Recently, the CCB's mobile eye clinic (MEC) received the Helen Keller Award from the Lions of District A4.  The prototype clinic was launched in 2014 directed toward eye examinations to children and older people.  Over 3000 children and 1000 older people have been examined.  The MEC visits schools and care facilities and conducts full eye examinations by a registered optometrist. The Lions assist the MEC with pretesting prior to the examination.

 

Almost 30% of children require a follow-up with 22% receiving some type of remedial intervention (i.e. glasses, referrals to ophthalmologists).  In some cases, children without the intervention, were effectively legally blind unknown to parents and teachers.  Educators and parents are starting to learn that low vision among children is a learning disability that has a huge negative impact on Canada's social system.  It is estimated that only 14% of children under six years old in Canada receive professional eye treatment.

Similarly, v ision loss among older people leads to a higher incidence of slips and falls, with 56% of older people requiring a follow-up and/or receiving some type of remedial intervention (i.e. glasses, referrals to ophthalmologists), which can pose a burden to the health care system.

 

The MEC is endorsed by the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) and free glasses are supplied to children 10 years or under regardless of income, and for others, based on family income.  The examinations are available to anyone who has not had an eye examination within the last 12 months.

The MEC raises the awareness of the importance of vision loss where 75% is treatable or preventable.  It also addresses the mobility problem especially among older people with transportation is sometimes a barrier.  The CCB is now preparing to expand the project to other parts of Canada.

The CCB was founded in 1944 by veterans of both world wars.

For more information about the MEC program, visit  www.ccbnational.net.

Glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts are eye diseases that frequently afflict older people.  But, few people are aware that these diseases can, to a large degree, be prevented by the adoption of active and responsible living habits.

 

Many ocular diseases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, for instance, by managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, limiting consumption of alcohol and tobacco, maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active, etc.

The FADOQ network has developed a workshop entitled Je me mets dans la peau d'un aîné [Putting myself in the skin of an older person] in which participants can experience what it's like to be an older person suffering from different conditions, some of which may lead to vision loss.  Through this sensory experience, FADOQ aims to raise public awareness about the importance of taking care of eye health.  Workshop participants will experience what it is like for an older person who is living with a variety of diseases, including visual disorders.

With prostheses, it is possible to simulate the experience of someone who has macular degeneration, glaucoma, unilateral retinal detachment, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, or retinitis pigments.

The simulation experience also sensitizes people to the importance of adapting living environments to ensure that those afflicted with these types of disabilities are able to access the same services as everyone else.  The workshop is an awareness tool designed to promote active aging, a healthy lifestyle, and universal accessibility. 

For more information about FADOQ, visit  fadoq.ca

Stem cells are frequently in the news. At the FFB, we love reading about stem cell discoveries, but high-frequency reporting can make it challenging to identify truly significant breakthroughs, such as the one from last week: " Japanese man is the first to receive 'reprogrammed' stem cells from another person."  The story, published in a prestigious scientific journal, Nature, describes the first stem cell transplantation that used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from another donor as an experimental treatment for a blinding eye disease.

This is a genuine breakthrough because it opens the doors to accessible stem cell therapies-not just for blindness, but for a variety of diseases.  Indeed, it is a critical step forward for the entire field of regenerative medicine.  It is particularly meaningful to all of us at the Foundation Fighting Blindness because this pioneering trial is focused on treating the most common blinding eye disease affecting people over 55 years of age - age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

To read the full article, click here

For more information about the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB), click here

The South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) is an urban community-based organization located in Canada.  SRCHC  offers a broad range of health and social services, including primary care; health promotion and prevention for newcomers, older people and their families; harm reduction and outreach; and environmental health promotion.

We strive to respond to local issues and provide services in active partnership with our clients, patients, neighbours, community groups and professional organizations.

 

Among its services, SRCHC offers a teleophthalmology program for individuals who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, live within the  Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) boundary and are not already connected for regular screening. The program partners with other Health Centres and is currently offered at six locations across Toronto.  The retinal screenings are at no cost to people with diabetes, including those that are non-insured. 

 

The telemedicine process involves the client being seen by a clinical assistant where after the  visual acuity and intraocular pressure being checked  a fundus photograph and optical coherence tomography (OCT) image are captured. These two images of the back of the eye or retina are securely sent to the specialist, in our case Dr. Michael Brent, using the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN).  The specialist reviews the images and a report is sent to the primary provider  advising of any diagnosis and recommended follow up.

 

This service began in 2013 and has found rates eye disease at approximately 62%.  Within this past fiscal year 26% of clients have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and 13% of clients required follow-up from a retinal specialist.

 

SRCHC is funded by the Toronto Central LHIN. The Teleophthalmology Program is offered in collaboration with Dr. Michael Brent and the University Health Network.

For more information on SRCHC, visit www.srchc.ca

The World Blind Union (WBU) is a global organization that represents the estimated 285 million blind or partially sighted people worldwide at the United Nations and other international organizations.  Its members are organizations of and for the blind from over 190 countries, as well as international organizations working in the field.

The WBU's vision is a world where people who are blind or partially sighted can participate fully in any aspect of life they choose. In order to achieve our vision, we have strategic priorities to focus our work in areas of most concern to our members. For example, Accessibility is a strategic priority and under this priority, we have a campaign that promotes the ratification and effective implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty .

 

Less than 10% of published works in developed countries and less than 1% in developing countries are ever made into accessible formats, such as Braille, large print or audio. The Marrakesh Treaty will address this "book famine" by allowing for accessible works to be reproduced more easily and it also enables the cross-border sharing of these works, allowing wealthier countries to share their libraries with countries where there are fewer resources.

 

The WBU is working to ensure that the Treaty is 1) ratified by as many countries as possible and 2) is effectively implemented in ratifying countries, since like all treaties the Marrakesh Treaty can be interpreted in different ways, which affects the success of its implementation. In order to help governments with the momentous task of implementing the Treaty into their national law, we prepared a Guide to the Marrakesh Treaty . The Guide was written by academic experts from the fields of copyright and international human rights law and was recently published by Oxford University Press . Please visit our Marrakesh Treaty campaign page for more information.