The visual language Ms. Goldring is developing is designed to "help people keep the visual sense stimulated even when it's been damaged," she said, which is important because "if you don't use it, you lose it."

"I know it's something I want," she continued, "so I assume there are other people who would want it, too."

This language consists of word images, or words that often incorporate graphics to make them easier to see. For example, ordinarily the word "sun" is difficult for the visually challenged to read because of the letters' uniform curves. Replacing the U with a graphic of the sun helps solve this problem because it "separates the curves," Ms. Goldring said. The graphic also quickly emphasizes the meaning of the word.