In a reversal of popular assumptions new research shows that when people with sight loss suffer depression and low quality of life it is more to do with low incomes, ill health and lack of social participation, than it is to do with their loss of vision. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Manchester School of Social...

The book, the brainchild of Lisa Murphy and called Tactile Minds, is designed to be 'enjoyed' by the blind and visually impaired - and is on sale for £150. Among the 17 raised images include a naked woman in a 'disco pose', a woman with 'perfect breasts' and a 'male love robot'. Canadian Lisa says that she made the book to fill...

A British soldier who was blinded by a grenade in Iraq three years ago said his life has been transformed since he was fitted with a prototype BrainPort device that allows him to "see" with his tongue. 24-year old Lance Corporal Craig Lundberg from Walton in Liverpool, UK, told BBC News on Monday that while the device is only a prototype, it...

If you're the owner of a service or therapy dog, you can get a free eye exam for your pooch, if you sign up with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists National Service Dog Eye Exam Program. The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists is sponsoring the third annual National Service Dog Eye Exam. More than 170 veterinary...

Visually impaired people are usually able to navigate busy sidewalks and crosswalks, safely finding their way using nothing more than a cane as a guide. The reason they can do this, researchers suggest, is that in at least some circumstances, blindness can heighten other senses, helping individuals adapt. Now scientists have confirmed that...

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have created a remote-controlled robot that is able to simulate the "visual" experience of a blind person who has been implanted with a visual prosthesis, such as an artificial retina. An artificial retina consists of a silicon chip studded with a varying number of electrodes that...

A review of the scientific literature addressing the psychosocial well-being in working age adults with visual impairment reports that there are higher rates of mental health, social functioning, and quality of life problems among persons with vision impairment. Systematic review of quantitative studies published in English from 2001 to July 200...

A prosthetic device surgically implanted on the retina at the macula offers the potential for visual perception for patients with retinitis pigmentosa, and future engineering may offer even greater visual performance. The implant, called the Argus II (Second Sight Medical Products), combines an electrode array that is tacked to the retina in...

Visual function in adulthood may be influenced directly by key prenatal and childhood biological and social determinants of general health, according to a new study. It is recognized intuitively that normal vision is important to the lives of adults of working age, and thus to society at large. Nevertheless, there has been limited life-course...

The emotional trauma of being diagnosed with sight loss is potentially devastating. Yet, while there is clear evidence of a need for emotional support, there is very little information on how best to provide it, according to a new study. "Not enough attention has been given to the emotional impact of sight loss," says Dr. Angela McCullagh,...