Out of Sight

If you're a serious reader-as in, you don't watch TV (yes, it is possible)-what's the worst thing that could happen to you, medically? For many, it would be age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which, at its most severe, wipes out your central vision (i.e., what is straight ahead of you), leaving only peripheral stuff. It's the leading cause of legal blindness in people over the age of 55. And it has left Argentinean jazz-saxophone legend Gato Barbieri unable to write music or read it. Or drive. You can learn just about everything you need to know about AMD, retinitis pigmentosa and other seriously debilitating retinal eye diseases Saturday at the Orange Public Library. Speaker Brent C. Normand, M.D., of Newport Beach, will present his take on what's being done, what's to be expected and a whole lot more. The seminar is presented by the Orange County Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (www.fightblindness.org), a nonprofit that has raised more than $270 million since 1971.
Sat., April 19, 10:30 a.m., 2008