Latest news with #blindness
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Made in Singapore cancer drug could help cure blindness, trial in country to start soon
SINGAPORE, July 14 — A drug developed for the treatment of cancer has showed promise in treating blindness. According to The Singapore Times, the drug PRL3-zumab was developed by the A*Star Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and was created as a broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug that could treat not one but multiple types of cancer. In a Singapore trial of the drug, patients with either wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or diabetic retinopathy will receive a shot of the medicine intravenously. Globally, these two conditions are among the most common causes of loss of sight. How does it work? According to pre-clinical studies published in Nature Communications as PRL3-zumab reduced leakage from damaged blood vessels. Currently both Wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy are treated with periodic injections into the sclera or white part of the eye periodically to reduce leakage and abnormal growth in blood vessels. The intravenous method, according to the studies, led to an 86 per cent greater reduction in blood vessel leakage compared to injections. After being granted approval by Singapore's Health Sciences Authority on June 16, a safety trial is set to begin by late 2025 with more human trials following to test the drug's efficacy.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Blind woman takes on wing walking challenge in aid of charity
"People often have low expectations of blind people, and I want to combat that by attempting extreme things."Mel Griffiths says being blind motivates her to try extreme sports to show that blindness does not stop people from doing exciting things her latest venture, the 60-year-old will be reaching new heights - wing walking at 700ft (213m) to raise money for the Guide Dogs said: "I'm no good at cake sales and things like that - I'd much rather strap myself to a plane instead." Mrs Griffiths, from Arnold in Nottinghamshire, will complete the wing walk on 8 August at Wickenby in will be strapped on to a wing for about ten minutes and will travel at speeds of up to 120 mph (193km/h). Her inspiration came from watching people wing walking on an episode of Blue Peter 50 years added: "I remember watching it on telly and thinking, 'wow, I'd love to do this'."I've had poor eyesight ever since I was a little girl, and at the time, I didn't think wing walking was possible for someone like me."But now, I like to show off and prove to people that we can do anything. I've done everything from parachute jumps to abseiling - and it won't stop there!"In terms of preparation, Mrs Griffiths said she had spoken to the pilot in advance."[The pilot] told me he'd never worked with a blind person before, so that should be fun," she said. "He said he's never dropped anyone, though, so I'll be fine." Mrs Griffiths said her husband Gavin Griffiths was a massive inspiration. He is due to play at Wimbledon in August as part of a national competition for visually impaired said: "Me and him encourage each other - he pushes me more and more, and I do the same for him."We are both proving that the sky is the limit for people like us, and we hope we can motivate other people in the community to do the same."The pair are actually taking on their challenges on the same day - with Mrs Griffiths heading across to Lincolnshire and Gavin to Wimbledon on 8 August. Mrs Griffiths said she was wing walking on behalf of the Guide Dogs charity because it had supported her throughout her life."I got my first guide dog at 24, and she gave me the freedom and independence to live my life to the fullest," she has raised over £2,500 of her £5,000 target so added: "It now costs the charity around £100,000 to raise and train a guide dog from being a puppy to adulthood. "It's so important for them to keep going as guide dogs to enable people to live their lives to the fullest."Kim Hutchings, local community fundraising manager at Guide Dogs, said: "As a charity, we rely almost entirely on donations to keep our life-changing services for people with sight loss running."We wish Mel the best of luck with this exciting challenge and with reaching her fundraising target."
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Stevie Wonder reveals truth about his eyesight during Cardiff show
He just called to say you're mistaken. Stevie Wonder addressed the longstanding rumour that he isn't actually blind during the Cardiff, Wales, stop on his Love, Light and Song UK tour. 'I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, 'When did I want to let the world know this?' But I wanted to say it right now,' Wonder, 75, said as seen in an Instagram video from a concertgoer on July 10. 'You know there have been rumours about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth.' The musical legend then explained when he lost his sight. 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind,' Wonder continued. 'Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what colour they are, but what colour is their spirit?' Over the years, many celebrities have made cracks about Wonder not really being blind. Anthony Anderson poked fun at the Grammy winner's condition while on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' in 2016. 'What y'all don't know is, Stevie can see,' the actor, 54, said while sharing the story of how he challenged Wonder to a basketball game. 'It's just an act.' Three years later, Shaquille O'Neal claimed Wonder recognised him in an elevator. The basketball star, 53, told his Inside the NBA colleagues that he was in the lobby of his building when Wonder came over and said, 'What's up, Shaq?' '[He] presses the button. Get's off on his floor. Goes to his room. I went and called every person I knew and told them the story,' he recalled. 'He got on the elevator and was like, 'What's up, Shaq? How you doing, big dog?'' The Superstition musician, meanwhile, has been extremely open about his loss of vision. In 2024, he shared how his mum, Lula Mae Hardaway, struggled with the news at first. Despite her reaction, Wonder kept a positive outlook. 'I was born. Shortly after that, I'm blind,' he expressed in an episode of The Wonder of Stevie audiobook series. 'My mother went through the different things, and so my experience with that was deep.' Wonder noted that his mother, who died in 2006, would cry 'every night' after he was diagnosed. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer finally said to her, 'Mama, you shouldn't cry, you're making my head hurt.' 'And I said, 'Maybe God has something for me that's bigger than all this,'' Wonder recounted. 'History proved that true.' In 2004, he detailed his upbringing for O, The Oprah Magazine. 'She didn't bind me up. She wasn't like, 'Don't step there!' or 'Watch out, you'll fall!' She'd tell me to be careful, but I was going to do what I was going to do. She was just fast enough to catch me,' he said of his mother. 'She knew I had to learn — and the more she allowed me to do, the more she could let go. She saw that I'd developed what's called facial radar, meaning that I could hear the sound of objects around me. If you close your eyes and put your hands right in front of your face, then move your hands, you can actually hear the sound of the air bouncing off your hands.' The artist has also kept a great sense of humour regarding his disability. Wonder got candid on his friendship with Jamie Foxx while presenting the actor with the Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards. 'He hit me up because of his win — Academy Award — for Ray. And I said, 'You know Jamie, just because you play a blind man that don't mean that we're besties, OK?'' he joked at the time. Wonder went on to tease Foxx, 57, and his 'love for blind people.' The Isn't She Lovely singer has won 25 Grammy awards throughout his career. Wonder also took home an Oscar in 1984 for Best Original Song I Just Called to Say I Love You for the film The Woman in Red. The star has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. Wonder has been married three times. He previously was married to singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright from 1970 to 1972, and fashion designer Kai Millard Morris from 2001 to 2015. Wonder has been married to Tomeeka Robyn Bracy since 2017. He is also dad to nine kids. 'I give a lot of credit to the mothers of my children. They've raised the children well,' Wonder told Winfrey in 2004. 'But I'm not one of those fathers who just send money. I guide them as a father and talk to them as a friend. I always want my children to feel they can tell me anything.' In 2014, he'd go on to joke about his big family on The View, saying: 'I got, how many, 22 kids?'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder Has the Perfect Response to Wild Rumor He's Not Really Blind
Stevie Wonder had the perfect response to ongoing rumors that he is not actually blind. During a show for his Love, Light and Song U.K. tour in Cardiff, Wales, the singer poked fun at the wild speculation and addressed the crowd: 'I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, 'When did I want to let the world know this?' But I wanted to say it right now. You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth.' More from Rolling Stone PJ Morton Is 'Re-Presenting' a Legendary Louisiana Studio for a New Generation Lauryn Hill Makes Appearance at Roberta Flack's Memorial, Performs Alongside Stevie Wonder How The Weeknd Returned - and More Backstage Grammys Secrets He continued: 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind. Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?' Wonder has kept things lighthearted when discussing his blindness. During a 2015 appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman, the musician listed a catalog of the best advantages of being blind including, 'You can act like you don't see nothing when you really do' and 'You can say you didn't see that when you did.' His optimism for life began early in his childhood. When discussing his journey with journalist Wesley Morris and Barack Obama in 2024 for The Wonder of Stevie podcast, Wonder said, 'I was born. Shortly after that, I'm blind. My mother went through the different things, and so my experience with that was deep.' The 25-time Grammy winner said his mother would cry 'every night,' and one time he told her: 'Mama, you shouldn't cry, you're making my head hurt.' 'And I said, 'Maybe God has something for me that's bigger than all this,'' recalled Wonder. 'History proved that true.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stevie Wonder Has the Perfect Response to Wild Rumor He's Not Really Blind
Stevie Wonder had the perfect response to ongoing rumors that he is not actually blind. During a show for his Love, Light and Song U.K. tour in Cardiff, Wales, the singer poked fun at the wild speculation and addressed the crowd: 'I must say to all of you, something that I was thinking, 'When did I want to let the world know this?' But I wanted to say it right now. You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth.' More from Rolling Stone PJ Morton Is 'Re-Presenting' a Legendary Louisiana Studio for a New Generation Lauryn Hill Makes Appearance at Roberta Flack's Memorial, Performs Alongside Stevie Wonder How The Weeknd Returned - and More Backstage Grammys Secrets He continued: 'Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind. Now, that was a blessing because it's allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit?' Wonder has kept things lighthearted when discussing his blindness. During a 2015 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, the musician listed a catalog of the best advantages of being blind including, 'You can act like you don't see nothing when you really do' and 'You can say you didn't see that when you did.' His optimism for life began early in his childhood. When discussing his journey with journalist Wesley Morris and Barack Obama in 2024 for The Wonder of Stevie podcast, Wonder said, 'I was born. Shortly after that, I'm blind. My mother went through the different things, and so my experience with that was deep.' The 25-time Grammy winner said his mother would cry 'every night' and one time he told her: 'Mama, you shouldn't cry, you're making my head hurt.' 'And I said, 'Maybe God has something for me that's bigger than all this,'' recalled Wonder, adding, 'History proved that true.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
