Yes I Can Blog
#69 Bright Focus Chats
Friday, January 31, 2025 by Deb Vellines
Readers, have you ever listened to a chat on Bright Focus?
This site covers information on Macular Degeneration and Alzheimer’s. Click on Macular and then on Resources. One of the resources is chats. Here’s the link to Bright Focus.
With this link, you can register for upcoming chats or find previous chats. You can listen to them or download the transcript. The downloads become available about a week following the live chat. So, you don’t need to worry if you miss the live one.
Here are upcoming chats:
- I Have Glaucoma . . . Now What – October 12, 2022, at 1 pm EST
- Adult Stem Cells as a Treatment Target for AMD – October 26, 2022, at 1 pm EST
Here are some recent chats that may interest you:
- Understanding Dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy
- Occupational Therapy for Low Vision: What you need to know
- Living your Best Life with Low Vision
- Influence of Diet, Genes, and Lifestyle on AMD
- The Latest on New Treatments for Wet AMD
- Ask a Retina Specialist
- AMD in Challenging Times: Tips for Living Well and Coping
The chat regarding occupational therapy is full of information.
It explains how this kind of therapy is helpful for problem-solving in specific situations of daily living. A primary care provider, optometrist, or ophthalmologist can recommend the therapist. Medicare requires a referral. Here’s the link to that chat.
https://www.brightfocus.org/macular/chat/occupational-therapy-low-vision-what-you-need-know
Home visits are helpful for assessments.
“We can come into your home and help you problem solve and figure out what is bothering you the most.”
This can include offering small adjustments to make a huge difference: with, for example, fall prevention, lighting (tone and wattage), cooking, magnifiers, organization, and identification with rubber bands and nubbies.
The chat AMD: Your Questions Answered is exciting because of the discussion of advances in treating macular.
This chat explains how the Port Delivery System implanted near the front of the eye can be filled with Lucentis. The drug is released slowly so the port may only need to be refilled every 6 months. That reduces the number of required injections. Also, the speaker explains the clinical trial of gene therapy for wet macular.
He also talks about cataract surgery, dry eyes, AREDS formula, and the impact of diet on vision health.
As you will see, the chats are full of the latest news regarding macular. Some of the information is technical, but all of it is encouraging as far as treatment and prevention.
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