Documentary shows personal, clinical sides of blindness

HONG KONG — When Joseph Lovett encounters people with low vision on the street, he asks if he can help them navigate busy city intersections. Recently, he has also been asking them another question — if they will tell him their personal stories about being blind.

Mr. Lovett has a personal reason for his inquiries: He has pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and has lost some sight in his left eye. He also has a professional reason. Mr. Lovett, a filmmaker and producer based in New York City, has been filming a documentary called Going Blind about people living with advanced visual loss.

"The stories I got were fascinating, utterly fascinating," he said in an interview with Ocular Surgery News. "I decided this would be a great film. It's like a whole secret world to share with people."

The work-in-progress film, which debuted at the World Ophthalmology Congress here, shows true stories of people with diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, albinism and glaucoma, Mr. Lovett said.

In addition to the personal stories of blindness, the documentary is also looking at the latest clinical research in these areas. Mr. Lovett said he hopes to elicit the attention of clinicians at the WOC who might want to take part in the film. The project is also seeking additional funding, he said.

"When you're dealing with something that is this important and you've got something to show, I think it's good to let people know what you're doing, and let the experts come in on it," Mr. Lovett said. "This is a project that's public, and you want the best heads around it."

He and associate producer Logan Schmid will attend several 15 minute screenings of Going Blind at the WOC, highlighting what they have filmed thus far.

Mr. Lovett has made medical documentaries in the past, including the HBO-broadcast Cancer: Evolution to Revolution, which won a Peabody Award. Going Blind will mark his own journey with ophthalmic care, which began in his 20s with high IOP levels. Since then, he has had reduction in the vision in his left eye. Mr. Lovett said his glaucoma is now medically controlled, but he still worries about complications and progression.

By sharing his own story and those of others, he said he hopes to show the perspective of patients who are living with visual loss and the necessity of visual rehabilitation services. He said he also hopes to show the public the necessity of visual screenings.

"I think the irony of the filmmaker losing vision is that it surprises people," he said. "A lot of people say, 'Oh, that's so particularly awful for you, you're such a visual person,' but then you say, 'Well, everybody needs their vision — the file clerk, the sanitation worker.' Everybody wants to have their vision, and an awful lot of accommodations have to be made if you don't have it."