In the 2 years that Sue & I have been doing what we do, we’ve learned from & interacted with people in the field whom we trust and respect. Dan Roberts is one of them. He has had AMD for many years & has shared his journey & developed many helpful resources. He’s an author and director of the International Low Vision Support Group, an active and much-respected organization. Every year he publishes his Summary of Research and Development. This year’s report includes the topics:
discontinued and delayed trials
updates on continuing trials
gene therapy
combination therapies
surgical interventions
nutrition
stem cells
daily living
new technology
the future
The Future
It’s important that you read his section The Future so here it is in Dan’s words:
“Finally, let’s look at the future. The rate of research and development is moving at an exponential rate, covering many areas of treatment and daily living:
– Continued refinement of surgical techniques
– Continued successes with stem cell and gene replacement research
– Advances in pharmaceutical therapies, including development of biosimilar drugs, which equal the safety and efficacy of current drugs at a lower cost
– New ways for patients to monitor their own progress at home
– Development of systems for diagnosis and treatment via the Internet, saving time and money spent for clinical visits
– Improvements in audibility of assistive devices for those who are both visually and hearing impaired
– Increased accessibility of portable independent navigation systems for travel both outdoors and indoors
– Integration of audible speech into assistive devices
We will continue to follow all of this action throughout the coming years and keep you updated with newsletters, email news alerts, and these annual summaries. Knowledge is the best way I know of to keep the fear of the unknown at bay, making living with low vision less stressful, and acceptance a little easier. – Dan Roberts