Julian Jackson interviewed on BBC Radio 4 about the Big Blind Walk

Julian Jackson is preparing for his epic Big Blind Walk from Land's End to John O'Groats, a journey of close on 1,000 miles during which he aims to raise a significant sum to increase the amount of research into eye disease, sight loss and blindness (75% of which will be donated to National Eye Research Centre).

He was recently interviewed by Peter White on the BBC Radio 4 'In Touch' programme where he gives an inspirational overview of his preparations for the Big Blind Walk and why more investment is urgently needed for eye research.

You can hear the interview here

Other media coverage of the Big Blind Walk:

Julian interviewed by Allan Russell on RNIB's Connect Radio service
Julian in a feature by Andrew McClean in Optometry Today

Make a donation to the Big Blind walk now:

Donate to Big Blind Walk

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Funding Programmes open to applications

Seed grants deadline: 31st August

First Stage major grants and PhD studentships deadline: 31st October
New drugs to treat mitochondrial optic neuropathies

Professor Marcela Votruba at Cardiff University is looking for sustained release formulations for new drugs to treat mitochondrial optic neuropathies
Determining the relationship between insulin and myopia

Dr Denise Atan at University of Bristol is investigating the association between insulin signalling and short-sightedness, with the potential for a novel treatment option.
Identifying risk factors for retinal detachment

Dr Veronique Vitart at the University of Edinburgh is looking to identify genetic mutations that increase risk factors of retinal detachment.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the most common cause of sight loss amongst those of working age. Pressure is raised in the eye which damages the optic nerve and increasingly causes sight loss. New treatments, including improved eye drops and surgical techniques to reduce this pressure in the eye are being researched.
Age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that leads to the gradual loss of central vision. Around 600,000 people in the UK currently have sight loss caused by AMD and around 70,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.
Cataracts

Cataracts occur when changes in the lens of the eye cause it to become less transparent. This results in cloudy or misty vision. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness globally but can be easily treated.
Uveitis

Uveitis is a leading cause of visual impairment in people of working age in the UK. It is an inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea or uveal tract.
Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye syndrome, or dry eye disease, is a common condition that occurs when the eyes don't make enough tears, or the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to the eyes drying out and becoming red, swollen and irritated. Dry eye syndrome is also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
Corneal Disease

The cornea is the clear tissue at the front of the eye that lets in light and helps focus it on the retina so that we can see. Disease or injury can make the cornea cloudy or distorted in shape, causing a loss of vision. A cornea transplant replaces diseased corneal tissue with a disc of healthy tissue from a donor.
Retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the name given to a group of inherited conditions of the retina that all lead to a gradual progressive reduction in vision.
Amblyopia

A lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is a childhood condition that occurs when the vision in one eye does not develop properly.
Research Grants Funding
National Eye Health Week 2019

23 - 29 September 2019 is National Eye Health Week. The week will provide plenty of tips on protecting your eye health and how research is helping to combat blindness.