As part of our Beyond Sight series of programs we are offering Meditation and Mindfulness, an online class to help you cope with the stresses of everyday life. This class will be held at 1:30pm EST on Tuesdays through the week of June 8th, using the Zoom meeting platform.
There is no cost to participate, however registration is required and seating is limited. This program is open to all people with vision loss. Register in advance by clicking on the following link:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We look forward to having you in our classroom! For questions regarding Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey and our programs please email us:
Researchers from the UK and Spain continue to study the potential to use 3D printing to transform pharmaceuticals, outlining their studies in the recently published ‘3D Printed Tablets (Printlets) with Braille and Moon Patterns for Visually Impaired Patients.’
3D printed medication is an ongoing focus for scientists and manufacturers today, eager to put all the benefits of progressive technology to use. And while the use of Braille with printlets is a novel idea, it fits in perfectly with the idea of patient-specific treatment—meant to prevent dosage errors and encourage the visually impaired to keep up with their medication.
“Previous studies revealed that one of the leading causes of medication non-adherence was impaired vision, wherein approximately 97% of patients with visual impairment have difficulties reading medication labels, even in the presence of optical aids, and around 24% have difficulties in distinguishing medications,” stated the researchers. “Moreover, patients with visual impairment are twice more likely to need assistance with medicine management, wherein one-third of the patients will require continual support for medication administration.”
While Braille is ‘the universal tactile writing system,’ the Moon system stems from Latin Roman letters produced using raised shapes—much like the regular alphabet in structure. The researchers decided to print these writing systems directly onto the printlets.
SLS 3D printing was used to fabricate the orally disintegrating printlets (ODPs) with Braille and Moon patterns, allowing patients to have fast knowledge regarding medication. Paracetamol was used as the model drug.
“Moreover, as these printlets are designed to disintegrate rapidly in the mouth, they do not require the co-administration of water,” said the researchers. “As such, this encourages self-administration of medicines, improving patient compliance and treatment efficacy.”
In using an SLS 3D printer to etch the patterns into the printlets, the researchers noted that the exercise of doing so actually added weight to the printlets; in fact, just one Braille dot added a 3.8 percent increase in weight, while the Moon patterns added an increase of 4.9 percent. The patterns were, however, still visible as they allowed for tactile recognition.
As mechanical properties were evaluated, the researchers noted that in adding the patterns, the printlets were not affected.
Mechanical properties and disintegration times of the printlets with or without the addition of the Braille patterns.
Disintegration properties were not notably affected, and neither were release rates of drugs.
“Favorably, this technology offers the added benefit of using different shapes that could be inferred to a medication’s name, timing of intake (e.g., morning/evening), or its targeted indication (e.g., cardiovascular drugs),” concluded the researchers. “More importantly, as the pattern is directly printed on top of the tablet, the medication could be easily identified even when taken out of the packaging. This decreases the risk of medication errors and improves adherence to treatment. In addition, as these printlets disintegrate rapidly (e.g., within ~5 s), they avoid the need for water. This makes it easier for these patients to swallow the formulations, supporting self-administration and thus avoiding the need of a career.
“For the first time, this study demonstrates the use of 3D printing to fabricate personalized dosage forms targeted to blind or visually impaired individuals. The SLS 3D printing technique could be used to manufacture printlets with Braille or Moon patterns on their surface that could be read by blind individuals. It is likely that this innovative concept will provide a revolutionary approach for the treatment of visually impaired individuals, improving independence, medicine adherence and reducing medicine errors.”
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey announces the addition of VLANJ Tech Talks to our virtual classroom. Led by VLANJ technology instructors Christina Brino and Susanne Sytsma, VLANJ Tech Talks is a monthly technology discussion forum which will kick-off with “Zooming” on Wednesday, April 29 from 7pm to 8pm. In this virtual session, we will lead you through a demonstration and discussion of the Zoom platform. Future topics include Navigating Facebook, What is Bard? Shop ’til you Drop, Amazon Basics, Getting started with Fusion, and more. The virtual program is open to all and there is no charge to participate. In order to register, please visit our Facebook page or email BeyondSight@vlanj.org. Membership includes monthly Tech Talks as well as inclusion in our member only VLANJ Tech Talks Facebook group.
Major sports league seasons have been canceled, contact sports have been shut down, but sports will continue to be a part of our daily lives, even while in quarantine. Whether you go fishing, golf in your back yard, shoot some hoops with your kids or play ping pong in your basement, each sport comes with a relative sense of risk for your eye safety.
Close to 30,000 sports-related injuries are treated in U.S. emergency rooms every year. Different activities come with different level of risk for eye injuries – sports with flying objects have a tendency to cause more damage. How can you protect your eyes? Wear appropriate protective eyewear! The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that up to 90% of serious eye injuries could all be prevented by wearing eye protection.
You may ask yourself – what is proper eye protection then? Can’t I just wear my glasses? The truth is, contact lenses and glasses do not prevent eye injuries and you should avoid using regular eyeglasses as a preventative measure. Even more so, in some cases they can shatter and make injuries worse. There’s a handy list of different types of eye gear here, illustrating what you should wear for different sports.
So what should you do when you injure your eye? Go to the emergency room immediately, even if the injury appears minor. Some ophthalmologists are keeping their practices open for emergency care – if you’re not comfortable going to emergency care facilities at this time, keep handy the number of any local eye doctors that have emergency hours available. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
Summer and warmer weather are fast approaching. Most of us remember to wear sunscreen to protect our skin from sun damage, but it’s important to protect our eyes as well.
Excess sun exposure can put you at risk for eye cancer, sunburned eyes, cataracts, and growths on or near the eye. [Infographic above illustrates the same information].
How can you protect your eyes? Follow these guidelines:
Wear sunglasses labeled “100% UV protection”: Use only glasses that block both UV-A and UV-B rays and that are labeled either UV400 or 100% UV protection.
Choose wraparound styles so that the sun’s rays can’t enter from the side.
If you wear UV-blocking contact lenses, you’ll still need sunglasses.
Wear a hat along with your sunglasses; broad-brimmed hats are best.
Remember the kids: It’s best to keep children out of direct sunlight during the middle of the day. Make sure they wear sunglasses and hats whenever they are in the sun.
Know that clouds don’t block UV light: The sun’s rays can pass through haze and clouds. Sun damage to the eyes can occur any time of year, not just in summer.
Be extra careful in UV-intense conditions: Sunlight is strongest mid-day to early afternoon, at higher altitudes, and when reflected off of water, ice or snow.
By embracing these simple tips you and your family can enjoy being in the sun safely while protecting your vision.
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey is pleased to announce the opening of our new virtual classroom!
As part of our Beyond Sight series of programs we are offering Meditation and Mindfulness, an online class to help you cope with the stresses of everyday life. This class will be held at 1:30pm EST on Tuesdays from April 7, 2020 to April 28, 2020 using the Zoom meeting platform.
There is no cost to participate, however registration is required and seating is limited. Register in advance by clicking on the following link: Zoom Meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We look forward to having you in our classroom!
March is workplace eye wellness month. Since most of us are now working from home, here are some things to look out for at your home office.
💻 Digital eyestrain – Fatigue, dry eyes, bad lighting, or how one sits in front of the computer can cause eyestrain. Symptoms of eyestrain include sore or irritated eyes and difficulty focusing.
⚠️ Retina damage – Studies suggest that continued exposure to blue light over time could lead to damaged retinal cells. This can cause vision problems such as age-related macular degeneration or cataract. Blue light is emitted from all the screens in your home like TVs, computers, iPads and phones, as well as LED and fluorescent lights.
The remedy? Limit your screen time! 📱
If you have to work on a screen, make sure the distance from the eye to the front surface of the computer screen is 20-40 inches.
Work in a well-lit room.
Take frequent eye 👀 breaks (every 30 minutes or so).
Lastly, make sure to spend some time outdoors 🌳 and wear sunglasses when it’s sunny out! 🕶️
Tax season is almost upon us – the deadline for filing is on April 15th, 2020.
Did you know you can claim an additional $1,000 exemption if you were considered legally blind on the last day of the tax year?
If you are married (or in a civil union) and are filing jointly and your spouse was considered legally blind on the last day of the tax year, they can claim an additional $1,000 exemption.
To claim these exemptions (for the first time), medical proof must be enclosed with your paper tax return. Documentation may be required at a later time if filing electronically.
What works as proof? A letter from your doctor stating that you are legally blind typically suffices. You can continue to claim the exemption in subsequent years without needing proof, if there is no drastic improvement in your ability to see.
Note that this exemption can not be claimed for a domestic partner or for your dependents.
The Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey has been closely monitoring the situation in regards to the global pandemic, as well as the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the government.
After careful consideration, we have made the decision to close all of our in-person programs for the foreseeable future. We have also canceled the upcoming Essential Low Vision One Day Program, scheduled for April 1st. The staff at VLANJ is currently working on finding ways to increase remote engagement with our students – we will communicate any updates accordingly. We are hoping to resume normal operations with our Spring Session, in a few weeks.
Thank you for your continued support of our programs. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via e-mail at info@vlanj.org.
Jeffrey Tan, a senior at Dublin High School, created an innovative new display that allows people who have visual impairments read Braille on computer screens.
The display uses electro-tactile stimulation to create the feeling of reading Braille in the user’s fingers.
We know these are troubling times, causing anxiety for many of us. One way to remedy that is by meditating! (Bonus: it can be done from the comfort of your own home, and is great for social distancing.)
Meditation has been proven to lessen stress and anxiety, along with improving people’s quality of life by lowering levels of cortisol. Studies have also shown that relaxation programs with meditation can lower intraocular pressure – the pressure inside the eye. That’s fantastic news for people who have Glaucoma!
Click the link below for a 15-minute guided meditation video.
Tech Tuesday News! 📱 A new device – the OrCam Myeye 2 – is changing the lives of people with vision loss. It won’t give or repair vision, but rather is a second set of eyes.
How it works: A tiny camera attaches to eyeglasses, and text and visual images are transformed into sound. When users wear it, only they can hear it.
Find out more about this new assistive technology by clicking the link below.
Happy Tech Tuesday! Here’s our app pick of the month:
1Timer – Voice Interval Timer
⌛ The app provides timers with voice reminders at a frequency of your choice. It’s fully compatible with VoiceOver, and the developer has paid extreme attention to the accessibility of the app, using the iOS built-in voices to remind you how much time remains from the timer you set, and making setup easy for users who are blind or have low vision.
⏱️ The possibilities of using this app are endless – from setting a kitchen timer, to creating time-bound habits like a bedtime every day, exercise interval timing, setting count-downs for events or disciplining kids and more!
Special considerations during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic for people who are blind/low vision:
People who are blind or have low vision must rely very heavily on touch. Please do your part in cleaning all touchable surfaces that you know they may come in contact with.
If you are blind/have low vision, please continue to wash your hands frequently, especially if you have to be in contact with high-touch surfaces, and avoid touching your face.
Check in! With the CDC urging us to socially isolate, a lot of people who are blind/low vision are now cut off from their connections with others. Are your friends or loved ones affected by this? Call them and check in!
If you are feeling ill and showing symptoms of having the virus (coughing, fever, runny nose, shortness of breath) avoid coming in contact with other people and reach out to the appropriate medical facilities.
There may be people in your community who are blind or have low vision who are now unable to shop for necessities. With product shortages, long lines, and increased risk of viral spread from being at stores, consider offering your help to these members of our community. They may not need any help and may decline your offer, but they may also be in need and have no one to turn to. Again — check in!
Let’s help each other, and not be afraid to ask for help during these uncertain times. Please share this message.
March is Workplace Eye Wellness month – each workplace poses different hazards, but one of the most common is blue light.
Blue light rays have the shortest wavelengths (and highest energy). They are sometimes called blue-violet or violet light. This is why the invisible electromagnetic rays just beyond the visible light spectrum are called ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
🕶️ Sunlight is the main source of blue light, and being outdoors during daylight is where most of us get most of our exposure to it. But there are also many man-made, indoor sources of blue light, including fluorescent and LED lighting and flat-screen televisions, the display screens of computers, electronic notebooks, smartphones and other digital devices, which all emit significant amounts of blue light.
⚠️ What are the hazards? ⚠️
The eye is not very good at blocking blue light – it penetrates all the way to the retina (the inner lining of the back of the eye) and laboratory studies have shown that too much exposure to blue light can damage light-sensitive cells in the retina. This can lead to macular degeneration and permanent vision loss.
Blue light also contributes to digital eye strain, and can lead to other eye problems in the long term. What can you do to protect your eyes? Try to limit your screen time & get some blue light filters or protective eyewear!
If the thought of eye tattooing itself doesn’t make you shudder, here are a few things to consider:
👁️ Eye tattoos, also known as sclera tattoos, are created by injecting a small amount of ink over the sclera, the white portion of the eye, and under the membrane covering the eye, the conjunctiva.
This process is described as having to be relaxed with eyes wide open, and someone touching your eye ball with a burning cigarette. Yuck!
Any ophthalmologist will tell you that doing so is not safe for your eyes, and will likely cause permanent inflammation to the wall of the eye. Other potential risks include constant discomfort, blurred vision, vision loss, glaucoma, cataracts, injury to the cornea and blindness.
We vote “nay” on this fad and recommend steering clear of eyeball tattooing!
Daylight Savings Time started today! In the United States, it starts on the 2nd Sunday in March and ends on the 1st Sunday in November.
Some clocks may have changed automatically – this would include any devices receiving a radio frequency signal, such as your cell phones, laptops, iPads and so forth.
What are the best clocks to use if you are blind or have low vision? There’s a variety of options, from using Braille-coded manual clocks to ones that talk to you. Here’s a list of devices that are recommended by amazon:
Have you been asked to guide a person who is blind/low vision? Here are some pointers:
Allow the person you are guiding to hold your arm and follow as you walk.
Move your guiding arm behind your back when approaching a narrow space so the person you are guiding can step behind you and follow single-file.
Stop briefly at a curb or at the beginning of a flight of stairs. Tell the person you are guiding whether the steps go up or down, and allow them to find the handrail and locate the edge of the first step before proceeding.
Do not grab the person you are guiding by the hand, arm, or shoulder and try to steer them. Nor should you grab the person’s cane or the handle of a dog guide’s harness.
Want to find out more about orientation and mobility for people who are blind/low vision? Reach out to us at 973-627-0055 ext. 1312!
Ever wonder about how people who are blind/low vision can tell different items apart, even though they have the same shape?
• Technology! There are different apps that can read labels for you or get you real-time assistance from a sighted person.
• Braille Labels! If you can read Braille, using a Braille label is a simple solution for telling apart which can contains soup and which contains vegetables.
• Rubber bands. Tying some rubber bands around a shampoo bottle can help tell it apart from conditioner.
We teach several different techniques for organization, medication management, and more at our Essential Low Vision Program. The next session takes place on March 4th. Join us! Registration is required for this event. Learn more by emailing us at lgroszew@vlanj.org or by calling 973-627-0055 ext 1312.
