11 Aug Medical College given funds for eye research
Wauwatosa, Wis. – Blindness or low vision affects 3.3 million Americans age 40 and over, or one in 28. And this figure is projected to reach 5.5 million by the year 2020, according to findings in the April issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
Because of an aging population, many Americans are becoming increasingly vulnerable to common eye diseases responsible for blindness such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy.
Fortunately, the fight against such diseases will receive another dose of support here.
The Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology received a $110,000 unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., a non-government supporter of eye research, to investigate the causes, treatment, and prevention of blinding diseases.
Dale Heuer, M.D., chairman and professor of ophthalmology, will direct the research. He indicated in a release that the funds would be used to hire additional personnel at Froedtert & Medical College Eye Institute, an organization partnered with the university and Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital to offer clinical care, education, and vision research.
“Thanks to the generosity of RPB,” Heuer said, “the Eye Institute is able to recruit outstanding clinicians and scientists who have the talent and commitment to accelerating the pace of discovery and improving the outcomes of people suffering from vision loss.”
In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, Heuer sees patients at the Eye Institute, where he specializes in glaucoma, with an emphasis on treating complicated and poor prognosis patients.
The Eye Institute serves as a regional referral center with approximately 40,000 patient visits each year.
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