The Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF) To Host Free Seminars On Age-Related Macular Degeneration

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., June 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF), a national nonprofit focused on funding research to find a cure for macular degeneration and other retinal diseases including childhood blindness, will host FREE SupportSight^SM seminars on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. Currently, 11 million Americans suffer from this eye disease. This number is expected to reach 20 million by the year 2020.

The free seminars will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Chemical Heritage Foundation located at 315 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia and Wednesday, June 25, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Virtua, Barry Brown Health Education Center located at 106 Carnie Blvd. in Voorhees, New Jersey.

The SupportSight^SM seminars focus on the latest information on advancements in treatments and care of AMD and provide the audience with practical strategies to help them live more comfortably and maintain their physical and emotional well-being. The seminars are held in key cities throughout the country, providing the community with access to resources and clinical experts. They draw an average of 250 participants and are led by the top local retina specialists, low vision experts and researchers. "Our primary goal is to find a cure and we are getting closer and closer," said Dawn Prall George, executive director of MVRF. "Millions of people live with this devastating disease every day. Our SupportSight^SM program helps them better understand AMD and learn coping skills that will help them in their daily lives."

The seminars bring together family members, caregivers and patients, all affected by AMD, with the healthcare professionals who care for them. "The retina specialists are excited about working with MVRF. Our full patient schedules make it challenging for us to provide this type of information during appointments," said Dr. Alexander J. Brucker, retina specialist at The Scheie Eye Institute who helped develop the MVRF SupportSight^SM seminars. "These seminars are very effective. Patients learn about treatments, research and ways of coping and we have time to answer their questions and offer support. I am very proud to be associated with the program."

Over the past 17 years, the program has served more than 35,000 people all over the country.

The SupportSight^SM program is provided through the generosity of our sponsors: The Rae S. Uber Trust, a BNY Mellon Mid-Atlantic Charitable Trust, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group and our friends at Optelec.

About the Macula Vision Research Foundation:
The Macula Vision Research Foundation (MVRF) is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to finding a cure for macular degeneration and other retinal diseases. To reach this goal, MVRF funds groundbreaking research projects conducted by the world's top scientists with the hope of improving the lives of millions of people affected by visual impairment. What makes MVRF unique is that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to research. All administrative and fundraising expenses are underwritten by the Karen and Herb Lotman Foundation, allowing MVRF to allocate all donations towards finding a cure. Along with funding research, MVRF also provides education and outreach to those with visual impairments through our SupportSight^SM seminars and newsletter.  www.mvrf.org

SOURCE Macula Vision Research Foundation