Dear VDM Project supporters,
As 2021 begins, we are continuing our fight to find a safe and effective cure for Vision Degrading Myodesopsia (Eye Floaters). As our team grows, we are uniting more sufferers and becoming a stronger force for change.
We have three exciting updates to share with you:
1) Dr. Sebag Publication:
“Vitreous and Vision Degrading Myodesopsia”
Importantly, Dr. Sebag continues to work tirelessly to have Vision Degrading Myodesopsia (eye floaters) recognized as a disease within the medical community – this is no easy task. By having this classified as a widespread problem for many people around the world, it will open the door to greater funding and research opportunities toward a cure.
Over the last two years, Dr. Sebag has authored a major article named ‘Vitreous and Vision Degrading Myodesopsia’, now published in the most prestigious journal within the eye world.
Why is this important? Because this major article shows that we are changing attitudes – Vision Degrading Myodesopsia is being classified as a disease that can impact the lives of sufferers dramatically. This article is the first of its kind and is helping the voice of eye floater sufferers become heard.
As we continue to raise more awareness and change opinions of the medical world, this will lead to more funding opportunities to expand on clinical research.
Please join us in thanking Dr. Sebag for dedicating two years to this work and congratulating him on this enormous achievement. This shows the great progress he is making within the medical world and takes us a large step closer to a floater-free future for all.
2) Dr. Sebag: Research Updates
Although we are crowdfunding to support this initial research, our key aim is to receive governmental and/or institutional funding which will allow this clinical research to take place – meaning a safer cure can be found sooner.
The below summary from Dr. Sebag outlines the projects he has been working on, and the funding he has applied for. If successful, this funding will be a key step in our fight for a cure:
Better Understanding
To better understand how vitreous causes Vision Degrading Myodesopsia (VDM), specimens removed during vitrectomy surgery for advanced cases are being studied at the Huntington Memorial Research Institute in Pasadena, California and the University of Ghent School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Belgium.
Clinical studies on vitreous following posterior vitreous detachment (the most common cause of floaters) will be completed and published.
Clinical studies on the role of crystalline lens status on VDM will be completed and submitted for publication. This will help us understand that in certain patients vitreous induces additive effects to degrade contrast sensitivity function and that these deleterious effects can be eliminated with limited vitrectomy, improving vision and quality-of-life.
Clinical studies on the impact of myopic vitreopathy on VDM have been completed and will be published in 2021.
Better Diagnostics
A grant proposal has been submitted to the European Union to develop better imaging of vitreous with the aim to enhance diagnostic evaluation of floater sufferers.
A second grant proposal was submitted to the Polish Ministry of Health to develop better optical imaging of the human vitreous body.
A third grant proposal was submitted to an ophthalmic technology company to improve acoustic imaging (ultrasonography) of the human vitreous body.
A self-administered questionnaire will be finalized to screen large populations as well as evaluate a single individual so as to assess the impact of floaters on vision (subjectively) and quality-of-life.
Testing paradigms of the speed and accuracy of reading will be developed and implemented to better evaluate the impact of vitreous on vision and visual function in daily living.
Better Therapeutics
A grant proposal was submitted to a laser technology company to evaluate and improve YAG laser vitreolysis.
Novel nanotechnology-based treatments are currently being tested for safety in animals and will be developed for human trials.
A project will be launched to evaluate and refine the use of pharmacologic pupil dilation to lessen the severity of the disturbing visual phenomenon of floaters.
3) Fundraising: $20,000 milestone
We are incredibly grateful to all supporters for their trust and belief in this movement. Thank you to the 134 contributors who have donated to clinical research – every amount directly supporters research toward a safer cure for eye floaters.
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to The Weatherstone Family Foundation, Inc. for their generous support of $15,000 between December 2020 and January 2021. We cannot thank you enough and your contributions will always be remembered.
As we continue grow, now more than ever we need dedicated, committed and ambitious people to help us – as we can only achieve so much alone. If you would like to apply to the VDM Project to fight for a cure with us, you can do so here.
Thank you for your continued belief, and we are more positive about the future than we ever have been,
Your VDM Team
