When The Sighted Are Blind

Imagine having nothing wrong with your eyes, but not being able to see. That’s the experience of Melina Canning who was left blind after a near-fatal stroke. Melina suffered irreparable damage to her primary visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes visual information, but her eyes still functioned even though she was left with no vision. In the years since her stroke, Melina has gradually developed, what experts call, a sixth sense – in the form of a condition called Blindsight. This allows her to see the outline of objects.

Scientists say this is a result of the brain trying to repair itself. Melina spoke with RNIB’s Simon Pauley to learn more about her remarkable story. #RNIBConnect #TheWeeklyConnect