Retinal Realities

"Alone we can do so little, but togetherwe can do so much." — Helen Keller This June, in celebration of Helen KellerMonth and Helen Keller Day on 27 June, host Karen Denton sits down with Bev Richardson from the Helen Keller Society in Pinelands, Cape Town. Together they explore the extraordinary life of Helen Keller — the deafblind American woman who learned five languages,earned a univ...

This Youth Month, we sit down with Karla Rossouw — a 24-year-old marketing graduate, law student, content creator, and fitness enthusiast from Cape Town — who is living with Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), a rare genetic visual impairment. In this inspiring conversation, Karla opens up about navigating mainstream schooling with severe vision loss, the role her mom played as her greatest ad...

In this episode of the Retinal Realities Podcast, we speak with Ferdie Danzfuss— software developer, Retina South Africa member, and creator of the Umsizi Reader app. Ferdi shares his journey of living with Stargardt’s disease and building a successful career in tech, offering practical insights for people with visual impairments pursuing education and employment. We also explore the Umsizi Reader...

In this World Health Day episode of Retinal Realities , RetinaSouth Africa explores how healthy lifestyle choices impact not only our overall wellbeing, but our eye health and vision too. Host Karen is joined by Manny, Victoria, and Lindiwe from Retina South Africa to unpack: Why healthy living matters beyond New Year’sresolutions The growing impact of lifestyle diseases such asdiabetes, heart dis...

This episode of Retinal Realities features a conversation with Harry Rosen, CEO of the South African Optometric Association. The discussion explores the role of optometrists within the eye care system in South Africa, including how their scope of practice is defined, how equipment standards are regulated, and how referrals work when retinal or other complex conditions are suspected. The episode al...

November marked both Diabetes Awareness Month and Disability Awareness Month. To reflect on these important observances, Retinal Realities brings you an inspiring conversation with Kaylin Otto, who turned a life-changing diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy into a journey of resilience and purpose. Hear how Kaylin rebuilt her life, embraced new opportunities, and learned to thrive with vision loss. H...

In this powerful edition, host Claudette Medefindt sits down with Caryl Baum, a retired lawyer, mother, grandmother, and visionary advocate living with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Brought to you by Roche Products South Africa, this episode explores the emotional and practical realities of vision loss — from diagnosis to daily life. Caryl shares her deeply personal journey, the impact o...

In this inspiring episode of Retinal Realities, we sit down with Peter Lindeque, a passionate educator and founder of an online tutoring platform designed for learners with Stargardt’s disease and other visual impairments. Diagnosed at age 10, Peter’s path was shaped by uncertainty, resilience, and the unwavering support of his family. His story is a testament to the power of education—not just as...

Hello and welcome to Retinal Realities , the podcast where we challenge perceptions, celebrate resilience, and amplify voices from the visually impaired community and beyond. In honour of Women’s Month in South Africa, today’s episode shines a light on a woman whose story embodies strength,spirit, and unstoppable determination. Meet Kathleen Flanagan — or as her friends call her, Kat. At 39, she’s...

Welcome to another powerful episode of Retinal Realities, where we explore vision loss, resilience, and the human spirit. In this heartfelt conversation, we meet Alexandra Makhlouf an artist and aspiring therapist based in Johannesburg. She has exhibited her work both locally and internationally. After experiencing significant vision loss in adulthood, Alexandra shifted her attention to psychology...

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of RetinalRealities, the podcast that brings you stories of strength, insight, and perseverance from the world of vision loss. Today, we pause to honour International Yoga Day, celebrated globally on June 21st — a day that highlights yoga’s power to unite body, mind, and spirit. Rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, yoga transcends boundaries,offering inner...

🌟 Rare Disease Day 2025 - Shining a Light on Rare Retinal Diseases! 🌟 This Rare Disease Day (28 Feb 2025) , Retina South Africa highlights the challenges and breakthroughs in rare retinal diseases with expert Claudette Medefindt on our latest podcast episode! 🎙️ 🔍 Did you know? 👁️ Rare retinal diseases affect fewer than 1 in 10,000 people. 🧬 Genetic testing is key to accurate diagnosis, with o...

In the latest episode of the Retinal Realities Podcast , Gavin and Karen sit down with Joel Zeijlstra, one of our incredible members who competed in the para category at the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight 2024. 🚴‍♂️✨ Joel opens up about the challenges he faced on his journey and what inspired him to take part in this amazing event. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Podcast Disclaimer: Any informa...

In this World Retina Day special edition of the Retinal Realities Podcast, we are honoured to have Claudette, Victoria, and Lindiwe, our dedicated patient advocates. This year’s theme is “Love Your Eyes - Kids: Focusing on Children,” and it’s a call to action we cannot ignore. At Retina South Africa, we’ve observed some concerning trends affecting children’s eye health that could have lasting impa...

“Blind people have dreams as big as sighted people, and if they have the determination and courage to pursue those dreams, why stop them?” – Leanne Hunt Join us in this episode of the Retinal Realities Podcast as we chat with Leanne Hunt, the author of  What Every Blind Person Needs You to Know . Leanne shares how her experiences with vision loss inspired her to write this insightful handbook, thi...

Welcome to today’s episode of our podcast! Retina South Africa is led by a management committee of eight members, including five passionate and strong women dedicated to transforming the lives of countless South Africans affected by retinal disorders. Among these inspiring women is Mariza Jurgens, the Deputy Chair of Retina South Africa, who lives with Cone Rod Dystrophy. Her life and achievements...

Welcome to our special International Yoga Day podcast. Today, we are honoured to share a truly inspiring story of resilience, transformation, and inner strength. Yoga is notjust a practice; it is a profound journey of self-discovery and healing. This journey is especially poignant for our guest, a remarkable yoga teacher who has faced the challenges of Retinitis Pigmentosa, a condition that has gr...

On this Youth Day, Sonya, our Youth Team Leader, hosts Nicholas Dedekind on the Youth Edition of the Retinal Realities Podcast. Nicholas, a 24-year-old male living with Stargardt’s disease, recently graduated with honors in Economics (Cum Laude) from the University of Pretoria. Currently, he works as an intern economist in Johannesburg. Notably, Nicholas achieved a gold medal in the B3 Men’s singl...

Welcome to the latest episode in the Retinal Realities podcast ‘Hope in Trials: A Stargardt’s Patient’s Perspective’. In this episode we explore the remarkable journey of those who dare to participate in groundbreaking medical trials, we delve into a story that embodies courage, uncertainty, and unwavering hope. Our journey begins when Melani Nel received that life-changing call. The one that woul...

In this episode of the Retinal Realities Podcast we are joined by Sonya Lee Mahabeer who is an admitted attorney who is passionate about ethics, human rights and commercial law, including financial planning law, ESG and legal education. She is a member of Retina South Africa and is on the Youth and Governance Sub Committees. 11-15 September is National Wills Week, an initiative taken by the Law So...

Welcome to this episode of the podcast “Through the Looking Glass: Unveiling Low Vision with an Optometry Expert 17 – 23 March is World Optometry Week, with the 23rd being World Optometry Day, the focus is on recognising the contributions of optometrists. In today’s enlightening episode, we have the privilege of hosting Hazel Sacharowitz, a distinguished Optometrist from the Low Vision Care Centre...

In this captivating podcast, we delve into the remarkable journey of Zaheeda Saloojee Jooma, a true embodiment of bravery and determination. Despite being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a condition causing damage to the retina, Zaheeda defied the odds andembarked on a cycling adventure just four weeks ago as she geared up to participate in the Dis-Chem Ride for Sight. For visually impaired i...

Today is World Diabetes Day and on the Retinal Realities Podcast, we have a special guest: Gavin van Wyk. Gavin is a SA Diabetes Advocate and a Retina SA Patient Advocate who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes for 35 years. He has experienced many challenges due to his diabetes, such as losing a lower limb and having low vision from Diabetic Retinopathy. Gavin is now a volunteer for Retina SA an...

World Retina Week is observed during the week of 24-30 September, it is observed in more than 40 countries to create awareness about retinal vision loss. On the podcast today we have two dedicated women who are active members of Retina South Africa, Claudette Medefindt who has a 40-year history and Sonya Lee Mahabeer who has just recently brought her enthusiasm and energy to the organisation. They...

World Retina Week is observed during the week of 24-30 September, it is observed in more than 40 countries to create awareness about retinal vision loss. On the podcast today we have two dedicated women who are active members of Retina South Africa, Claudette Medefindt who has a 40-year history and Sonya Lee Mahabeer who has just recently brought her enthusiasm and energy to the organisation. They...