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Unusual Blindness

It's called Aniridia, and it's a type of eye disease once thought quite rare.

However, the latest research shows the genetic malfunction that causes Aniridia may be related to a wide variety of other disorders.

There is also hope that this new research can lead to a better understanding of everything from diabetes, to glaucoma, to obesity.

We talk with some of those behind these groundbreaking scientific findings.

Guests:
Robert M. Grainger Ph.D.
- Biologist specializing in research of the genetic connections to embryonic development. The W.L. Lyons Brown Professor of Biology at the University of Virginia. Co-organizer of the Aniridia and Beyond Conference, July 31- August 4, 2013.

Jill Nerby - Born with the genetic eye disease Aniridia, Ms. Nerby founded and currently serves as Director of the Aniridia Foundation International.

Peter A. Netland, Ph.D., M.d.- Physician and surgeon specializing in the treatment of Aniridia and Glaucoma. Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, as well as the Dupont Guerry III Professor of Medicine, at the University of Virginia. Member of the Board of Directors of Aniridia Foundation International.

Tom Graham was Senior Producer and host of WMRA's Virginia Insight from 2006 to 2015.