‘Going Blind’ Movie Screening and Panel Discussion
A Look at Preventing, Treating and Coping with Vision Loss
WHAT: Movie screening of “Going Blind,” documentary film created to increase public awareness of blindness, vision loss and the vision rehabilitation system, followed by a panel discussion
WHO:
- Joe Lovett, advocate, filmmaker and director of Going Blind
- Joel Schuman, M.D., Eye & Ear Foundation Professor and Chairman, University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology and director of the UPMC Eye Center
- Amy Nau, O.D., director of Contact Lens and Low Vision Services and the Optical Shops at UPMC; assistant professor of ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh
- Leela Raju, M.D., vice chair, clinical operations, and clinical assistant professor, cornea, anterior segment and refractive surgery, University of Pittsburgh
- Todd Reeves, executive director, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
- Erika Arbogast, president, Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14; 5:30 p.m., movie screening; 7 p.m., panel discussion; reception immediately following
**RSVP for this free event by Sept. 7 by contacting Lauren Wally at 412-864-3283 or wallyl@upmc.edu.
WHERE: Movie and panel discussion: University of Pittsburgh Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St., Lecture Hall #5; Reception: Scaife Hall lobby
WHY: In order to gain a better understanding of how to deal with further vision loss, Joe Lovett, an advocate, filmmaker and director who has been losing vision to glaucoma, spent five years talking with people who had already gone through the process. The film takes a straightforward look at the fears and prejudices about the blind that only someone who has gone through the experience can truly understand.
The panel will answer questions from the audience and discuss services available to the visually impaired.