by Carly Eden Stokes | Aug 12, 2020 | Blog, News
Americans may not be eating enough of the foods and nutrients that they need to protect their eye health. Click the article link below the image to learn what nutrients you may need to be eating more of!
A smiling, laughing woman in a multi-colored shirt holds lemon wedges in front of her eyes in a silly way.
According to the World Health Organization, global average life expectancy continues to rise and is increasing faster than it has at any other time during the last 50 years. Approximately 9 percent of the world’s population is 65 or older; this number is expected to grow to 17 percent by 2050.
by Carly Eden Stokes | Aug 6, 2020 | Blog, News
Learn what a simple red light could do for eyesight!
A close-up bright blue eye stares to the side.
With the retina aging quicker than other organs in the body, due to the high concentration and decline of mitochondria in photoreceptors (light-sensitive rods and color-sensitive cones), researchers in a new study took a fresh look at improving mitochondrial function. The study was published June 29 in the Journals of Gerontology: Series A.
by Carly Eden Stokes | Jul 29, 2020 | Blog, News
A dark-haired woman in a black top breathes out slowly as she lifts a small pink weight.
How can exercising help to slow or prevent vision loss? ScienceDaily.com shares some insights on how exercise can slow or prevent several common causes.
Exercise can slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration and may benefit other common causes of vision loss, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, new research suggests. The new study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine found that exercise reduced the harmful overgrowth of blood vessels in the eyes of lab mice by up to 45%.
by admin | Jul 28, 2020 | News
Blind since birth, Christina Brino spent eight years of her career developing self-help groups for people with vision impairment at St. Clare’s Medical Center. She then served 15 years as the disabilities coordinator for Morris County’s Office for the Disabled. After retiring, Brino volunteered with VLANJ as an apps group facilitator before the nonprofit hired her as a technology instructor. She is one of two instructors of the virtual Tech Talks monthly series. The Pompton Plains resident also volunteers for the Seeing Eye, which has provided her six guide dogs over the years, including her current one, a black Labrador named Shasta.
Jackie Millard had just completed teacher training following a 17-year career as a product manager at AT&T/Lucent Technologies when she lost her sight in 2004. Millard became a community volunteer, a leader of her church choir and a yoga instructor. AT VLANJ, the Long Valley resident learned screen-reader technology for computers and later how to use iPhone features and apps to assist her. Millard shared what she learned as a VLANJ volunteer, before she was hired as an instructor. Millard is part of VLANJ’s Essential Low Vision instructor team.
Susanne Sytsma worked 25 years as a registered nurse caring for patients in intensive care, neurology and oncology departments until vision loss forced her to retire. At VLANJ, Sytsma learned skills to regain her independence. The Jefferson Township resident became adept at technology and volunteered in the technology program. As an instructor, Sytsma conducts iPhone/iPad training for VLANJ in addition to teaching the virtual Tech Talks monthly series. The married mother of two and grandmother of an 8-year-old grandson counts Valdez, her Seeing Eye dog, as part of the family.
by Carly Eden Stokes | Jul 22, 2020 | Blog, News
Do your glasses constantly fog up while wearing your face mask? Here are some helpful tips from the University of Utah Health:
If you wear glasses and are helping slow the spread of coronavirus by wearing a mask, you’ve probably experienced foggy lenses the moment you put on the mask. What to do? An optical shop expert at the John A. Moran Eye Center shares some tips.
by admin | Jul 20, 2020 | News
Working in Manhattan after college, Carol Burgio marveled at people with vision loss who confidently navigated the midtown streets. “They seemed fearless,” Burgio said. She began volunteering for a nonprofit in the neighborhood that helped people with severe visual impairment. After she and her husband relocated to Denville in 2002, Burgio discovered the town was home to New Jersey Foundation for the Blind. Unfortunately, her long days commuting to New
York for work in finance prevented her from volunteering regularly.
Fast-forward to May 2019: Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey advertised for volunteers for its ‘Beyond Sight’ picnic on the first Saturday in June. Burgio jumped on the opportunity — not realizing VLANJ was the former New Jersey Foundation for the Blind. At the picnic, she met Carl Augusto, a VLANJ trustee (now board chair). Then she volunteered at Dining in the Dark in October. At Augusto’s urging, Burgio joined the board of trustees in November. “I have so much respect for people who are visually impaired. They inspire me,” Burgio said. Burgio, who has more than 20 years of experience working in the futures industry, intends to use that expertise to help VLANJ remain financially sound. Burgio is a senior product specialist with the Global Markets division of Santander Bank. She works in the Exchange Traded Derivatives department assisting Latin American clients.
“I’m so impressed by the range of programs and services Vision Loss Alliance offers, and by the camaraderie and fun the participants share,” she said. When VLANJ had to close its locations because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit moved quickly to get key programs online. That included a newly created Tech Talks, which delves into technologies that can make participants’ lives easier. “It’s so important to have a good command of technology,” she said. She’s also a fan of the meditation and mindfulness offerings, which “help ease anxiety caused by COVID-19 and provide a sense of connectedness.” Burgio lives with her husband, Jake Ray, a special education teacher.
