According to the Retina Foundation of the Southwest Board Chair Tia Tomlin,
“Our research is not slowing down this holiday season and remains as critical as ever.” For 38 years, the Retina Foundation of the Southwest’s unwavering mission to prevent vision loss and restore sight through innovative research and treatment has prevailed. The Retina Foundation provides specialized vision evaluations, genetic testing and counseling, and participation in clinical trials to 2,300 children and adults annually for those affected by pediatric eye conditions, inherited eye diseases, and age-related macular degeneration – all completely free of charge.
“One wish we have for 2020 is to help more people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This disease is the most common cause of vision loss for individuals 50 years of age and older in the United States, and is becoming too prevalent in our community. AMD is a progressive disease of the retina that is complex and currently without a cure. The Retina Foundation is able to give hope to patients through our clinical trials and laboratory research.
“Our wish is to expand our clinical program for AMD by increasing the number of personalized, cutting-edge and in-depth vision evaluations we can provide to adults diagnosed with AMD. These comprehensive evaluations utilize state-of-the-art equipment that is not available at a general eye doctor’s office. For example, we are currently the only site in the country utilizing a quick contrast sensitivity test, or qCSF. This machine will display letters of varying levels of blurriness, and based off the patient’s response, will customize the test to their eyes. Our research has shown that this is a much more precise method of measuring vision than the standard eye chart. Additionally, we are one of two sites in Texas and one of a dozen in the country to have the latest and most advanced OCT Angiography model currently available. This test is completely noninvasive and works without injections or dyes, and documents blood flow through a patient’s eye. By expanding our clinical program for AMD, we can focus on accelerating our efforts to unravel the mystery of and develop therapies for AMD.
“With support from individuals like you, we can continue to advance our sight-saving mission to make a lifetime of good vision a reality for everyone. Please visit www.retinafoundation.org or call us at 214.363.3911 to learn more or to make your donation today! Whatever amount you choose to donate, please know it will have a positive impact on those individuals experiencing vision loss – and they deserve the best treatment possible.”
* Graphic/photo provided by Retina Foundation Of The Southwest
