Obstacles To Braille Literacy and Whole Eye Transplant Research

Dr. Robert Englebretson (Rice University - Houston, TX)

Dr. Kia Washington (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus - Aurora, CO)

Dr. Robert Englebretson, Associate Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies in Linguistics, at Rice University in Houston, discusses the obstacles to Braille literacy and the need for much research into Braille by those with varying backgrounds.

Then, Dr. Kia Washington, Professor Of Surgery, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Center explains how an award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is being used to fund the development of a successful whole eye transplant.  

 

12/22/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

TIMP3 Protein To Slow Drusen Formation and Braille and Its History

 

Dr. Ruchira Singh (University of Rochester - Rochester, NY)

Dr. Robert Englebretson (Rice University - Houston, TX)

Dr. Ruchira Singh, Deans Professor Of Ophthalmology, of the University of Rochester in New York, explains how the protein, TIMP3, can slow drusen formation in treating age-related macular degeneration.

Then, Dr. Robert Englebretson, Associate Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies in Linguistics, at Rice University in Houston discusses braille and the history of many tactile writing systems.

12/1/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Seeing AI's Find My Things Feature and Wavelength Treatment For Myopia Being Treated

Saqib Shaikh (Microsoft - Redmond, WA)

Dr. Safal Khanal (University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, AL)

Saqib  Shaikh, Founder and Lead of Seeing AI for Microsoft, explains the object finding function, Find My Things, of the Seeing AI app.

Dr. Safal Khanal, Assistant Professor in Department of Optometry and Vision Science, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, explains a wavelength treatment being tested for children with myopia.

11/24/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Discrimination Against Guide Dog Users By Uber and Lyft and Testing Of Valacyclovir In Treatment of Shingles-Related Eye Problems

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

Dr. Elisabeth Cohen (NYU Grossman School of Medicine - New York, NY)

Chris Danielsen, Director Of Public Relations, for the National Federation Of The Blind in Baltimore, discusses how guide dog users have been denied rides from ride-sharing services, Uber and Lyft.

Then, Dr. Elisabeth Cohen, Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, at New York University Grossman School of Medicine at NYU Langone Health, explains how a drug, valacyclovir (Valtrex), is being tested to treat eye complications resulting from shingles.

 

11/10/2024 (Click Image Below)

Difficulties Interpreting Nonverbal Cues For BLV and Experimental Wayfaring and Backtracking Apps Developed At UC-Santa Cruz

Dr. Jeffry Ricker (Scottsdale, AZ)

Dr. Roberto Manduchi (University of California-Santa Cruz - Santa Cruz, CA)

Dr. Jeffry Ricker, a freelance health writer living in Scottsdale, Arizona, who is now blind, explains how those who are blind or have low vision have difficulties interpreting nonverbal cues in interactions with sighted speakers.

Then, Dr. Roberto Manduchi, Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the Baskin School of Engineering, University of California-Santa Cruz, discusses experimental wayfinding and backtracking apps at his lab that don't require a smartphone to be held in front of the user.

10/27/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Cataract Research Using Ground Squirrels and Comparing Two Different Surgeries For Trachomatous Trichiasis

 

Dr. Wei Li (National Eye Institute - Bethesda, MD)

Dr. Emily Gower (University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC)

Dr. Wei Li, Senior Investigator, Intramural Program, at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, explains cataract research involving the 13-lined ground squirrel and the protein, NRF1114.

Then, Dr. Emily Gower, Professor of Epidemiology, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, goes over studies comparing the effectiveness of two surgeries, posterior lamellar tarsal rotation and bilamellar tarsal rotation in treating trachamotous trichiasis, which involves inward-turning eyelashes scratching the front of the eye.

10/20/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Bionic Sight Optogenetic Treatment System and The Monarch Multiline Braille and Tactile Display Device

Dr. Sheila Nirenberg (Cornell Medical School - New York, NY)

Monarch (American Printing House - Louisville, KY)

Dr. Sheila Nirenberg, Professor at Cornell Medical School and Founder of Bionic Sight, discusses how the Bionic Sight treatment system uses a protein to activate the retina's neural codes and uses glasses to convert what the patient is viewing into signals the brain can understand.

Jason Martin, Technical Innovations Product Manager for American Printing House, explains the Monarch multiline Braille and tactile display device.

10/6/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

OneCourt Tactile Device With Spatial Haptics For Enjoying Ballgames and NRTC Study On Use Of Assistive Technology

OneCourt (Seattle, WA)

Michele McDonnall (NRTC at Mississippi State University - Starkville, MS)

Simon Dey, Head Of Finance and Marketing, and Bree Fraser, Program Manager of Seattle's OneCourt, explains the tactile device that uses gameplay data from football, baseball, and basketball as spatial haptics and audio cues to enjoy at home and at stadiums.

Then, Michele McDonnall, Research Professor and Director at the National Research and Training on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) at Mississippi State University goes over surveys pertaining to how access technology is used and learned in the workplace.

9/22/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Eyedaptic Vision Enhancement Systems and Study To Determine If Glucose Dysfunction Is Predictive of Diabetic Retinopathy

Jay Cormier (Eyedaptic - Laguna Hills, CA)

Dr. Wendy Harrison (University of Houston College of Optometry - Houston, TX)

Jay Cormier, founder and CEO of Eyedaptic in Laguna Hills, California, explains the EYE5, vision enhancement system, which uses smart glasses with a camera and a smart phone, and the EYE6, which uses an AI visual assistant, called Ivy.

Dr. Wendy Harrison, associate professor of optometry, at the University of Houston College of Optometry, introduces a study that will attempt to determine if impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and elevated hemoglobin are predictive of diabetic retinopathy.

9/8/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

Correlation Between Certain Protein Tears and Chronic Pain After Eye Surgery and Correlation Between Statin Use and Increased Risk Of Glaucoma

Dr. Brooke Harkness and Dr. Sue Aicher (Oregon Health and Science University - Portland, OR)

Dr. Victoria Tseng (UCLA Department of Ophthalmology - Los Angeles, CA)

Dr. Brooke Harkness, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Casey Eye Institute, and Dr. Sue Aicher, Professor of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, OHSU School of Medicine, explain a study showing a correlation, but not necessarily causation, between certain protein changes in tears and chronic pain after eye surgery.

Then, Dr. Victoria Tseng, Jerome and Joan Snyder Chair in Ophthalmology, UCLA Department of Ophthalmology, goes over a study indicating a correlation, but not necessarily causation, between statin use and an increased risk of glaucoma.

8/25/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Military Eye Injuries With Risk of Cataracts and Umwelt Software For Accessible Charts

Jonathan Zong (MIT Morningside Academy of Design - Cambridge, MA)

Dr. David Eliason, Ophthalmology and Deputy Branch Chief, US Department of Defense Vision Center of Excellence, explains the most common eye injuries suffered by military service members and their risk for developing harmful cataracts.

Jonathan Zong, Computer Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Morningside Academy for Design, discusses the software system, Umwelt, and its ability to create accessible, interactive charts.

8/18/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

CRISPR Gene Editing In Treating Leber Congenital Amaurosis and Antibody Developed To Prevent Ceramide Buildup In Treating Diabetic Retinopathy

Dr. Mark Pennesi (Oregon Health and Science University - Portland, OR)

Dr. Julia Busik (University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Oklahoma City, OK)

Dr. Mark Pennesi, Director of Ophthalmic Genetics at the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, in Dallas, Professor of Ophthalmology at Oregon Health and Science University, Casey Eye Institute, in Portland, explains how CRISPR gene editing helped some Leber Congenital Amaurosis patients in a clinical trial.

Then, Dr. Julia Busik, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Physiology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, explains how an antibody was developed to prevent ceramide buildup in treating diabetic retinopathy in animal and cell models.

8/4/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Cybersecurity Training Program For Blind and Low Vision Enrollees and Using AI and OCT Scans To Detect Inflammation From Anti-VEGF Drugs

David Mayne (Novacoast - Wichita, KS)

Dr. Sudeshna Sil Kar (Emory University School of Medicine - Atlanta, GA)

 

David Mayne, program director of Novacoast's Apex Program, discusses how those who are blind or have low vision can train to be cybersecurity experts.

Then, Dr. Sudeshna Sil Kar, assistant research scientist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, explains how artificial intelligence (AI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans can be used to detect inflammation resulting from the use of anti-VEGF drugs in the fight against neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

7/21/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

AI Being Used With Ultrasound To Treat Giant Cell Arteritis and Mesogen's Development Of RPE Patches To Potentially Treat Macular Degeneration

Dr. Jay Avasarala (University of Kentucky Medical Center - Lexington, KY)

Mesogen (The Woodlands, TX)

Dr. Jay Avasarala, professor of neurology and director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, explains how artificial intelligence can be used with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to treat Giant Cell Arteritis.

Dr. Michael Riddle, chief executive officer of Mesogen in The Woodlands, Texas, explains how bone marrow-derived stem cells can be used in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) patches to potentially treat macular degeneration.

7/14/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

COVID-19 Possibly Leading To Retinal Damage and The Science Behind Audio-Only Video Games

Dr. Pawan Singh (University of Missouri College of Medicine - Columbia, MO)

Paul Bennun (Factory 42 - Los Angeles, CA)

Dr. Pawan Singh, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, explains research involving mice indicating that the virus causing the disease, COVID-19, has the potential to cause retinal damage.

Then, chief creative officer of Factory 42, Paul Bennun, discusses the history and science of audio-only video games and the prospects for the games in the future.

6/16/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

$20 Million Contract For Portable OCT Systems and NRTC Career Mentorship Survey

Dr. Chao Zhou (Washington University - St. Louis, MO) 

Dr. Jamie Boydstun (NRTC at Mississippi State University - Starkville, MS)

Dr. Chao Zhou, professor of biomedical engineering, at the Washington University McKelvey School of Engineering in St. Louis, discusses a $20 million contract to develop portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices using photonic integrated circuits (PIC) to lower the cost of eye care and make eye care more accessible.

Jamie Boydstun, research scientist I, at the National Research and Training Center (NRTC) at Mississippi State University talks about a career mentorship survey evaluating effective mentorship relationships and employment outcomes.

 6/2/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Tactile Lithophanes For Visualizing Images Through Touch For Students and Author, Singer/Songwriter On Book, Album, and Working With AI

Dr. Bryan Shaw (Baylor University - Waco, TX)

Sammy SweetSpirit (Fremont, CA)

Dr. Bryan Shaw, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, at Baylor University, explains how tactile lithophane codexes are being used for visualizing images through touch for students, who are blind or have low vision.

Then, author and singer/songwriter, Sammy SweetSpirit, discusses her book, "Look At It This Way:  The Blind Leading The Sighted", her album, "Something For Everyone", and working with AI.

5/26/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

TapTapSee App and U.S. Department of Justice Requiring Website Accessibility Of State and Local Governments

TapTapSee App

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

Brad Folkens, CEO and co-founder of CloudSight, Inc., explains the TapTapSee app, which allows the camera on a digital device to take pictures and use the VoiceOver function to identify the images out loud.

Then, Chris Danielsen, director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind discusses a United States Department of Justice rule that requires state and local government websites to become more accessible to those who are blind or have low vision.

5/19/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

Examining Retina For Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and All Aboard App For Major Metro Areas

Dr. Edmund Arthur (University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham, AL)

Dr. Gang Luo (Massachusetts Eye and Ear - Boston, MA)

Dr. Edmund Arthur, Assistant Professor of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, explains how examining the retina can lead to early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

Dr. Gang Luo, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear in Boston, discusses the All_Aboard App, which uses a smartphone camera to guide users to bus stops in 10 major metro areas including New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. 

5/5/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Novel Genetic Loci Associated With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Discovered Through Use Of Multiancestry Biobanks

Dr. Karen Joos (Vanderbilt Eye Institute - Nashville, TN)

Dr. Jibril Hirbo (Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Nashville, TN)

Dr. Karen Joos, Joseph and Barbara Ellis Professor, Glaucoma Division Chief, at Vanderbilt Eye Institute, and Dr. Jibril Hirbo, Research Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, discuss how novel genetic loci associated with primary open angle glaucoma have been discovered through an international genetic study and use of multiancestry biobanks, including BioVU.

 4/14/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Complexity Of Gene Therapy In The Retina and Study Of Certain Ethnic Groups Risks With Diabetic Retinopathy

Dr. T.J. Hollingsworth (University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis, TN)

Dr. Ann Elsner (Indiana University Bloomington - Bloomington, IN)

Dr. T.J. Hollingsworth, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at University of Tennessee Health Science Center Hamilton Eye Institute in Memphis, discusses the need for increased funding for eye care research, the retina, and the complexities of gene therapy in treating the retina.

Dr. Ann Elsner, distinguished professor of optometry at Indiana University School of Optometry Bloomington, details a study showing economic barriers to eye care and increased risks for developing diabetic retinopathy for certain ethnic groups.

3/31/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

Accessible Ways Of Learning Astronomy And Macular Degeneration Experiment Aboard International Space Station

Christine Malec (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Dr. Hema Ramkumar (Oculogenex - La Habra, CA)

Accessibility consultant, Christine Malec, of Toronto, explains accessible ways of learning about astronomy with the use of alt text, sonification, 3D printers, and the Chandra X-ray Laboratory.

Then, Dr. Hema Ramkumar, CEO and co-founder of Oculogenex in southern California discusses a gene therapy experiment involving female mice in the field of age-related macular degeneration research aboard the International Space Station.

3/24/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below) 

New Risk Genes Identified for Glaucoma for Those With African Ancestry And Polymers Being Used To Treat Wet Macular Degeneration

Dr. Joan O'Brien (University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA)

Dr. Eydie Miller (University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA)

Dr. Nathan Gianneschi (Northwestern University - Evanston, IL)

Dr. Jeremy Lavine (Northwestern University - Chicago, IL)

Dr. Joan O'Brien, professor of ophthalmology and director of the Penn Center for Genetics of Complex Disease and Dr. Eydie Miller, professor of clinical ophthalmology and director of glaucoma at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania go over new risk genes identified for glaucoma for those with African ancestry.

Dr. Nathan Gianneschi, Jacob and Rosaline Cohn professor at Northwestern University in Evanston and Dr. Jeremy Lavine, assistant professor of ophthalmology, at the Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, explain how polymers could potentially be used to treat the wet form of macular degeneration.

3/10/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Materials, Equipment, Programs, and Other Resources Offered By NLS (National Library Service For Blind and Print Disabled)

NLS - Washington, DC

Kristen Fernekes, head of communications and outreach, for National Library Service For Blind and Print Disabled, explains the various materials, types of equipment, programs, and other resources,  offered by NLS.  Fernekes also goes over who the NLS serves.  

2/25/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Accuracy And Need Of AI Diabetic Eye Exams In African-American and Latino Communities

Dr. Risa Wolf (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine - Baltimore, MD)

Dr. Risa Wolf, an associate professor of pediatrics in the division of pediatric endocrinology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, explains the accuracy and need of artificial intelligence diabetic eye exams in African-American and Latino communities.   

2/18/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)

Low Macular Pigment Density As Possible Warning For Glaucoma and Sickle Cell Disease Leading To Possible Vision Loss

Dr. Yao Liu (University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI)

Julie Mares, Ph.D. (University of Wisconsin - Madison, WI)

Dr. Mary Ellen Hoehn (University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Memphis, TN)

The University of Wisconsin's Dr. Yao Liu, Director of the Teleophthalmology Program and an Investigator at McPherson Eye Research Institute at University of Wisconsin at Madison and Julie Mares, Ph.D., Professor, with the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at University of Wisconsin at Madison explain how low macular pigment density can be a possible warning for glaucoma.

Then, Dr. Mary Ellen Hoehn, Professor of Ophthalmology at University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, will discuss how sickle cell disease can possibly lead to vision loss in children and adults.

1/14/2024 Podcast (Click Image Below)