Category Archives: Retinitis Pigmentosa

New Caney resident Vicki Albrecht has been considered legally blind for nearly a decade. She suffers from a condition known as retinitis pigmentosa, or more commonly known as tunnel vision. According to the National Library of Medicine, this condition is a degenerative eye disease that leads to visual impairment. While some individuals exhibit symptoms as early on as infancy, others do not show any signs of the condition until much later in life, as is the case with Albrecht, who also suffers complications with hearing loss, caused by contracting measles at an early age. While regaining her independence and learning to live with visual impairment, Albrecht attended Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center in Austin. There, she learned skills associated with living and working as a blind person, such as orientation and mobility (O & M), daily living skills, career development, technology and learning to read Braille, while also attending numerous seminars devoted to adjusting to a life with blindness. When I was at Criss Cole, there was a Braille workshop, cooking, cleaning; everything you would use in your daily life, said Albrecht, who credits fellow staff member Kellee Costello with her position at the school. Kellee, who is one of the … Continue reading →

The 2011 Disability Status Report released in February, 2013 states that over 226,000 Texans age 65 and older have a visual disability. An active mind is part of healthy aging, but what if you are starting to have trouble with your vision and are struggling to read your favorite books and magazines? How do you engage your mind if you cant read the words in standard print books or magazines? The Texas Talking Book Program (TBP) provides free digital audio books and magazines, large print, and Braille books to Texas residents of all ages who have visual disabilities such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and other diseases of the eye. Persons with physical disabilities that prevent them from holding a book and turning pages may also qualify. TBP loans eligible persons a free digital audio player, and there is no cost for return postage. Even though someones vision may be diminished, they can still enjoy the pleasure of reading books and magazines. Talking Book Program services are completely free, and there are over 80,000 titles and 50 magazines from which to choose. For more information on TBP, call toll free 1-800-252-9605, or 512-463-5458 in Austin. Visit the TBP website … Continue reading →

MILAN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Domp, the leading company in research & development of novel treatment solutions for rare diseases, announces its investigational drug based on the recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) discovered by Nobel Laureate Professor Rita Levi Montalcini has been granted orphan drug designation by the US FDA for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This gives new hope for the treatment of this disease for which at present there is no cure. The orphan drug designation by the FDA comes just a few months after orphan drug designation was granted by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and marks another milestone for this investigational drug, which is already in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of neurotrophic keratitis, a severe corneal disease. We are particularly proud of this achievement: the orphan drug designation granted by the FDA is an important recognition for our company which is increasingly committed to producing innovation globally as testified by our direct presence in the US where we recently opened a subsidiary said Eugenio Aringhieri, CEO of the Domp Group We are strictly determined in discovering and developing prime high-tech drugs that can cure rare diseases, like retinitis pigmentosa, for which at present there are … Continue reading →

The National Institutes of Health defines retinitis pigmentosa (RP) as an eye disease involving damage of the retina. The disease often runs in families. Symptoms can include decreased night and peripheral vision, and in advanced cases, central vision loss. Todd Williams reads this column in the Middlesboro (Ky.) Daily News. Besides having RP the last 28 years, he was born with spina bifida and has a meniscus tear in one knee further affecting his ability to get around. "I first noticed something wasn't right when I was student teaching at age 22," said 50-year-old Williams of having RP. "While I was teaching, literally rows of desks just started disappearing right before my eyes. I thought I was losing my mind. It didn't make sense that I could see those desks (peripherally) one minute and then the next they were gone." An eye doctor first thought hydrocephalus related to his having spina bifida was causing his eye problems. By age 25 due to RP, and after being diagnosed, he had almost lost his entire visual field. He could see only five degrees in each eye and was unable to drive an automobile, even with the purchase then of a special pair … Continue reading →

World Economic Forum Recognizes Creator of Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System with Prestigious Award SYLMAR, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., the leading developer of retinal prostheses for the blind, today announced that the company has been selected as a 2014 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. At Second Sight, this recognition by the World Economic Forum has validated our commitment to providing state-of-the-art technology to patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa and other forms of vision loss. Technology Pioneers are a part of the World Economic Forums community of pioneers, disruptors and innovators. Among the criteria for a Technology Pioneer are visionary leadership and the potential to transform the future of business and society. The award follows the launch of the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, the worlds first approved device intended to restore some functional vision for people suffering from blindness due to outer retinal degenerations. The Argus II has been approved for market distribution in both Europe and the U.S. We are honored and humbled to be named alongside such prominent, world-class innovators as a 2014 Technology Pioneer, said Robert Greenberg, MD PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer at Second Sight. At Second Sight, this recognition by … Continue reading →

Retinitis pigmentosa treated with acupuncture A patient with retinitis pigmentosa describes his treatment with acupuncture by David Russell, LAc, at Russell Family Acupuncture. http://www.acuherbal.com. By: graingerrussell … Continue reading →

LAUSANNE, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., the leading developer of retinal prostheses for the blind, today announced that The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System (Argus II) has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for both a new technology add-on payment (inpatient setting of care) and a transitional pass through payment (outpatient setting of care) beginning October 1, 2013. This decision follows the annual NUB funding approval for Argus II for the last three years in Germany and limited local government funding in the NHS Hospital of Pisa in Italy. These payments are designed to support timely access to innovative technologies for insured patients. According to the recent CMS announcement, cases involving the Argus II System are eligible for new technology add-on payments under the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System in the USA. Additionally, CMS has also established a transitional pass through payment for Argus II. This payment will be available to all hospital outpatient facilities and Ambulatory Surgical Centers that perform this procedure for Medicare beneficiaries. We are excited that Medicarein the USA has recognized that the Argus II provides a substantial clinical benefit to patients. This news will facilitates access to the … Continue reading →

FIRATLI CLINIC AvtarEngland) A MUST WATCH FOR Retinitis Pigmentosa Treatment (+Visionfieldtest) By: Osman Fıratlı … Continue reading →

FIRATLI CLINIC ISTANBUL Retinitis Pigmentosa Treatment DUTCH) By: Osman Fıratlı … Continue reading →

Treatment for retinitis pigmentosa About Medicare. By: Mark Hughes … Continue reading →