CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Feb. 29, 2016 /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 SupportSightSM seminars on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in collaboration with The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama and The International Retinal Research Foundation. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50. Currently, 15 million Americans suffer from this eye disease. This number is expected to reach 20 million by the year 2020 due to the aging baby boomer population.
The free seminars will be held on:
- Tuesday, March 8, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at The Club located at 1 Robert S. Smith Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35209.
- Wednesday, March 9, 2016 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts located at One Museum Drive, Montgomery, Alabama 36117.
- Thursday, March 10, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at VIA Health, Fitness & Enrichment Center located at 1717 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36604.
The SupportSightSM 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, bringing together family members, caregivers and patients, all affected by AMD. "We look forward to collaborating with our friends at MVRF to bring this program to the residents of Alabama," stated Torrey DeKeyser, Executive Director of The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama. "ESFA is better able to do this through the newly-created Alabama Vision Coalition (AVC) which is a statewide effort to promote eye health for all Alabamians through education, early identification, and access to care and rehabilitation services."
The seminars draw an average of 200 participants and are led by the top local retina specialists, low vision experts and researchers. "MVRF's primary goal is to find a cure for AMD and we are getting closer and closer," explains Dawn Prall George, Executive Director of MVRF. "Millions of people live with this devastating disease every day. Our SupportSightSM program helps them better understand their AMD and learn coping skills that will help them in their daily lives."
To date, the SupportSightSM seminars have served more than 40,000 people all over the country. The Alabama SupportSightSM program is also provided through the generosity of our national sponsors: The Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, McDonald's Corporation, Healthy Vision Association, and Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, Barclays, and Optelec, U.S. Inc.
About 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 SupportSightSM seminars and newsletter. www.mvrf.org
About EyeSight Foundation of Alabama: The mission of ESFA is to serve as a catalyst to improve eyesight through research, education and access to care in throughout the State of Alabama. The foundation began its work in 1997 with an endowment of about $60 million. Over the years it has provided grant support totaling $60+ million to 58 organizations and programs in Alabama. www.eyesightfoundation.org
About International Retinal Research Foundation: IRRF upholds a commitment to accelerate and sustain targeted research efforts into the diseases of the human eye, especially its center, the macula, with specific concentration into the areas of discovering the causes, preventions, and cures of macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The IRRF will accomplish its mission by providing financial support of vision research directly, as well as through training fellowships, public awareness programs, and the promotion of the exchange of research findings. Since 1998, the IRRF has granted more than $16MM in support of scientific investigations targeting all structures of the human eye. www.irrfonline.org
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SOURCE Macula Vision Research Foundation
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