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International Foundation for Optic
Nerve Disease |
If you find this site helpful or IFOND sponsored research worthwhile, please donate to IFOND at the address above,
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Understanding Optic Nerve Disease |
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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. |
The importance of the optic nerve to vision has long been known. It is the essential link between eye and brain that makes vision possible. If the optic nerve is seriously affected by disease or damaged through trauma or a tumor, visual loss or blindness may result.
The major optic nerve diseases are:
- Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
- Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Disease (GOND)
- Toxic Optic Nerve Disease
- Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
Together, they affect millions of people worldwide. Optic nerve disease of other types are no less important for their impact on individuals and families and for understanding the mechanisms of optic nerve disease.
The understanding and definition of optic nerve disease began to change in the 1980's with a series of neuroscientific discoveries that helped explain the process by which nerve cells, including those in the optic nerve, die. One major cause of nerve cell death is an insufficient supply of energy which nerve cells derive from oxidative metabolism. By depriving optic nerve cells of energy they are prone to a destructive cascade of events which may kill them.
This discovery and related investigations of the mechanisms involved in nerve cell death, have broadened the understanding of how the optic nerve is damaged when it becomes diseased. It is now known that visual loss and blindness may result not only from physical insult (trauma) and decreased blood supply to the optic nerve, but also from disease that originates in the optic nerve itself.
The research in Optic Nerve Disease is promising and exciting to scientists and physicians in many disciplines,including ophthalmology, neurology, physiology, neurochemistry, neuroanatomy, pathology and molecular biology. They are now involved in research related to further understanding of Optic Nerve Disease, prevention, and therapy. Therapies designed to protect the optic nerve from disease are being developed
Four Major Categories of Optic Nerve Disease:
Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Toxic Optic Nerve Disease
Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Disease (GOND)
Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
About IFOND | Projects | Understanding OND | Ischaemic OND | Toxic OND | Glaucomatous OND | Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy | Support for the Blind | References/Links | Image Gallery | Fundraising | Feedback | Using this site | HOME
If you find this site helpful or IFOND sponsored research worthwhile, please donate to IFOND at the address below,
or JustGive.org.
The International Foundation for
Optic Nerve Disease
P. O. Box 777, Cornwall NY 12518, USA.
TEL/FAX (845) 534 7250
Email: ifond@aol.com
Web site:
http://www.ifond.org/
IFOND is registered service mark of
The International Foundation for Optic Nerve Disease
Copyright 1999-2013, International Foundation for
Optic Nerve Disease.
The information contained on this website should not be considered medical guidance or professional advice. IFOND is not responsible for errors or omissions in information provided on this site or actions resulting from its use. IFOND does not publish all information from all available sources on optic nerve disease. IFOND is not responsible for the validity of the studies or reviews nor is it an advocate of studies or reviews mentioned on or linked from the IFOND web site. IFOND does not endorse or recommend participation in any particular clinical trial or treatment protocol which may be mentioned on this site. Direct any questions concerning your personal health to your appropriate health care professional.