Ryan, Optic Nerve Atrophy

from Arizona, USA

Ryan is a talented blind magician and YouTube personality from Scottsdale, Arizona. At the age of 9, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor called Medulloblastoma, which was the size of a grapefruit and located on his brain stem. The tumor caused a fluid buildup in his head and cut off the blood flow to his optic nerves, which led to optic nerve atrophy. As a result, Ryan has little-to-no peripheral vision and cannot see something unless he gets very close to it.

When Ryan was recovering in the hospital after his tumor-removal surgery, his parents encouraged him to learn magic tricks to help with his motor skills. “I remember my parents reading me the instructions and soon I started teaching myself. I eventually got to the point where I could perform magic tricks on stage and even teach kids how to do them,” he says.

Recently, Ryan was introduced to IrisVision. He says the biggest benefit was being able to focus and see clearly.

“I have not been able to see my mom’s face for 24 years, and to see her again was a life-changing experience.”

Cooking — another one of his passions — is now easier and safer for him. “I can now cook a steak the way I want without burning my face with the oil in the pan when I get too close,” he says. Ryan now reads books that he couldn’t read before He also uses IrisVision for TV watching and going to the theater. “I watched a movie in the theater for the first time. I sat in the middle instead of the very front, and I was in tears when I realized I could actually watch a movie clearly.”

“I even took it to the baseball stadium and could see the score clearly and even the players’ faces. Did I mention I could actually see the puck in the ice hockey game?”

As a blind magician, Ryan says wowing his audience has been something that he could only feel. Now, with his IrisVision, he will not only feel the amazement in his audience members amazement, he will see it too.

Ed, Retinitis Pigmentosa

Ed was first diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy, now called retinitis pigmentosa. He inherited the disease genetically, and he and seven other members of his family all have it. Ed describes his vision as “fuzzy” and says that it has gotten worse over time. As a result, it is no longer safe or legal for Ed to drive or to perform certain work-tasks.

Growing up, Ed had a passion for electronics. He joined the Navy as a Special Weapons Technician. Ed mentioned that many of the Navy doctors became interested in studying his eye condition upon finding out about it. “They were looking to see if there were any possible ways to treat my condition, and they were very interested,” he remembers.

“At the time I entered the Navy, I could still see well enough to perform the tasks required for the job. But in the back of my mind, I always knew that the day would come where I would not see well enough to continue,” he said. “My second passion was for computers, and luckily, the Navy had another career field that was opening up called Crypto-Technician Networks,” which was based on more cyber-focused work. I knew I could continue working in this field, since it was computer-based, even after my eyesight began to deteriorate.”

Ed eventually joined this new Naval branch and retired after 26 years. Now, he works as a Technical Account Manager at Dell.

“When I took the position at Dell Technologies, I realized that I needed a visual assistance device that would allow me to be more mobile.”

Ed tried a variety of devices to help improve his vision but was disappointed with the results.

“It was not what I had expected — nothing is like the IrisVision. IrisVision is incredible! Just a few days ago I replaced three electrical outlets without any problems. IrisVision is what’s keeping me employed!”

Ed uses IrisVision both in his professional and personal life. He is able to take care of mechanical and technical work at home as well as at work. He says he is excited to perform other electrical tasks using IrisVision in the future. Ed tends to use IrisVision’s RP mode the most, as it offers added comfort for people who, like him, have retinitis pigmentosa.

“Among products for low vision users, IrisVision is the hands down winner. It gave me what I was looking for, and I recommend it to everyone.”

Shopping basket

Refine Products

IrisVision

IrisVision Live

IrisVision Live

IrisVision Live