Battling Blindness: New and emerging treatments covered in Medical Lecture Series

The idea of being able to see with one’s tongue may be too far-fetched even for the world of science fiction, but through recent developments in science, the tongue has become an important nerve center. Modifying a damaged optical nerve to the tongue, or instructing a robotic cell to embed itself into the location of the damaged nerve, may return sight.

The above technology, while on the horizon, still seems light-years away. Unfortunately, the incidences of blindness in the world’s aging population is immediate and very real. Treatment for blindness is the focus of a Medical Lecture Series at the downtown library on Wednesday, November 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Central Library. Dr. Russell Van Gelder, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington, will address the many issues associated with blindness as well as new and emerging treatments. It is anticipated by the year 2020 macular degeneration will affect 3 million people, making early detection of the symptoms of blindness and treatments essential. Van Gelder finds that four of the leading causes of blindness are cataract, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

If you or someone you know is facing macular degeneration or other sight-related issues, this is a lecture you won’t want to miss. You may also be interested in these books:
The Brain That Changes Itself by  Norman Doidge
The Age of Intelligent Machines and The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology by Ray Kurzweil
Glaucoma: A Patient’s Guide to the Disease  by Graham Trope
Cataract Surgery: A Patient’s Guide to Cataract Treatment by Uday Devgan

Until we can see with our tongues, or reach the age of the Singular Machine, early detection of the symptoms and treatments for blindness is the next best thing to the pending science fiction technology.

~ Cleo, Library Equal Access Program (LEAP)