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Do you want to know find out how we can use research to tackle eye diseases in children? Ever wondered why you loose your vison when you get old? Well, that is exactly what tonight is all about, with talks from two child eye doctors and a Univeristy professor, who will take you on a journey into the eye, sometimes referred to as the 'window of the brain'. Sponsored by Fight for Sight , the largest UK charity for eye diseases - http://www.fightforsight.org.uk/
Please note that this event is accessible for those with impaired mobility. Under 12's supervised by an adult are welcome.
Please note that this event is accessible for those with impaired mobility. Under 12's supervised by an adult are welcome.
Genetics and Eye Disease: A glimpse into the future of medical care?
Jay Self
(Associate Professor and Consultant Opthalmologist)
If 1:5 children has an eye disorder and 1:3 older adults, there is a good chance that you will have an eye condition at some stage in your life. Many of these conditions are caused by changes in our genes and we are starting to understand how this happens. For the vast majority, treatments are limited and generic but we are now starting to tailor treatments to the underlying genetic causes. So, how far have we got? What does the next 20 years hold? Come and find out.
Targeting abnormal retinal development in albinism in early childhood: Can we treat visual impairment before it is a problem?
Helena Lee
(NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in Ophthalmology)
Albinism is a condition that results in poor eyesight for the sufferer due to bad development resulting in problems at school, at work and in their social life. Unfortunately, there is no treatment currently available. Helena will talk about how the eyes of children are still able to change and develop even with albinism and how this knowledge is helping her to find new treatments here in Southampton.
All eyes on inflammation to prevent age-related vision loss
Jessica Teeling
(Professor of Experimental Neuroimmunology, Principal Investigator Neuroimmunology)
When you are 80 years old there is a 1:3 change to develop vision loss. In many cases this is due to age-related macular degeneration, a disease where the light sensitive part of the eye slowly loses its function. As AMD progresses, the center of a person's visual field may become smudged, distorted or lost, causing problems with reading, driving, watching TV and recognizing faces. In this talk Jessica will talk about the science behind vision loss, the role of inflammation in this process and how research in Southampton is getting grips to finding new ways to treat this devastating disease.
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