Mike May is the Chief Evangelist at Goodmaps, founder of the Sendero group, a paralympic World Record holder in downhill skiing, and a serial entrepreneur who regained some vision after 43 years of blindness thanks to a novel corneal stem cell therapy. Mike discusses the impact of regaining some vision, highlighting the need for a diverse skill set to thrive in business, sports and life. About the guest: Mike May is Chief Evangelist for Good Maps, Inc., a pedestrian navigation company with an emphasis on accessible navigation for people who are blind or visually impaired including indoor navigation. He …

Corneal Stem Cell Treatment, Paralympic Skiing and Blindness VS Low Vision – Mike May Read more »

In this episode, Jim Thoune describes his journey from a young boy who lost his vision due to Retinoblastoma to becoming a world class blind chess competitor. Jim discusses highlights from his career, how parents can help their blind children succeed, his passion for scuba diving, and much more. About the guest: Not a blind man, but a man who happens to be blind as well as five feet 8 inches tall, with gray-white, curly hair and a medium build. Totally blind since age 5 due to Retinoblastoma, I am a 71-year-old retired Government employee, where I divided my …

Blind Chess: Stories From Three Time US Champion Jim Thoune Read more »

In this episode, Surgical and Medical Retina Specialist Dr. Charles Wykoff gives a detailed overview of Diabetic Retinopathy, with a particular focus on the importance of screening and early diagnosis to prevent blindness. Dr. Wykoff further discusses current treatments and therapies, his group’s latest research findings, and how technology is changing the landscape for Diabetic Retinopathy and other ophthalmic diseases. About the guest: Dr. Wykoff is Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas; Chairman of Research & Clinical Trials, Retina Consultants of America; and Deputy Chair of Ophthalmology for Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital. He received his …

Diabetic Retinopathy: Causes, Risk Factors, Treatment, and The Importance Of Early Diagnosis – Dr. Charles Wykoff Read more »

Dr. Stephen Redenti, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The City University of New York, provides an overview of critical signaling processes that can shed light on retinal health and the origins of degenerative retinal disease. Dr. Redenti explores how decades of research into the biochemistry of tumor metastasis is now informing novel therapeutic approaches that aim to improve the success of stem cell therapies for Retinitis Pigmentosa and other ophthalmic diseases. About the guest: Stephen Redenti Ph.D. is a Professor at the City University of New York, Lehman College and Graduate Center Biochemistry, Molecular, Cell and Developmental …

Retinal Disease: New Horizons In the Bio-chemistry Of Vision – Dr. Stephen Redenti Read more »

Professor John Nolan, Founder and Director of the Nutrition Research Centre Ireland (NRCI), explores the current research in the field of ocular nutrition, highlighting the potential for three specific carotenoids to significantly impact vision in patients with Age-related Macular Degeneration as well as the general adult population. Prof. Nolan further discusses why better regulatory oversight is needed for ocular health supplements, as well as key research findings that every optometrist and ophthalmologist should understand. About the guest: Professor Nolan currently holds a Chair for Human Nutrition Research at the School of Health Science, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland. Prof …

Age-related Macular Degeneration, Supplementation, and Key Research Findings in the Field of Ocular Nutrition – Prof. John Nolan Read more »

Macmilton “Mac” Marcoux is a Canadian Paralympic alpine skier who has collected many Olympic medals and world titles at only 24 years. He started skiing at the age of four but started to lose his sight due to Stargardt disease and became legally blind in 2007. That never stopped him from continuing to pursue his passions and dreams. About the guest: At just 15-years-old, Mac Marcoux was a Para-Alpine World Championships silver medalist. The Sault Ste. Marie born skier joined the team that season and finished his rookie World Cup year with a trio of podiums. In 2014, he …

Skiing Blind: Mac Marcoux On The Need For Speed, Chasing Medals and Having Fun Read more »

In this episode, Vivid Vision’s Chief Science Officer Dr. Benjamin T. Backus explains how his company’s technology has been used to treat Amblyopia and Strabismus using custom-built software integrated into portable VR headsets. Dr. Backus further highlights an unmet need for at-home visual field tests and how Vivid Vision is making this a reality. About the guest: Dr. Backus is Chief Science Officer at Vivid Vision. He has training in mathematics (BA, Swarthmore), human vision and psychophysics (PhD, UC Berkeley), and neuroscience (postdoc, Stanford). From 2000-2018 he was a professor: first in Psychology, Bioengineering, and Neuroscience at the University …

Amblyopia, Strabismus, and VR-based Visual Fields – Dr. Benjamin T. Backus From Vivid Vision Read more »

In this episode, eSight user and coach Richard Weatherford and company CCO Brian McCollum provide an overview of eSight technology and how it can be life-changing for people with poor central vision due to degenerative retinal disease. The guests explore use cases for the technology, how the core offering has evolved over time, and how people living with low vision can connect with the company to demo the latest model. About the guests: Brian McCollum Brian is a seasoned industry leader, bringing with him more than 20 years of operational, financial and healthcare experience. Prior to joining eSight, Brian …

Low Vision and Technology; How eSight Is Bridging the Gap To Bring Sight To the Visually Imparied Read more »

Laura Allen – Head of Strategy, Accessibility, and Disability Inclusion at Google – shares her journey from 10-year-old child with unexplained vision loss to a leader and force for change in the world of accessible technology. Laura further highlights some of the accessibility initiatives at Google that are close to heart as well as what she believes the future of accessibility will look like in the years ahead. About the guest: Laura Allen is the Head of Strategy for Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at Google. She works cross-functionally across teams to improve the accessibility and usability of Google products …

The evolution and Future Of Accessibility At Google – Laura Allen Read more »

Dr. Hady Saheb, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Glaucoma Fellowship at McGill University, offers a detailed overview of Glaucoma. This informative discussion covers Glaucoma causes and risk factors, as well as a deep dive into the evolution of disease diagnosis and management. About the guest: Dr. Hady Saheb, MD, MPH, FRCSC, DABO, is currently Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Resident Research at McGill University. He is also a Consultant on the Ophthalmic Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Saheb earned his medical degree and …

Glaucoma: Causes, Risk Factors and Treatment Approaches – Dr. Hady Saheb Read more »