Marshall Flax, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired’s Certified Low Vision Specialist, wrote the article below about AMD for our publication The Council Courier. We encourage you to share it with others.

If you or someone you know has AMD, please encourage them to contact the Council at 1-800-783-5213 to learn about the October 18, 2012 macular degeneration symposium we are co-presenting with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.

What is age-related macular degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older. It is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. We need central vision to see objects clearly and to perform common daily tasks such as reading and driving.

AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD occurs in two forms: wet and dry. It causes no pain.

Where is the macula?

The macula is located in the center of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The retina instantly converts light, or an image, into electrical impulses. The retina then sends these impulses, or nerve signals, to the brain.

What is wet AMD?

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. Damage to the macula occurs rapidly.

With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet AMD is also known as advanced AMD. It does not have stages like dry AMD.

An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear wavy. If you notice this condition or other changes to your vision, contact your eye care professional at once for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

What is dry AMD?

Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As dry AMD gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vision is gradually lost in the affected eye.

The most common symptom of dry AMD is slightly-blurred vision. You may have difficulty recognizing faces, and you may need more light for reading and other tasks. Dry AMD generally affects both eyes, but vision can be lost in one eye while the other eye seems unaffected.

If you have vision loss from dry AMD in one eye only, you may not notice any changes in your overall vision. With the other eye seeing clearly, you still can drive, read, and see fine details. You may notice changes in your vision only if AMD affects both eyes. If blurriness occurs in your vision, see an eye care professional for a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Ninety percent of all people with AMD have this type. Scientists are still not sure what causes dry AMD.

One of the most common early signs of dry AMD is drusen.

What are drusen?

Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina. They often are found in people over age 60. Your eye care professional can detect drusen during a comprehensive dilated eye exam.

Drusen alone do not usually cause vision loss. In fact, scientists are unclear about the connection between drusen and AMD. They do know that an increase in the size or number of drusen raises a person’s risk of developing either advanced dry AMD or wet AMD. These changes can cause serious vision loss.

Reducing the risk of AMD

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are “nature’s sunglasses.” These are yellow plant pigments found in fruits, vegetables and eggs. They protect and enhance our vision, and research has shown that people with diets rich in these experience fewer cases of AMD. Good sources of Lutein and Zeaxanthin include yellow fruits and vegetables, as well as dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale and broccoli.

 High levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with lower rates of early AMD. In the summer, you can obtain this by getting 15 to 30 minutes daily exposure to the sun on your face and hands. Physical activity is also associated with less AMD. One to one and a half hours of daily light activity (like housework or walking) or one hour a day of moderate activity (such as brisk walking) could cut the risk of AMD in half.

 Information about age-related macular degeneration was adapted from the National Eye Institute: www.NEI.NIH.gov. Details about vitamins and nutrition were provided by Dr. Julie Mares, UW-Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. She is a popular speaker at “Progress in Sight,” our macular degeneration symposium.

Survey participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of 2 free iPads to be awarded on Friday Feb. 17th. A summary report of the survey will also be given to participants if they choose.

Click here to take survey.<https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/perkins-online>

Click here to learn about a free new booklet.

Becky will be remembered for her smile that could light up a room, her sense of gratitude and optimism that inspired all who met her, and the spirit of generous service that exemplified her entire life.

Always smiling and always gracious.

Becky worked in Janesville at the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped before moving to Milwaukee and joining the staff at the Badger Association of the Blind, now known as Vision Forward Association.  She served as president of the Badger Association Board of Directors, president of the Alumni Association for the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped, president of the Midwest Association for the Blind, and she was a member of the board of directors for the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired.  That is how we know Becky best.

 Becky’s connection with the Council may go back almost 20 years.  Her willingness to help with a variety of issues found her serving on numerous committees, including the Awards Committee, Scholarship Committee, Recreation Committee, Bylaws Committee, Advocacy Committee, and Newsletter Committee. She accepted leadership roles as Council Secretary and Vice-President, and she traveled in all kinds of weather throughout the year to attend and support Council-sponsored events and programs.

 One of Becky’s special talents was writing, as evidenced in her role as editor of the Council Courier and collaborator in reviewing and rewriting Council bylaws.  How anyone could inject humor into such a daunting and detailed task was a mystery to us all, but Becky did it with her own special finesse!

 Becky’s contribution to the Council was significant, and she touched many lives with her loving spirit and kindness.

 Here are a few remembrances from Council Board and staff:

 “I met Becky at the Wisconsin Lions Camp during the 1960’s.  Even then, I knew she was a special person.  It wasn’t until Becky moved to Milwaukee that I got to know her better, especially after she started working at Badger Association for the Blind.  We shared coffee and friendship many mornings before getting down to work….Becky always had such good ideas for so many things…. ‘I’m sorry’ is something we frequently heard her say, and yet most times, she had nothing at all to apologize for!  She was such a kind-hearted, friendly person.  She always had good things to say about people.  Her positive attitude was certainly catching….and I will always carry her memory and legacy in my thoughts.”                                              

“From the first time I met Becky and learned of her illness, I was in total awe of her as a person.  She was upbeat, gracious and fun-loving, and she always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.  Becky certainly didn’t seem to let her illness get in her way.  I used to look forward to seeing her at Council meetings so I could sit there and absorb some of her light.  She caused me to rethink my own life and be grateful all my blessings, big and small, and to stop complaining about silly things.”

“Something as simple as a homemade pumpkin muffin could just tickle Becky pink when we got together to edit Courier copy.  She never took a thing for granted, and she had this way of making you feel very special and valued.  In a nutshell, Becky knew how to savor life and appreciate people.”

“I was nine years old when I first heard of Becky Hansen, who would later become Becky Johnson and then Becky Williams.  Her aunt told me she was moving from Ohio to Janesville, and that she would attend my school….I liked Becky right away even though we were a year apart, in different classes, and she was a day student.  We had great times playing ‘Laura and Mary’ with the old-fashioned dresses and hooped petticoat she often brought from home….In high school, we both loved acting, and as members of the Speech Arts Club, we were in several plays together. We also spent lots of time together practicing and performing music and preparing forensics pieces.  All these experiences further strengthened our friendship.

After high school, Becky and I went our separate ways until my husband I moved to Janesville, and we both began to have children.   We lived only about five blocks from each other, so it was common to spend the afternoon together while our children played….When Becky left the school in 2000 to move to Milwaukee, I missed being able to see her every day.  I missed those spur-of-the-moment calls when she would ask, ‘Aren’t you hungry for some ice cream, Karen?’ or ‘Don’t you want to go out for breakfast this morning?’  I miss her ready hugs, the way she’d go to bat for me if she thought someone had been unjust, her enthusiasm, ready laugh, and love for my kids—I just plain miss her!  Now, 11 years later, I miss Becky just as keenly again.  She left so much with me, and I will always be grateful for having known her, learned from her, and received the gift of her friendship.”

Computer accessibility helps you connect with people and resources.

Stay connected with friends, family and important resources.  This FREE class for older adults who are visually impaired meets once a week for six weeks, from 10 a.m. to Noon, at the Madison Senior Center on Mifflin Street.                                                        

Topics cover: accessibility options on Windows-based PCs, low vision software, voice recognition software, applications to Internet and e-mail, and use of Skype.  At the conclusion of the series, participants will receive a large-print manual and a high-contrast keyboard.  Optional home visits can be scheduled to transfer classroom skills to home computers. 

This training is presented by technology staff at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. 

Class limit: 12 participants.  Registration is required and begins January 23, 2012. 

Transportation assistance may be available.  Call Jean at 237-8106 or e-mail: jkalscheur@wcblind.org. 

This program is made possible by a grant from the Universal Service Fund of the Public Service Commission.

Please help us by telling others about this learning opportunity.

 EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

 The UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) received the Council’s Employer of the Year Award

Bob Golden accepts the award on behalf of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

for providing assistance to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.  The school provides special equipment and enables visual describers to accompany a medical student from classes to the operating room, making modifications to augment his or her studies and improve opportunities for personal success.

 The award also recognizes the UW School of Medicine and Public Health as home of the UW Eye Research Institute, a multidisciplinary community of scholars working to gain critical knowledge about the science and art of vision and apply it to blindness prevention as they advance research and treatment.  SMPH also provides speakers for the Progress in Sight symposium on age-related macular degeneration– a collaborative event co-sponsored by the UW Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired.

 LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

 The Council presented its Legislator of the Year Award to Joe Knilans, State Assembly member, Republican, 44^th district, from Janesville. The award recognizes Knilans for his leadership as the main sponsor of AB 322, the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of Wisconsin. 

Rep. Knilans humbly and graciously accepts his award.

 This legislation will require publishers to provide disabled post-secondary students, including returning veterans, with accessible textbooks.  Council President Chris Zenchenko commented, “Representative Knilans’ leadership in this bill’s passage will have enormous long-term employment implications for our community’s success in the years ahead.”  Accepting the award, Rep. Knilans said, “This award will sit on my desk at the Capitol, and I look forward to explaining to people why I received it.”  Knilans also represents the district in which the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped is located.

 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Norman Gilliland accepts the award on behalf of WPR.

 On behalf of Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), Norman Gilliland accepted the Council’s Outstanding Public Service Award.   WPR was recognized for providing quality programming for all listeners, including people who are blind or visually impaired.  It was cited as a trusted resource for information, education and connection to numerous cultural resources since 1917.  In presenting the award, Council Board member Arnold Tucker noted that WPR’s Ideas Network helps listeners make informed decisions about important and timely issues. 

Gilliland was recognized for producing Weekday Classics, Midday Classics, University of the Air, and for serving as narrator of Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s Concerts on the Square performances.  He reflected on his partnership with Council President Chris Zenchenko who has provided many of the programs for WPR’s Old Time Radio Drama.  He concluded his remarks by saying, “It’s a cooperative venture between what Wisconsin Public Radio puts out and what you, the listeners, make of it.”

 LOUIS SEIDITA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

 Rice Lake resident Gary Traynor received the Louis Seidita Distinguished Service Award.  Traynor was a member of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired Board of Directors from 2006 to 2011. 

Gary Traynor receives a much deserved award.

He served on numerous committees, including: Finance and Development, Community Education and Awareness, Recreation, Awards, Sharper Vision Store, and Legislative—of which he is still a member. 

 Traynor belongs to several veterans’ organizations, such as the American Legion Post 53, AMVETS Post 128 in Rice Lake, Disabled American Vets/National Blind Chapter, and the Council on Veterans Programs.  He currently serves as president of the Blinded Veterans of Wisconsin (BVAWI) and was instrumental in the passage of legislation that placed a member of BVAWI on the Council on Veterans Programs, a key advisor to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.  He also gives his time to the Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin in Menomonie, where he volunteers in their Peer Support Program and offers encouragement and inspiration to others who have lost vision. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Exec. Director Loretta Himmelsbach speaks from the heart.

 In her concluding remarks, Council Executive Director Loretta Himmelsbach reflected: You all are the doers, the ones who will go out and continue to make a difference.  Each one of you will continue to challenge yourself to go beyond what you may think is realistic.

Note: For more information about the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of Wisconsin, contact Gary Goyke at the Council: 608-255-1166. 

Our mission is to promote the dignity and independence of the people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public.

1952-2012: Celebrating 60 years of expanding visual horizons

Applicants must reside in Wisconsin when applying for a Council scholarship, and they need to attend a school in the state.  They must also be high school graduates or returning students, carrying a full load of classes as defined by the institution they will attend, and have an accumulated GPA of at least 2.5.  Part-time students must verify their courses and schedules.  All applicants must have identified goals for the future, including eventual employment.

During our November 19 Awards and Scholarship Luncheon, we presented nine $1,500 scholarships to an amazing and inspiring group of young people.

This year’s recipients are:

Margaret Fitzwilliams, Verona, Madison College, Major: Judicial Reporting
Andrew Ollmann, Kohler, St. Norbert College, Major: Religious StudiesYouth Ministry
Zeynep Yilmaz, Madison, UW-Madison, Major: Psychology
Blair Seidlitz, Greenfield, UW-Madison, Major: Engineering Physics
Katherine Watson, Sauk City, UW-Whitewater, Major: Print Journalism
Mitchell Sween, Delevan, UW-Whitewater, Major: Biology
Richard Warner, Jr., Milwaukee, UW-Madison, Major: Chinese
Valarie Pufall Masanz, Mosinee, UW-Stout, Major: Physiology
Yea Ji Kim, Madison, UW-Madison, Major: Piano Performance and Pedagogy

Reference letters for these students praised their intelligence, creativity, motivation, courage and commitment.

In her concluding remarks, Council Executive Director Loretta Himmelsbach reflected:
As you, our scholarship recipients continue with your schooling, I offer you these life lessons:         

• Have a purpose every day.
• Get out of your comfort zone.  Try something new. 
• Find your passion and share your story. 
• Dream big, and focus on the details of that dream. 
• If you mess up, make the mess your message and start over.
• Bring awareness to your personal cause, and it will change expectations of your world.

If you know a blind or visually impaired student who might qualify for a future Council scholarship, please invite her/him to contact us at
608-255-1166 for application details.