BrightFocus Chats: Macular Degeneration

This Mental Health Awareness Month, join psychologist Ed McDaniel for an honest conversation about the emotional impact of being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and/or geographic atrophy (GA). Drawing from both his professional expertise and personal experience, Ed will share strategies for coping with anxiety, grief, and loss of independence—and how to start important conversations about mental health with your eye doctor. Learn about resources that can help you feel less alone.

Join us for a special discussion on clinical trials for macular degeneration. Experts from Genentech will provide an overview of the company's work in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and geographic atrophy, including the role of clinical trials and how they work. They will also share details about an upcoming clinical trial for geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry AMD, and what potential participants can expect.

Join us for a conversation about light therapy and macular degeneration, where we'll explore how different types of light—blue, red, and sunlight—affect the retina, the science behind light therapy, and the newly approved Valeda red light therapy. Plus, we'll answer listener questions about seasonal affective disorder (SAD) lights, red light therapy for early-stage AMD, and more. Bring your questions to ask our guest expert!

With two FDA-approved treatments now available for geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration, we'll explore how to navigate treatment options, engage in shared decision-making with your healthcare team, and maximize your eye health. February is Low Vision Awareness Month, so we'll also discuss support options for those living with vision loss.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on the latest developments in wet age-related macular degeneration treatment. We're partnering with the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) to bring you an overview of current treatment options, the impact of the Avastin shortage, and alternative treatments. We will also explore advocacy efforts by ASRS and the American Academy of Ophthalmology to address these issues.

This Macular Chat episode will cover practical tips for maintaining quality of life with low vision. From adaptive activities to resources like large print books, there are resources to help you live well.

Geographic atrophy is an advanced and severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration that, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible vision loss. Hear from guest expert Dr. Veeral Sheth about the latest treatments, research breakthroughs, and how to protect your vision.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on Stargardt disease, a rare inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration that affects about 1 in 10,000 children and young adults. Learn about the latest in diagnosis, genetic testing, and promising treatments, which researchers are also evaluating in geographic atrophy.

Macular Degeneration Research, a BrightFocus Foundation program, is supporting 49 active research grants around the world. Join us as our Scientific Affairs team highlights a few of these groundbreaking research projects working toward earlier detection and prevention, treatments, and a cure for macular degeneration.

What are the best foods to lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? If you already have AMD, can changing your diet slow the progression of the disease? This Macular Chat episode will explore how diet and nutrition influence the risk and progression of AMD and discuss the vital role that the gut microbiome plays in overall human health. Learn which foods to eat more of, which to avoid, and the latest research and clinical trials on AMD.

Geographic atrophy is an advanced and severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration that can lead to permanent vision loss. Guest expert Dr. Philip Niles shares what you need to know about identifying, preventing, and treating geographic atrophy and delving into the landscape of available treatments.

After a macular degeneration diagnosis, the best way to adapt to vision loss is to learn new ways of doing things. Ed Haines discusses the resources available from the organization Hadley, which provides practical, social, and emotional support to older adults adjusting to vision loss.

Does cataract surgery increase your risk of developing macular degeneration? Learn more during a conversation with guest expert Emily Y. Chew, MD, who will discuss this question and the relationship between cataracts and macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans aged 60 and older. Guest speaker Gayatri S. Reilly, MD answers questions and shares all the facts you need to know about wet and dry macular degeneration.

After a diagnosis of macular degeneration many individuals experience a range of emotions, including grief, anxiety, or depression. Our expert guest will define and discuss different emotions, as well as provide specialists and additional coping strategies and resources to consider.

Guest speaker Kapil Bharti, PhD discusses a new treatment for macular degeneration that is currently being studied using stem cell therapy to restore lost vision.

Guest speaker W. Lloyd Clark, MD, discusses a new anti-VEGF treatment option that is available for wet AMD. Dr. Clark specializes in the treatment of vitreous and retinal diseases. He is also dedicated to the advancement of new treatments for retinal diseases through his involvement with clinical trials for the newest therapies for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions.

Guest speaker Dr. Veeral Sheth, discusses geographic atrophy, an advanced and severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration, and the landscape of treatments that are currently available.

Katherine Freund, Founder and President of Independent Transportation Network of America, discusses how aging impacts our driving skills, explores alternatives to driving, as well as what you can do if there are no currently driving resources in your area.

The event featured guest speaker Preeti Subramanian, PhD, who oversees the Macular Degeneration Research and National Glaucoma Research programs at BrightFocus Foundation. Dr. Subramanian highlighted some of the exciting research currently funded by BrightFocus.

This event featured Rob Howden and Diane Marshall, both currently living with geographic atrophy, the advanced form of dry macular degeneration. They give a firsthand account of daily living with geographic atrophy and discuss the importance of diagnosis.

This event featured Dr. Surendra Sharma, Senior VP of Medical Affairs at Outlook Therapeutics. Dr. Sharma discussed the difference between Wet AMD and Dry AMD, who is at risk for Wet AMD, and what treatment options are available.

BrightFocus Foundation hosted this Access Live event to discuss macular degeneration. This event featured Joshua Dunaief, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Dunaief spoke about symptoms and treatments for macular degeneration, including a new study of zebra fish to understand how they regenerate eye cells. Participants asked questions regarding eye injections, the risk factors of drusen turning into geographic atrophy and how important a healthy diet is to help prevent macular degeneration.

This event featured guest speakers Maureen Foley and Sheila Klein, who are both currently living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and gave firsthand accounts of daily living with low vision. They also discussed the biggest challenges and the resources they find most helpful while living with AMD.

This event featured Jerry Feliz, Access Technology Director at Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He discussed how to use a screen reader and apps the blind can use to help with daily activities. Jerry also spoke about his YouTube channel and he let participants know that he does private consultations for anyone that might need extra help increasing their independence with assistive technology.

BrightFocus Foundation hosted this monthly chat featuring Dr. Maria Richman, a Low Vision Rehabilitation Optometrist from Shore Family Eyecare in New Jersey. Dr. Richman discussed Advanced Macular Degeneration and provided an update on the investigational medical device called the SING Implantable Miniature Telescope. She discussed the improvements and benefits made to the new implantable telescope device as well as the criteria that is needed in order to join the clinical trial for the device.

This event featured Dr. Sally Temple and Dr. Jeffrey Stern who are both co-discoverers of stem cells in the human retinal pigment epithelium at the Neural Stem Cell Institute, who addressed the role of stem cells in central nervous system development, maintenance, and repair. There was also discussion about cell transplants to replace retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and clinical trials for stem cell therapy and AMD.

Understanding Dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy.” The event featured Dr. David S. Liao, a board-certified ophthalmologist at the Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, who specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the retina and vitreous. The hosts discussed a proposed and promising pharmaceutical under investigation for geographic atrophy (GA) using a targeted C3 therapy. There was also discussion about other possible treatment for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and GA, clinical research, how long eye disease may take to progress, and regular provider visits with optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Featuring Allysin Bridges-German, OTD, MA, OTR/L, who specializes in treating people living with low vision.

The Chat features Ranjoo Prasad, OD, Staff Optometrist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and Board Member of VisionLink Philadelphia. Learn how to improve your quality of life by using low vision devices, making adaptations to your hobbies and tasks, making the most of lighting, and finding services to assist in identifying the best strategies for you.

This chat features Dr. Rowan, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, and a scientist on the Nutrition and Vision Research Team at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, located at Tufts.

BrightFocus Foundation held this Access Live Event to speak with participants about eye care. Our guest speaker was Alicia Menezes, M.D., a Medical Director in U.S. Medical Affairs, Ophthalmology at Genentech. Topics of discussion included comprehensive exams, treatments, and new advances in research.

BrightFocus Foundation held this Access Live Event to speak with participants about eye care. This event featured Dr. Gayatri Reilly, Retina Specialist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Retina Group of Washington, who spoke about macular degeneration and the effects that it has on your eyes. Dr. Reilly also spoke about both wet and dry macular degeneration and understanding both forms of the disease. She discussed preparation for doctor visits regarding macular degeneration or any other eye disease.

BrightFocus Foundation hosted this Access Live Event to speak with participants about living and coping with age related vision diseases. The event featured Dr. Deirdre Johnston, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins Hospital, who discussed the impact that age related vision diseases has on older adults and common challenges that older adults face living alone. Dr. Deirdre Johnston also addressed the depression and anger that people face when dealing with an age-related vision disease and steps to take when facing those emotions.

BrightFocus Foundation held this Access Live Event to speak with participants about living with age-related macular degeneration. The event featured Dr. Joshua Dunaief from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center to provide tips on how to keep eyes healthy in the new year. Specific topics of discussion included stem cell research, new treatments, and dietary/vitamins that may be helpful to aid in this disease.

This event featured Jill Adelman and Liz Tully, both of whom are living with AMD. The guests shared helpful tips regarding doctors and specialists that assist with vision loss and shared the physical and psychological challenges of living with AMD.

The event featured experts including Moshe Vardi, Vice President and Global Medicine Team Lead at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and Aleksandar Skuban, MD, Executive Medical Director for Neurology and Ophthalmology Clinical Development and Translational Sciences at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Vardi explained the role of the immune system as it relates to GMD, or geographical atrophy. Dr. Skuban talked about studies being done to determine efficacy of new treatments, including Danicopan, for GMD.

he event featured experts including Moshe Vardi, Vice President and Global Medicine Team Lead at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and Aleksandar Skuban, MD, Executive Medical Director for Neurology and Ophthalmology Clinical Development and Translational Sciences at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Vardi explained the role of the immune system as it relates to GMD, or geographical atrophy. Dr. Skuban talked about studies being done to determine efficacy of new treatments, including danicopan, for GMD.

The event featured Joshua Dunaief, M.D., Ph.D., who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including prevention and treatment. There was specific discussion about overall vision health, new therapies, and which populations are more susceptible to AMD.

The event featured Arshad M. Khanani, MD, who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including an explanation on how gene therapy is being utilized. There was specific discussion about overall vision health, new therapies, and which populations are most susceptible to AMD.

The event featured Arshad M. Khanani, MD, who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including an explanation on how gene therapy is being utilized. There was specific discussion about overall vision health, new therapies, and which populations are most susceptible to AMD.

The event featured Arshad M. Khanani, MD, who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including an explanation on how gene therapy is being utilized. There was specific discussion about overall vision health, new therapies, and which populations are most susceptible to AMD.

The event featured Joshua Dunaief, M.D., Ph.D., who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including prevention and treatment. There was specific discussion about overall vision health, new therapies, and which populations are more susceptible to AMD.

The event featured Joshua Dunaief, M.D., Ph.D., who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including prevention and treatment. There was specific discussion about overall vision health, new therapies, and which populations are more susceptible to AMD.

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