Manchester, New Hampshire

Next Seminar: To be determined

Previous Seminars:

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The MVRF Buddy System
The MVRF SupportSight Buddy System enables a patient, recently diagnosed with macular degeneration to be paired with a person living successfully with the disease who has volunteered to be a “Buddy.”

This letter was received by Samuel Gold, M.D., retina specialist, Manchester, NH.

August 15, 2004

Dear Dr. Gold,

A week ago you gave me the names of Betty and Martha to call and to talk to. I was hesitant about doing this but this morning I did. It was a most delightful experience.

I found that Betty and I have much in common. She said she lived in Francestown and I told her my second grade teacher, of some seventy-five years ago, was from Francestown and when I told her the name, Betty said she had been a good friend of her family. Betty is 82 the same age as I am. I told her of my daughter-in-law who teaches horseback riding and she told me her daughter was into horses as well. The conversation was great.

Martha the second lady was equally delightful. We compared our eye conditions and families. I have a granddaughter who attends Simmons College and she has a daughter who has graduated from Simmons.

This was a good experience for me and I am glad I made the calls. I plan to be in touch with each again and I hope that they will call me as well. Thank you for suggesting this to me.

—Virginia

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Previous Seminars:

November 17, 2007
November 17 was an exciting and informative day in Manchester, both for people with macular degeneration and their families and friends. The Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF) partnered with Samuel C. Gold, M.D. to present a free seminar for the public at the Palace Theater. The enthusiastic crowd on hand indicated that this large population was eager for information.

Lea Bramnick, the Executive Director of the MVRF, took the stage first to explain that the mission of MVRF is to fund research into the cause, prevention, treatment and ultimately the cure for macular degeneration. These goals are all made possible 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. Gold, the seminar's co-sponsor, presented a session about the very latest information on research and treatments for macular degeneration. The session was followed by a lively Q&A with the audience.

His second session, "Genetics – Will Your Family Members Get Macular Degeneration?" addressed the science behind this disease and broke the information down in ways that were easily understood by the audience. He discussed what family members can do to find out if they have macular degeneration. He also outlined information from the latest genetic studies.

Finally, Mary Betty Roeder addressed the crowd to talk about her own experiences with macular degeneration, how it has affected her life and how she has learned to cope and thrive with it.

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September 17, 2006
Dr. Samuel Gold and the Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF) presented the fifth seminar in a series on September 17 called SupportSight. The meeting was attended by more than 75 people, and the audience, as always, was eager for the information provided, asking engaging questions and delivering great applause.

Dr. Gold talked about the newest information and treatments available for macular degeneration. This disease, the leading cause of vision loss among people over the age of 50, is the subject of a great deal of research, and the prevention and possible cure is of great interest.

This seminar focused on the role of relationships and how friends and family can help people with macular degeneration learn to cope with their disease. Two representatives from the Folkways Program at Elliot Hospital, Betty Welch, Ph.D., and Sandra Netto-Marceau, LICSW, spoke about the importance of the caregiving role when facing macular degeneration. They offered valuable insight and concrete suggestions for how to provide the best support for the family member or friend who has the disease.

This led nicely into presentations by two women who both have macular degeneration. Martha Warren, a patient of Dr. Gold’s, was delightful and funny as she recounted her experiences with her limited sight. Mary Betty Roeder, the national spokesperson for MVRF, amazed the audience with her inspirational and humorous stories. Both women put smiles on the faces of many people in the audience.

The last speaker of the day was Julie Sokoloff, representing MVRF from the organization’s headquarters in Philadelphia. Julie discussed the Foundations’ background and mission, and directed people to its website for more information.

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Manchester Low Vision Fair

The Manchester chapter of SupportSight hosted a low vision fair to help people living with macular degeneration. SupportSight, sponsored by the Macula Vision Research Foundation, is a national series of seminars that are held throughout the country, and in Manchester the organization works under the guidance of Dr. Samuel Gold.

The low vision fair conducted in Manchester was held on October 30 and nearly 200 people attended. The fair provided opportunities for people who suffer from macular degeneration and their loved ones to preview services and products for the visually impaired. Many new items were demonstrated and attendees were able to test equipment.

New computer products, gadgets and aids were on display, and the people in attendance were able to network and share coping tips they have discovered to make their own lives easier.

The Macula Vision Research Foundation’s mission is to find the cause, prevention, treatment and cure for macula vision diseases with the goal of saving sight and providing public education about the condition. One hundred percent of every dollar raised by the Foundation goes directly to funding research, as all of the administrative costs are underwritten. The organization can be reached, toll-free, at 1-866-4-macula. (866-462-2852.)

The Macula Vision Research Foundation Support Group’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of the ever-growing population who are affected by or concerned with macular degeneration through public education. The 866-4-macula hotline will respond to the needs of patients, their families and loved ones, through question and answer sessions following all public education programs and providing printed and taped literature.

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Manchester Seniors Attend Seminar on Services for the Visually Impaired

November 8, 2004
Samuel C. Gold, M.D., and the Macula Vision Research Foundation presented the second in a series to provide information to Manchester area seniors coping with macular degeneration. The meeting focused on the services available for visually impaired people in the Manchester area, and more than 100 people attended at the Palace Theater. Dr. Gold provided the audience with an overview on current research on macular degeneration, and other speakers included a low vision therapist as well as a rehabilitation counselor who shared information about community resources for people who have low vision.

Speakers at the Meeting

Dr. Gold discussed clinical trials for macular degeneration. Kimberly Stumpf, a Low Vision Therapist, discussed low vision services and adaptive aids. Guy Woodland, Vice President of Rehabilitation services discussed living with low vision, and Rose Prescott a Program Coordinator in Manchester discussed community resources available to people who suffer from low vision.

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 Manchester provide people with an outlet to share concerns and learn coping techniques from others who have found ways to solve some problems. Dr. Gold, an ophthalmologist specializing in diseases of the retina in Manchester is very pleased to be able to refer his patients to SupportSight seminars, knowing that the discussions and shared experiences that they have with other patients are invaluable.

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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First MVRF SupportSight of Manchester Meeting

April 12, 2003
Samuel C. Gold, M.D. local ophthalmologist specializing in diseases of the retina, and the Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF), conducted SupportSight, the first-ever national series of support group seminars for patients suffering from macular degeneration and their families in the Manchester area on Saturday, April 12, 2003. The SupportSight seminar took place at the Palace Theatre in Manchester from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Attendance was open to the public and there was no charge. The seminar was well-attended by 150 people, and included a lively and informative question and answer period.

Program
Samuel C. Gold, M.D. discussed:

Mary Betty Roeder, an 81 year-old legally blind macular degeneration patient from West Chester, Pennsylvania discussed:

Lea S. Bramnick, Executive Director, Macula Vision Research Foundation discussed the Foundation and its history and commitment to research and support for those with macular degeneration.

Age-related Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in American adults over 60, but the nearly 15 million people affected are often reluctant to discuss their condition or ask for help. There is a great need to raise awareness about macular degeneration - to bring this condition to the public eye.

Support Group Research
Healthcare research has shown that support groups can be very helpful to people who suffer from diseases such as macular degeneration. “I am thrilled to be able to bring the SupportSight program to my patients and to everyone who suffers from macular degeneration in the Manchester area,” said Dr. Gold. “I am diagnosing new patients every day, and a forum for sharing coping mechanisms and understanding this complicated and devastating disease can be accomplished best in an environment where everyone is facing the same obstacle.”

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 into the cause, prevention, treatment, and ultimately the cure for macular degeneration.

"I was shocked at how little people knew about this issue, which is becoming an epidemic with the growth of the aging population," said Herbert Lotman, Founder, Macula Vision Research Foundation. "This organization was founded to find the cure for this disease and to save the sight of the millions affected. This can and will be done, but only through fundraising support for critical research, some of which is discussed at these seminars. We are also aware of the great need for support for patients with macular degeneration and their families."

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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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