Legally Blind, 26-Year-Old Woman With Diabetic Retinopathy Regains Ability To See Using Innovative Electronic Glasses From Enhanced Vision

Joy Clark, a 26-year-old San Diego resident, is experiencing the ability to see through a device known as JORDY. This product is developed by Enhanced Vision, the leading manufacturer of innovative solutions for people with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other low vision conditions. Clark, who has undergone two pancreas and three kidney transplants suffers from diabetic retinopathy.

"Many legally blind people think their world is over," said Clark, who lost her sight at age 19. "I feel the best hope is technology such as JORDY. Being able to use JORDY allows me to function normally in life and still achieve what I want. It plugs me back into the real world."

Clark had Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile-onset diabetes, since age 6, which progressed into diabetic retinopathy while she was awaiting a kidney transplant seven years ago. Diabetics as a group have 25 times the usual risk of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of low vision, which affects more than 12 million Americans. Currently there is no cure for people with low vision.

A few months ago, Clark was introduced to JORDY, an innovative headworn digital magnifier. With JORDY, Clark is able to read, see TV and enjoy many of the things she did before her sight became severely impaired. Totally blind for a year, she was able to have surgery to help restore some vision to one of her eyes. She learned Braille and used a device to help read and write -- but at very close ranges -- before being introduced to JORDY.

The JORDY glasses incorporate a miniature, auto-focus digital video camera to project images directly onto the user's eye at up to 30x magnification, allowing those who have low vision to see again.

Clark leads an active lifestyle, attending college classes and working in her father's medical practice. "JORDY gives me the independence to pursue the goals I have in life, such as going to school and being able to sit in a classroom and read what's on the board. JORDY gives me a lot of freedom I wouldn't otherwise experience.

"Things that people who can see take for granted, like being able to see television, I haven't experienced for seven years. With JORDY, I feel that I'm back into pop culture again. As a big baseball fan, I was finally able to see what Barry Bonds looks like! I'm looking forward to watching a baseball game in person using JORDY."