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"Last Time I Saw the Sun Was November 2007"

Cataract. Published by the International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

This program originally aired on August 31, 2017.

In under three years, Mike Glenn went from needing glasses to complete vision loss. In this Talk of Iowa segment, host Charity Nebbe talks with guests about conditions that can lead to adult vision loss or severe impairment. Glenn lost his vision to diabetic retinopathy. Nebbe also talks with Archie Rodin who has gradually been losing his sight to macular degeneration.

University of Iowa ophthalmologist Dr. Jane Bailey talks about the different conditions that can cause vision loss and how they can be treated. Bailey says that regular eye exams and generally remaining healthy are important prevention measures, but she also says there are many resources for coping and adjusting to eye-related medical conditions.

"If you are told or find out that you do have some type of permanent vision loss, or vision loss that can't really be fixed, that's not the end, that's kind of the beginning."

Other guests this hour include: Independent Living Program administrator at the Iowa Department for the Blind Kim Barber, Iowa City VA Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator Keith Queen, and executive director of Iowa Radio Reading Information Service Mary Frances Evans.

Charity Nebbe is the host of IPR's Talk of Iowa