immediately stop driving? Not necessarily.

What you should do immediately is ask yourself some critical questions. How are you functioning when you drive during the day? What about dusk, dawn and cloudy days? Bright sunlight? At night?

Here are six important questions:

Do you have difficulties reading clearly and rapidly all the instruments on a carís dashboard?
Do you have difficulties reading road signs, or if you are currently driving, do you notice and understand the signs in time to react to them with comfort?
Do other cars on the road appear to “pop” into and out of your field of vision unexpectedly?
While on the road, do you drive well below the speed limit and slower than most cars around you?
Do you have difficulties positioning yourself on the road, with respect to other cars, lane markers, curves, sidewalks, parking spaces, etc.?
Do you find yourself feeling confused and/or disoriented on the road?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may want to suspend your driving until you consult a specialist. If your answers indicate that you may have a problem under certain conditions (i.e., dim light or night) you may want to suspend your driving under those conditions until you consult a specialist further.

This questionnaire is from an excellent book, “Driving With Confidence, A Practical Guide to Driving With Low Vision” by Eli Peli and Doron Peli. Dr. Eli Peli is a Senior Scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute and Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. Their book contains a practical program to help you maximize your chances of retaining your driving privileges. It also provides a detailed description of driving vision regulations in every state as does the AAA website.

Other Useful Resources

AARP Driver Safety Program – Largest classroom driver refresher course specially designed for motorists age 50 and older. It is intended to help older drivers improve their skills while teaching them to avoid accidents and traffic violations.

AAA Safety Foundation for Traffic – Tips on driving and resources for other transportation options.

Summary

There are many ways to stay safe and maintain your independence. Just be attentive to your own abilities and find out all you can about your options.

4/21/15

Judith Delgado
Executive Director
Macular Degeneration Partnership
A program of Discovery Eye Foundation

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Living with Vision Loss

Coping With Retinitis Pigmentosa

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Coping with Retinitis Pigmentosa

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Challenges Faced by Individuals Driving With Vision Loss

Is There Life After Vision Loss?

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Tribulations, Travels and Tennis Balls

Coping with Retinitis Pigmentosa

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What Good is Sitting Alone in Your Room?

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