KEN Walsh did not consider himself a ‘tech person’ by any stretch of his imagination. Yet, in the last decade, as a result of reduced sight loss caused by congenital glaucoma, cataracts and, ultimately, a detached retina, he has not only mastered assistive technology but is now a ‘tech evangelist’ keen to do more to practically support people with sight loss.
After he stopped working in 2011, Ken, of Cork, undertook training with Vision Ireland (the new name for NCBI) in assistive technology and attended a level 5/6 course in computers and e-business at St John’s Central, College Cork.
“I was never interested in joining groups. To be honest, I felt intimidated,” he says. “However, thankfully, I was encouraged by an extremely close friend to join the Fighting Blindness Cork Peer Support Group and we attended together.
“I was not a tech person originally. I used to love my 9-5 job, and I would never see myself using an iPhone or iPad, let alone teaching other people tech skills. I now run Fighting Blindness’ Saturday Technology Club and am also co-hosting an audio book club for Vision Ireland,” adds Ken.
“I have become much more social and now enjoy attending, as well as hosting, support groups. I adapted the best way I could to my sight loss. I remain very positive even if it is tough sometimes.
“I feel lucky that I have my guide dog and the small group of close friends who are in a similar situation. My family and friends are very supportive and fully sighted.
While maintaining an upbeat outlook can, of course, be very challenging sometimes, Ken encourages others experiencing vision impairment to share their experiences, develop friendships and to try to remain positive.
“Meet people like yourselves, contact a relevant organisation, and do not isolate yourself. Maybe it won’t be easy in the beginning, but take that step and explore. Give it a chance. Try a first session in a group. You really have nothing to lose. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to attend again. Make contact with Fighting Blindness and see what they can offer.”
Ken was speaking ahead of the Retina International World Congress, taking place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre from June 5-8, at which eye experts gather from around the world to share their insights on future treatments and cures.
A public engagement day on Saturday, June 8, offers a rare opportunity for people who are blind or have a vision impairment to hear of the latest advances in treatments and cures, to ask questions of leading eye experts about their conditions, and meet with peers and share experiences.
The event brings together scientists, clinicians, patient advocates and people with a vision impairment from around the world in a shared effort to combine collective know-how.
For those wishing to attend the public engagement day, registration is now open at www.fightingblindness.ie
Special guest on the day is Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, psychologist, entrepreneur, and LGBTQ activist, Paul Boskind. Paul, who divides his time between San Antonio in Texas, New York City, and his Clonbrock Castle home in Galway.
He will speak about his experience of being diagnosed with Stargardt disease at 21, and how best to navigate the mental health challenges of vision loss. His contribution will be preceded by a stage performance from the Visionaries Choir, Ireland’s only choir for people with a vision impairment.
Among the other highlights will be a talk on the genetic testing pathway and the importance of knowing your sight loss gene, by Prof. Frans Cremers, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and Prof. Bart Leroy, Ghent University, Belgium.
The challenges facing clinicians and patients in getting new medicines approved will be the subject of a discussion featuring consultant ophthalmologist, Prof. David Keegan.
Top Five Tips for Better Eye Health by Mark Cahill, Consultant Ophthalmologist
With 75% of blindness and vision loss cases preventable if detected and treated early, it’s crucial to have a regular eye exam to ensure that your eyes are in good condition. Make it a priority to schedule a comprehensive eye test with your optometrist every two years, even if you haven’t noticed any problems with your vision.
A diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, can help protect your eyes from age-related macular degeneration and other diseases. If you have diabetes, make sure to register for the national Diabetic Retina Screen programme as high blood sugar damages retinal blood vessels, leading to vision loss.
Maintaining good eye hygiene can help to prevent eye infections and irritation. Avoid touching or rubbing your eyes with unwashed hands. If you wear makeup, make sure to remove it before bedtime to prevent clogged glands and bacterial buildup along the eyelids. Quitting smoking is one of the best things that smokers can do to protect their eye health, as smoking can increase the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and optic nerve damage.
If you use a computer for a living, it’s important you relieve eye strain that can arise. Follow the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus on something at least 20 feet away. This simple exercise can help relax your eye muscles and reduce fatigue.
Short-sightedness, long-sightedness, squints and lazy eye are common issues in children. As vision accounts for 80% of children’s learning, it’s important to keep on top of their eye health. The ages of 4-8 are crucial in catching and correcting eyesight problems, so make sure your child attends for their school eye tests so that any problems can be spotted early on.
