International Foundation for Optic Nerve Disease
P. O. Box 777, Cornwall NY 12518, USA

Fundraising

IFOND gratefully acknowledges all our generous donors. For years a large portion of our funding has been from the IFOND annual golf outing. This happy event will continue. Email us if you are attending. Recently we have also been getting a steady but modest flow of online donations from many sources. McCORMICK& COMPANY, INC. have been generous regular donors with their Matching Gifts Program. In July 2010 we were graced with a large donation from The Welcoming Club of Garden City. See our fundraising section for further details and recognition. Without your generous giving our important research would not happen.

Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD, wins 2012 William F. Hoyt Award

The IFOND Board is very proud to have Professor Aldredo Sadun as a scientific advisor. This November our most distinguished and effective teacher, clinician and researcher was awarded by the American Academy of Ophthalomology and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society their highest honour in Neuro-Ophthalmology, The William F. Hoyt Lecturer Award.

17th Annual Golf Outing success

Don Diehl, Golf Outing Chair, reports that the 17th Annual Golf Outing Fundraising Event held on September,10 2012 was a resounding success with over 125 golfers participating and many other generous sponsors and donors contributing to the effort.

Idebenone treatment for LHON

A randomized placebo controlled study published in the journal Brain showed idebenone to be an effective treatment for LHON. Idebenone is a synthetic benzoquinone, co-enzyme Q10 like substance, potent antioxidant and inhibitor of lipid peroxidation, which also interacts with the mitochondrial electron transport chain and facilitates mitochondrial electron flux through by-passing complex I. It was shown in the study to be well tolerated and have modest effectiveness in about half of LHON patients treated. The result confirms retrospective treatment data soon to be published. People treated early in onset and for prolonged periods were likely to benefit most.

LHON treatment trials

IFOND scientific members are involved in new LHON treatment trials using the Vitamin E metabolite substance, Alpha-tocotrienol-quinone, coded EPI-743, a potent antioxidant. Find Dr Jerry Sherman's presentation of his optometric case findings in this promising open label study in Review of Optometry Case 38 Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy [Note: be patient for the 60 second wait to download the 100 slides.]

Brazil LHON Field Trip Reports

With your support, IFOND sponsors research on the world's largest Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy [LHON] pedigree. In our projects section Dr Alfredo Sadun, the study co-ordinator, has summarized the studies to date since 2001 when they began with IFOND sponsorship. We have pushed the frontiers of knowledge about Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Please donate to IFOND to see this and other worthwhile IFOND work continue.