NEWS / EVENTS
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How to interpret medical test numbers
New year, new healthy you. If a doctor's visit and medical testing are part of your start-of-the-year goals, click the link below to find out what the numbers behind the tests really mean....
Braille โ the tactile language
Yesterday we celebrated World Braille Day. Most people know Braille as the "language for blind people," but what is it really?ย ๐ Braille is actually not a language but rather a code by which all languages may be written and read โ in a nutshell, it's a tactile reading...
Scratched your eye… Now what?
Eye facts!ย ๐ Eye injuries are very common at the start of the new year, as people are changing their routines. A corneal abrasion (scratched cornea or scratched eye) is one of the most common eye injuries. Did you know a corneal scratch can heal in only 48 hours,...
Should you do a virtual eye exam?
On the topic of eye exams... should you do an at-home vision test via smartphone, rather than seeing your ophthalmologist? On one hand, it's more cost effective.. on the other hand, is it comprehensive enough? Follow the link below for all the pro's and cons....
Happy, healthy new year
As the new year approaches, health and wellness are shifting back into focus. Getting a comprehensive eye exam should be on everyone's agenda, to ensure your vision is well cared for and to detect any diseases that could lead to vision loss or blindness. Eye exams are...
Happy Holidays!
On behalf of everyone at Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey, we wish you Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Joyous Kwanzaa! May your holidays be peaceful and filled with laughter and joy. Image description: The words "HAPPY Holidays" are written in black ink...
Avoid the eye doctor this holiday season
โI want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!โ โNo, you'll shoot your eye out.โ Although this line from "A Christmas Story" is funny in the movie, it's nothing to laugh about in the real world, as the risk of eye injuries...
DIY holiday gift idea!
DYI gift idea!ย ๐ Mallory Carr, a teacher for people with vision loss in California, came up with this crafty do-it-yourself idea for a Braille memory game. How to: Use cardboard, thick paper, cork board or otherwise sturdy material as your game board. Create pairs of...
Fun and games for the holidays
๐ย Holiday gift idea!ย ๐ It's entertaining, it's fun, it's a great pastime. It's a... video game? Lost and Houndย is a video game specifically designed to be accessible for people with vision loss. It looks like a regular game, but it can be completed successfully with...
Keeping your eyes glamorously safe this holiday season
Holiday parties coming up? If that means sparkly eyeshadow, faux lashes and lots of glitter, remember to take extra caution when applying makeup or other cosmetics around the eyes. A couple helpful tips: โข Only use cosmetics that are designed for use around the eyes....
Christmas tree safety
๐ย Who would think the eye-catcher and focal point of the season, the Christmas tree, could be the very thing to cause you injury?ย ๐ Christmas tree related eye injuries are very common! Here are some helpful tips: โข Wear eye-protective wear when cutting your tree. โข...
Holiday Courtesy Tips
'Tis the season of holiday get-togethers. How to include people who are blind or have low vision, and help them feel comfortable at these events? โข Always introduce yourself by stating your name when you meet. Encourage other people to do the same. Avoid asking the...
Weekend inspiration!
Losing your sight should not mean losing your favorite hobbies! Read this inspiring story of a hockey player who continues to enjoy the sport, despite losing his sight due to Retinitis Pigmentosa....
Courtesy tip โ return things to their places!
If you are asked to complete a task for someone who is blind or visually impaired, always leave things in the same place you found them! When things are misplaced, it's much more difficult to find them when you don't have sight.
Tech Tuesday discusses IrisVision glasses
Combining virtual reality and a smartphone, IrisVision has come up with glasses that help people overcome many low vision conditions including some of the more common ones like Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma, Stargardt Disease, and Retinitis...
Program highlight – Music Appreciation
Program Highlight! Music Appreciation is part of our Health and Wellness Program. In this course, students experience all genres of music and learn to interact with different instruments. Learning to identify sounds and specific instruments will lead to better...
Target makes shopping accessible for the blind/low vision community
Excellent initiative by Target for the holiday season โ over 600 of their stores now offer the Aira service for free! Aira service uses a phone app to connect people with visual impairments with an agent who helps guide them through public spaces. Learn more about the...
Arthritis and your eyes
Did you know arthritis can affect your eyes? Arthritis damages the connective tissue covering the ends of joint bones. This connective tissue is made mostly of a substance called collagen. Collagen is also the primary substance of the eyeโs sclera and cornea. The...
Program Highlight — African Drumming
African Drumming Class is offered as part of our Health and Wellness Program. In this class, students learn proper methods of striking the Djembe and Aishiko drums, and the differences between the sounds. The class fosters an environment of healing and relaxation, and...
Monday Mindfulness โ how to stay safe in the snow
โ๏ธย Snow storms can be dangerous and disruptive. Here are some things to keep in mind about how snow affects people who are blind or have low vision.ย โ๏ธ Snow muffles the sounds of things, which can make orientation difficult to persons who are blind or have significant...
Can psychological stress cause vision loss?
Continuous stress and elevated cortisol levels have been shown to negatively impact the eye and brain due to autonomic nervous system imbalance and vascular deregulation. (Click article link for detailed information) Glaucoma, for example, is an eye condition damaging...
Meditation โ an effective therapy for helping patients with glaucoma
Weekends are a great time to relax. Have you considered meditation? Several studies have shown that meditation can lower intraocular pressure and improve quality of life for people who have glaucoma by lowering stress hormones like cortisol. Click the link for the...
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey receives major grant from The Provident Bank Foundation
Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey announced it received a Major Grant of $15,000 from The Provident Bank Foundation to support its new Technology Learning Lab. When it opens in early 2020, the Technology Learning Lab will enhance both the personal and professional...
The connection between diet and vision loss
It's no secret that poor diet is bad for your health. Did you know it can also lead to vision loss? This helpful article explains the link. Make sure to eat lots of leafy greens, citrus fruits, orange fruits and vegetables, beans and cold-water fish for a well-rounded...
Program Spotlight โ Healthy Options
In our Healthy Options class, students learn how to peel, chop, dice, and puree their way to preparing creative snacks, easy meals and health-conscious desserts by using whole, natural foods & learning about the health benefits they provide. When vision loss...