Oculus Blindness & Low Vision Rehabilitation and Training

08/03/2022

One of the greatest advances in independence for people with low vision and blindness has undoubtably been the computer. Most of us now carry a small device in our pockets that has many times more computing power than NASA had when they put a man on the Moon! Cell Phones can do so much more than make calls! A free Ap from microsoft for iphones called seeing AI has a host of features you can read text aloud, read handwriting, identify colours, read products Identify bank notes (including New Zealand dollars) watch the YouTube video above and download the ap you will not reget it !

https://youtu.be/6bx0Jtomn8I

A step-by-step tutorial on how to use Seeing AI. The Seeing AI app that narrates the world around you. Designed for the blind and low vision community, this ...

06/03/2022

https://youtu.be/CTgtAojmSC4

This week March 6th to 12th is World Glaucoma Week. Glaucoma often has no symtoms or pain butwill damage your vision and quickly lead to Blindness if untreated. Regular eye checks can detect the disease early and save your remaining vision. Make sure you get a regular eye exam, Don't become a statistic.

Learn about signs of glaucoma and treatment options.Learn more about eye and vision care services at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego: https://www.sharp.com/ser...

01/03/2022

5 years ago today I was Working for Blind Veterans UK as a Rehabilitation Officer at their North Wales Rehabilitation centre and got to meet our patron HRH (Sofie) Countess of Wessex.
Nice lady!

28/02/2022

For some people with low vision, using debit and credit cards in ATM'S and card machines can be stressful, and just one more everyday hassle you don't need, right! So, It's nice to see Big banks making an effort and recognising the difficulties some people are having. Hats off to the ANZ bank of New Zealand. Their Debit and Credit cards come with a host of helpful and well thought out features to make life easier for people with low vision. Firstly, the Fonts for Debit and Credit are larger and have more contrast. On the front of the card, the left hand leading edge has a contrast strip to make it stand out and two tactile dots for a debit card, one for a credit card and none for eftpos cards.
Finally, on the front right hand edge near the bottom corner is a cutout notch to make it easier to orientate the card when using a machine. Well done ANZ!
Now it just needs ATM's to be easier and safer to use for people with low vision. Come On ANZ, lead the way ! I know you can do it!

24/02/2022

When a persons vision deteriorates to the point where they need a long cane mobility aid is a very powerful and emotional time. The traditional white cane reinforces (for some people) all the negative stereotypes of blindness.Often enough to make people resistant to using one. Negative comments from friends and family and the thought of "being seen in public" using a white cane" is enough to deter people from even trying it. However, the leading cane maker Ambutec now produces coloured canes and accessories. Whilst there is a reasonable debate about safety and will they still be recognised by the general public; for those that need them a coloured cane is far safer than using nothing. The choice is a personal one! So accesorize your hearts out.

https://youtu.be/-xzkgS5C8mY

Ambutech designs and constructs custom canes for those who need a mobility device, but want something a little more snazzy or personalized than a traditional...

21/02/2022

https://youtu.be/KWwVXyE3BIo
I have been teaching Orientation and Mobility all over the world and for a very long time and anyone that knows me is aware that I am a mobility Nerd! The traditional long cane mobility aid is a very effective, simple and relatively cheap device that greatly increases safety and independence and promotes confidence. There have been many attempts to improve on it and most have been expensive, complex and don't work ! However there is a new cane tip that may just pull it off! its called Omni sense. I hoping to get hold of one asap to road test it. Check out Sam's review below he has a vision loss and uses his cane every day>(Please excuse the QUACK medical adverts and hit skip ( I can't'delete them)

In this video, we take a look at the new Omni Sense cane tip: a multi-directional all-terrain cane tip that could possibly replace the ball tip! This tip is ...

19/02/2022

Discover more about our work in ending preventable sight loss from Glaucoma. We provide free information, support groups and events to help you live well with glaucoma.

17/02/2022

Using a hot oven and particularly having to find and pull out oven shelves is nerve jangling for sighted people and for people with little or no sight their worst nightmare! There are great oven gloves out there such as "coolskins". However, I first came across the oven stick whilst working in Bermuda. About the length of a 12 inch ruler, front end has a cut out piece like a mouth to push oven trays in, whilst about 3 inches back from that is a cutout like a hook so that you can safely hook it over the front of a hot oven tray to pull it out. Genius ! Cheap, safe and reliable! I've looked on the internet and there are various designs, some simple, some fancy shaped like a fish or with the persons name on. They start from about $20 US plus postage. I'm currently working on having some made for people to buy and will post when I have finalised a price. Or if you have a woodworker in the family, I can send you pics and dimensions to get your own made. With the oven and all cooking remember, take your time, plan ahead and most of all stay safe.

15/02/2022

Did you know that if you have a vision impairment that you have a 80% chance that glare is making your functional vision much worse and can be painful and debilitating! Here in New Zealand we sit below a hole in the ozone layer and have UV levels on a par with Death Valley. Most people experiencing glare, grab the darkest pair of sunglasses they can find, often making it harder to see and in some cases dangerous to move about by reducing your vision further. And if they are not UV400, they're offering little or no protection, No matter how cool they look !
So what is glare and what can I do about it? Glare is caused by UVA and UVB light from the sun and can cause an effect like trying to look through a dirty window when the sun hits it; reducing your vision considerably. UV glasses reduce between 75 to 90% of these rays, they come in a variety of lens colours and densities and so can be matched to maximize your functional vision. they block light up to 400 nanometers and are close fitting so light can't sneak in behind them. There are now a great variety of styles too, so you can still look cool, which is important to all of us ! At Oculus we offer a 30 minute professional assessment at home to find the right uv glasses to match your vision. Prices start from around $40 ( plus assessment) Give Vince our vision professional a call on 02102415503 to have a chat about your needs. Stay safe in the sun!

15/02/2022

For users of mobility long canes, the grips generally come in a one size fits all package with the cane. Unfortunately hands do not! People with painful joint conditions or small or large hands, may find the grip at best uncomfortable at worst contributing to developing RSI through constantly gripping the cane to hard. There is a solution! fortunately the mutli billion dollar golf industry has spend a small fortune on developing the grips for golf clubs. If you find you are having difficulty, check out your local pro golf shop or club shop. Not only can they measure your hand properly they will find and fit a great grip for your long cane. Prices vary wildly so if you're on a budget its best to ask first !

14/02/2022

For people who ar experiencing a significant reduction in their vision, one of the many frustrations and difficulties is writing by hand and signing documents whilst there are simple techniques and aids to assist people to continue to sign by hand one solution is having your signature put onto an office stamp.This is legally allowed on any document. If you have a copy of your signature Vistaprint can make up a self inking office stamp for as little as $12! (see article below.) people who have additional difficulties such as a tremor or grip problems may also find this useful. But remember to keep the stamp somewhere safe and secure !!

14/02/2022

Great article from the BBC on bionic eye developments ... and everything else from sheep to iphones

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60316224

14/02/2022

14/02/2022

Charles Bonnet Syndrome is a common experience for people with sigh loss and yet few are aware of it and its is rarely mentioned by GP's eye clinics and other professionals. Fascinating TED talk by Dr Oliver Sachs
stick with it til the end.

Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks brings our attention to Charles Bonnett syndrome -- when visually impaired people experience lucid hallucinations. He des...

14/02/2022

14/02/2022