Wearable tech helping Orchard Park teen see the world

Acting as his eyes-- the Irisvision Virtual Reality goggles helps 13-year-old Blair Briedenstein see the world.

ALSO NEW THISMORNING --A LOCALTEENAGER --HAS FOUND AUNIQUE WAY TOOVERCOME A"RARE GENETICDISEASE."HE'S USINGVIRTUALREALITY --TO HELP HIMSEE ACTUALREALITY.NOW --THIS FAMILY ISUSING THEIREXPERIENCE,TO HELPOTHERS.REBECCATHORNBURGSHOWS USHOW.NATSTELEVISION,READY ASCREEN, VIDEOPLAYER, VIDEOGALLERYACTING AS HISEYES-- THEIRISVISIONVIRTUALREALITYGOGGLESHELPS 13-YEAR-OLDBLAIRBRIEDENSTEINFROMORCHARD PARKSEE THEWORLD.SOT BLAIR"BEHIND THOSEWINDOWSEVERYTHING ISBLURRY, BUTNOW I CAN SEETHE TREES THEDARKNESS OFTHE SHADE OFTHE TREES ANDSOME BUSHES."FOUR YEARSAGO BLAIR WASPLAYINGBASEBALLWHEN HISCOACH ANDPARENTSNOTICED HISREACTION WASDELAYED.WHEN HESTARTEDCOMPLAININGABOUT NOTBEING ABLE TOSEE THEWHITEBOARDIN CLASS-- HISPARENTSBROUGHT HIMTO THEDOCTOR.BLAIR WASDIAGNOSEDWITH A RAREGENETICDISEASECALLEDSTARGARDT'S,WHICH CAUSESSEVERE VISIONIMPAIRMENT.APROGRESSIVEDISEASE, BLAIRIS LEGALLYBLIND-- HE CANSEE THINGSWHEN THEYARE REALLY UPCLOSE BUTANYTHING FARAWAY ISBLURRY.SOT PARENTS"IT'S ATREMENDOUSAMOUNT OFFATIGUEPLACED ONTHE EYES ANDHE IS ALWAYSWORKING TOSEE THINGSOUT OF HISPREIFERYRATHER THANHISCENTRALIZEDVISION."SOT BLAIR"WHEN WE AREHAVING ACONVERSATIONI MAY BELOOKING ATYOUR EYESBUT FOROTHER PEOPLEI MAY BELOOKING ALITTLE LEFT."THE FAMILY DIDSOMERESEARCH ANDFOUND THESEIRISVISIONGOGGLES LASTYEAR.THEY HELPBLAIR ZOOM INOR CHANGETHE COLORING.HE'S NOW ABLETO SIT WITH HISFAMILY TOWATCH TV ANDTAKE NOTESON HIS OWN INTHECLASSROOM.BLAIR SAYSGAINING HISINDEPENDENCEBACK HASBEEN LIFECHANGING.SOT"EVER SINCE IGOT THEGLASSES I'VEBEEN ABLE TODO A LOT OFTHINGS ON MYOWN THAT IWASN'T ABLETO DO 2-3YEARS AGO."SOT"WE THINK ASPARENTS HIMBEING ABLE TOGO OFF TOSCHOOL ANDTHE IRISVISIONREALLY GIVESHIMINDEPENDENCEAND HASREALLY MADE AHUGE CHANGEFOR HIM."THE FAMILY ISALSO HELPINGOTHERS GETTHESEGOGGLES TOBE ABLE TOSEE.THEY OWNTROPICALSMOOTHIECAFE ONTRANSIT ROADIN DEPEW ANDHOSTFUNDRAISERSTO SPONSOROTHER KIDS TOGET GOOGLESAND DONATETO THEOLMSTEDCENTER FORSIGHT INBUFFALO.RT 7EWN.