The Macula Vision Research Foundation held its Philadelphia Region SupportSight® Seminar this month with an informative and impressive lineup of speakers and topics. Topics ranged from discussion of dry and wet macular degeneration, the AREDS1 and AREDS2 nutraceutical research and recommendations, and stem cell research, to low vision aids and how low vision specialists can help those affected with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinal diseases.
The sessions were moderated by the excellent Dr. Alexander Brucker from Scheie Eye Institute and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Dr. Brucker is the editor-in-chief of Retina journal. He pointed out that the speakers at the seminar were very committed to treating and researching AMD and retinal diseases, as evidenced by their giving up a Saturday to speak at the seminar. I might add that in addition to their presentations Saturday, they had to prepare for the seminar talks in advance, and that preparation was very evident in their concise, informative presentations.
In future editions of this blog I will cover the topics presented in more detail and their implications to vision care practitioners and patients. It is very impressive that the seminar presented the most current state of research and treatment by those working to treat patients, research better treatments, and aim for a cure for AMD.
Speaking of commitment, the role of the Macular Vision Research Foundation is also quite evident and impressive and I recommend that you visit their website (www.mvrf.org), support their work, and if you are involved in AMD and retinal disease research and studies, contact them about your work.
The Foundation was created in 1997 by Karen and Herb Lotman. Herb is the founder and chairman of Keystone Foods Corporation. Herb is a very gracious man and he spoke passionately about creating the Foundation to help improve treatment of AMD and other retinal diseases and ultimately to find cures. Interestingly, much of the work that has led to better AMD treatments and protocols has been funded by the Foundation. In fact, since its founding, it has provided 175 research grants totaling more than $17 million for research related to retinal diseases. The Lotman family underwrites all the administrative and fundraising costs of the Foundation, including the SupportSight conferences, meaning that 100% of all donations go directly to research that will one day help prevent and cure debilitating eye diseases.
Look to future blog posts to describe the sessions covered in the seminar and their implications to vision care professionals and patients.
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Be visionary with Gulden!
One of the areas promoted at the seminar was the use of Amsler Grids to perform a simple, very easy self test of vision quality. Gulden Amsler Grids are a low-cost, effective way for your patients to check for changes in their macula and we and the Foundation encourage patients to perform this simple test routinely – it only takes a few moments to test each eye and the test can warn of changes that require immediate professional medical attention. We offer magnetic grids in packs of 10 for distribution to patients. They can be custom printed by us or by you with your practice name and contact information.
Click the link below to learn more about our Amsler Grids: https://guldenophthalmics.com/ccp7/Magnetic-Modified-Amsler-Grid-10-pack
Tom Cockley is president of Gulden Ophthalmics and is the third generation of the nearly 75-year-old visionary company that brings innovative, time-saving, utilitarian products to vision and health care professionals.
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