Foundation Fighting Blindness

In honor of #NationalDogDay, we’re celebrating the work of guide dogs and raising awareness about the importance of guide dog services by sharing Meredyth’s story. Her guide dog, Luna, has greatly improved her independence and quality of life, showcasing the significant benefits of guide dog services for those who are blind or have low vision. Read Meredyth's full Beacon Story at: https://lnkd.in/eamKXgvw Video Description: Meredyth kneels next to her guide dog, Luna, and speaks directly to the camera.

On this week's episode of Eye on The Cure, Hannah Scanga, the supervisor of genetic counseling and the ocular genetics service at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, talks to host Ben Shaberman about the basics of genetic testing and counseling, as well as deeper topics such as inheritance patterns, reasons for variations in disease severity, and variants of unknown significance. Learn more about streaming at: https://bit.ly/3WByGM3 This episode of Eye on The Cure is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Image Description: Dark blue background with Foundation Fighting Blindness logo in the top left and Eye on the Cure Podcast logo in the top right. Teal half circle at the top center with "Ep. 72" inside. Below, text reads, "Listen to the latest podcast episode out now. August 23, 2024." To the left is Ben Shaberman's headshot with "Ben Shaberman, Host" beneath. To the right is Hannah Scanga's headshot with "Hannah Scanga, Guest" below.

Summer is winding down, and the Foundation Fighting Blindness is gearing up for another VisionWalk season! Will you be joining us as a corporate team or sponsor this Fall? Learn more about sponsoring or registering for your local VisionWalk today at: www.VisionWalk.org Image Description: Dark blue background with VisionWalk logo and text that reads "September 2024 Upcoming Events" centered at the top. Below are five rows of text in rounded, green boxes that read "9/7: Indianapolis, IN, 9/21: Twin Cities, MN, 9/21: Cincinnati, OH/Northern Kentucky, 9/28: St. Louis, MO, 9/28: Seattle, WA."

#ChildrensEyeHealthAndSafetyMonth: What is X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS)? XLRS causes the splitting of retinal layers, leading to the degeneration of photoreceptors, resulting in the loss of central and peripheral vision. As an X-linked disease, it primarily affects males and is typically diagnosed during childhood. But there’s hope and a supportive community! Learn more about living with XLRS and the groundbreaking research on our website at: https://lnkd.in/dYYCt9qQ Image Description: Dark blue background with Spotlight on Children's Eye Health and Safety Month logo in top left corner with text below reading "Did you know? XLRS occurs primarily in males." Foundation Fighting Blindness logo in top right corner. Below is a young boy wearing glasses and smiling.

Ready for your Tuesday to get a little more exciting? 🚀 Our new Tech Tip Tuesday series in collaboration with accessiBe has just dropped! To kick us off on a high note Eavan O'Neill, who has Stargardt disease, shares her wisdom and golden rule for accessible hashtags. Thank you for your invaluable insight! Now over to you, what do you want to learn in our next Tech Tip Tuesday? 👇 Video Description: Video shows Eavan speaking to the camera close-up with long brown hair, wearing a white shirt. She talks through the collaboration and the tech tip of how to make your hashtags accessible, staying the same distance to the camera the whole time. #Stargardt #VisuallyImpaired #Accessibility #TechTipTuesday #Blindness #BlindCommunity #SocialMedia #Hashtags #DigitalAccessibility #AccessiBe #FightBlindness

This #ChildrensEyeHealthAndSafetyMonth, we’re highlighting Livie’s story. Livie was diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) at age five and not long after received the gene therapy, LUXTURNA®. Now, Livie’s “new eyes” give her fierce confidence, and her vision continues to improve, truly exemplifying the power of early diagnosis and the incredible advancements in treatment! Read Livie’s story and learn how you can contribute to life-changing research advancements like this on our website at: https://lnkd.in/en9MYDUz Image Description: To the left, Livie, 8 years old, outside hiking. “Spotlight on Children's Eye Health and Safety Month” logo on a dark blue background to the right with text below reading “Livie's 'New Eyes.'" Below is the Foundation Fighting Blindness logo with text to the right that says "Beacon Story. Livie Klinefelter."

🌟 The Stargardt Sisters: A Bond Like No Other 🌟 In honor of #ChildrensEyeHealthAndSafetyMonth, we’re celebrating Lucia and Sarafina, the “Stargardt Sisters,” whose journey with Stargardt disease highlights the importance of early diagnosis and genetic testing. Their story is a testament to the strength of family and the power of community. Read and watch the Danny family’s full story on our website at: https://bit.ly/3SQ3ma9 Image Description: To the left, Lucia (left) and Sarafina (right) smiling outside their home. “Spotlight on Children's Eye Health and Safety Month” logo on a dark blue background to the right with text below reading “The Stargardt Sisters: A bond like no other." Below is the Foundation Fighting Blindness logo with text to the right that says "Beacon Story. The Danny Family."

Check out this article on gene therapy and the promising research from Mass Eye and Ear in Boston! Read more at: https://bit.ly/3WLvo7T

The Foundation Fighting Blindness, with funding from the Usher III Initiative, is launching a natural history study of people with Usher syndrome type 3 (USH3) caused by the N48K mutation of the CLRN1 gene. The four-year study of up to 20 patients is part of the Foundation’s Uni-Rare natural history study, enrolling as many as 1,500 patients with a broad range of inherited retinal diseases (IRD) associated with more than 300 genes. Read more on our website at: https://bit.ly/3ApOpVS

#ChildrensEyeHealthAndSafetyMonth: What is achromatopsia? Achromatopsia is a retinal disease that causes extreme light sensitivity, reduced visual acuity, and color discrimination. This light sensitivity often appears in the first few months of life, while other symptoms might not be noticeable until your child grows older. But there’s a community and resources ready to help! Discover more about living with achromatopsia and research strides on our website at: https://lnkd.in/eR6ZzQcp Image Description: Dark blue background with Spotlight on Children's Eye Health and Safety Month logo in top left corner with text below reading "Did you know? Mutations in the CNGB3 and CNGA3 genes cause about 75% of all achromatopsia cases." Foundation Fighting Blindness logo in top right corner. Below is a young girl wearing glasses and smiling.