Vision 2000

Imagine losing your vision during the prime of your life. Every part of your life changed forever with no hope of regaining your sight. For John Bottjer (QuickTime Video 2.2 MB), a sufferer of a form of macular degeneration known as Stargardt's Disease, this fear has become reality. With remarkable enthusiasm, John volunteers his time to assist the Upstate Medical University in its mission to prevent blindness. Although it is not likely that his sight will ever be saved, John's goal is very clear - to ensure the success of Vision 2000 and the ophthalmology research it will fund. Through the success of this campaign, he can take comfort in knowing that nobody will ever have to endure the challenges he has faced.

Like most people, Caroline Campbell took her sight for granted before being diagnosed with glaucoma. Today, after three bouts with surgery, Caroline thinks of her vision as the most precious gift anyone can have. Together with her husband Jim, Caroline hopes to never again be burdened with traveling to distant cities to receive state-of-the-art ophthalmic care. Through the success of Vision 2000, the most advanced eye care programs and services anywhere will be available right here in Central New York. For the Campbell's, this would be a dream come true.

For most children, the future is filled with wonderful dreams of success and happiness. For Erin Scala, an 11-year-old girl diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (R.P.), the most important dream she has is being able to see when she reaches adulthood. Her condition, shared by an estimated 100,000 people across the country, progressively robs its victims of sight. Research done right here at the Upstate Medical University has led to significant breakthrough that will ultimately lead to prevention and therapy techniques to combat this tragic disease. For Erin, and those like her, Vision 2000 holds the brightest ray of hope in an otherwise dark future.

When Allois Jones (QuickTime video 2.3MB) was diagnosed with glaucoma, her thoughts turned immediately to a tragic loss of vision. Fortunately, Allois was diagnosed very early in the disease's development, and has received the very best in ophthalmic care. With the success of Vision 2000, patient care will continue to improve in the the Central New York region, thanks to improved research and the purchase of the most advanced ophthalmology equipment available. For Allois, this continuous improvement is a very comforting thought.

Without question, the advances in clinical ophthalmic research have enabled our researchers to position themselves at the brink of incredible scientific discoveries. Using new techniques in molecular biology and chemistry, our researchers have ben able to open doors that will lead to therapy for blinding conditions that currently have no known cure.

In fact, our team has recently made significant progress in developing new techniques that identify the causes of many forms of blindness. This identification process is vital to understanding these disease, and is a critical piece of the puzzles in the search for cures.

Understandably, it requires constant funding to support this amount of high-level research, and this is why your support is so vital to our mission. We know that with the help of you and others, we can lead the way to a brighter future.