A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Read more at healthinsight.ca | 1
The Crisis of Vision Loss and Blindness in Canada A new report reveals that vision loss costs Canada almost $33 billion annually. In partnership with the Canadian Association of Optometrists, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, and Fighting Blindness Canada, the Canadian Council of the Blind commissioned new research to identify Canada’s crisis of preventable blindness.
1.2 million Canadians live with vision loss while over 8 million have vision-threating eye diseases.
Regular eye exams prevent blindness. Diagnosed early enough, research-delivered treatments can stabilize your sight.
The Cost of Vision Loss and Blindness in Canada
V
Dr. Keith Gordon
ision loss (VL) has wide-ranging implications for individuals, communities, and societies. At the individual level, it affects work, income, self-esteem, dignity, family relationships, the ability to drive, leisure activities, community involvement, and the activities of daily living. People who lose their vision may not enjoy full access to the same rights and benefits that other Canadians enjoy, and they may experience social isolation and stigma. In spite of the impact that VL has on society and the economy, there has been no recent data on either the prevalence or cost of VL in Canada. To plan effectively for the provision of services for people
with VL, it’s essential that we have current, accurate estimates on the cost of VL in Canada, including a detailed analysis of the individual components of these costs. To this end, the Canadian Council of the Blind commissioned Deloitte Access Economics, a world-renowned consultancy with expertise in disease prevalence and health economics, to conduct an updated assessment on the prevalence and cost of VL in Canada using 2019 data. The results of this study reveal that VL cost Canadian individuals and governments a staggering $32.9 billion in 2019. This consists of a cost to the health care system of $9.5 billion, productivity losses of $4.2 billion due primarily to reduced workforce participation, other costs of $1.8 billion and a cost of lost well-being of $17.4 billion. This study
Vision loss cost Canadian
individuals and governments a staggering $32.9 billion in 2019.
also determined that there are 1.2 million Canadians living with VL, representing 3.2 percent of the total population. The number of people with VL is projected to increase to two million by 2050. The high costs and growing prevalence of VL in Canada are concerning since it’s estimated that 75 percent of VL is either preventable or treatable. Federal leadership and agenda-setting are required to implement policies that address the issue head on and that build a framework for coordinated action that focuses on the multifaceted nature of the issue. A comprehensive and national plan for vision health in Canada is not only desirable, rational, and ethical, but also long overdue.
Read the full report, The Cost of Vision Loss and Blindness in Canada by visiting, stopvisionloss.ca.
Account Directors: Jessica Golyatov & Jesse Adamson Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content and Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designer: Filip Jansky All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve White Cane Magazine or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
@MediaplanetCA
facebook.com/HealthInsight
Please recycle
2 | Read more at healthinsight.ca
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
AMI Hosts First-Ever Virtual Event for Blind and Partially-Sighted Community
T
he worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has created chaos for everyone, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) included. But that hasn't stopped the not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs, and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially-sighted from connecting with the audience it serves in a safe and inclusive manner. On June 3, 2021, AMI will welcome Canadians from across the country to its first-ever virtual event, AMI Connect. The one-day online event — fully accessible to the blind and partially-sighted community — will spotlight the company’s talent on AMI-tv, AMI-audio, and its podcasts. AMI Connect is designed to not only celebrate with Canadians who are already aware of its services, but to introduce its talent and programs to a new audience. The event which promises to be entertaining and informative, will spotlight AMI on-air talent, including NOW with Dave Brown
and Kelly and Company, AMI-audio’s two live weekday radio shows. AMI This Week Bureau Reporters will explain how they share community stories from coast to coast on AMI’s weekly newsmagazine show. Paralympian Greg Westlake, host of the documentary series Level Playing Field, will outline how attendees can get more involved with sports in their communities. Steven Scott and Marc Aflalo, hosts of AMI-tv’s Double Tap TV and the Double Tap Canada podcast, will discuss the latest accessible technology available, and those interested in tackling their own DIY projects can get tips and advice from Chris Judge, blind handyman and star of Eyes for the Job. In the Employable Me panel, attendees will learn what to keep in mind when applying for a job and can ask questions of an employer, series executive producers, and a job seeker. The AMI Connect event will pull back the curtain on new AMI-tv projects, with a sneak preview of the new adventure series
By Hook or By Cook and Dish with Mary, hosted by partially-sighted culinary expert Mary Mammoliti. Podcasts have quickly become the go-to way to connect, and AMI offers several hosted by members of the blind and partially-sighted community. Attendees will learn more about the podcasts AMI offers and how to access them, and will get to meet the voices behind them. Attendees will also learn how to access AMI and how the company is serving members of the blind and partially-sighted community in Canada. Register for AMI Connect at amiconnect.vfairs.com/en.
Learn more about AMI, its programming and where it can be found at ami.ca, download the AMI-tv App for Apple or Android, and follow AMI on Facebook @AccessibleMediaInc, Twitter @AccessibleMedia, and Instagram @accessiblemediainc. This page was sponsored by Accessible Media Inc.
Diabetes Canada Alerts Canadians About Vision Damage and Blindness in People with Diabetes Laura Syron
I
living with diabetes will be t’s been 100 years since the discovery of insulin. While affected by DR at some stage in the discovery has improved their life, and people affected by the health of people with diabetes are 25 times more likely diabetes, it isn’t a cure. The than the general population to prevalence and cost of diabetes become blind. continue to rise. There are nearly A lack of awareness about DR 11.5 million Canadians with diais a major barrier facing people Laura Syron betes or prediabetes, and it costs President & CEO, living with diabetes and is one our health care system $30 bil- Diabetes Canada reason why Diabetes Canada lion each year. If the diabetes isn't waiting another 100 years epidemic continues at this pace, to change the course of diaCanadians at age 20 face a 50 betes. There's hope that things percent chance of developing diabetes in will improve sooner. We were pleased their lifetime. that recent advocacy work by us and For some, the disease also continues to others led to a commitment in the 2021 be shockingly successful at causing severe federal budget to implement a national health consequences. The most common diabetes framework. Specifically, $25 millong-term complication of diabetes is lion over five years has been allocated for a form of eye damage called diabetic diabetes research, surveillance, prevenretinopathy (DR). If left undetected and tion, innovation, and the development untreated, DR can lead to severe sight loss of a comprehensive diabetes strategy. As and irreversible blindness. Most people well, $10 million has been allocated over
five years to surface novel interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes. Awareness of risk and prevention strategies can support the delaying or preventing of some diabetes-related health consequences, including the onset of sight loss due to DR. It’s important to know, for example, that the risk or worsening of eye damage can be reduced through blood glucose (sugar) management, regular eye exams, and early treatment. Across Canada, DR screening rates range from 35 to 67 percent. People with diabetes should be screened regularly, regardless of where they live.
For more information about vision damage and blindness in people with diabetes, visit diabetes.ca. This page was sponsored by Diabetes Canada.
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Read more at healthinsight.ca | 3
The COVID-19 Ripple Effect: Missed or Delayed Retinal Care The health threats of the pandemic go far beyond COVID-19 itself, including the disruption of unrelated medical care. The pandemic has shifted daily patterns of life for everyone, but for some the effect has been more extreme.
T D.F. McCourt
ake a look around at the reality we’re living in and imagine how much more challenging this time would be if one of the things we often take for granted, our vision, was at risk. For Canadians living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) this is a real concern. COVID-19 has provoked anxiety for this group, with some feeling that it is now necessary to weigh the danger of contracting COVID-19 against the danger of losing vision. AMD is a progressive eye disease of the macula, which is near the central region of the retina. “The natural history of AMD is characterized by progression with age,” explains Dr. Samad, Ophthalmologist specializing in diseases of the Retina and Vitreous, and Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University. There are two types of AMD: “dry” AMD, which causes slower
vision loss but can in a few cases progress over time into neovascular, or “wet,” AMD (nAMD), where new blood vessels grow and bleed under the macula, leading to profound and permanent loss of sight that progresses rapidly. “Vision loss has a profound impact on patients; they can no longer drive, their independence is lost, they can’t read or see the faces of their loved ones,” says Dr. Samad.
Vision loss from nAMD cannot be reversed, but it can be prevented nAMD is treatable but not curable. Treatment usually involves regular injections into the eye to help reduce the growth of new blood vessels and slow leakage from blood vessels, which can cause vision deterioration. Dr. Samad underscores that “treatment is long-term and requires compliance.” Even in the best of times, getting regular injections can be difficult, especially for those living in remote
locations, requiring assistance, or managing other health conditions. In combination with anxiety and fear around the method of administration, the burden of frequent appointments, especially during a pandemic, may lead to treatment discontinuation. A U.S. data review has estimated that up to 50 percent of nAMD patients did not persist with their treatment by the second year, with most dropping out within 6 to 12 months of starting therapy. According to a global survey of patients and their caregivers, frequency of injections was one of the key obstacles to proper care, along with having injections, and possible injection-related side effects. It is important to know that not all nAMD patients will have the same treatment frequency based on their disease activity. Knowing your options is key. With the help of your ophthalmologist or retinal specialist, it is possible to find a treatment that is right for you.
Brought to you by one of Canada's leading research-based pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Dr. Arif Samad
MD, FRCSC, FACS, Ophthalmologist specializing in diseases of the Retina & Vitreous, and Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University
If you or your loved one are living with nAMD, speak to your ophthalmologist or retinal specialist to determine which option may be right for you.
4 | Read more at healthinsight.ca
A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
Designing an Accessible Technoscape: A Future for Canadians with Vision Loss Dr. Chad Andrews
T
he world of accessible technology is reaching a tipping point. And that’s a good thing. For a long time, accessible and assistive devices — many designed for people living with lifealtering disabilities — were unwieldly, specialized things that were attainable by only a select few. They were inaccessible, in other words. That now seems to be changing. Nearubiquitous technologies such as smartphones and personal computers are around every corner (or inside every pocket), and rather than being predefined objects with fixed and unalterable features, they rest on evolving and personalized software platforms with almost limitless potential. For many with vision loss, for instance, smartphones function as versatile devices that read text, magnify objects, provide light, respond to voice commands, give directions, juggle schedules, and more. Taken together, the value of these services is immeasurable. Smartphones and similar devices have had an incredible democratizing effect over the last two decades. In the world of accessibility, at least as far as personal computing is concerned, high tech is no longer fringe for the majority of Canadians with smartphones (over 80 percent of North Americans own them). The globalization theorist Arjun Appadurai has noted that
an increased flow of available technoloshould now be standardized in building gies within a globalized market has led to codes and other legal, administrative, a kind of technoscape, a wide-ranging and and policy frameworks. And like many modern smartphones and computers, transformative environment of technological access and advancement that new projects should be designed from the erodes boundaries between global and ground up with accessibility in mind. We should be doing the same with transporlocal, image and reality, city and country, tation, workspaces, educational facilities, and — though he doesn’t use the terms — public resources, and other areas of social one could certainly say abled and disabled. infrastructure. The mass availability of personalized, The smartphone gives us a glimpse of accessible, and assistive technologies is a crucial step toward the creation of an Canada’s accessible technoscape. If policyaccessible technoscape. Combined with makers work ethically and effectively with more specialized devices — such as Bell industry and other stakeholders, and if Canada’s accessible smartphone lineup, those with vision loss are consulted as which features a variety of built-in feaexperts in their fields, we can turn that tures and functionalities for those with vision into a truly accessible reality. vision loss alongside more affordable plans for those with accessibility needs Equity and — the dream of a truly accessible society Affordability Are Key appears to be coming into focus. Accessibility only works when it’s widespread. The science fiction author Which isn’t to say, of course, William Gibson casually observed that “the future that the dream is already here. is already here, it’s just not very evenly distributed.” Personalized, software-focused Though he wasn’t addressing accessible devices specifdevices are a shining beacon in ically, the fact remains that there are too many Canadians accessibility, but their design with vision loss and other disabilities who are unable to benefit from what accessible technology has to offer, usually due philosophy needs to be impleto enormous buy-in costs. Moving forward, new partnerships mented within other social and programs that bring the advantages of accessible and and political domains. As far assistive technologies to as many Canadians as possible as architecture and cities are should be a collective focus. Ideally, this will take the form of Canadian governments funding or supplementing the concerned, advancements have cost of smartphones and related devices for those with been made with tactile walkaccessibility needs. And employers who prioritize ing surfaces, pedestrian signals, welcoming, accessible workplaces should be and other innovations, but these rewarded for paving the way for a more humane, ethical, and inclusive labour market.
Designed with accessibility in mind. Explore smartphones with great accessibility features with Bell, Canada’s best national network.1 Customers with visual accessibility needs can get $20/mo. off eligible 2-yr. plans.2
bell.ca/accessibility • 1 800 268-9243
staying connected just got better
Current as of April 9, 2021. Available with compatible devices within Bell Mobility’s network coverage areas. Connection service fee ($45) will appear on your first bill. Taxes extra. Offers subject to change without notice. Other conditions apply. Additional one-time fees are subject to change over time. See bell.ca/onetimefees for details. Ending your Commitment Period early results in a Cancellation Fee; see your Agreement. Speed and signal strength may vary due to traffic, topography, environmental conditions and other factors, including Bell’s Internet traffic management practices (e.g., priority access to emergency personnel and critical infrastructure personnel). See bell.ca/ITMP. (1) Based on a third party score (Global Wireless Solutions OneScore™) calculated using wireless network testing in Canada against other national wireless networks of combined data, voice, reliability and network coverage. See bell.ca/network. (2) Available with new activation on a 2-yr. Unlimited plan. See bell.ca/rateplans for details. Discounted rate plans available for qualified customers with accessibility needs. Accessibility needs include: hearing, speech, vision, cognitive and physical (mobility and dexterity).