Happy Holidays - Brian McKeeve attempts to compete on both Olympic and Paralympic games this winter

For the holidays I thought I'd post this.  Its an brief article explaining Brian McKeever, a Canadian cross country skier with Stargardt's disease.  He is legally blind and attempting to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic games this winter.  Here is the article in full.

Brian McKeever of Canmore, Alta., moved closer Tuesday to becoming the first ever winter athlete to compete in an Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The 30-year-old, legally blind cross-country skier dominated the 50km Haywood NorAm individual-start classic race in his hometown, part of a series of races Cross Country Canada is using to determine its final Olympic spots that will be announced in January. McKeever suffers from Stargardt's disease, which has left him only with 10 per cent of his vision, all peripheral. In 2007, he finished 21st in a 15km skate-ski race at the able-bodied world championships. "That is all I had [Tuesday] and I hope it is enough to convince the selection committee that I deserve a spot on the Olympic team," he said in a release. "I feel satisfaction right now."
Five summer-sport athletes have competed in both the Paralympics and Olympics.

Eat your Friuts and Vegetables.

A study has been published in the Journal of Food Science stating that nutrients in Green leafy vegetables and colored fruits and vegies can greatly aid vision.  Here is an excerpt from the article.

To reach the conclusion, authors from the University of Georgia compiled the results of multiple studies on the effects of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin on visual performance. These carotenoids play an important role in human vision, including a positive impact on the retina.

After reviewing the various studies, the authors concluded that macular pigments, such as lutein and zeaxanthin do have an effect on visual performance. Lutein and zeaxanthin can reduce disability and discomfort from glare, enhance contrast, and reduce photostress recovery times. They can also reduce glare from light absorption and increase the visual range.

The article also states getting a healthy amound of lutein and zeaxanthin can reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration and cataracts.

I posted in a previous article one mans claims of the benefits of lutein.

Click the title for the full article.

Phase II trial for Wet Age related Macular Degeneration (In Europe)

A company called ThromboGenics is holding a phase II trail for treating West AMD with microplasmin.

Here is a description of what the drug does.

It was recently discovered that one-third of patients with AMD have focal vitreomacular adhesion, a condition in which the vitreous gel in the center of the eye has an abnormally strong adhesion to the retina at the back of the eye. The same adhesion occurs in patients with wet AMD. Microplasmin is designed to treat vitreomacular adhesion by separating the vitreous gel from the retina, potentially preventing the progression of wet AMD.

The MIVI5 (Microplasmin for IntraVitreous Injection) trial will enroll approximately 100 patients across up to 20 European medical centers. The goal is the non-surgical resolution of vitreomacular adhesion. Safety and efficacy will also be evaluated during a one-year follow-up period.

Click the Title for the full article

Marigolds may be cure for Dry age related macular degeneration?

This retired british Optician (Harry Marsland) claims he cured his dry age related macular degeneration by taking MACUSHIELD a supplementt that

 contains lutein, found in spinach, and zeaxanthin, the yellow pigment found in corn – both of which are used in other treatments. It also contains meso-zeaxanthin, derived from marigolds, which was a nutrient Mr Marsland had not tried before.

 
I am skeptical but curious.  I also dont know how beneficial it is to non age related MD.  I would suggest contacting your retina specialist before trying it.  It can be purchassed via the link below.

Click the title for the full article.

New features coming to the Kindle for the visually impaired.

Amazon has announced that they are working on a new set of features for the Kindle that should come avialable in the Summer of 2010.  I wrote earlier that the Kindle DX is helpful for those who have low vision with adjustable fonts and text-to-speech.  The next set of features will expand these technologies adding a extra large font size, and also audible menus.  This will make the device more valuable to those with severe low vision or complete blindness.

Click the title for the press release.

Microsoft Mouse for those with Low Vision

This is an older video that I ran across a few weeks ago, but I thought it would be beneficial for those who didn't know this existed.

Its a Microsoft mouse with a zoom feature built it.  I use something similar with just keyboard hotkeys, but this might go on my christmas list.



This is Microsoft's site detailing all its products that have zoom features.

Art by the legally blind

The New York Times has a 10 slide gallery spotlighting Art and Photographes from the legally blind.

Click the title to see the slides.