FREE VISION SEMINAR OFFERS HOPE AND HELP TO BOSTON PATIENTS WITH BLINDING DISEASES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boston, MA. (Wednesday, February 9, 2011) – New England Eye Center is pleased to announce that Johanna M. Seddon, M.D., ScM, an Ophthalmologist and leading researcher at New England Eye Center will be a featured speaker at a vision seminar open to the public held by the Foundation for Fighting Blindness. Dr. Seddon is a pioneer in nutritional research in age-related macular degeneration and cataract, as well as in the field of ophthalmic epidemiology and genetics. For more than 20 years, Dr. Seddon has received NIH grants on epidemiologic, biologic, and genetic biomarkers for macular degeneration, and has made original contributions in these areas.

She was a vice-president and trustee of ARVO, and the recipient of the inaugural Maurice F. Rabb, Jr. Award from Prevent Blindness America, for dedication and contributions to prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is proudly hosting its Boston Vision Seminar on Saturday, March 5, 2011, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., at Harvard Medical School’s Joseph B. Martin Conference Center. This free informational symposium is part of the Foundation’s Vision Seminar Series, a nationwide public health education program developed to educate patients on the latest preventions, treatments, and clinical trials for age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and related diseases. These diseases affect more than 10 million Americans.

Seminar topics include retinal research advancements; disease diagnosis, maintenance, and treatment; clinical trials; and low vision rehabilitation. The seminar will feature presentations from Boston-area retinal specialists Michael Young, Ph.D., from the Schepens Eye Institute; Johanna M. Seddon, M.D., ScM, from the New England Eye Center; and Stephen Rose, Ph.D., from the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Local low vision organizations will be onsite to demonstrate their products and services.

“Seminars like this one allow the Foundation Fighting Blindness to provide patients around the country with critical information on their conditions, present them with resources to cope with their vision loss, and update them on the ongoing research that is taking place in search of a cure,” states Angela Vasquez, Director of Communications and Marketing for the Foundation.

The seminar is free to attend and open to the public. Parking is available onsite and a continental breakfast will be provided. Advance registration is requested; call 800-329-0703 to reserve a seat. This seminar is supported by an educational grant from Genentech.

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About the New England Eye Center

New England Eye Center (NEEC) is the ophthalmology department for Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. New England Eye Center offers a full range of comprehensive ophthalmology including treatments for cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, pediatric ophthalmology, and aesthetic surgery. New England Eye Center is also a leading provider of Laser Vision Correction in Greater Boston and New England offering a full range of vision correction procedures for all types of eye conditions. For more information about the New England Eye Center, go to www.NEEC.com.

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About Foundation Fighting Blindness

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is the largest non-governmental source of funding for retinal degenerative disease research in the world and has raised over $400 million. Diseases such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and Usher syndrome affect more than 10 million Americans, young and old. For more information about the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, go to www.FightBlindness.org.

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Contact: William R. Sacco, New England Eye Center

(617) 636-1055 or [email protected]

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