Vision Loss
Many Americans suffer from vision impairment. As we age, vision loss becomes more of an issue. While some eye diseases cannot be prevented, there are others that you have more control over. The Alliance has many helpful resources available on age-related macular degeneration. You can find more information on other diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma by visiting the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research’s website.Visit our VISION HEALTH RESOURCE GUIDE
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, causes vision loss in the central field of vision and is one of the leading causes of lost independence for people over the age of 60.
The Alliance has developed a number of resources for patients that answer many of the commonly asked questions about AMD; and for health care professionals, that offer information on prevention, detection, and treatment.
Visit the AMD Health Corner to learn more about AMD.
Related Publications
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ReportThe Silver Book: Vision Loss Volume II
More than 38 million Americans age 40 and older are blind, visually impaired, or have an age-related eye disease, and adult vision loss costs our economy more than $51 billion a year. With major advances in vision research bringing new prevention and treatments, it is critical that support for research and incentives for innovation remain a priority.
In order to highlight this important data and encourage conversations and policies that look to investments in innovation rather than short-term cost-cutting and health care rationing, the Alliance for Aging Research has teamed up with the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR) during their Decade of Vision, to release Volume II of The Silver Book®:Vision Loss. Volume II brings updated data on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma—which along with cataract, are the eye diseases that disproportionately impact older Americans. This new volume also highlights the exciting changes and discoveries in vision research and treatment from the past 5 years. -
PodcastCER Interview with Cynthia Bens
August 14, 2012
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Aging Research Drug Development Drug Safety Federal Funding Health Medical Innovation Other Diseases of Aging Policy Quality of Care Research Vision Loss
Cynthia Bens is the Director of Public Policy at the not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Ms. Bens is responsible for guiding the organization's federal policy work, representing the Alliance in multiple national coalitions, and directing the Accelerate Cure/Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease (ACT-AD) Coalition. For the past eleven years Ms. Bens has worked to inform federal policymakers and educate the public on a variety of issues. For more than half of that time her efforts have centered on the formulation of policies to expedite the development of interventions to treat and prevent many debilitating age-related disease; to remove access barriers to needed treatments and therapies; and to improve the coordination and quality of care seniors receive.
Prior to joining the Alliance in 2006, Ms. Bens was a senior manager of government affairs with the Loeffler Group. As part of its federal government affairs practice, she represented diverse client interests before the U.S. Congress and the administration. Her core areas of focus included appropriations, budget, health care, education, telecommunications, and international trade. Through various other positions on Capitol Hill and in the private sector, she has acquired extensive experience researching and analyzing federal legislation and regulations. Ms. Bens holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from New York University with concentrations in Political Science and Women’s Studies.
"However, if {CER} results are poorly communicated, the availability of more information could lead to confusion for patients on what choices are the right ones for them and also confusion for providers on how they should treat their patients."
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PodcastCER Interview with Gail Hunt
August 14, 2012
Related topics: Access to Breakthroughs Caregiving Drug Development Drug Safety Federal Funding Medical Innovation Policy Quality of Care Research Vision LossGail Hunt is President and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, a non-profit coalition dedicated to conducting research and developing national programs for family caregivers and the professionals who serve them.
Prior to heading NAC, Ms. Hunt was President of her own aging services consulting firm for 14 years. She conducted corporate eldercare research for the National Institute on Aging and the Social Security Administration, developed training for caregivers with AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, and designed a corporate eldercare program for EAPs with the Employee Assistance Professional Association.
She was appointed by the White House to serve on the Policy Committee for the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. Ms. Hunt was on the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education, is chair of the National Center on Senior Transportation, is a Commissioner of the Center for Aging Service Technology, and is Secretary of the Long-Term Quality Alliance. Additionally, Ms. Hunt is on the Governing Board of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)."I think {CER} is a wonderful opportunity for patients and care givers to get involved in the research. Those families and care givers should be involved in helping to work on the research, involved in helping to think through what the results mean, how they can best be disseminated, and help in the dissemination. Which is an opportunity they haven’t had before."
