BUCKS COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

We Empower Our Seniors!

On Monday, BCABVI staff presented at a luncheon for the Middletown Senior Citizens Association in Levittown as part of our community outreach program. Our goal is to raise awareness and educate the public about the services and programs we offer to blind and visually impaired individuals throughout Bucks County. Since vision loss is more common among people aged 65 and older, an area of focus is our senior population.

Our Certified Low Vision Therapist and Occupational Therapist, Dr. Erin Kramer, demonstrated various adaptations (a bingo board, clock, and kitchen knife guard). She also showcased some of our newer portable text-to-speech magnifier devices, including the Optera and Ruby 10.

The senior attendees expressed a strong desire to continue living independently. Many of them had eye issues, such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration. They were previously unaware of the adaptations, aids, and devices that BCABVI offers, and were eager to learn more about our services and programs.

If you would like to learn more about our accessible devices, please contact us at 215.968.9400.

If you or anyone you know attends a senior citizen center in Bucks County and would like us to visit, please contact [email protected].

Check out Erin demonstrating the Ruby 10 device:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EqCfql7KJ0c

Are you or anyone you know looking for meaningful part-time work? BCABVI has two open positions: Caseworker Aide & Data Entry Clerk.

If interested, please call us at 215.968.9400 or email [email protected].

We'd love to have you as part of our team!

June is Cataract Awareness Month. A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens of the eye. It is the leading cause of blindness globally. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 94 million people aged 50 and older experience cataracts worldwide.

Clouded vision can make it more challenging to do everyday tasks like reading, driving (especially at night), and seeing people’s expressions.

Thanks to ongoing advances in technology, there are continuing improvements in cataract surgery:

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging
This advanced imaging provides a detailed image of the eye, helping with preoperative planning, guidance during surgery, and reduced postoperative problems.

Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)
IOLs provide clear vision at various distances, including near, intermediate, and far. This reduces the need for glasses post-surgery. IOLs also correct astigmatism.

Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS)
This laser technology creates more precise incisions, minimizing human error and complications, allowing for quicker recovery times

Phacoemulsification With Enhanced Fluidics Technique
This technique helps maintain stable intraocular pressure, which reduces surgery time and the risk of complications.

ORA Intraoperative Aberrometry Technology
This technology allows for precise lens placement for a better quality of vision
and fewer postoperative complications.

Robotic-Assisted Cataract Surgery
Robotic-assisted arms make small corneal incisions and remove the cataract lens
before the surgeon implants the new artificial lens.

For more information about these breakthrough technologies, please visit:
https://www.thecataractsurgeons.com/cataract/top-5-breakthrough-technologies-in-cataract-surgery-today

More about cataract surgery benefits: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TtwpzNRfkFw

Breakthrough Technologies in Cataract Surgery | Willis Knighton Eye Institute Explore the latest cataract surgery innovations, from laser-assisted procedures to advanced IOLs.

We are closed today in honor of Memorial Day.

We wish all of you a relaxing and meaningful Memorial Day.

Our world is becoming more accessible for people experiencing vision loss and blindness. BCABVI trains our clients on the latest AI apps and devices.

FREE AI APPS

Be My AI
This app is an extension of the Be My Eyes app. It uses an AI-generated voice to describe photos, videos, objects, and text.

ChatGPT
ChatGPT enables users to converse with an AI-generated voice for a variety of tasks, including finding information, answering questions, and assisting with tasks. A subscription to ChatGPT 4.0 provides a hands-free mode.

OKO Al Copilot
The OKO app identifies “walk” and “don’t walk” street signals, making a chirping sound when it’s safe to cross the street.

ScriptTalk Mobile
This app provides an accessible way of reading prescription labels. Information includes the name of the medicine, instructions, uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Seeing AI
This app helps users with daily tasks, including reading, recognizing faces, describing photos, and more.

VizLens
VizLens is an appliance reader app. When the user takes a picture of the appliance and runs their finger across the screen, it identifies what each button is used for.

AI GLASSES

EchoVision Smart Glasses
These glasses have a built-in camera that provides audio descriptions of people, objects, and surroundings. The app also reads texts.

Envision Glasses
Envision glasses integrate with Google Glass and ChatGPT. The device can read text, identify objects, and give other information with voice commands.

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses
These glasses have built-in AI technology to capture photos, listen to music, take calls, send texts, ask questions, and more.

For more information about these apps and devices, please call us at 215.968.9400.

John, our client, demonstrates the ScriptTalk app on BCABVI's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ecF_bXxcInI

BCABVI Client Demonstrates ScriptTalk! BCABVI Client John demonstrates ScriptTalk, an accessible prescription label reader.

Our client Rita understands the challenges of living with vision loss, but it hasn’t stopped her from leading a fulfilling life. For over 80 years, we have been helping people like Rita lead rich, vibrant, and independent lives.

Please be on the lookout for our Spring Mailer to learn more about how we’ve helped Rita remain active and independent, and how you can help us provide essential services and programs to people in Bucks County, like Rita, who are blind and visually impaired. We cannot do this important work without your support.

In Appreciation,
BCABVI Staff, Board Members & Volunteers