THE LATEST FROM MACULAR DEGENERATION PARTNERSHIP
SEPTEMBER 2017 AMD UPDATE
 
Disappointing News about Dry AMD study

Thomas Edison famously said, "I have not failed.  I just found 1,000 ways it would not work."  Those sentiments are echoed by Genentech, a company that conducted a huge clinical trial of individuals suffering from dry AMD.  At the end of year 1, study subjects did not show a change in the area affected by geographic atrophy.  Read more here. 
Beware of Falls!

A poorly lit, cluttered room can lead to one of the most deadly injuries a senior can sustain.

Read here to get some information and tips about how falls affect those living with AMD.  
Handheld Mobile Device monitors AMD

Your smart phone has become your doctor's assistant.  Healthcare providers, as well as biotech companies, are continually developing new ways to integrate monitoring and reporting on your health status without increasing the number of office visits. Read more here about an app that patients with AMD can use to test their vision.  
Did you know?

 

The first wave of the 78 million Baby Boomers-also called the "Silver Tsunami"- started turning age 65 in 2010. Each day, for the next 18 years afterward, 10,000 Americans will turn age 65 and be at greatest risk for age-related eye disease.

 
CLINICAL TRIALS:
Where Patients Make a Difference


A number of biotech and pharmaceutical companies have competing ideas on how to avoid or to treat dry AMD.  Late last year, Hemera Biosciences of Massachusetts was granted an IND (Investigational New Drug) to begin a small Phase I clinical trial.  The company is led by highly respected ophthalmologists from Tufts University in Boston. Click here to read more about this promising dry AMD clinical trial.   

WEBSITES WE LOVE:  MonkeySee


You can easily lose yourself in YouTube.  You will find clips of your favorite movies, interviews with world figures - many of whom are no longer alive - and even old movietone news reels.  Even if you can't see as clearly as you once could, you can listen and enjoy.

There are literally millions of offerings available on YouTube, and that ends up being one of the few failings of this website.  With so much to choose from, you can't separate the great from the mediocre.

The website MonkeySee is a small version of Youtube.  It has a library of over 16,000 professionally produced videos, so all the offerings are well done and have useful content.  Typing in the keyword 'macular degeneration' will reveal a dozen informative videos.  The website is worth a visit.
 
One small problem with MonkeySee (and Youtube) is that older content is not removed, so some of the videos may have out-of-date information.  Always check the date of filming when listening to video concerning medical research or treatments. 

After learning a bit more about AMD on MonkeySee, view some of their other videos.  NPR (National Public Radio) contributes videos about pop culture, and you'll find diverse topics from how to waltz to how to build a sandcastle. 

Welcome to our new Staff!

Macular Degeneration Partnership welcomed a new staff member in August.  Johanes (Jay) Santoso recently received his bachelors degree in Public Health from the University of California - Irvine. 

In addition to his interest in raising health awareness, Jay has direct experience working on basic science projects that may lead to a treatment for AMD.  While a student at UCI, he worked in the lab of Dr. Magdalene Seiler whose research involves replacing damaged photoreceptor cells in rats born with a degenerative retinal condition similar to AMD.  Dr. Seiler's work is supported by a grant from CIRM, the California taxpayer funded Center Institute for Regenerative Medicine.    

Jay's background as a Public Health major is perfect training for his position here at Macular Degeneration Partnership.  He will be contributing news stories to the E-update, performing community outreach, and managing our social media - by the way, have you visited our FaceBook page recently?
 
Your Support Makes a Difference   
 
Thank you to our thoughtful donors.  Your gifts make it possible to Macular Degeneration Partnership to continue to provide services.   

Did you know that 100% of your gift to the UCI Foundation is used exclusively to support the Macular Degeneration Partnership?
 
Anyone in the U.S. who makes a donation to Macular Degeneration Partnership will receive a set of ten Amsler Grid magnets.   Keep one on your refrigerator, and share the rest with friends.  Your support helps us continue to raise awareness about AMD.  Thank you!


If you'd like to mail your check,  
please send it to:
 
Macular Degeneration Partnership
850 Health Sciences Road
Irvine, CA 92697
 
  Thank you for your generosity!  

Our Pledge . . .
 
The Macular Degeneration Partnership seeks to provide comprehensive and easily understood information about living with age-related macular degeneration for everyone who needs it.   Visit our website www.amd.org for information, or call us at 888-430-9898 if you have a question. 
 
Good health to you,
Mary Prudden
Executive Program Director

Founded in 1998, the Macular Degeneration Partnership is a program of the Discovery Retina Center, 
Gavin Herbert Eye Institute,
University of California, Irvine.

888-430-9898 | www.amd.org | [email protected]