In Touch Folgen

Rapid lateral flow tests for Covid-19 were criticised earlier in the year for not being accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. The government promised to do better, but did it happen? Spectators are making a welcome return to some of the big sporting events of the summer, including Test matches and the European Football Championship, but they are only allowed into stadiums if they can show proof of a negative lateral flow test or double vaccination. Are you itching to get back to water-cooler chat in the office? Or does the thought of commuting again fill you with dread? We discuss the merits of continuing to work from home versus returning to the office.

Getting the right lighting in the home can be life-changing for people who are blind or visually impaired. Tonight we get a preview of a new guide due to be published by the sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust which gives solutions to some common lighting problems. We invited one of our listeners, who emailed in about the subject, to put the questions to the author. And, after a big response from you on our item about e-scooters, we speak to one of the three operators of the trials starting in London this week. We'll find out about plans for audio warnings and how they intend to make sure scooters are parked safely.

In this special programme, we examine the role genetics plays in both the inheritance of sight loss and its future treatment. We hear about the latest breakthrough reported in the journal 'Nature Medicine' in which the vision of a completely blind man was partially restored using light-sensing proteins first found in algae. He was treated with a type of therapy called optogenetics, which uses the proteins to control cells at the back of his eye.And we discuss the merits of gene testing with the Chief Executive of Retina UK about how genetic testing can help people with inherited sight loss make future choices about their lives.