Vision Walk 2014

On June 28th, 2014, we closed our practice and walked a 5k at Oaks Park for a great cause - to help bring us closer to a cure, because a Cure is in Sight! Our team has raised $630.64 and volunteered our time to save and restore sight to the 10 million Americans living in darkness.  It was great to meet other generous teams and individuals who participated in this event.

Building on more than four decades of research, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is now on the verge of break-troughs that will transform the lives of people living with blinding retinal diseases (Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Macular Degeneration, Stargardt Disease, Usher Syndrome and others). Foundation-funded researchers are achieving remarkable success with a wide range of promising therapies for saving and restoring sight. Below are just a few examples of the research that is providing hope to millions affected by inherited retinal diseases.

* Gene therapy Restores Vision: The Foundation is funding clinical trials of gene therapy that have restored vision in patients who were virtually blind from a childhood form of RP. Thanks to treatments, they can now enjoy some of life's simple joys, like reading and paying baseball.

* Re-purposing Approved Drugs to Preserve Vision: Valproid acid, a drug that is FDA-approved to treat epilepsy, has shown promise for preserving vision in people with autosomal dominant forms of RP. The Foundations has launched a human trial to test this drug and, if effective, move it quickly out to patients who need it.

*Harnessing the Power of Stem Cells: Foundation-funded researchers are using stem cells derived from a variety of sources, including a person's own skin, to create healthy retinal cells that can potentially restore vision. Stem cell treatments hold great promise for people with advanced vision loss.

* Funding the Best in Retinal Research: The Foundation has funded studies at hundreds of promising institutions throughout the world.

At Uptown Eyecare & Optical, both Dr. Friberg and Dr. Scheiffele, are well versed in helping to diagnose, prevent and treat retinal diseases.  Both Doctors have a passion for ensuring that all of our patients have the most comprehensive eye care, and believe that the health of each one of your eyes is of the utmost importance.

Enjoy the photos from the fun event: 

 

A big THANK YOU to all these generous financial sponsors: Uptown EyeCare, Dr. Friberg, Dr. Scheiffele, Dr. Loy, Polina, Dave, Deb, Jamie, Johhny, John, Ken, Kimberly, and Sue.

http://www.fightblindness.org/site/TR/VISIONWALK/VisionWalktr?team_id=76227&pg=team&fr_id=5321