Dining in the Dark is harder than it sounds.
Food and eating are experiences that tantalize all of our senses. We smell, taste, feel, hear and see our food. By using our senses, we are able to enjoy the experience to its fullest.
Imagine a sizzling plate of fajitas being served as you savor the aroma of the mingling flavors, see the array of color and variety on your plate, feel the soft warmth of the tortilla, and finally enjoy the delicious flavors exploding in your mouth. You reach for your utensils, look for your napkin, take a small sip of your beverage, and then begin to enjoy your meal.
Now, imagine that experience without your sight.
Dr. Sakowski (center) was honored at this year's Dining in the Dark event.
That’s right. It makes a big difference when you cannot see what you eat. Not only do you lose the experience of seeing the actual food, but you must imagine where it is on the plate, how to pick up your utensils, where your napkin is, and how to navigate any number of tasks as you try to eat your meal.
Would you knock over a water glass, miss your plate as you prepare to fill your tortilla, cut a piece of meat that is way too big for a normal bite, or make any number of mistakes?
Dining in the Dark raises funds for vision research and the 2011 event at the Richmond Marriott made it possible for dozens of people to see what those who cannot see experience when they eat. Guests were blindfolded before their plates were brought out to the tables. The lights were lowered and the room was dark. People had no idea what was being served. Anxiety levels rose as people were concerned about spilling water, turning over plates, and even figuring out what they had to eat on their plates.
The event is presented by the Foundation Fighting Blindness and this year they honored Dr. Anthony D. Sakowski, Jr., ophthalmologist and co-founder of Virginia Eye Institute. They also raised money for research on vision disorders.
The diners made unusual comments such as “is this chicken or steak?”, “is this my plate or yours?”, and “do you think we have anything to drink on the table?” One diner made a statement that really summed it up, “How do you know when you’re through?”
Blindness is something that affects every part of a person’s life, and eating is just one of the daily challenges for a blind person.
Over 100 people attended Dining in the Dark this year.
With millions of Americans blind or visually impaired, this is an everyday experience for them.
Jim Minow, chief development officer for Foundation Fighting Blindness, said that the organization has funded more than $425 million in vision research since 1971. They are about to venture into many more clinical trials which is wonderful news for those who cannot see — and for those who can because blindness can strike at any age and any point in life.
Being able to restore vision through gene therapy, cell-based therapies, and technological therapies offers hope to many. But there is still much research to be done.
As the foundation works to conduct critical research and fund gene therapy clinical trials and drug trials, they are providing thousands of blind individuals with new hope for the future.
Dining in the Dark is an annual event, but it’s an everyday event for those who cannot see. Many thanks to Dr. Sakowski, his colleagues, and teams of other experts who strive to help those who cannot see. Their work is opening up a whole new world of sight for many.
Dr. Sakowski and Jim Minow at the Dining in the Dark lunch.
