Team Eye and Ear Boston 2018
Eugene DeSimone is running the 2018 Boston Marathon and raising $10,000 in support of the work done at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.
Summary of the Main Plans
Show Who The Massachusetts Eye & Ear Institute Founder Is.
Show How Massachusetts Eye & Ear Institute Could Financially Gain.
Show How Raising Funds Could Help The Research.
Show What Age Related Macular Degeneration is.
Show Stages of Macular Degeneration.
Show Fifteen Questions To Ask Once Diagnosed With AMD
Explain the long-term course to follow
Show who is Representing Massachesetts Eye & Ear Institute
Show How The Presenter ‘Eugene DeSimone’ is Achieving Raising The Funds
Desired Goal
To Raise $ 10 000 for Massachesetts Eye & Ear Institute
The Goal
To Run The ‘2018’ Boston Marathon
Who Was The Founder Of Massachesetts Eye & Ear Research Institute?
Founded in 1950 by famed retinal surgeon Charles L. Schepens, M.D., Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear is one of the largest eye research institutes in the nation and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Since their origin, they have trained more than
600 post-doctoral fellows in various disciplines of eye research;
500 eye surgeons who now practice world wide
Published more than 4,600 scientific papers and books about health and eye disease.
So How Would Massachusetts Eye & Ear Institute Gain Financially ?
Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear fights blindness by developing
- New technologies.
- Therapies.
- Knowledge to retain and restore vision.
- continuing research & discovery.
The Institute Works Toward A future In Which Blindness Is
- Prevented.
- Alleviated.
- Ultimately cured.
So How Can They Help In The Research?
Their affiliates Harvard Medical School have 41 research fellows working on the are working on the Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
It is a Centre of Excellence which is dedicated to unravelling the complex and multi factorial causes of AMD, the leading cause of blindness in developed countries.
Investigators in the AMD Center of Excellence made numerous ground breaking contributions to the understanding and treatment of AMD.
They pioneered the pharmacology treatment of AMD with the development of verteporfin photodynamic therapy (Visudyne).
They also identified the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in vascular eye disease, forming the scientific basis of current anti-VEGF therapies for neovascular AMD, diabetic macular edema, and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
their researchers are currently working to advance the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AMD;
- They are investigating the risk factors (genetic and environmental) that predispose individuals to the disease.
- Working to define the underlying pathophysiology with a goal of developing novel approaches to diagnosis and therapy.
No Research is free, it takes time and a phenomenal amount of resources.
Schepens Eye Research Institute’s primary goal is to eliminate blindness.
Reaching a goal requires financial resources to support laboratory and clinical research activities – now and for the future.
As a non-profit organization, Schepens relies on revenue streams from the
- Federal Government.
- Foundations.
- Corporations.
- Endowment.
- Generosity of private individuals such as Eugene DeSimone.
Schepens is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and most gifts qualify for a charitable tax deduction. Charitable giving opportunities include cash, securities, real estate, pension assets, business interests, and tangible personal property.
So What Is Macular Degeneration?
Age Related Macular (MAK-u-luh) Degenerative (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries and ranks third worldwide after cataract and Glaucoma.
“Macular Degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central portion of the retina, the inside back layer of the eye that records the images we see and sends them via the optic nerve from the eye to the brain. The retina’s central portion, known as the macula, is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye, and it controls our ability to read, drive a car, recognize faces or colours, and see objects in fine detail.”
Illustrations of the anatomy of a normal human eye and loss of central vision:
Macular degeneration, also called age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD), affects the macula, which is the central portion of the retina of the eye. … Dry form: This type results from the gradual breakdown of cells in the macula, which can result in a gradual blurring of central vision.
There is as yet no outright cure for age-related macular degeneration, but some treatments may delay its progression or even improve vision. Treatments for macular degeneration depend on whether the disease is in its early-stage, dry form or in the more advanced, wet form that can lead to serious vision loss.
Eye injections reversing macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. There is no cure, but there are treatments to slow or even reverse its progression, including injections into the eyes.
Dry macular degeneration symptoms usually develop gradually and without pain. They may include: Visual distortions, such as straight lines seeming bent. Reduced central vision in one or both eyes.
The wet/neovascular type affects approximately 10-15% of individuals with age-related macular degeneration, but dry accounts for approximately 85-90% of all cases of severe vision loss from the disease. In wet, age-related macular degeneration, abnormal blood vessels under the retina begin to grow toward the macula.
It’s generally caused by abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid or blood into the macula Wet macular degeneration is one of two types of age-related macular degeneration. The other type — dry macular degeneration — is more common and less severe.
The wet type always follows after the dry type.
During the early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly if only one eye is affected, you may not have symptoms. AMD also causes no pain that might suggest that something is wrong. An eye doctor may be able to detect early signs of the disease before symptoms appear.
Stages of Macular Degeneration
There are three stages of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Early AMD – Most people do not experience vision loss in the early stage of AMD, which is why regular eye exams are important, particularly if you have more than one risk factor (see below). Early AMD is diagnosed by the presence of medium-sized drusen (yellow deposits beneath the retina).
Intermediate AMD – At this stage, there may be some vision loss, but there still may not be noticeable symptoms. A comprehensive eye exam with specific tests will look for larger drusen and/or pigment changes in the retina.
Late AMD – At this stage, vision loss has become noticeable.
Fifteen Questions To Ask Once Diagnosed With Macular Degeneration
- Do I have “wet” or “dry” macular degeneration?
- Does it affect both eyes?
- What stage is it in, early, intermediate, or advanced?
- What is the likelihood that my AMD will progress?
- What are my treatment options?
- Do they include injections and are there new studies of other treatments?
- Can diet, exercise, supplements and other lifestyle changes help slow the progression of macular degeneration?
- Are my children and siblings at risk?
- Should they be examined?
- What can I do to stay independent?
- What should I tell my family?
- How often do I need to get check-ups?
- Can you recommend a retinal or macular degeneration specialist, a vision rehabilitation centre, and support groups?
- Am I legally blind?
- Should I register with the Commission for the Blind?
Causes of AMD
The specific factors that cause macular degeneration are not conclusively known, and research into this little understood disease is limited by insufficient funding. At this point, what is known about age-related Macular Degeneration is that the causes are complex, but include both heredity and environment.
Scientists are working to understand what causes the cells of the macula to deteriorate, seeking a macular degeneration treatment breakthrough. They know the causes are not the same for Age-related Macular Degeneration as they are for Stargardt disease. Stargardt disease has a specific genetic cause in most cases, whereas AMD involves both genetic and environmental factors.
Dr. Carl Kupfer, the former Director of the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, has stated that Macular Degeneration will soon take on aspects of an epidemic as the Baby Boomers’ age:
“As the “baby boom” generation ages, and in the absence of further prevention and treatment advances, the prevalence of AMD is estimated to reach epidemic proportions of 6.3 million Americans by the year 2030.”
AMDF supports research on age-related macular degeneration symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Probable Risk Factors;
The biggest risk factor for Macular Degeneration is age. Your risk increases as you age, and the disease is most likely to occur in those 55 and older.
Other risk factors include:
- Genetics – People with a family history of AMD are at a higher risk.
- Race – Caucasians are more likely to develop the disease than African-Americans or Hispanics/Latinos.
- Smoking – Smoking doubles the risk of AMD.
Treatement
There is currently no known cure for Macular Degeneration, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk and possibly slow the progression once you’ve been diagnosed.
For example, one can pursue lifestyle changes like
-
Dieting.
-
Exercise.
-
avoiding smoking.
-
protecting your eyes from ultra violet light
Long Term Plans
-
To Raise $ 10 000
-
To run Marathon to Raise it.
So Who Is Running The Boston Marathon?
Eugene DeSimone
Eugene DeSimone
He is running in tribute to his
- Dearest Mother.
- Auntie Mickey.
- Uncle Joey.
- Auntie Jenny
- Uncle Frankie.
- Uncle Davey
- Auntie Dee.
- Will (His running manager)
- Luke (His trainer)
“His mother’s generation was taught by Hollywood that smoking was glamorous and told by doctors that it was good for you.
Like so many of her peers, she believed all of it.
But all that glamour faded years before Ma started receiving monthly shipments of Books on Tape from the Perkins School for the Blind.
She died in 2001 after several years of blindness due to macular degeneration.
By now she’d be telling me to just shut up and raise some money.
I’ll run in tribute to her. ” Quoted By Eugene DeSimone 2018
His Auntie Mickey. She passed away in 1993 after several years of blindness with macular degeneration.
His Uncle Joey, who has blindness due to macular degeneration.
His Auntie Jenny. She has blindness due to macular degeneration.
His Uncle Frankie. He’s sort of a triple threat. He recently had eye surgery to repair a macular hole and has been deaf in one ear since his teens due to mastoiditis. He too has macular degeneration.
His Uncle Davey, he never had any serious vision issues. He was however, born deaf and spent his entire life in silence.
And Auntie Dee. Luckily she never suffered from any serious hearing or vision loss. Well, not unless you consider the loss suffered by all 6 of her siblings. That indeed is a great loss. More
Where Is He Running?
Boston Marathon (Click on link)
What Route is The Boston Marathon?
Map (Click on link)
When Is He Running?
Monday, 16th April, 2018.
How Is He Achieving This?
- Medical Checks (Check)
- Regular Practice (Training guide)
- Good Diet.
- Good Hydration. (Important)
- Good Rest.
- Positive Attitude.
- Confidence.
- Lots of Support.
(Click on links for more info)
What Is He Running In?
Gemma Dupont 