Yes / Importance: Myopia is a leading cause of untreatable visual impairment and is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Interventions for slowing childhood myopia progression have shown success in randomized clinical trials; hence, there is a need to identify which children would benefit most from treatment intervention. Objectives: To examine whether genetic information alone can identify children at risk of myopia development and whether including a child’s genetic predisposition to educational attainment is associated with improved genetic prediction of the risk of myopia. Design, Setting, and Participants: Meta-analysis of 3 genome-wide association studies (GWAS) including a total of 711 984 individuals. These were a published GWAS for educational attainment and 2 GWAS for refractive error in the UK Biobank, which is a multisite cohort study that recruited participants between January 2006 and October 2010. A polygenic risk score was applied in a population-based validation sample examined between September 1998 and September 2000 (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children [ALSPAC] mothers). Data analysis was performed from February 2018 to May 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) in analyses for predicting myopia, using noncycloplegic autorefraction measurements for myopia severity levels of less than or equal to −0.75 diopter (D) (any), less than or equal to -3.00 D (moderate), or less than or equal to −5.00 D (high). The predictor variable was a polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from genome-wide association study data for refractive error (n = 95 619), age of onset of spectacle wear (n = 287 448), and educational attainment (n = 328 917). Results: A total of 383 067 adults aged 40 to 69 years from the UK Biobank were included in the new GWAS analyses. The PRS was evaluated in 1516 adults aged 24 to 51 years from the ALSPAC mothers cohort. The PRS had an AUROC of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.65-0.70) for myopia, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.70-0.79) for moderate myopia, and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.66-0.80) for high myopia. Inclusion in the PRS of information associated with genetic predisposition to educational attainment marginally improved the AUROC for myopia (AUROC, 0.674 vs 0.668; P = .02), but not those for moderate and high myopia. Individuals with a PRS in the top 10% were at 6.1-fold higher risk (95% CI, 3.4–10.9) of high myopia. Conclusions and Relevance: A personalized medicine approach may be feasible for detecting very young children at risk of myopia. However, accuracy must improve further to merit uptake in clinical practice; currently, cycloplegic autorefraction remains a better indicator of myopia risk (AUROC, 0.87). / PhD studentship grant from the College of Optometrists (Drs Guggenheim and Williams; supporting Mr Mojarrad) entitled Genetic prediction of individuals at-risk for myopia development) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Research Fellowship award SRF-2015-08-005 (Dr Williams). The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome grant 102215/2/13/2 and the University of Bristol provide core support for the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf). This research was conducted using the UK Biobank Resource (application 17351). The UK Biobank was established by the Wellcome Trust, the UK Medical Research Council, the Department for Health (London, England), the Scottish government (Edinburgh, Scotland), and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (Warrington, England). It also received funding from the Welsh Assembly Government (Cardiff, Wales), the British Heart Foundation, and Diabetes UK.

Yes / Unlike many other sports, Rugby Union has not permitted players to wear spectacles or eye protection. With an industrial partner, World Rugby developed goggles suitable for use while playing rugby for the purposes of growing participation amongst those that need to wear corrective lenses. This study reports on the profile and experiences of goggle wearers. 387 players received the goggles. Data were obtained from 188 (49 %) using an online, 75-item questionnaire. 87 % “strongly agreed/agreed” that goggles are beneficial and 75 % are happy with goggle performance. Common problems reported by 49.7 and 32.6 % of respondents were issues with fogging-up and getting dirty. 15 (8 %) players stopped wearing the goggles because of fogging-up, limits to peripheral vision and poor comfort/fit. Injuries were reported in 3 % of respondents. In none of these cases did the player stop wearing the goggles. From the positive experience of players in the trial, the goggles were adopted into the Laws of the game on July 1, 2019. As the need to correct vision with spectacles is common, and contact lenses are not worn by 80 % + of spectacle wearers, the new Rugby goggles will widen participation for those that need to wear refractive correction, or have an existing/increased risk of uniocular visual impairment.

No description available.

This study explores experiential access to outdoor environments. This qualitative thesis presents the results of open-ended interviews with four people who have severe visual impairment. The interviews gathered information about the participants leisure activities in outdoor settings. The purpose of the study was to discover the factors in the environment that contribute to a positive recreation experience for people with visual impairment. Experiential qualities of the environment for both people who are sighted and those who are blind were compared through the analysis of eight contemporary authors' writings related to environmental understanding and the transcripts of the four interviews. The overlap of experience in outdoor environments between these two user groups was explored. Two areas of significant influence on the participants' experience was discovered; (a) wayfinding and making sense, and (b) affective response. The specific factors in the environment that influenced the quality of experience for these participants, other than those that contribute to making sense, were found to include: (a) interaction with nature, (b) awareness of enclosure & openness of the setting, (c) intellectual and physical stimulation and challenge, and (d) direct physical interaction with the surrounding environment. This study provides some of the specific benefits and advantages of incorporation of multi-sensory stimulation in design for people of all abilities. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Architecturally, my thesis project is a new type of design for children who have visual impairments. Most of the children who have visual impairments need more attention to receive a full education. With a proper education they will be able to start living by themselves without any assistance. I decided to design a school which would support the needs of the children and the aspirations of their parents; a place of safety and ambition that would free instructors and inspire the children. Then, I began to seek an architectural site program where I could locate my design. Old town Alexandria is an excellent location for the planned education center. Old town has its own urban context with boundaries like  the Potomac River,  trees, old railroad ways,  a  tunnel,  and other landmarks  like churches,  libraries, museums,  etc.  The children  in  the education  center  have  an  opportunity  to  learn  more  and  show  their  life  skills  easily  in  the  old town.  Also the site selection and location was important due to the history of the town, easy transportation and connections with surroundings, being right next to the Potomac River and minutes away from the Washington DC. / Master of Architecture

Many people have visual impairment and make up a population that is increasing each year. Haptic technology is often used to assist members of this population by providing a way of understanding visual information. Although haptic technology is relatively new, it is widely applied across a variety of domains (research and industry). However, a great number of users are dissatisfied with their assistive technology applications. Unfortunately, such dissatisfaction is likely to cause abandonment of the technology devices. In particular, recent research shows that the adoption rate of haptic technology is low. Discontinuing the use of assistive technology devices ultimately results in a waste of time, money, freedom, and reduced function for individuals with disabilities. Of all the factors that lead to abandonment, the most significant is the failure to meet user needs. Whether existing design approaches properly reflect assistive technology user needs should be explored, especially for haptic technology. Existing design approaches have rarely considered the heterogeneous needs of users in the same disability category (i.e., visual disability). Most previous studies on assistive technology have been oriented towards those with total blindness as opposed to those with residual vision (also referred to as low vision). In addition, researchers have paid less attention to older adults with low vision in terms of individual differences in haptic user interface (HUI) needs. There is also some doubt about the applicability of existing design approaches in such design contexts as users with visual disabilities using haptic user interfaces. The aim of this research was to investigate individual differences in users' capabilities in the haptic modality and user needs in HUIs. Particularly, age-related and vision-related individual differences were explored. Another aim was to develop a more accessible design approach applicable to users with visual disabilities and HUIs. The magnitude estimation technique was employed to examine how participants (classified by vision and age) perceive the same objective stimulus, such as haptic perception, differently. Brain plasticity theory was primarily applied to modify the existing design approach, PICTIVE. The effectiveness of modified and original PICTIVE methods was investigated in terms of the frequency of statements, gestures, satisfaction, and time to complete a given design task. HUI user needs were elicited from participants and were analyzed to understand age-related and vision-related individual differences. It was found that the haptic perception of the same objective stimulus was not significantly different between younger and older participants with low vision. The two age groups' overall preferences for a set of HUI user needs were not significantly different. In addition, the haptic perception of the same objective stimulus was not significantly different between sighted participants and those with low vision. The two vision groups' overall preferences on a set of HUI user needs were not significantly different as well. The two design methods resulted in significantly different outcomes. First, participants in the modified PICTIVE method made a significantly higher number of statements. Second, participants in the modified PICTIVE method showed a significantly higher number of gestures. Third, participants in the modified PICTIVE method took significantly more time because they had more design ideas to deliver. Last, both groups were satisfied with a given design method. In short, the research outcomes contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding of more "usable" accessibility for users with visual impairment and a more "accessible" participatory design approach to nontraditional user interfaces (i.e., haptic user interfaces) for users with visual impairment. / Ph. D.

PURPOSE. To determine the influence of cataractous and refractive blur on postural stability and limb-load asymmetry (LLA) and to establish how postural stability changes with the spatial frequency and contrast of the visual stimulus. METHODS. Thirteen elderly subjects (mean age, 70.76 ± 4.14 [SD] years) with no history of falls and normal vision were recruited. Postural stability was determined as the root mean square [RMS] of the center of pressure (COP) signal in the anterior¿posterior (A-P) and medial¿lateral directions and LLA was determined as the ratio of the average body weight placed on the more-loaded limb to the less-loaded limb, recorded during a 30-second period. Data were collected under normal standing conditions and with somatosensory system input disrupted. Measurements were repeated with four visual targets with high (8 cyc/deg) or low (2 cyc/deg) spatial frequency and high (Weber contrast, ¿95%) or low (Weber contrast, ¿25%) contrast. Postural stability was measured under conditions of binocular refractive blur of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 D and with cataract simulation. The data were analyzed in a population-averaged linear model. RESULTS. The cataract simulation caused significant increases in postural instability equivalent to that caused by 8-D blur conditions, and its effect was greater when the input from the somatosensory system was disrupted. High spatial frequency targets increased postural instability. Refractive blur, cataract simulation, or eye closure had no effect on LLA. CONCLUSIONS. Findings indicate that cataractous and refractive blur increase postural instability, and show why the elderly, many of whom have poor vision along with musculoskeletal and central nervous system degeneration, are at greater risk of falling. Findings also highlight that changes in contrast sensitivity rather than resolution changes are responsible for increasing postural instability. Providing low spatial frequency information in certain environments may be useful in maintaining postural stability. Correcting visual impairment caused by uncorrected refractive error and cataracts could be a useful intervention strategy to help prevent falls and fall-related injuries in the elderly.

The submitted thesis deals with ethical aspects of the life of people with severe visual impairment. Since recently, likewise e.g. in medicine, the partner model of cooperation between the social services provider and the receiver is also preferred in the blind and visually impaired rehabilitation, the present state of manners in society was necessarily considered within the ethical deliberation, e.g. the historical development of the interest in people with severe visual impairment, traditional approaches to them, persisting prejudices, the moral field, which in practice project into attitudes and behaviour determining value hierarchy, as well as into the legal field, i.e. into sources and the situation of social legislation relevant for visually impaired people's lives. The theoretical part informs the reader about the fundamental terminology used in special pedagogy, social work and other related branches. Further, it focuses on the theoretical ethical resources applied to the field of the blind and visually impaired rehabilitation, the help of the welfare state embodied in the legislation, and it takes into account the spiritual dimension of the human personality and its significance for the visual impairment acceptance. The practical part contains the quantitative and qualitative research...

The submitted thesis deals with ethical aspects of the life of people with severe visual impairment. Since recently, likewise e.g. in medicine, the partner model of cooperation between the social services provider and the receiver is also preferred in the blind and visually impaired rehabilitation, the present state of manners in society was necessarily considered within the ethical deliberation, e.g. the historical development of the interest in people with severe visual impairment, traditional approaches to them, persisting prejudices, the moral field, which in practice project into attitudes and behaviour determining value hierarchy, as well as into the legal field, i.e. into sources and the situation of social legislation relevant for visually impaired people's lives. The theoretical part informs the reader about the fundamental terminology used in special pedagogy, social work and other related branches. Further, it focuses on the theoretical ethical resources applied to the field of the blind and visually impaired rehabilitation, the help of the welfare state embodied in the legislation, and it takes into account the spiritual dimension of the human personality and its significance for the visual impairment acceptance. The practical part contains the quantitative and qualitative research...

Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Pedagogická fakulta, Katedra speciální pedagogiky, DIPLOMOVÁ PRÁCE Comparing the level of olfactory perception among persons with congenital or acquired severe visual impairment Autor: Tereza Kopsová, Vedoucí práce: Mgr. Pavlína Šumníková, Ph.D., Praha 2010 ANNOTATION: The work deals with identifying the level of olfactory perception among people with severe visual impairment. The aim is to compare the function of olfactory discrimination and olfactory threshold sensitivity among persons with congenital or acquired visual handicap. The theoretical section presents the basic anatomical and physiological characteristics of the olfactory system, the list of disorders of smell and olfactory testing methods in clinical practice, and a brief account of visual impairments. The empirical investigation is carried out using standardized tests, olfactory discrimination function is measured by a test of the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), olfactory perception threshold using the Smell Threshold Test (STT). The thesis describes in detail both the methods and characteristics of groups of test subjects. In the analytical part it focuses on the comparison of test results among persons with congenital or acquired severe visual impairment.