THE CORNEAL DYSTROPHY FOUNDATION

 Our mission is to increase the public's awareness of corneal dystrophy, a potentially blinding disease affecting the transparent front part of the eye.

The Corneal Dystrophy Foundation, is a 501 (c)(3) California corporation.

The organization started in 1999 as a grass-roots patient to patient support group to exchange knowledge about these genetic issues.  It continued to grow until it encompassed people in over 70 countries and currently has over 2200 members.

The message board format provides the ability for discussions and person to person support through sharing of experiences, information and emotional support.  To maintain high standards of interaction, members observe a code of conduct which includes initiatives to respect each other’s privacy, to treat one another with dignity, and to keep the topics related to corneal dystrophy. 

 Volunteer Moderators   at the message boards update our web sites.  There are hundreds of pages of information for members’ at our private Members’ Only web site  including:

• Research on and access to important information about corneal dystrophy and related vision issues covered in web sites, print media articles, and research papers. 
• Tips for coping with the visual impairments of corneal dystrophy.
• A list of doctors recommended by member/patients.
• Tips for use of special accessibility features in computer operating systems.
• Sources for special sunglasses and helpful visual equipment.
• Pictures and speakers’ content from our events.

In odd numbered years we host a  Corneal Dystrophy Symposium in a major US city.  The Symposium attracts speakers such as corneal specialists and researchers who present  peer level information to an audience that is well informed about corneal dystrophies.  The technical sessions are professionally recorded  to capture and produce a DVD of the Symposium that is provided to contributors who donate at certain financial levels.

Our 2009 Corneal Dystrophy Symposium was co-sponsored by  Duke University Eye Center’s Corneal & External Diseases Service.  We continue to expand our symposia, online information, publications, local outreach through our Small Groups Initiave and presentations at service clubs about corneal dystrophy.  We stand ready to offer our services to eye care professionals in matters of information, training, advances in treatment, and research of corneal dystrophy.