Macular Chats
Episodes
Cell Therapy and Macular Degeneration: Exploring a New Treatment Frontier
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers are exploring whether cell therapy—including stem cells and stem cell–derived treatments—could help repair or replace damaged retina...
Understanding Macular Degeneration: A Listener Q&A Session
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this interactive episode, Dr. Joshua Dunaief answers listener questions about macular degeneration. From understanding the different types of AMD t...
Taking Charge of Wet AMD: Treatments & Tips
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Staying on schedule with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treatment is one of the most important ways to protect your vision. In this episod...
Can Retinal Implants Restore Vision?
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if an artificial retina or another type of electronic implant could restore vision? Unlike current therapies that only slow the progression of th...
Supporting the Supporters: Care Partners in Vision Loss
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In recognition of National Caregivers Month, this episode explores the vital role of those who support individuals living with vision loss—whether f...
Understanding Stem Cell Research for Macular Degeneration
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stem cell research is offering new possibilities for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss. In this Macular ...
Saving Sight: How Long-Term Treatment Helps Slow Geographic Atrophy
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, can lead to irreversible vision loss. New long-term data are offering h...
Innovative Science Driving Macular Degeneration Progress
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how Macular Degeneration Research identifies and supports the most promising scientific studies around the world? We recently awarded $3.8...
Vitamins and Supplements for Retinal Health
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can a simple vitamin or supplement help protect your sight? In this Macular Chats episode, we explore what current science tells us about nutritional ...
Caring for Your Mental Health After AMD Diagnosis
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This Mental Health Awareness Month, join psychologist Ed McDaniel for an honest conversation about the emotional impact of being diagnosed with age-re...
Clinical Trials for AMD
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a special discussion on clinical trials for macular degeneration. Experts from Genentech will provide an overview of the company’s work ...
Light Therapy and Macular Degeneration: What You Need to Know
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a conversation about light therapy and macular degeneration, where we’ll explore how different types of light—blue, red, and sunlight—...
Geographic Atrophy: Making An Informed Treatment Choice
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With two FDA-approved treatments now available for geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration, we’ll explore how t...
Wet AMD Treatments: Updates, Challenges, and Future Innovations
01 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for an in-depth discussion on the latest developments in wet age-related macular degeneration treatment. We’re partnering with the American ...
Adapting to Life with Low Vision
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This Macular Chat episode will cover practical tips for maintaining quality of life with low vision. From adaptive activities to resources like large ...
Taking Charge of Your Geographic Atrophy
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Geographic atrophy is an advanced and severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration that, if left untreated, can lead to irreversible vision los...
Understanding Stargardt Disease
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for an in-depth discussion on Stargardt disease, a rare inherited form of juvenile macular degeneration that affects about 1 in 10,000 childre...
Promising Studies Funded by Macular Degeneration Research
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Macular Degeneration Research, a BrightFocus Foundation program, is supporting 49 active research grants around the world. Join us as our Scientific A...
How Diet and Nutrition Impact Macular Degeneration
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This Macular Chat episode will explore how diet and nutrition influence the risk and progression of AMD and discuss the vital role that the gut microb...
Geographic Atrophy: Your Questions Answered
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Geographic atrophy is an advanced and severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration that can lead to permanent vision loss. Guest expert Dr. Phi...
Resources to Help You Live Well with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a macular degeneration diagnosis, the best way to adapt to vision loss is to learn new ways of doing things. Ed Haines discusses the resources a...
What You Need to Know About Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does cataract surgery increase your risk of developing macular degeneration? Learn more during a conversation with guest expert Emily Y. Chew, MD.
Macular Degeneration: Get the Facts
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans aged 60 and older. Guest speaker Gayatri S. Reilly, MD answers questio...
Maintaining Emotional Wellness: Living with AMD
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After a diagnosis of macular degeneration many individuals experience a range of emotions, including grief, anxiety, or depression. Our expert guest w...
Can Vision Loss Be Reversed? Exploring Stem Cells and AMD
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Kapil Bharti’s lab at the National Eye Institute recently started the first U.S. phase I/IIa trial to test autologous iPSC-derived RPE patch in ...
New Option for Anti-VEGF Treatment for Wet AMD
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guest speaker W. Lloyd Clark, MD, discusses a new anti-VEGF treatment option that is available for wet AMD. Dr. Clark specializes in the treatment of ...
Treatment Options for Geographic Atrophy
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guest speaker Dr. Veeral Sheth, discusses geographic atrophy, an advanced and severe form of dry age-related macular degeneration, and the landscape o...
Surviving Without Driving
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Katherine Freund, Founder and President of Independent Transportation Network of America, discusses how aging impacts our driving skills, explores alt...
Macular Degeneration Research: Update on Research Funding
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode featured guest speaker Preeti Subramanian, PhD, who oversees the Macular Degeneration Research and National Glaucoma Research programs at...
Patient Stories About Geographic Atrophy
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode featured Rob Howden and Diane Marshall, both currently living with geographic atrophy, the advanced form of dry macular degeneration. The...
Managing Wet AMD: Basics and Treatment
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode featured Dr. Surendra Sharma, Senior VP of Medical Affairs at Outlook Therapeutics. Dr. Sharma discussed the difference between Wet AMD a...
All Your Questions Answered About Macular Degeneration
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode featured Joshua Dunaief, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Du...
Patient Voices: Living with AMD
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode featured guest speakers Maureen Foley and Sheila Klein, who are both currently living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and gav...
Increasing Independence with Assistive Technology
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode featured Jerry Feliz, Access Technology Director at Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He discussed how to us...
Advanced Macular Degeneration: An Update on an Investigational Medical Device
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BrightFocus Foundation hosted this monthly chat featuring Dr. Maria Richman, a Low Vision Rehabilitation Optometrist from Shore Family Eyecare in New ...
Adult Stem Cells as a Treatment Target for AMD
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This event featured Dr. Sally Temple and Dr. Jeffrey Stern who are both co-discoverers of stem cells in the human retinal pigment epithelium at the Ne...
Understanding Dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy (September 2022)
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding Dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy.” The event featured Dr. David S. Liao, a board-certified ophthalmologist at the Retina-Vitreous Associ...
Occupational Therapy for Low Vision: What You Need to Know
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Featuring Low Vision Specialist, Allysin Bridges-German, Clinical Assistant Professor at Towson University, who explained the role of occupational th...
Living Your Best Life with Low Vision (June 2022)
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Chat features Ranjoo Prasad, OD, Staff Optometrist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and Board Member of VisionLink Philadelphia. Learn how to...
Influence of Diet, Genes, and Lifestyle on AMD
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This chat features Dr. Rowan, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, and a scientist on the Nut...
The Latest on New Treatments for Wet AMD
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BrightFocus Foundation held this Access Live Event to speak with participants about eye care. Our guest speaker was Alicia Menezes, M.D., a Medical Di...
Ask a Retina Specialist
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BrightFocus Foundation held this Access Live Event to speak with participants about eye care. This event featured Dr. Gayatri Reilly, Retina Specialis...
AMD in Challenging Times: Tips for Living Well and Coping
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BrightFocus Foundation hosted this Access Live Event to speak with participants about living and coping with age related vision diseases. The event fe...
New Year - What’s New in AMD
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
BrightFocus Foundation held this Access Live Event to speak with participants about living with age-related macular degeneration. The event featured D...
Living With AMD: A First-Hand Perspective
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This event featured Jill Adelman and Liz Tully, both of whom are living with AMD. The guests shared helpful tips regarding doctors and specialists tha...
Geographic Atrophy: A Possible New Treatment (October 2021)
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
he event featured experts including Moshe Vardi, Vice President and Global Medicine Team Lead at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and Aleksandar Skuban, MD, E...
AMD: Your Questions Answered (July 2021)
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The event featured Joshua Dunaief, M.D., Ph.D., who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including prevention and treatment....
What’s Ahead for AMD—Gene Therapy (September 2021)
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The event featured Arshad M. Khanani, MD, who provided an overview of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) including an explanation on how gene ther...
DMRE: los últimos resultados del estudio AREDS2 (junio de 2021)
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
La conversación presenta a Sheldon Rowan, PhD del Centro de Investigación de Nutrición Humana sobre el Envejecimiento de USDA (Departamento de agri...
AMD: The Latest Results from the AREDS2 Study (June 2021)
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The event featured Emily Chew, MD, Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the National Eye Institute. Dr. Chew shared t...
Safety and the Older Driver (May 2021)
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The event featured Elin Schold Davis from the Older Driver Initiative, who provided information about diseases that cause vision issues or loss and t...
Living Well with Vision Loss (April 2021)
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This event featured Dr. Bonnielin Swenor, Ph.D., M.P.H., Director of the Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, and an associate professor...
An Update on Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Geographic Atrophy (March 2021)
24 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The event featured Dr. David S. Liao, a board-certified ophthalmologist at the Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group who specializes in the medical...
Getting the Right Care for Your AMD (February 2021)
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Glazier, OD, is an awarding-winning Maryland optometrist who discusses proper care for those diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration.
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in the New Year (January 2021)
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Edward Marcus, MD, a leading ophthalmologist in New York. Dr. Marcus specializes in medical and surgical management of retina...
Future Hope for Geographic Atrophy
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Benjamin Kim is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His areas of research expertise include a...
AMD: Getting the Help You Need (October 2020)
28 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ranjoo K. Prasad, O.D., a specialist in low vision rehabilitation at Penn Medicine, is the guest speaker.
The Future of AMD Treatments
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The featured expert is Daniel Chao, MD, PhD, who is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Institute. He is a retina surgeon, clin...
Dry AMD and Geographic Atrophy: Your Questions Answered
26 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The event featured Dr. David S. Liao, a board-certified ophthalmologist at the Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group who specializes in the medical...
How Your Diet Impacts Your Eyes
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Sheldon Rowan, PhD of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University. Dr. Rowan’s research examines th...
Macular Degeneration: Your Questions Answered (June 2020)
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The featured guest is Gayatri S. Reilly, MD, a retina specialist with The Retina Group of Washington. Dr. Reilly started her academic training by grad...
Maintaining Emotional Health and Vision During the Pandemic
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The guest is Deirdre Johnston, M.B.B.Ch., M.D., who is Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry in the Department of ...
Vision Health During the Pandemic
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Joshua Dunaief, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, who specializes in the study ...
Coronavirus & AMD: Your Questions Answered
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This telephone discussion features Michael B. Gorin, MD, PhD, an ophthalmologist from UCLA who is devoted to research and clinical care of hereditary ...
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Low Vision
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speaker is Joe Kardine, OTR/L, who is an occupational therapist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Mr. Kardine specializes in treating...
AMD: Your Questions Answered (February 2020)
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speaker is Avnish A. Deobhakta, MD, who is an ophthalmologist and Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New ...
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in the New Year (January 2020)
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yasha Modi, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Health and is a vitreoretinal surgeon at Tisch Hospital and...
Update on AMD Treatments
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Edward Marcus, MD, from SightMD in Brentwood, New York. Dr. Marcus specializes in medical and surgical management of retinal d...
Nutritional Supplements, Dietary Patterns, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Emily Y. Chew, MD, who is a retina specialist and is the deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinica...
Managing Your Age-Related Macular Degeneration
25 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Joshua Dunaief, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, who specializes in the study ...
Living Your Best Life with Low Vision
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Having retired from a half century as a teacher, author, composer, theatrical director, and musician, Dan Roberts now dedicates himself full time to h...
Caregiving & Low Vision
19 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speakers are Joanne Dillon, a caregiver, and C. Grace Whiting, the President & CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving.
AMD Diagnosis: What to Expect
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Milam A. Brantley, Jr., MD, PhD, who is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences from Vanderbilt University Me...
Low-Vision Services: Getting the Help You Need
24 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Belinda Weinberg, OD and Sean Curry, MPH, of the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington.
Therapeutic Approaches for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration
27 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our featured speaker is Goldis Malek, PhD, of Duke University. Dr. Malek's lab is focused on investigating the mechanisms underlying age-related macul...
Living with AMD: What You Need to Know
27 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Gayatri S. Reilly of The Retina Group of Washington, who has excelled in research, patient care, and educating o...
AMD in the Winter: Helpful Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy
30 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Deirdre Johnston, MD, a geriatric psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University.
Clinical Trial Update: News on Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
28 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Christopher Brittain, MB, BS, BSc (Hons), MBA, DIC, MRCOphth, who is Interim Global Head of Ophthalmology Clinical D...
Update on the Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Drug Pipeline
31 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Joshua Dunaief, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, who specializes in the study ...
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): Your Questions Answered
26 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Priyatham S. Mettu, MD, is a Duke University retina specialist who is testing new treatments and new imaging technologies for age-related macular dege...
Diet and Gut Bacteria: Their Connection to Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
25 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Sheldon Rowan, PhD of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University. Dr. Rowan’s research ex...
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Getting the Help the You Need
27 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ranjoo K. Prasad, O.D., a specialist in low vision rehabilitation at Penn Medicine, is the guest speaker.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Iron and the Immune System
30 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Dr. Joshua Dunaief, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School Medicine, who specializes in the study of age-relate...
Advocating For Eye Health: What You Can Do
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speakers are Sara Brown and Dan Roberts from Prevent Blindness who discuss eye health advocacy.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Your Questions Answered
28 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speaker is Priyatham S. Mettu, MD, a Duke University retina specialist who is testing new treatments and new imaging technologies for age-re...
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Patient-Centered Conversation
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The speaker was Dr. William Li, President of The Angiogenesis Foundation, and his guests: Leona, a person living with macular degeneration, and her da...
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy in the New Year
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Gayatri S. Reilly of The Retina Group of Washington, who has excelled in research, patient care, and educating o...
Can Diet Protect Against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
29 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Allen Taylor, PhD directs the Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research at Tufts (a part of the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging), and...
Safety and Independence with Low Vision
25 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This telephone discussion features Orli Weisser-Pike, a doctor of occupational therapy and a certified low vision therapist. She has over eighteen yea...
Repurposing Drugs for AMD
27 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speakers are Alfred S. Lewin, PhD, from the University of Florida Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, who focuses on developi...
How Low Vision Services Can Help You
30 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ranjoo K. Prasad, O.D., a specialist in low vision rehabilitation at Penn Medicine, is the guest speaker.
Macular Degeneration: Your Questions Answered
26 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Milam A. Brantley, MD, PhD, of the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, answers questions about macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in Americans...
Dealing with the Emotional Impact of Vision Loss
28 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speaker is Deirdre Johnston, MD, who is a geriatric psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University.
Geographic Atrophy: What You Need to Know
31 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Gayatri S. Reilly of The Retina Group of Washington, who has excelled in research, patient care, and educating o...
Promising New Treatments for AMD
26 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The discussion features Dr. Joshua Dunaief, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, who specializes in the study of age-rel...
Nutrition for Healthy Eyes
29 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ward Bond, who regularly appears in the media and before public audiences, discusses the vital role of nutrition in reducing the risk and progress...
Why AMD Is on the Rise-and What Can be Done
22 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speakers are Sandra S. Block, OD and Christina Morettin, OD. Sandra Block, OD is a professor at the Illinois College of Optometry and was pa...
Cataracts & AMD
25 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The telephone discussion features Dr. Joshua Dunaief, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, who specializes in the study ...
Drug Interactions: Their Impact on AMD and Health
21 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speaker is Dr. Gayatri S. Reilly of The Retina Group of Washington, who has excelled in research, patient care, and educating other eye care...
Short Days, Long Nights: Low Light and Other Challenges of the Holiday Season
30 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The guest speaker is Stephen Azman, who is Director of Patient Care at Low Vision Specialists of Maryland and Virginia (LVS), a group that specializes...