by admin | Oct 31, 2019 | Blog, News
Happy Halloween! October is Halloween Eye Safety Month. A gentle reminder to all be wary of using non-prescription contacts for costumes to ensure eye safety.
Image description: There are 4 orange pumpkins on a dark blue background. The background also has faded bats on the right and a spider web on the left. The top of the image says in orange text “Buying Cheap Halloween Contacts?” followed by smaller green text “Trick’s on you. Without a prescription, contacts can cause:”. The causes are listed each pumpkin. They are as follows: “Sores and scars, Eye infections, Corneal abrasions, scratches, Blindness.” The bottom of the image has black text “Halloween Eye Safety Month” on an orange background.
by admin | Oct 30, 2019 | News, Press
Nicole Cicchetti said she felt instantly isolated when she covered her eyes with a black mask at Dining in the Dark. “Of course I couldn’t see, but my hearing was affected too: it was like the conversation at the table became muffled,” explained Cicchetti, one of 180 guests at Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s annual fundraiser on Oct. 24.
Across The Meadow Wood ballroom, VLANJ participant and line dance instructor Harry “Buddy” Bradley coached Jill McNeil as she struggled to slice her chateaubriand. The next challenge was eating the small-cut pieces. She laughed when she brought an empty fork to her mouth. “I’ve done that three times!” she said. Fourth try was a charm.
Held during Blindness Awareness Month, Dining in the Dark gave sighted guests a glimpse of what life is like for people who are blind or have significant vision loss. It also showcased the fulfilling lives people with vision loss enjoy.
“I am inspired daily by the individuals who attend the programs that we offer. They refuse to let vision loss define who they are and what they can accomplish,” VLANJ Executive Director Kris Marino said.
Longtime newspaperman and book author Mark DiIonno, who emceed the event, told guests how impressed he was by the camaraderie he witnessed at VLANJ. “That sense of community is paramount to what this organization is all about,” DiIonno said.
Vision Loss affects 1 out of 40 adults in New Jersey, and the numbers are expected to increase significantly as the population ages. The National Eye Institute projects the number of people with visual impairment or blindness in the U.S. will double to more than 8 million by 2050.
Dining in the Dark guests watched three videos of VLANJ participants describing how the nonprofit has impacted their lives. They also heard from VLANJ trustee Claudia Schreiber, who became blind more than a decade ago, when her two children were still in elementary school.
Devastated, she turned to VLANJ, and learned skills that helped her reclaim her independence.
“This was the beginning of my journey back,” Schreiber said. “Slowly, slowly, I started to feel like the person I was before.” A sculptor, Schreiber returned to her art, and has become a mentor and advocate for others with vision loss. “I am happier today than I ever have been in my whole life!” she said.
Dining in the Dark, which included a silent auction and a wine pull, raised more than $50,000 to provide services at the nonprofit’s center in Denville and at locations in Montclair in Essex County and Ridgewood in Bergen County.
The event was sponsored by: Aegis Capital Corp.; Williams Jones Wealth Management; Paramount Assets, LLC; Peapack Private; Carl Stahl Sava Industries, Inc.; Thatcher McGhee’s; Summit Lions Club; Mynt Properties, LLC Commercial Real Estate; The Church of the Saviour; Norman Dean Home for Services; Anthony Felicetta; and Florio Management. Joseph and Antoinette Cicchetti chaired the event, and members of the Chester Lioness Club volunteered.
ABOUT VISION LOSS ALLIANCE OF NEW JERSEY
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey is a 501(c)(3) that provides practical training and emotional support to help those who have experienced profound vision loss regain self-esteem and self-reliance. Since its founding in 1943, Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey has used a holistic approach to empower those with profound vision loss to live engaged, productive and independent lives. Go to vlanj.org for more information.
Article published in TapInto.net. article link here.
by admin | Sep 29, 2019 | Blog, News
Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation. It affects the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall (uvea). Uveitis (u-vee-I-tis) warning signs often come on suddenly and get worse quickly. They include eye redness, pain and blurred vision. The condition can affect one or both eyes.
Possible causes of uveitis are infection, injury, or an autoimmune or inflammatory disease. Many times a cause can’t be identified. Uveitis can be serious, leading to permanent vision loss. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent the complications of uveitis.
Patients with uveitis are also at increased risk of developing glaucoma because of the uveitis itself, and because of the use of corticosteroids which are the mainstay of uveitis treatment.
Image description: Left side shows an eye that is not affected by inflammation. Right side shows the same eye, with the shape of the pupil no longer circular, and the sclera (the white area) red and inflamed.
by admin | Jul 16, 2019 | Events
Join us on October 24, 2019 as we celebrate our third annual Dining In The Dark!
Enter a world of smell, taste and sound as you experience a unique sensory experience like no other. Help us as we raise funds to support our programs. The evening will feature a cocktail hour, Art Auction, Dining In The Dark, Entertainment and a wine pull.
Please visit our sponsors here.
Tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities available via the form below, or call Jennifer Singer at 973.627.0055 ext 1323 for more information. For a listing of sponsorship details please click here.
by admin | Jul 15, 2019 | News
Recognizing Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey’s crucial role in helping adults adapt to vision loss, Novartis has awarded the nonprofit $10,000. Vision Loss Alliance will use the grant from the global medicines company to provide affordable training to 280 adults who are visually impaired or blind, and their family members.
“The Novartis US Foundation is proud to support the Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey in their efforts to help meet the urgent need for vision services among the elderly and underserved communities in Morris and surrounding counties in New Jersey,” said Tracy Furey, president of the Novartis US Foundation.
Started in 1943, Vision Loss Alliance is one of the state’s longest-serving nonprofits for adults who are blind or visually impaired. Its one-day Essential Low Vision program teaches basic techniques to participants and caregivers. A 13-week Health and Wellness program expands on that with enhanced daily living skills training.
The program also addresses mobility, emotional wellbeing, and use of adaptive technology. (The nonprofit is expanding its popular technology offerings, creating a Learning Lab in which participants will learn not only how to harness the power of mobile devices, but to use desktop technology and software such as Fusion, and virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Home.)
Last year, Vision Loss Alliance added low vision occupational therapy, offering one-on-one sessions that are covered by Medicare and most major medical insurance companies.
“We are grateful that Novartis recognizes our expertise in teaching practical skills and addressing the emotional impact of sight loss,” Vision Loss Alliance Executive Director Kris Marino said.
While the number of people losing vision is expected to increase as the population ages, few options for affordable training and support exist. Only 20 percent of people who come to Vision Loss Alliance for help are employed, and three-quarters of them live below the poverty line.
“The generous support from Novartis allows us to provide life-improving training to an underserved population,” Marino noted.
