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Eye infections might seem like a minor complaint – but in some cases they can cause blindness and even death

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950">Adam Taylor</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a> When you think of eye infections, what comes to mind? Puffy, swollen bruised feeling eyelids that get glued together with gunk overnight? That feeling of having grit in your eye that can’t be cleaned away? Eye infections may seem like a relatively minor – if unsightly and inconvenient – complaint, but they can also be far more serious. Take the deadly outbreak of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5022785/">antibiotic resistant</a> bacteria <a href="https://www.cff.org/managing-cf/burkholderia-cepacia-complex-b-cepacia">Burkholderia cepacia</a> in 2023-24, for example. Between January 2023 and February 2024, contaminated brands of lubricating eye gel were linked to the infection of at least 52 patients. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/contaminated-eye-gel-outbreak-death-b2523446.html">One person died</a> and at least 25 others suffered serious infections. The outbreak has now subsided and products are <a href="https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/specific-brands-of-carbomer-eye-gel-recall-of-aacarb-eye-gel-aacomer-eye-gel-and-puroptics-eye-gel-potential-risk-of-infection-dsi-slash-2023-slash-11#update-2-april-2024">back on the shelves</a> but it isn’t the first time that <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8335909/">medicinal products</a> have led to outbreaks of B cepacia. The bacterium is an opportunistic pathogen known to pose a significant risk to people with cystic fibrosis, chronic lung conditions and weakened immune systems. The infection likely progresses from the mucous membranes of the eyelids to the lungs where it leads to pneumonia and septicaemia causing <a href="https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/17/2/295">death in days</a>. But it’s not just B cepacia that can threaten our health. Something as simple as rubbing our eyes can introduce pathogens leading to infection, blindness and, in the worst case, death. Bacteria account for up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16148850/">70% of eye infections</a> and globally <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9032492/">over 6 million people</a> have blindness or moderate visual impairment from ocular infection. Contact lens wearers are at <a href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/contact-lens-related-eye-infections">increased risk</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pWsx8i1kaxs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The eye is a unique structure. It converts light energy to chemical and then electrical energy, which is transmitted to the brain and converted to a picture. The eye uses about <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11556/">6 million cones and 120 million rods</a> which detect colour and light. Eye cells have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8775779/">no ability to regenerate</a> so, once damaged or injured, cannot be repaired or replaced. The body tries its best to preserve the eyes by encasing them in a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531490/">bony protective frame</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482428/">limiting exposure</a> having eyelids to defend against the environmental damage and ensure the eyes are kept lubricated. Despite our bodies’ best efforts to shield the eyes from harm, there are a number of common eye infections that can result from introducing potential pathogens into the eyes. <h2>Conjunctivitis</h2> The outer-most layer of the eye, the sclera, bears the brunt of exposure and to help protect it, it is lined by a thin moist membrane called the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24329-conjunctiva">conjunctiva</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZ4danuJwd0?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The conjunctiva is <a href="https://innovations.bmj.com/content/9/4/253">highly vascularised</a>, which means it has lots of blood vessels. When microbes enter the eye, it is this layer that mounts an immune response causing <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8328962/">blood vessels to dilate</a> in the conjunctiva. This results in <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/conjunctivitis/about/symptoms.html">“pink eye”</a>, a common form of conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis can be caused by bacteria, allergens or viruses and typically heals by itself. <h2>Blepharitis</h2> Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid and usually affects both sides. It can cause itchy eyes and dandruff-like flakes. It’s most commonly caused by <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/09273948.2013.870214">Staphylococcus bacteria</a>, or the <a href="https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/blepharitis/background-information/causes/">dysfunction of the glands</a> of the eyelids. It can be treated by <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blepharitis/">cleaning the eyes</a> regularly. <h2>Stye</h2> A stye (also called <a href="https://www.college-optometrists.org/clinical-guidance/clinical-management-guidelines/hordeolum">hordeolum</a>) is a painful infection of the upper or lower eyelid. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370090/">Internal styes</a> are caused by infection of an oil-producing gland inside the eyelid, whereas <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28723014/">external styes</a> develop at the base of the eyelash because of an infection of the hair follicle. Both are caused by bacteria, typically <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/1874715">the S aureus form of the Staphylococcus species</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/INKrGOdy824?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Styes can be treated by holding a clean flannel soaked in warm water against the affected eye for five to ten minutes, three or four times a day. Do not try to burst styes – this could spread the infection. <h2>Keratitis</h2> Keratitis is the inflammation of the cornea, the transparent part of the eye that light passes through. The cornea is part of the eye’s main barrier against dirt, germs, and disease. Severe keratitis can cause ulcers, damage to the eye and even blindness. The most common type is bacterial keratitis; however, it can also be caused by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7998329/">amoeba</a>, which can migrate to other parts of the body – including the brain – and cause infection and <a href="https://theconversation.com/nasal-rinsing-why-flushing-the-nasal-passages-with-tap-water-to-tackle-hay-fever-could-be-fatal-225811">even death</a>. Noninfectious keratitis is most commonly caused by wearing contact lenses for too long, especially while sleeping. This can cause scratches, dryness and soreness of the cornea, which leads to inflammation. <h2>Uveitis</h2> <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/uveitis/">Uveitis</a> is inflammation of the middle layer of the eye. Although relatively rare, it is a serious condition and usually results from viral infections such as <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8501150/">herpes simplex</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29023181/">herpes zoster</a> or <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-09126-6_40">trauma</a>. Depending on where the inflammation is in the eye, the symptoms can be anything from redness, pain and floaters to blurred vision and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1772296/">partial blindness</a>. <h2>Exogenous endophthalmitis</h2> This is a rare but serious infection caused by eye surgery complications, penetrating ocular trauma (being stabbed in the eye with a sharp object) or foreign bodies in the eye. Foreign bodies can be anything from dirt and dust to small projectiles such as shards of metal from drilling, explosives or soil from farm machinery and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7286045/">many other sources</a>. <h2>Dacryocystitis</h2> Dacryocystitis is the inflammation of the nasolacrimal sac, which drains tears away from the eye into the nose. This condition can be <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8443113/">acute</a>, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/6700662">chronic</a> or <a href="https://www.jebmh.com/articles/a-study-of-congenital-dacryocystitis.pdf.pdf">acquired at birth</a>. Most cases are caused by <a href="https://bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-020-01792-4">Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus</a> bacteria. The condition mainly affects newborns and those over 40. Seventy-five per cent of cases are women and it’s most commonly found in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6039673/">white adults</a>. It can lead to the stagnation of tears, creating a breeding ground for microbes. <h2>Careful with contacts</h2> Proper eye hygiene reduces the risk of all these conditions – and this is even more important for contact lens wearers. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uENHAntJOIA?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Appropriate hygienic cleaning of lenses is paramount. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30789440/">Non-sterile water</a>, <a href="https://www.aao.org/eye-health/glasses-contacts/contact-lens-care">spit</a> and other fluids can transfer <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/bacteria-living-your-contact-lens-solution">potentially dangerous</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3482476/">microbes</a> into the eye – a warm, moist environment that makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria – leading to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9542356/">localised infection</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3972779/">blindness</a> or progress to a more serious <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9835757/">systemic infection or death</a>. Any persistent and painful redness or swelling of eyes should be checked by a registered health professional.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/227252/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950">Adam Taylor</a>, Professor and Director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/eye-infections-might-seem-like-a-minor-complaint-but-in-some-cases-they-can-cause-blindness-and-even-death-227252">original article</a>. </div>

Body

5 reasons you should go on a blind date

Does the thought of going on a blind date make you cringe? It’s a common reaction but blind dates aren’t like the disaster stories shown in movies and, contrary to popular opinion, can lead to long-term relationships. Still not convinced? Here are five reasons to give blind dating a go. 1. Broaden your social circle Once you reach your 60s and beyond it’s common for your social circle to shrink and it can be harder to make new friends and meet new people. Blind dates are a great way to meet a variety of people who you might not have ever gotten a chance to meet before. If you hit it off, that’s great; but if not, there’s no damage done. You might even make a new friend. 2. Friends and family know your taste Sometimes our friends and family know us better than we know ourselves. And at the very least, you know they’re not going to set you up with someone horrible. 3. Your confidence will grow If you’ve only recently gotten back into dating, going on a few dates can help boost your confidence and encourage you to get back into the dating arena. When you open yourself to people, even if it’s just for a coffee date, the process will become much easier. 4. You might meet the right person There are so many horror stories out there in the dating world that you don’t often hear about the success stories. Although you shouldn’t expect to find “the one” on every blind date, the important thing is you’re taking chances and when you take chances anything is possible! 5. If nothing else, you have a great story If your blind date doesn’t work out, there’s no harm done. As it’s a blind date, you never have to see your date again. And if it does end up being a disaster, chalk it up to an experience and a funny story to share. Image: Getty

Relationships

"Bionic Nanna" can see again in a UK-first

An 88-year-old woman has had her vision partially restored in the UK’s first-ever bionic eye transplant. The UK mother-of-seven has been nicknamed “bionic Nana” by her eight grandchildren after she was the first patient to receive a tiny microchip implanted into her pupil. After suffering from geographic atrophy, a common form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that causes a blind spot to develop in the middle of the eye, she has received the implant through a Europe-wide clinical trial. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/IMG_9970.jpg" alt="" width="501" height="334" /> Image: Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (YouTube) The tiny microchip is connected to a computer via a pair of glasses containing a video camera. The computer tells the glasses to focus on particular parts of her surroundings, and an image of it is then projected onto the microchip and converted into an electrical signal that can be processed by her brain. Prior to the implant, she said the condition prevented her from doing many of the things she loved. “Losing the sight in my left eye through dry AMD has stopped me from doing the things I love, like gardening, playing indoor bowls and painting with watercolours,” she said in a <a href="https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/news/revolutionary-bionic-chip-inserted-moorfields-patient-s-blind-eye" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> from Moorfield Eye Hospital. Though the transplant was a resounding success, the woman will still need to undergo a year of testing and check-ups to ensure no issues arise. “I am thrilled to be the first to have this implant, excited at the prospect of enjoying my hobbies again and I truly hope that many others will benefit from this too,” she said. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Id-sdUgQsBc" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image: Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (YouTube)

Caring

Bride's touching gesture for blind husband on wedding day

Kelly Ann Ferraro surprised her husband, Paralympian, musician, motivational speaker and blind man Anthony S Ferraro, by wearing a tactile wedding dress on their big day. "I've also said she's my eyes in this world, but for her to have a dress custom made so I could feel and touch it meant the world to me," Anthony Ferraro told USA TODAY. "I could feel her. I could feel she looked beautiful." Kelly Ann was continuing a tradition she started on the couple’s first date in 2018, when she wore a velvet dress so he could “feel how she looked”. Her wedding dress was embedded with woven cotton flowers and lace, and in a Tiktok video shared by Anthony, he sounded overjoyed that he was able to “feel how beautiful she was” on their wedding day. <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7018660125703556357"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@asfvision" target="_blank" title="@asfvision">@asfvision</a> 🤍🎥I married my camera person @turmericteatime <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blind" target="_blank" title="blind">#blind</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wedding" target="_blank" title="wedding">#wedding</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/relationshipgoals" target="_blank" title="relationshipgoals">#relationshipgoals</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lucky" target="_blank" title="lucky">#lucky</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/pov" target="_blank" title="pov">#pov</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/A-Thousand-Years-224206288400887808" target="_blank" title="♬ A Thousand Years - Christina Perri">♬ A Thousand Years - Christina Perri</a></blockquote> The couple’s first date took place at the New York premiere of Anthony’s documentary, ‘A Shot in the Dark’, which chronicles his journey as a blind wrestler and athlete. After meeting Anthony, Kelly Ann researched blindness, including blindness experienced by those who can perceive some light, like Anthony. She learned to place pillows and bubble wrap around sharp objects in their shared apartment, and after learning that he loved the feeling of velvet and soft fabrics, a tactile wedding dress seemed like an obvious choice. Kelly Ann collaborated with Loulette Bride to create a dress that featured woven cotton flowers, a velvet waistband, and soft, gentle fabris like chiffon and lace. Speaking to USA Today, Kelly Ann said, "The whole time at the aisle I was whispering to him 'touch my dress, touch my dress,' and it made me so happy to know he could feel and enjoy my dress as much as I did.” Kelly Ann and Anthony’s mother planned the whole wedding with Anthony’s comfort in mind. Prior to the ceremony, Kelly Ann wrote Anthony a letter in braille. They were married on a beachfront property in Maine, and the wedding was held during the day since Anthony can perceive shadows and light. The reception was held in a tent, and the poles were wrapped in bubble wrap disguised with decorations so Anthony could safely move around. "The thoughtfulness and work behind making our wedding accessible for me meant everything. She's truly my best friend and like I said, 'my eyes in the world,'" Anthony said. Describing Kelly Ann as his “partner in crime”, Anthony says in the viral video of their wedding day, “I can’t wait to spend so much more time together and create so many more beautiful memories on our adventures in life.” "Our story sheds a lot of light on just joy and unity, even for those with disabilities like me who didn't think love was possible," Anthony said. "The world needs more light and I hope our story shows some of that." Image: Anthony S. Ferraro/Tiktok

Beauty & Style

Having a blind mind’s eye: What is aphantasia?

Try imagining a scene at the beach. For some people, the experience will be intensely visual and feel like they are looking at a photo, others might see it hazily or missing some of the colours. For an even smaller group, they will think of the beach scene more in concepts. They know what a beach looks like but can’t actually see one in their mind’s eye. This condition, called aphantasia, affects between one and five percent of the population though many don’t realise they have it until they share their experiences with someone without the condition or encounter it online. While this leads to a lot of self-diagnosis, researchers are looking for more objective diagnostic tools. Researchers at Macquarie University have experimented with identifying new methods of diagnosis. In one experiment, the researchers attached electrodes to people’s skin to measure how much they sweat while imagining scary scenarios. The results showed that people with aphantasia didn’t sweat in the same way as people who could see images in their mind’s eye, but they did when shown actual scary images. All in our heads Though the condition has technically been known since the 1800s, a history of imagery research as a low-priority field meant the condition was only named in 2015 when neurologist Professor Adam Zeman and colleagues coined the term - ‘a’ meaning none, and ‘phantasia’ meaning imagery. Though historical research surrounding survivors of strokes and traumatic brain injuries had found they had reported losing the ability to visualise images, the advent of neuroimaging fast-tracked research in the area. Neuroimaging includes commonly known techniques such as MRIs and CT scans, and this family of techniques showed that specific visual regions of the brain are activated when we imagine things. For example, if you were shown a picture of a tree, a pattern of activation would occur in these visual regions. When you go to imagine that tree later, your brain attempts to recreate that neural pattern - meaning that you reactivate the neurons in a similar way to how they were activated when you first saw the tree. Why do we visualise things? Though the reason isn’t fully clear, being able to visualise things can help us remember things from the past and imagine future scenarios to make decisions. People with aphantasia aren’t that disadvantaged though, instead finding other ways to help them remember things and plan for the future.

Mind

Bride blinded by her own wedding flowers

After picking wildflowers from her Nebraska, US, property for her upcoming wedding day, Christine Jo Miller had a reaction that sent her entire Big Day spinning into chaos. In a series of TikTok videos, Christine explained how those wildflowers caused a violent poisonous reaction on her wedding day. She thought it would be romantic to use the beautiful flowers, so in the days leading up to the wedding she picked enough to fill an entire truck – completely unware of how poisonous that type of Snow-on-the-mountain wildflower can be. The night before the wedding, the bride and her girlfriends spent the evening arranging the wildflowers with white roses and baby’s breath. And when Christine woke up on the wedding day, she found her face covered in a dreadful rash caused by the sap residue. Posting a photo of herself lying on the floor, she wrote: “I started feeling sick and feverish from the pain. So I did the cucumber trick and slept while I got my hair done.” But while she’d covered her eyes in slices of cucumber, Christine was horrified when she realised she’d lost her vision because her face was so swollen. After being rushed to the nearest emergency room, matters only got worse for Christine as it was Labour Day weekend and the ER wasn’t open. Despite receiving no treatment for the allergic reaction, Christine was determined to go ahead and walk down the aisle. “I wasn’t dying,” she wrote, “So I thought I just needed to suck it up. Tried to do make-up – was in too much pain so I ended up sleeping until my mum said it was time to put my dress on.” Once the vows were complete, Christine was immediately taken to hospital and given eye drops, pain medication and a steroid shot. Later at the reception, Christine admitted: “We didn’t want to do a first dance because I didn’t want to be the centre of attention out of embarrassment.” When a guest tried to get her to dance, Christine screamed in pain and said she spent most of the rest of the day under a table to avoid any attention. A week later after the swelling went down, the photographer arranged a surprise wedding reception for the couple where they were able to get the shots they wanted – and finally have that all-important dance. Images: @christinejomiller/TikTok

Relationships

Do blind people have better hearing?

The sensation of sound occurs when the vibrations from sounds enter our ear and cause little hairlike structures – called hair cells – within our inner ear to move back and forth. The hair cells transform this movement into an electrical signal that the brain can use. How well a person can hear largely depends on how intact these hair cells are. Once lost, they don’t grow back – and this is no different for blind people. So blind people can’t physically hear better than others. Yet blind people often outperform sighted people in hearing tasks such as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378595515300174">locating the source of sounds</a>. The reason for this emerges when we look beyond the sensory organs, at what is happening with the brain, and how the sensory information is processed by it. Perception occurs when the brain interprets signals that our sensory organs provide, and different parts of the brain respond to the information arriving from different sensory organs. There are areas that process visual information (the visual cortex) and areas that process sound information (the auditory cortex). But when a sense like vision is lost, the brain does something remarkable: it <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898172/">reorganises the functions of these brain areas</a>. In blind people, the visual cortex gets a bit “bored” without visual input and starts to “rewire” itself, becoming more responsive to information from the other remaining senses. So blind people may have lost their vision, but this leaves a larger brain capacity for processing the information from other senses. The extent of reorganisation in the brain depends on when someone loses their sight. The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898172/">brain can reorganise itself at any point in life</a>, including adulthood, but during childhood the brain is more able to adapt to change. This is because during childhood the brain is still developing and the new organisation of the brain does not have to compete with an existing one. As a result, people who have been blind from a very early age show a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898172/">much greater level of reorganisation in the brain</a>. People who become blind early in life tend to outperform sighted people, as well as those who became blind later in life, in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/430309a">hearing</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982203009849">touch</a> perceptual tasks. Echolocation The reorganisation in the brain also means that blind people are sometimes able to learn how to use their remaining senses in interesting ways. For example, some blind people learn to sense the location and size of objects around them using <a href="https://community.dur.ac.uk/lore.thaler/thaler_goodale_echo_review2016.pdf">echolocation</a>. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2IKT2akh0Ng?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> By producing clicks with their mouths and listening for the echoes, blind people can locate objects in their surroundings. This ability is tightly linked with the <a href="https://community.dur.ac.uk/lore.thaler/thaler_goodale_echo_review2016.pdf">brain activity in the visual cortex</a>. In fact, the visual cortex in blind echolocators responds to sound information in almost the same way as it does to visual information in the sighted. In other words, in blind echolocators, hearing has replaced vision in the brain to a very large extent. But not every blind person is automatically an expert echolocator. Whether a blind person is able to develop a skill like echolocation depends on the time spent learning this task – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378595514000185">even sighted people can learn this skill with enough training</a>, but blind people will probably benefit from their reorganised brain being more tuned towards the remaining senses. Blind people will also rely more on their remaining senses to do everyday tasks, which means that they train their remaining senses on a daily basis. The reorganised brain together with the greater experience in using their remaining senses are believed to be important factors in blind people having an edge over sighted people in hearing and touch.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102282/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/loes-van-dam-543699">Loes van Dam</a>, Lecturer in Psychology, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-essex-1291">University of Essex</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-blind-people-have-better-hearing-102282">original article</a>.

Body

How guide dogs know where their owners want them to go

How do guide dogs know where their owners want to go? – Mia, age 6. Mia, thank you for your question. I know a bit about this topic because I have some experience training and using an assistance dog myself. Also, as part of my job teaching at a university, I’m working with a number of students doing research projects on assistance dogs. The answer to your great question is actually quite simple. Guide dogs, which are assistance dogs for people who are blind or vision impaired, know where to go because they practise. Practice makes perfect – just like how you might learn to walk from home to school, or how adults know how to drive to different places without getting lost. As part of their training a guide dog will practise getting around to some of the most common places the person they will guide needs to go. This may include the shops near their home, or from their home to the bus stop. So, in simple terms, guide dogs only know how to get to and from familiar places they have practised the routes for. What most people don’t realise, though, is the person the dog is guiding still needs to know where they are going too. Identifying obstacles There is a lot of training a guide dog will do before they are taught familiar places. This is because making sure they guide a person safely is much more than knowing where to go. Say you are walking to school and the branch of a tree has fallen across the path you normally walk on. If that branch was small you might just step over it. If it is big you might go around it or even cross to the other side of the road. Since a blind person may not be able to see the branch, it’s up to their guide dog to let them know it is there. How they do this will depend on how big the branch is. If it is small the dog may help safely guide the person around it. If it is large and they can’t get around easily, they will block the person so they know there is something in the way. It is then up to the person to work with their dog to help them safely find a way past the branch. This means a big part of being a guide dog is letting the person they are guiding know when there is an obstacle in their way. To a blind person an obstacle can include things like the step down off the path onto the road, or a step up into a shop. These are things you probably don’t even think of as an obstacle when walking. Working as a team A lot of people may think a guide dog tells a person when they can cross a road. But this is not actually true. The dog will block the person from stepping onto the road to let them then know they have reached the end of the path. It is then up to the person to listen to their surrounds and decide if it is safe to cross the road. It is the person who tells the dog it is safe to cross the road – not the other way around. Hello, curious kids! Have you got a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/125567/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carmel-nottle-422695">Carmel Nottle</a>, Lecturer - Human Movement / Clinical Exercise Physiology, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-do-guide-dogs-know-where-their-owners-want-to-go-125567">original article</a>.

Family & Pets

Mum left blind after using out-of-date mascara

While you might be tempted to touch your old cosmetics when getting ready for a special event, a mum has issued a warning after she was left blinded after using out-of-date mascara. Mum, Shirley Potter, was getting ready to go out with her young daughters when she decided to use some of her old cosmetics, some of which she had owned for years. Shirley was looking forward to the bonding time with her family as years earlier she had undergone a kidney transplant and had renal failure. The 50-year-old applied some blush and mascara before leaving for her night out, but she woke up the next morning with burning eyes. "I was born with a defect in my left eye, which meant I never had sight or feeling in it whatsoever,” Shirley told the Daily Mail. “But the morning after our night on the town, I started to feel excruciating pain in both eyes – even then I knew something was seriously wrong.” <img width="499" height="670" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819625/2_499x670.jpg" alt="2 (98)"/> The pain started spreading down her cheeks and up her eyebrows, so she saw an ophthalmologist who diagnosed her with a mild infection. Months later, Shirley knew something was still wrong when she began falling over objects and was suffering from itchy eyes. After another examination, Shirley admitted to her ophthalmologist that she had used mascara that was 20 years old. The expert told her that mascara should only be used up to six months before being thrown out. Shirley has since been declared legally blind and will likely lose her vision within the next three years. As she struggles with the idea of losing her independence, she hopes her story will stop others from making the same mistake. “People need to be aware of how to look after their make-up and throw away anything that’s too old,” she told That’s Life. “I hope the fact that mascara has made me blind is a wake-up call to others.”

Beauty & Style

Teen’s touching random act of kindness for blind and deaf man during flight

A teenage girl’s random act of kindness has gone viral after she helped a blind and deaf man communicate on a flight. Last week, Clara Daly and her mum boarded an Alaska Airlines flight after their original flight from Boston was cancelled. Clara’s mum, Jane, explained that the pair rushed frantically to board the flight and just made it in time. Shortly after take-off, a flight attendant made an announcement to the passengers, asking if anyone knew sign language. "Clara has been studying American Sign Language so she rang the flight attendant button," Jane wrote on Facebook. "They explained that the passenger was not only deaf, but also blind. The only way you can communicate with him was by signing into his hand." "They thought that he might need something and they weren't sure how to communicate," Clara told <a href="https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2018/06/22/calabasas-teen-blind-deaf-man-flight/" target="_blank">CBS Los Angeles</a>. Clara walked over to the man, whose name she later learnt was Timothy, and signed into the palm of his hand to see if she could help him. "Several times he requested her assistance throughout the flight," the proud mum explained. The Californian teen helped him ask for water and how much time was left for the flight. Clara was happy to get up and help whenever he needed to say something and then, "toward the end of the flight, he asked for her again, and this time he just wanted to talk. She spent the remainder of the flight until landing with him," Jane wrote. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjane.daly.501%2Fposts%2F10156396022402726&width=500" width="500" height="764" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> "He didn't need anything. He was just like lonely and wanted to talk," Clara told CBS Los Angeles. Clara was overjoyed that she was able to communicate with Timothy but her only concern was that she would spell something wrong when signing into his hand, as she is dyslexic. Since Clara is dyslexic, she started learning sign language about a year ago because she wanted to know a way to communicate without having to read or write. Her parents, Jane and Bill, expressed how proud they were of their daughter, and her mum shared the story after the airline emailed the photos the flight attendants took of Clara and the man. Jane and Clara’s original flight was direct to Los Angeles but the new flight they were put on had a layover in Portland. Timothy was flying to Portland and if it weren’t for the flight change, they would’ve never met him. "She'll probably kill me for posting this, but - Proud of my girl," the happy mum wrote about her daughter. After her story went viral, Clara said her random act of kindness was “what anyone would have done”.

International Travel

Blind teenager lands first paid job at Kmart after mum’s touching Facebook post

A teenager from Australia who is partially blind is set to land his first paid job at Kmart, pending the results of a health and safety assessment, which the store “didn’t see any issues with”. The exciting role came about after the 15-year-old boy’s mother, Lee-Anne Domeika, thanked the discount store on Facebook for the opportunity of an interview. Lee-Anne’s post was quickly inundated with words of encouragement for her son, Zach. On June 15, the teen learned the good news he was the successful applicant, and was shown around Kmart’s Kilburn store in South Australia, and also informed about his pay and hours, and what attire to obtain for his uniform, the boy’s mother told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/blind-teenager-set-land-first-job-kmart-mums-touching-post-052130228.html">Yahoo7 News</a>. <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819204/1-kmart-zach_500x375.jpg" alt="1 Kmart Zach"/> Proud mum Lee-Anne said, “He’s pretty stoked – he was discussing with his brother what he’s going to buy. “I’m very proud of Zach as he’s had to face so many hardships in life,” Lee-Anne added, revealing that her son suffers from severe anxiety due to his condition, a rare form of microphthalmia (a developmental disorder of the eye), which he was born with. The 15-year-old has a prosthetic eye after his eye failed to develop properly. “He’s had to fight so many things. He started in a special education class and is now at a regular one,” Lee-Anne continued. <img width="498" height="390" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819208/2-kmart-zach-and-mum_498x390.jpg" alt="2 Kmart Zach And Mum"/> “He’s had to deal with bullying as well." She added, “We’re so proud of Zach and he’s had to fight for it … we’re just really, really proud of him.” Lee-Anne said Zach landed the job “all on his own merit” and turned up to the interview at Kmart well-prepared and well-presented. Zach told Yahoo7 News he was thrilled about being offered the role, saying, “I’m very proud of myself, the interview went well.” Revealing what he plans to do with his future earnings, Zach said, “I want to save it for my education.” <img width="500" height="269" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819206/3-kmart-kilburn_500x269.jpg" alt="3 Kmart Kilburn"/>

News

The beautiful moment a blind man sees his wife for first time

A radical eye surgery that has never been performed in the southern hemisphere has successfully restored the sight of a blind man. The beautiful moment the NSW man saw his wife for the first time in years was captured on camera. NSW man John Ings was left virtually blind by a childhood eye injury and a series of illnesses. He was entirely blind in his right eye and the vision in his left eye was “frosted”. He was only able to see blurry outlines. Gold Coast oral and maxillofacial surgeon Shannon Webber and Sydney ophthalmologist Greg Moloney performed the osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis procedure at the Sydney Eye Hospital. The operation has never been done in Australia and the risk meant John could have completely lost all his sight in his left eye. Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes caught the moment when John finally saw his wife again for the first time. "Getting good eyesight back was worth the risk of losing the little bit I had," John said. "You take your sight for granted. "You've got to lose it to really appreciate it." Dr Moloney and Dr Webber admitted they also got caught up in the emotional moment. "It's probably the first time I've shed a tear in my medical career," Dr Webber said. "The moment John saw his wife was very satisfying, very gratifying. "We were very relieved." Video credit: 60 Minutes Australia Twitter

Body

Revolutionary new glasses help the legally blind see

Jeff Regan was born with underdeveloped optic nerves and had spent most of his life in a blur. Then four years ago, he donned an unwieldy headset made by a company called eSight. Suddenly, Regan could read a newspaper while eating breakfast and make out the faces of his co-workers from across the room. He's been able to attend plays and watch what's happening on stage, without having to guess why people around him were laughing. These glasses have made my life so much better,'' said Regan, 48, an engineer. The headsets from eSight transmit images from a forward-facing camera to small internal screens - one for each eye - in a way that beams the video into the wearer's peripheral vision. That turns out to be all that some people with limited vision, even legal blindness, need to see things they never could before. That's because many visual impairments degrade central vision while leaving peripheral vision largely intact. Although eSight's glasses won't help people with total blindness, they could still be a huge deal for the millions of peoples whose vision is so impaired that it can't be corrected with ordinary lenses. Eye test But eSight still needs to clear a few minor hurdles. Among them: proving the glasses are safe and effective for the legally blind. While eSight's headsets don't require the approval of health regulators - they fall into the same low-risk category as dental floss - there's not yet firm evidence of their benefits. The company is funding clinical trials to provide that proof. The headsets also carry an eye-popping price tag. The latest version of the glasses, released in mid-February, sells for about US$10,000. Insurers won't cover the cost; they consider the glasses an "assistive'' technology similar to hearing aids. ESight chief executive Brian Mech said the latest improvements might help insurers overcome their short-sighted view of his product. Mech argues that it would be more cost-effective for insurers to pay for the headsets, even in part, than to cover more expensive surgical procedures that may restore some sight to the visually impaired. New glasses The latest version of ESight's technology is a gadget that vaguely resembles the visor worn by the blind Star Trek'' character Geordi La Forge, played by LeVar Burton. The third-generation model lets wearers magnify the video feed up to 24 times, compared to just 14 times in earlier models. There's a hand control for adjusting brightness and contrast. The new glasses also come with a more powerful high-definition camera. ESight believes that about 200 million people worldwide with visual acuity of 20/70 to 20/1200 could be potential candidates for its glasses. That number includes people with a variety of disabling eye conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, ocular albinism, Stargardt's disease, or, like Regan, optic nerve hypoplasia. So far, though, the company has sold only about 1000 headsets, despite the testimonials of wearers who've become true believers. Take, for instance, Yvonne Felix, an artist who now works as an advocate for eSight after seeing the previously indistinguishable faces of her husband and two sons for the first time via its glasses. Others, ranging from kids to senior citizens, have worn the gadgets to golf, watch football or just perform daily tasks such as reading nutrition labels. ESight isn't the only company focused on helping the legally blind. Other companies working on high-tech glasses and related tools include Aira, Orcam, ThirdEye, NuEyes and Microsoft. But most of them are doing something very different. While their approaches also involve cameras attached to glasses, they don't magnify live video. Instead, they take still images, analyse them with image recognition software and then generate an automated voice that describes what the wearer is looking at - anything from a child to words written on a page. What other technological advances would you like to see in the future? Written by Michael Liedtke. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Technology

5-year-old girl walks blind father to work every day

A father and daughter in the Philippines have gone viral after video emerged of the five-year-old girl guiding her dad, who is blind, to work. Each day, young Jenny helps show her father the way to the copra farm in Sogod, Southern Leyte, where he works climbing coconut trees to collect fruit, earning just 300 pesos ($9) a day to provide for his family. In the sweet video, Jenny guides her father, Nelson “Dodong” Pepe, with the help of a stick. The footage was posted to Facebook a couple of weeks ago and the duo have since become online sensations. After Filipino news network ABS-CBN stumbled on the video, their foundation organised for the family to be relocated to a safer area and provide Dodong with livelihood training. What a wonderful story! What’s the most selfless act you’ve witnessed between a parent and child? Tell us about it in the comments below. Video: Rhuby Capunes / Facebook Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/06/nicole-kidmans-5-year-old-daughter-looks-just-like-her/">Nicole Kidman’s 5-year-old daughter looks just like her</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/petrol-station-worker-dances-with-senior/">Sweet moment a petrol station worker dances with a senior</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/06/boy-bursts-into-tears-when-meeting-the-queen/">Boy bursts into tears when meeting the Queen</a>

News

Facebook will help describe photos for the blind

Facebook is training its computers to become seeing-eye guides for the blind and visually impaired. The feature, rolling out this week on Facebook's iPhone app, interprets what's in a picture using a form of artificial intelligence that recognises faces and objects. The iPhone's built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, must be turned on for Facebook's photo descriptions to be read. For now, the feature will only be available in English. The descriptions initially will be confined to a vocabulary of 100 words in a restriction that will prevent the computer from providing a lot of details. For instance, the automated voice may only tell a user that a photo features three people smiling outdoors without adding that the trio also has drinks in their hands. Or it may say the photo is of pizza without adding that there's pepperoni and olives on top of it. Facebook is being careful with the technology, called "automatic alternative text", in an attempt to avoid making a mistake that offends its audience. Google learned the risks of technology last year when an image recognition feature in its Photos app labelled a black couple as gorillas, prompting the company to issue an apology. Eventually, though, Facebook hopes to refine the technology so it provides more precise descriptions and even answers questions that a user might pose about a picture. Facebook also plans to turn on the technology for its Android app and make it available through web browsers visiting its site. The Menlo Park, California, company is trying to ensure the world's nearly 300 million blind and visually impaired people remain interested in its social network as a steadily increasing number of photos appear on its service. On an average day, Facebook says more than 2 billion photos are posted on its social network and other apps that it owns, a list that includes Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Until now, people relying on screen readers on Facebook would only hear that a person had shared a photo without any elaboration. The vocabulary of Facebook's photo-recognition program includes "car", "sky", "dessert", "baby", "shoes", and, of course, "selfie". Tell us: What other changes do you think Facebook should implement to help make it easier for people with disabilities? Written by Michael Liedtke. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/05/tips-to-prolong-your-smartphones-battery-life/">Tips to prolong your smartphone's battery life</a> <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/05/how-to-avoid-facebook-scams/">How to avoid Facebook scams</a> <a href="/entertainment/technology/2016/03/how-to-make-your-wifi-faster/">4 ways to make your wifi faster</a>

Technology

Video tells you if you’re colour blind

This test from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyzyHvH0dtXpXchPGbqIISg" target="_blank">Daily Broccoli</a> is a quick way to see if you are at all colour blind. One in four people experience colour blindness to some degree, however, most people don’t even know it. Watch the fun and simple test above. It sure does liven your brain up a little. Remember, if you have serious concerns about your eyesight, see your health care professional. Related links: <a href="/health/eye-care/2016/04/eyesight-test-red-circle-hidden-image/">Can you see the image hidden in this circle?</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/can-you-find-the-6-words-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you find 6 words hidden in this picture?</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/spot-chewbacca-in-this-image/">Can you find Chewbacca in this illustration?</a>

Body

Lessons I learned from my blind dog

Margaret Skeel, 67, is a disability support worker who grew up with an enduring love of wildlife and wilderness. In her spare time she gardens, takes long walks with her blind dog and writes about her life experiences. <img width="274" height="230" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18511/cc-margaret_274x230.jpg" alt="CC MARGARET" style="float: left;"/>Buddy found me one fine day in the outback town where he was living rough on the streets. The day I arrived, he walked up behind me and whined softly as I was unloading my car. I turned around to see a large red dog with white socks and a scarred white muzzle. I could see he was a handsome dog but he was obviously old, painfully thin, one eye was badly damaged and his coat was dry and dirty. I gave him a half-eaten sandwich and my fate was sealed. Over the next few weeks Buddy became my constant companion. He slept on the porch outside my flat and went for walks with me each day. I fed him and wormed him and even enticed him into the shower with some food in order to give him a much needed bath. He hung his head like I was punishing him but I think even he would agree he smelled much better when it was over! His right eye was sightless, but what about his left? There was a big cataract covering that and I surmised that he must have very little, if any sight in that one too. And yet, he didn’t act blind. He pranced the streets with his tail held high and bossed the other dogs around in an area that was clearly his territory. I watched him to see how he managed. It wasn’t just smell and hearing. I began to see that he had a great memory and used it to know where there were grids, creeks, holes in the ground and other traps for the blind and unwary. He also trusted his paws. When he could feel pavement or mowed grass under his feet, he moved forward quickly and without caution. If the ground became uneven or rough, he put his head down and proceeded more cautiously, sniffing as he went. When our walks took him out of his known territory, he tended to stay by my side rather than ranging forward, trusting me to know where we were going. <img width="290" height="362" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/18512/buddy-the-blind-dog_290x362.jpg" alt="Buddy The Blind Dog" style="float: left;"/> When I left town, he came with me. Each time I opened the car door after a long day’s drive, we were someplace new. I think he expected each time that he would be back home, but he never was. One night he walked over to the corner of the dog-friendly hotel room, put his head down and let out a big sigh. That was as close as he came to regret. Each day in brand new territory, he set out on our walks with total confidence, running into unexpected trees and parked cars, but just backing off and heading out again. Luckily he has a hard head and a low centre of gravity. He still does that now even though we have a more or less permanent home. His memory is still good and he is learning the routes that we take. I keep him on a leash, not to guide him, but just to keep him from wandering off too far because he has no fear. And that is his secret. It’s his attitude. He doesn’t know he is blind. He just thinks this is normal. He doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself the way we humans tend to do when things go wrong. He just gets on with his life even though it means he will run into things. That is what I have learned from my blind dog. No matter what the world throws at you, it’s your attitude that matters most. Most of us will lose some of our sight and hearing as we grow older. We can choose to sit and bemoan the fact. I know myself, I regretted losing my 20/20 vision and resented having to wear glasses to read. Now I just look at my big, happy blind dog prancing along without a care and realise how lucky I am to have him as a role model. Because Buddy is a dog, he doesn’t have language for abstract thoughts. This has some disadvantages, for sure, but it also means that he does not have regrets about the past or spend time worrying about the future. A lot of us humans can and do both, even though we cannot change the past. And worrying about the future is pretty useless unless there is something positive we can do to prevent the possible event we are worrying about. Buddy isn’t out there getting angry or sad about losing his eyesight and he certainly isn’t worrying about whether or not he is going to run into a barn door or fall off a cliff. He is totally in the here and now, ready to back off the barn door or the cliff if they eventuate. It’s not a bad way to live. If you have a story to share, please get in touch at <a href="mailto:melody@oversixty.com.au">melody@oversixty.com.au</a> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/interspecies-animal-friendships/">15 unlikely friendships that will melt your heart</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/funny-dog-snapchats/">11 funny snapchat pictures that only dog lovers appreciate</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/10/why-dogs-so-happy-to-see-you/">The science behind dogs being so happy to see you</a>

Family & Pets

Blind dog has his sight restored

Duffy the Irish terroir hasn’t had the easiest of lives. The rescue dog bonded immediately with his new adoptive family, but had many health issues that lead him to develop diabetes, and eventually lose his eye sight. After a lot of effort on his family’s behalf, his general condition improved and he qualified for surgery to fix his vision. After months of being blind, his sight was finally restored. The above video shows the first time Duffy is reunited with his family since his operation. His reaction is almost too much. He runs into the room with such excitement and doesn’t know who to look at first. Eventually he starts happily cooing in thanks. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/cats-are-like-psychopaths-gallery/">11 ways cats are like “psychopaths”</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/dogs-with-no-concept-of-personal-space/">Dogs with no concept of perosnal space</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a>

News

Blind goat finds caring soul mate

Marica was born blind in the Spring of 2015 at a goat meat farm. The farm owner wasn’t interested in caring for a special needs animal, and what followed was a decision that saved Marcia’s life. A neighbour contacted Farm Sanctuary – an animal advocacy group that provides homes for unwanted or abused farm animals – and the organisation was able to give Marcia a place to romp and roam at its location in Orland, California. But being blind made Marica anxious and scared when she was alone. It wasn’t realistic for a human caretaker to be with her 24 hours a day. That’s why staff was so excited in July when they rescued Maurice, a kid they suspected would be the perfect pal for Marcia. Upon meeting, it was love at first sight, with Maurice helping Marcia get around and functioning as her “seeing-eye goat.” The video above shows just how dee their bond is. Source: animalsoffarmsanctuary.com Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/09/dogs-make-the-best-companions/">8 reasons why dogs are the bee’s knees</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/08/signs-your-pet-is-sick/">10 signs your pet is sick</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/cats-are-like-psychopaths-gallery/">11 ways cats are like “psychopaths”</a>

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Eye infections might seem like a minor complaint – but in some cases they can cause blindness and even death

5 reasons you should go on a blind date

"Bionic Nanna" can see again in a UK-first

Bride's touching gesture for blind husband on wedding day

Having a blind mind’s eye: What is aphantasia?

Bride blinded by her own wedding flowers

Do blind people have better hearing?

How guide dogs know where their owners want them to go

Mum left blind after using out-of-date mascara

Teen’s touching random act of kindness for blind and deaf man during flight

Blind teenager lands first paid job at Kmart after mum’s touching Facebook post

The beautiful moment a blind man sees his wife for first time

Revolutionary new glasses help the legally blind see

5-year-old girl walks blind father to work every day

Facebook will help describe photos for the blind

Video tells you if you’re colour blind

Lessons I learned from my blind dog

Blind dog has his sight restored

Blind goat finds caring soul mate