DAY TO TO WINDSOR CASTLE

DAY TO TO WINDSOR CASTLE

Back in April my wife and I had a day trip to Windsor Castle, we used a local coach company as i do not drive anymore due to my sight loss.

The weather was very pleasant and luck was with us because it did not rain at all, we arrived around 11am and quickly proceeded to the the castle.

This being our first time there i was surprised to see how clean it was, having said that it is the Queens home away from Buckingham Palace, we joined the long line of people to pay before entering the castle and WoW what a sight,

 so where do i begin i think a little history may be in order, so courtesy of the WINDSOR CASTLE official souvenir guide i will pass of some knowledge.

Windsor Castle was founded by William the Conqueror at the the end of the eleventh century and have been home to 39 monarchs  and is the oldest royal residence in the UK.

In 2005 Prince Charles married the Duchess of Cornwall in Windsor Guildhall,

the castle today has been developed over near 1000 years by four monarchs

William the Conqueror who founded the castle,Edward III (1327 - 1377)

Charles II (1660 - 1685) and George IV.

The first things you see when walking around the castle is the fine art and antiques as well as the plush carpets, speaking of the carpets, on the stairs the colour are red and they blend into each step and i almost fell down because i could not see where one step ended and the other began.

From the Waterloo room to the crimson Drawing  Room to the dolls house on display and then on into the chapel  where some monarchs are laid to rest.

After the great fire that broke out in Queen Victoria’s private chapel  the fire spread rapidly through the roof and destroyed the ceiling of St Georges’s Hall and the Grand Reception room as well as the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dinning Room, and you can imagine how devastated the Queen was.

In and around Windsor there are plenty of parks to walk through and if you wish you can do a river cruise.

Dining out in Windsor was not as expensive as i thought we found a nice hotel near the castle which was reasonable to the pocket.

All in all a trip i would recommend  to anyone who loves the royal family and the history.

By : Dave Taylor

Abseiling for Guide Dogs

Abseiling for Guide Dogs

Freedom Eye Technology Ltd http://www.freedom-eye.com | date：2016-07-01　 | Source： www.freedom-eye.com　| Read：4

Fund Raising for Guide Dogs Portsmouth It was a nice but very chilly Sunday afternoon when a few brave volunteers from Guide Dogs of Portsmouth, took on a challenge to raise funds for their charity. They hoped to raise a staggering ￡5000 to help funding for the training of young puppies.   The dogs need to be allocated to the right person to match their height and the speed they walk, so it is not just the matter of giving someone a dog and hope they will be suited, a great deal of planning is involved which also means there is always a cost as well, and that is why events like these are so important to the charity. Two of the volunteers on the day were Julie Duffy and her son Liam, Julie found the experience awesome  and going over the edge for the first time a little scary, but Julie said it was for a good cause and if she could raise some money to help the charity, therefore in turn that will be helping other people like herself as Julie is blind and has a guide dog herself. For more information about Guide Dogs for the Blind visit their website. Story by : David Taylor Portsmouth : Sunday 17th April 2016

Tips for Coping with Low Vision

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Many visually impaired people experience difficulty performing the activities of daily living (ADL) such as cooking, shopping, managing finances, watching television, reading, and taking care of their personal needs. They have concerns about finding and keeping a job, dealing with friends and family members, getting around, and participating in recreational and social activities. Some also may feel a sense of depression as their vision diminishes. If you or someone you care for is experiencing signs of depression, call a health care professional immediately for assistance. Also, refer to your eye care professional for advice, therapies, and tips for coping with your low vision.

There are countless low vision aids and other proven strategies for coping with low vision. These can help people with low vision maximize their remaining vision and maintain their independence.

Some of the most common mechanisms for coping with low vision include the following:

Use contrasting colors. For instance, use a dark table cloth with white plates so you can see table edges and food more prominently.

Label everything. Bold labels or stickers of varying shapes will be easy to identify with some practice. Also, using puffy paint or another texture to give texture to labels will help.

Make it bigger. Many companies offer devices with large display screens, watches with enlarged faces, and buttons that are bigger and easier to differentiate from one another. This can make telling time, changing television channels, and even weighing yourself easier.

Keep it clean. With items in their proper places, they will be easy to locate quickly. Establishing the organization and discipline will take some time, but once it becomes habit, daily activities will become easier.

Seek help. Possibly the hardest step to take is asking for assistance. There are people in many shops trained to assist people with low vision. Even passersby are often happy to help if the request is made. There are also numerous low vision support groups operated from senior centers, libraries, and hospitals.

Use the buddy system. Low vision is common among aging adults. As one of the side effects of low vision is a feeling of loneliness, finding a friend or support system in your community can be very helpful. You will be able to learn tips and tricks that have worked for other people in your same situation.

Be patient. Coping with low vision is not simple. Developing your own tricks and methods takes time and effort. Go easy on yourself and keep trying. Eventually, you will find the best solutions for your specific visual impairment.

Practice. Once you have your methods in place, practice them. Similar to riding a bike, as you learn new ways to perform tasks, they will become easier and easier.

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New test detects early signs of AMD

New test detects early signs of AMD

                                                      http://www.freedom-eye.com/view_blog.asp?ID=224

Researchers have designed a new test that can spot the early stages of sight loss in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The research was funded by Fight for Sight and the Special Trustees of Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Professor Roger Anderson led the research team based at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at Moorfieldo  Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

AMD affects the macula which is a small, but extremely important area located at the centre of the retina, the light-sensing tissue that lines the back of the eye.  It is responsible for seeing fine details clearly and we use it for reading and recognising faces. In the UK, more than half a million over-50s have a form of AMD, and the figure is set to rise as the population ages.

Most sight loss from AMD happens in the later stages. Until now, there has been no quick and reliable sight test that can detect the earliest changes in the retina in AMD.

To address the problem, the team invented a new test chart, called the Moorfields Acuity Chart (MAC). The test features letters created from fine black and white strips. However, unlike the standard chart, these two-coloured, high-spatial frequency letters appear to vanish when they are too small to be recognised.

Sir Peng Tee Khaw, Director of the NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre, said, “This marks a significant advancement in our ability to diagnose vision loss arising from the leading cause of sight loss in industrialised countries. This is exciting for us all as improved testing methods lead to better diagnosis and treatment development.”

The results are published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The chart will be produced commercially under licence by Peter Allen and Associates and the team is currently preparing to assess the MAC chart’s performance in a larger clinical trial.

Baby and Kids Eye Exams-POINTS FOR PARENTS TO REMEMBER !

Baby and Kids Eye Exams-POINTS FOR PARENTS TO REMEMBER !

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Routine medical exams for kids' vision include:

· Newborns should be checked for general eye health by a pediatrician or family physician in the hospital nursery.

· High-risk newborns (including premature infants), those with a family history of eye problems, and those with obvious eye irregularities should be examined by an eye doctor.

·

· Around age 3½, kids should have eye health screenings and visual acuity tests (tests that measure sharpness of vision) with their pediatrician or family doctor.

· Around age 5, kids should have their vision and eye alignment checked by their pediatrician or family doctor. Those who fail either test should be examined by an eye doctor.

· After age 5, routine screenings should be done at school and the primary doctor's office, and if symptoms such as squinting or frequent headaches occur. (Many times, a teacher will notice that a child isn't seeing well in class.)

· Kids who wear prescription glasses or contacts should have annual checkups by an eye doctor to screen for vision changes

Spotting Eye Problems

Signs that a child may have vision problems include:

· constant eye rubbing

· extreme light sensitivity

· poor focusing

· poor visual tracking (following an object)

· abnormal alignment or movement of the eyes (after 6 months of age)

· chronic redness of the eyes

· chronic tearing of the eyes

· a white pupil instead of black

In school-age children, other signs to watch for include:

· being unable to see objects at a distance

· having trouble reading the blackboard

· squinting

· difficulty reading

· sitting too close to the TV

Watch your child for signs of poor vision or crossed eyes. If you notice any eye problems, have your child examined right away so that the problem doesn't become permanent. If caught early, eye conditions often can be corrected.

Embracing vision rehabilitation

Embracing vision rehabilitation

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Low vision simply refers to the significant impairment of vision which is not corrected using the usual lens correction technique or low vision correction devices. This kind of vision may also in certain cases be making reference to the significant loss of the peripheral vision. Even though this condition has been found to vary between different age groups, it is very important to understand and accept the fact that majority of those who are greatly affected by it are mainly people over 50 years of age.  Such are the people who seriously need to reach out to vision rehabilitation specialists.

 It is also very important to note that amongst the most common causes of low vision are cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and eye injury. Keep in mind, those who are struggling with low vision usually see object to appear hazy, distorted and blurred.

 Low vision has been found to seriously impact one’s life especially when it comes down to realizing routine objective particularly work related duties. Self care and other daily routines are usually subject to compromise. In addition to the above, there are usually problems in recognizing faces. Safety on the road is also usually affected since difficulties are bound to arise in recognizing traffic signs, oncoming traffic as well as other factors.

 Just so you know, most of those people who have been previously diagnosed with poor vision have been forced to quit their jobs reason being this condition affects their ability to function at full capacity and realize their set objectives. Good news is a low vision specialist can help make the situation better by evaluating the individual to determine the type and degree or vision loss as a result being able to help them adapt to the condition.

 In spite of all of the above however, it is imperative that the individual overcomes the feeling of grief and sadness in order to accept the current situation before they can completely or successful undergo low vision rehabilitation. Keep in mind, even though low vision can sometime be very frustrating, with support from proper low vision rehabilitation any affected individual should expect a slight improvement. 

Where Best To Buy A Magnifier For Low Vision

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People suffering from low vision have different abilities to see things. They should be assisted in whatever they do that requires clear vision to do things, like reading and others. However, with the advent of magnifier for low vision and its availability in the market, they may no longer need some assistance.

There are several kinds of magnifier for low vision individuals and it could be tailored fit in their specific need. For instance, there is a clip-on spectacle magnifier for low vision, it frees the hands to do some other things than holding a magnifying glass or any hand held magnifiers. This kind of device could help a low vision person enjoy life than ever.

The lenses of this clip-on spectacle magnifier are replaceable. It has 8 different lenses in a set that could be fitted to the spectacle to suit a particular purpose. There is a lens in watching a TV, for reading and for viewing a distant object or view.

Replacing the lens is so easy that a low vision person would no longer need an assistance from another person. With each lens, he could adjust his vision through different level of magnification and best for his eyes.

Magnifier for low vision could be easily procured from a nearby optical shop and even in drug stores. It is also available from an online optical shop.

Certainly buying a magnifier for low vision online is more advantageous than going to a nearby optical shop. Foremost, the person with low vision will no longer walk or drive to go to the local supplier’s store. The clip-on spectacle will be delivered to him on his doorstep without any extra cost.

There are more online shop and the person could choose the design and color that he likes most. In most cases, local optical shops have limited stocks to choose from.