The 2018 AMD Symposium attendees at a presentation.
There are more than 10 million people across the United States with macular degeneration. It’s considered a common eye condition and often the leading cause of vision loss for people over the age of 50. But does it have to be?
The Council is partnering with the UW Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences to share important information about the condition during the Virtual Age-Related Macular Degeneration Symposium on Thursday, October 14 from 4 to 6 pm.
“Patients and their families who suffer from a serious, chronic illness, such as macular degeneration, need tools to learn more about the condition and resources available to them,” Professor and Medical Director of the Wisconsin Reading Center Dr. Barbara Blodi says.
“Anyone attending will learn more about the specific tools already helping people with changing vision, continue to thrive,” Blodi says. “You’ll also have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about macular degeneration.”
The symposium will feature two panel discussions with topics including:
- What is macular degeneration?
- Why does this condition develop?
- How is prevention research improving?
- Who is offering new treatment methods?
- Where are resources available after diagnosis?
The event will also include various vendors from agencies and service providers who work directly with people who have vision loss.
“Attending the symposium is an excellent way to get current information and learn about products you never knew existed,” the Council’s Education and Vision Services Director Amy Wurf says.
“We want this to be a venue for people to get their questions and concerns answered.”
A discussion about vision rehabilitation will be led by a panel of staff from the Council and includes Wurf, a Certified Low Vision Therapist, Jean Kalscheur, a Vision Rehabilitation Teacher and Brent Perzentka, a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. The moderator will be the Council’s Access Technology Specialist Jim Denham.
The symposium is free and open to the public. It will be held online, and you’ll need to register ahead of time.
Thank you to the symposium sponsors: Lighthouse for the Blind, Associated Bank and SVA Certified Public Accountants.
