Clinics all over the world offer stem cell treatments for a wide variety of conditions, and there has been a substantial amount of discussion on this blog concerning use of stem cells to treat various retinal conditions. Consumers will therefore be happy to learn of a new website launched by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) to provide resources to patients and their families seeking to evaluate the claims of providers of stem cell treatments.

The site was launched in response to increased advertising touting expensive stem cell therapies that play on patients’ hopes and fears, and often make exaggerated claims of efficacy, underestimate potential risks, fail to disclose methods, and leave out information on whether the treatment is conducted with regulatory oversight.

For starters, we recommend reading the top 10 things to know about stem cell treatments, which aims to correct some of the misinformation that is being widely circulated about stem cell treatments.

There’s also a patient handbook on stem cell therapies. Among other things, the handbook contains questions for patients to ask a stem cell treatment clinic.

Longer term, the site will feature lists of clinics and other service providers that claim to offer stem cell treatments. The lists will tell you whether the clinics do or do not provide the ISSCR with evidence that appropriate oversight and other patient protections are in place for the treatments they offer. If patients hear about a clinic, they can submit that clinic for review by the ISSCR.

From Fox 5 News in Atlanta comes a list of organizations that provide free vision care to those who could not otherwise afford it.

• EyeCare America, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Provides comprehensive eye exams and care for up to one year, often at no out-of-pocket expense to eligible callers through its seniors and Diabetes EyeCare Programs. Its Glaucoma EyeCare Program provides a glaucoma eye exam. The EyeCare America Children’s EyeCare Program educates parents and primary care providers about the importance of early childhood (newborn through 36 months of age) eye care. Telephone: 1-800-222-EYES (3937). 
  Website: http://eyecareamerica.org.
• VISION USA, coordinated by the American Optometric Association (AOA), provides free eye care to uninsured, low-income workers and their families. Telephone: 1-800-766-4466.
  Website: www.aoa.org/x5607.xml.
• Lions Clubs International provides financial assistance to individuals for eye care through local clubs. A local club can be found by using the “club locator” button found on their website at:
  www.LionsClubs.org.
• Mission Cataract USA, coordinated by the Volunteer Eye Surgeons’ Association, is a program providing free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no other means to pay. Surgeries are scheduled annually on one day, usually in May. Telephone: 1-800-343-7265.
  Website: www.missioncataractUSA.org.
• Knights Templar Eye Foundation provides assistance for eye surgery for people who are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources. Mailing address: 1000 East State Parkway, Suite I, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Telephone: (847) 490-3838.
  Website:  www.knightstemplar.org/ktef/ktef-faq.htm#contact.
• InfantSEE® is a public health program designed to ensure early detection of eye conditions in babies. Member optometrists provide a free comprehensive infant eye assessment to children younger than one year. Telephone: 1-888-396-3937.
  Website:  http://www.infantsee.org.

SynergEyes, Inc., the developer of the first FDA-cleared hybrid contact lens specifically designed for patients with keratoconus, announced yesterday that is has launched a new educational website (SharingOneVision.com) for patients seeking information on the eye disease keratoconus and treatment with hybrid contact lenses.

On the website, patients can review information about keratoconus (a highly debilitating eye condition in which the cornea thins and becomes cone-shaped), and treatment with SynergEyes(R) KC hybrid contact lenses; view stories from other keratoconus patients who have been successfully treated with the hybrid contact lenses; search for doctors certified to fit SynergEyes lenses; and watch educational videos on how to properly insert, remove and clean hybrid contact lenses.

To learn more, visit SharingOneVision.com.

Last week, the White House issued a press release from President Obama declaring March 1-7 “Save Your Vision Week.”

The release notes that blindness and visual impairment affect millions of Americans, and that early diagnosis and timely treatment are critical to minimize vision loss from eye diseases as well as vision loss that is correctable with eye glasses or contact lenses.

President Obama encouraged all Americans to take action during Save Your Vision Week, to protect their vision. Readers were referred to the National Eye Institute website for resources for learning more about common vision conditions and information on finding an eye health professional.

Read the President’s full release here.

EyeScience Labs, a Columbus, Ohio-based, ocular nutraceutical company, has launched a new website called Eye Science to meet consumer demand for comprehensive information and education on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a unique watch-and-learn video format. AMD is a progressive, hereditary eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in Americans age 50 or older.

On the site, visitors can learn about basic eye anatomy, screening and diagnosis, risk factors, signs and symptoms and treatments for AMD. In addition, the site contains more than 20 watch-and-learn videos about eye anatomy, AMD symptoms, dry and wet macular degeneration, diagnostic tests, photodynamic therapy (PDT), intravitreal injection of Lucentis and Avastin, vitamin therapy, amsler grid testing, lasers and more.

Visit the EyeScience website to learn more.

Read the full press release announcing the launch.

RedAtlas is a free online atlas of eye disorders designed to help Ophthalmologists and Optometrists-in-training learn to identify eye diseases through pattern recognition. . . .Since launching in February 2, 2002, we have received over 3,000,000 hits from more than 60 countries around the world. The atlas is currently being hosted through the generosity of the Doheny Eye Institute at the University of Southern California/Keck School of Medicine.

Click here to visit the site.