SupportSight Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Next Seminar: January 17, 2009

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Previous Seminars:

January 11, 2008

The Retina Group of Florida hosted a Low Vision Fair on Friday, January 11. The fair was free and open to the public, and was well-attended by many people who had never realized how many low vision aids are available.

Product demonstrations and hands-on trials really helped attendees to recognize the immediate value of the low vision aids. The fair included magnifiers, CCTVs, Nuvision, Jordy, and a wide variety of gadgets and aids designed to assist people with low vision.

Co-sponsored by the Macula Vision Research Foundation based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the fair was extremely well-received by the enthusiastic participants.

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January 13, 2007
On January 13, the Retina Group of Florida and the Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF) presented Support Sight, a free program for people interested in learning more about macular degeneration. Attended by patients and their caregivers, families and friends, the crowd was welcomed by Lea S. Bramnick, Executive Director of MVRF. Ms. Bramnick explained that the mission of MVRF is to fund research into the cause, prevention, treatment, and ultimately the cure for macular degeneration is aided by the fact that one hundred percent of all dollars raised go toward this goal, as the organization is entirely underwritten for all administrative expenses.

Dr. Scott R. Anagnoste addressed the group about the newest research and treatment for macular degeneration. Dr. Krista Rosenberg then discussed the potential new information to be learned from AREDS2 (the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2), a study that began in the Spring of 2007. This study will look at the addition of lutein and other potentially helpful ingredients into the AREDS formula.

Marc Gannon, OD, FAAO, talked about the use of adaptive aids, explaining the value they can provide to people living with macular degeneration. He stressed that an understanding of the different adaptive aids, and the great changes they can provide, is key to accepting their use and benefits.

Michelle Wessel, OTR/L, discussed the use of occupational therapy as a great help to people with the condition. Many in the audience were unaware of the value it can bring to a person with macular degeneration.

Finally, Mary Betty Roeder, a spokesperson for MVRF, addressed the group. Ms. Roeder is a patient living with macular degeneration, and her positive outlook and daily activity schedule would make a very young person with able vision tired. She is energetic and vibrant, and her account of her personal experiences living with her condition were inspirational to everyone.

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Florida Seniors Attend Seminars on Macular Degeneration

January 14, 2006
The Retina Group of Florida partnered with the Macula Vision Research Foundation to present seminars on macular degeneration on Saturday, January 14. Held twice on the same day at separate times and separate locations, each seminar had an audience of nearly 100 people.

In the morning, starting at 9:30, the expert panel assembled at the City of Sunrise Civic Center Theater and that afternoon at Florida Atlantic University. The first speaker, Dr. Jonathan Yoken, provided an overview of macular degeneration to the group, many of whom were diagnosed patients as well as family and friends of people with the disease. The morning session featured Dr. Scott Anagnoste presenting information on the latest treatment options and newest research findings, and in the afternoon, this portion of the program was delivered by Dr. Lawrence Halperin.

The audience was particularly interested in the talk by Laura Henry, Director of Programs at The Lighthouse, who discussed how depression can accompany a diagnosis of macular degeneration. Ms. Henry provided insight for what signs to look for if a patient is depressed, and the many ways to rise above it.

Finally, Gloria Charles gave a thoughtful presentation on her own experience living with macular degeneration, leaving the audience inspired and optimistic. A copy of her poem “I C Differently” can be found on the Coping page of this web site.

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More than Two Hundred Seniors Attend Ft. Lauderdale Seminar on Macular Degeneration

January 8, 2005
On January 8, 2005, a crowd of more than 200 seniors from the South Florida area attended a free seminar on macular degeneration. Sponsored by the Retina Group of Florida and the Macula Vision Research Foundation, the free, public meeting was held at Florida Atlantic University.

The agenda started with Dr. Barry S. Taney, who provided an overview of the research and treatments available for macular degeneration. Dr. Jonathan Yoken followed with a talk on the progress of current clinical trials, and Lea S. Bramnick, the executive director of the Macula Vision Research Foundation, discussed the foundation's mission and services.

Speakers at the Meeting

In addition to the speakers on the agenda, two invited guests also offered valuable information to the eager crowd. Dawn DeCarlo, O.D., M.S., Chief, Low Vision and Geriatric Services at Nova Southeastern University, discussed the many low vision services that are available for any qualified patient. Many in the audience were unaware of the unique services, such as newspapers read over the telephone, large print papers and special transportation opportunities. Lastly, two patients who live very successfully with macular degeneration, Jerry Rosenberg and Aaron Beckwith, each offered encouraging and stimulating personal stories of how they cope with their disease. These speakers were perhaps provided the most impact of the morning, as patients and their family members always remark about the importance of hearing from people who can actually understand what it is like to suffer from this devastating disease and to lead fulfilling, active lives.

The Macula Vision Research Foundation

The Macula Vision Research Foundation gives 100 percent of every dollar raised to research and public education programs, as the administrative costs of the Foundation are underwritten. It has been estimated that with seven adults turning 50 every minute, macular degeneration may become the disease of the 21st Century — by 2025 more than 23 million adults are expected to be diagnosed. Although there is no known cure, recent progress in research provides great hope for future discoveries of the cause, prevention, treatment and ultimately the cure for macular degeneration.

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Free Seminar for Visually Impaired Seniors Attracts Large Crowd

January 31, 2004
More than 350 Ft. Lauderdale-area residents turned out for a free seminar on coping with macular degeneration, held on January 31. The seminar was sponsored by Retina Vitreous Consultants, The Retina Group of Florida and The Macula Vision Research Foundation.

The seminar was the kickoff to a series of planned events and support groups for visually impaired people living in the Ft. Lauderdale area. Speakers included Ronald J. Glatzer, M.D., who provided an overview of the disease, Jonathan Yoken, M.D., who discussed appropriate treatments, and Alexander J. Brucker, M.D., who gave an update of vitamin therapy treatments. Drs. Glatzer and Yoken are retina specialists in practice with Retina Vitreous Consultants, The Retina Group of Florida. Dr. Brucker is Professor of Ophthalmology at the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Speakers at the Meeting
In addition to Drs. Glatzer, Yoken, and Brucker, there were two additional speakers who addressed the assembled group. Mary Betty Roeder is a motivational speaker who has coped with macular degeneration for many years. Her discussion is inspiring and uplifting for recently diagnosed patients as well as those who have suffered a long time with this degenerative disease. Lea S. Bramnick is the Executive Director of the Macula Vision Research Foundation, a foundation whose mission is to find the cause, prevention, treatment and cure for macula vision diseases with the goal of saving sight and to provide support and public education about the disease and support to those suffering from macular degeneration. The Foundation is based in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Macular Degeneration
Age related macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness and visual impairment in American adults over 65, and nearly 15 million people are affected. Surprisingly, however, according to a recent survey commissioned by AMD Alliance International, 58 percent of people in the United States were not at all familiar with the disease.

Macular degeneration causes deterioration of the macula, resulting in a loss of sharp, central vision. An impaired macula prevents a person from clearly seeing objects straight ahead, such as words on a page; television or the faces of loved ones. At its worst, sufferers of macular degeneration have only very limited peripheral vision.

Receiving the Diagnosis
When people receive this diagnosis, they are often frightened and confused, they usually do not know anything about macular degeneration and many do not know anyone who has the disease. It is very important to become knowledgeable about support services so that people can remain independent and continue to do things for themselves.

Support Groups
Support groups like SupportSight Austin provide people with an outlet to share concerns and learn coping techniques from others who have found ways to solve some problems. Dr. James Dooner along with his partners at Austin Retina Associates, Drs. Driver, Pierce, Harper, Martinez, McCrary, Kuhl and Levitan, are very pleased to be able to refer their patients to SupportSight seminars, knowing that the discussions and shared experiences that they have with other patients are invaluable.

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Contact

Would you like to volunteer?
Do you need more information?

SupportSight

Macula Vision Research Foundation SupportSight
Five Tower Bridge
300 Barr Harbor Drive, Suite 600
West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2984

Please call Lea Bramnick
Toll free 1-866-462-2852
1-866-4-macula
Email: lea@mvrf.org
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