LVC Club Tops 1,000

It’s hard to believe, but the San Antonio Low Vision Club membership now tops 1,000, a little over 11 years after its first meeting in 1997, and nine years after its incorporation as a Texas non-profit organization.  The Lighthouse in New York has told us they think we may be the largest low vision support group in the United States.

Some of us have been together all that time.  Others have come and gone, but under the unwavering leadership of President Bonnie Truax and assistance from countless others, we have grown and become an important part of the San Antonio community.

We have met monthly without fail… somewhere… sometimes under difficult conditions.  But in spite of not charging dues, and because of the generous donations of many, we have been able to continue our mission to support the visually impaired by providing Hope, Help, and Independence.

Communication for a group this size is difficult, and we may have to go electronic sometime in the future.  Therefore, would you please email me your email address (if you have one) to bontru@earthlink.net.  Thanks.

Upcoming Programs

Saturday, August 2

Time for a little fun.  We’re going to meet in the Warm Springs Resource Center, 5101 Medical Drive (between Wurzbach Parkway and Babcock) for a bingo party and lunch planned by our Special Events Chairperson Dana Schilling.  Time will be from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. if needed.

For this event we need to limit participation to the first 60 LVC members who register in advance to play bingo using large number playing cards.  If you didn’t sign up at the July 19th LVC meeting, call Cindy Garcia on her cell phone at (210)287-9039 to see if space is still available.  If you plan to bring someone to help you play, you must also register him or her in advance so we will know how many will be eating lunch.

Saturday, September 20

We’re going back to the Allied Health Building in the Medical Center area for a meeting at our regular time with representatives from the Low Vision Coalition.  You will learn about what the various low vision organizations are doing to improve communications between the medical community and persons with visual impairments.  Because of construction, we may have to enter the area from a new entrance, so pay attention to directions printed in your meeting flier notice mailed shortly before the meeting date.

Saturday, October 18

Our annual Medical Panel with top specialists in the field of low vision bringing you up to date on the latest research and treatments for various eye problems including macular degeneration and others.  Here’s your once a year chance to ask questions and learn from the experts.  The meeting will be at our regular time, and held in the conference rooms of the Allied Health Building.  Watch for more details in your meeting flier mail.

Future Meetings

Saturday, November 15 (To Be Announced)
Saturday, December 6 (Christmas Lunch)

White Cane Day Run/Walk-Conducted by the Low Vision Resource Center

Kim Van Hooser, Chairperson and LVRC Race Director
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Comanche Lookout Park, 16000 Nacogdoches Road
Starting Times: 5K run starts at 8:00 a.m.
2 mile walk & kids sprint start at 8:15 a.m.

Pre-registration is recommended. Race day registration is limited @$25
Pre-registration Cost: Walkers $10.00; Runners $20 (Includes T-Shirt)
Pick up packets on race day from 7:00-8:00 a.m.

For entry form or more information, contact Bonnie Truax at 11510 Sandman, San Antonio, TX 78216.  If not athletic, come out and cheer.  Last year over 40 workers from the San Antonio Lighthouse participated in the walk and showed the world their spirit in honoring White Cane Safety Day.

Sponsorships in four different levels ($300+, $1000+, $2,000+ and $3,500+) are being solicited by volunteers.  This is the major fund-raising event of the year for the LVRC, and all support is welcome.  Call 344-1479 to help.

VIAtrans Testing New Procedures

VIAtrans is testing a new procedure to help customers make their trip connections.  The tests began in May and will continue for a three-month pilot period.  They involve no shows who miss connections.

VIAtrans will attempt to contact a no show by phone to see if the customer still wants the scheduled trip and to confirm their location.  If the trip is still needed, the van will wait up to five minutes longer or the van or the customer will be directed to the proper location.  This new procedure is expected to reduce the time and expense of sending another van for the customer’s trip.

A “no-show” will still be recorded if the customer was not ready in time or was waiting in the wrong place, but the customer will not have to wait for another van to be dispatched to his or her location.

All VIAtrans customers have been asked to provide current home phone numbers and their cell phone numbers if available.  At the end of the test period the program will be evaluated and possibly be made a permanent feature of the VIAtrans system.

Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials

The Spring/Summer issue of the Eyes Only newsletter, published by the Association for Macular Diseases in New York, carried a report by Maureen G. McGuire, Ph.D. and Stuart L. Fine, M.D. on a multi-center clinical trial to compare the relative safety and effectiveness of two drugs currently used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration.  The two drugs are Lucentis and Avastin.  The tests are being conducted by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

The Lucentis/Avastin trial will determine the relative safety and effectiveness of treating AMD in 1,200 patients who will be treated with one of the following:  Injection of Lucentis or Avastin on a fixed schedule of once every four weeks; or injection of Lucentis or Avastin on a variable schedule depending on the patient’s response to treatment.

The primary outcome measure will be change in visual acuity.  Secondary outcome measures will include number of treatments, anatomical changes in the retina, adverse events and cost.

Lucentis was approved by the U,S, Food and Drug Administration in June, 2006 for the treatment of wet AMD based on evidence showing Lucentis slows the progression of vision loss from wet AMD.  In addition, some patients had some improvement in vision at 12 months.

Avastin is a drug closely related to Lucentis.  It was approved in 2004 as an intravenous treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, and therefore available for off-label use for other health conditions such as wet AMD.  It is thought to remain in the eye longer than Lucentis, and may allow less frequent injections.

The clinical trial will be conducted at more than 40 clinical centers across the country.  For a list of clinical centers, eligibility recruitments, and other information, go to www.nei.nih.gov/CATT or call the CATT Coordinating Center at 1-215-615-1500.

Please notify us if you move or change telephone numbers by calling 344-1479.