Blind Americans Return To Work Act and Using AI To Predict Progression Of Glaucoma

Justin Young (National Federation of the Blind - Baltimore, MD)

Dr. Ming Dong and Dr. Karim Dirani (Wayne State University - Detroit, MI)

Dr. Justin Young, government affairs specialist, National Federation of the Blind (NFB), discusses the proposed legislation, Blind Americans Return To Work Act and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act and their progress in being passed by Congress.

Dr. Karim Dirani, Resident Physician and Clinical Researcher, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University, and Dr. Ming Dong, Professor of Computer Science, Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Wayne State University, discuss how artificial intelligence can be used to predict the progression of glaucoma and visual field loss.

9/27/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

The Blind Kitchen and Research Into Development Of Sharper Central Vision

Debra Erickson (The Blind Kitchen - Portland, OR)

Bob Johnston (Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD)

Debra Erickson, Executive Chef and Founder, The Blind Kitchen, discusses overcoming visual challenges to learn how to cook, teaching others with visual challenges how to cook, and information available from its website.

Dr. Bob Johnston, Professor of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, explains how using lab-grown retinal tissue has shown how a Vitamin A-derivative and thyroid hormones lead to sharp central vision being developed by humans.

9/6/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

Neuroprotective Genes For Retinitis Pigmentosa Treatment and The Foreseeable Future Foundation

Dr. Daniel Kerschensteiner (Washington University - St. Louis, MO)

Dr. Philip Ruzycki (Washington University - St. Louis, MO)

Foreseeable Future Foundation (Franklin, TN)

Dr. Daniel Kerschensteiner, Bernard Becker Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Dr. Philip Ruzycki, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, discuss how the neuroprotective genes, UFD1 and UXT, were discovered to be tested in gene therapies to treat retinitis pigmentosa.

Then, Griffin Pinkow, CEO and Founder, Foreseeable Future Foundation, explains how the foundation provides programs to empower those who are blind or have low vision through sports and recreation.

 8/30/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below)

GLP-1 Drugs Effect On Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and AI-Assisted Tool To Mitigate African-American Disparities In Eye Care

Dr. Chintan Dave (Rutgers University - New Brunswick, NJ)

Dr. Alvin Liu (Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, MD)

Dr. Chintan Dave, Associate Professor and Director of Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (HOPE), Rutgers University, explains how much the use of GLP-1 drugs affects the risk of developing ischemic optic neuropathy, which involves decreased or blocked blood flow to the optic nerve. 

Dr. Alvin Liu, Professor of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, discusses how an AI-assisted tool can be used to cut down on the disparities in eye care for diabetic African-Americans.

8/16/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Mutation In Myocilin Associated With Glaucoma and Retinopathy Of Prematurity And Its Treatments

Dr. Iqbal Ahmad (University of Nebraska Medical Center - Omaha, NE)

Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hartnett (Stanford University - Palo Alto, CA)

 Dr. Iqbal Ahmad, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Associate Dean and Director of Postdoctoral Education, Chair of Scientific Research Oversight Committee, University of Nebraska Medical Center, explains how a mutation in the gene, myocilin, and the REDD1 molecule are significant in the development of glaucoma.

Then, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, Marmor Professor of Retinal Science and Disease, Director of Pediatric Retina, Professor of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, discusses retinopathy of prematurity and its treatments.

8/2/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Time Changes Affecting Eye Health and Schwann Cells Helping To Heal Corneas

Dr. Rukhsana Mirza (Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine - Chicago, IL)

Kyle Chan (Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine - Chicago, IL)

Dr. Royce Mohan (UConn Health - Farmington, CT)

 Kyle Chan, Ophthalmology Resident, and Dr. Rukhsana Mirza, Vice-Chair of Faculty Affairs, Department of Ophthalmology, Ryan-Pusateri Professor of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, discuss how biannual time changes disrupt circadian rhythms and could cause retinal vascular disease.

Dr. Royce Mohan, Professor of Neuroscience, UConn Health, explains how Schwann cells, which wrap themselves around nerve cells, can help in the healing of the cornea.

7/26/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Regenerating Eye Tissue In Frogs And Delay In Web Accessibility Requirements Taking Effect

Dr. Kelly Tseng (University of Nevada - Las Vegas - Las Vegas, NV)

Chris Danielsen (National Federation of the Blind - Baltimore, MD)

Dr. Kelly Tseng, Professor, School Of Life Sciences, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, discusses how discovering the method in which frogs are able to regenerate eye tissue could lead to finding out how to replicate the process in humans.

Chris Danielsen, editor of the National Federation of the Blind Braille Monitor, discusses how web accessibility guidelines in accordance with title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) are being delayed in their implementation.

6/21/2026 Podcast (Click Image Below)