Autumn Newsletter

May 2001, Number 9

EDITORIAL.

I have received some great news from my friend of 71 years who lives in Australia. She writes "I'm VERY pleased to be able to tell you that we have at last been successful in having RP elected as the medical research project for the next 12 months and the members usually re-elect the project and give it a three year run. With about 500 branches in NSW we should be able to raise a goodly sum".

For the past six years Joan has been trying to make this happen by presenting her case at the Country Women's Association Annual Conference, taking herself each time to a different town in NSW where the conference is being held. This should raise many thousands of dollars for RP research in the first year as all the branches raise money at every local meeting and all of it will now go to RP research in Australia, which of course also benefits us indirectly in NZ as well.

Has any member got a brilliant thought on how we in Retina NZ can raise money for our own Retina NZ Research Account? If so, we would like to hear from you. Contact me or Janet Palmer, Retina's National Secretary or your Branch Chairperson and they will pass the message on to our President, Tony Haas, who will follow it up.

In this issue there is an interesting report from Fraser Alexander, Retina NZ's International Delegate on the places and people he visited whilst in New York to run in the New York marathon and in London afterwards, as well as the President's usual letter. Also we feature Bevan Gardiner, one of our younger members, an article on lighting, a new kind of UV blocking sunglasses, research on Lebers Congenital Amaurosis and Diabetic Retinopathy and more. So read, learn and enjoy!

WHERE TO OBTAIN VITAMIN A 15,000 IU PALMITATE

After the article in the last issue on Vitamin A we had enquiries as to where to obtain this in New Zealand. The suppliers are:

Bronson & Jacobs,
Contact Sonya Katu on 09 300 2528 or email "skatu@binz.co.nz".

An address from Anthony Haas, president: The Retina Society of New Zealand, 13 May 2001.

Blindness prevention

The RNZFB Blindness Prevention three person unit began in Auckland in April, and in meetings with your executive heard our welcome and call for partnership in their work - from input into strategic planning to working together on selected projects.

The RNZFB together with Retina New Zealand successfully applied for project funds from the AMD Alliance - the international Aged Macular Degeneration group with which we opened relations through Retina International at past President June Ombler's initiative. This enables the Blindness Prevention Unit to run a one day Eye Expo - "No Nonsense Eye Sense" targeted at the over 50's population and relevant health/aged care providers, in Auckland during the last week of September - Retina Week - and is a positive omen for partnership with Retina New Zealand. We now look forward to the head of that unit, Ms Chris Inglis, blending her unit's and our executive's strategic planning for the Blindness Prevention Unit.

Peer support

The national co-ordinator of Retina New Zealand's peer support programme, Wellington based Elizabeth East, has conferred with RNZFB management in Auckland to better fit the service in with other specialists. One of her next challenges is to lead our team of peer supporters nationwide to work with low vision clinics, strengthening their value to people facing diagnosis and treatment. The release of our macular degeneration booklet and allied wider circulation brochure will be a good opportunity for members to promote the peer support - contactable on the RNZFB 0800 24 33 33 number.

Public education

Consumer co-operation, led by Dunedin chair Helen Adams with NZ members of the society's scientific and medical advisory board, led by SMAB chair Dr Marion Maw, has led to the updating of a booklet to help people with macular degeneration. As relevant consumer responses and medical and scientific input is obtained, we will be able to affordably update the booklet using the short run printing opportunities created by "digital" printing.

Research policy

The Dunedin based branch of the society, led by Helen Adams, offered proposals at the society's national planning meeting in April for a Retina New Zealand research policy, and other input suggested the appropriate strategy would accentuate international research links. When the policy is finalised proposals can be measured against it.

Genetic engineering

The Wellington branch of the society was asked by its May AGM speaker, former international delegate and Aucklander Bryan Jones, and some present, to take a position on aspects of genetic research as it affected the society's and other consumer interests. The branch executive has asked the Auckland branch to prepare and circulate an advance paper for consideration at the national AGM in September.

International connections

Retina New Zealand executive consumer capacity to evaluate what is significant for people facing retinal challenges has been helped by Fraser Alexander's recent discussions in the UK and the US. His contacts now include Dr Alan Bird, whose judgement on what matters in retinal research Bryan Jones tells us to regard highly, and Lighthouse staff, who provide leading edge services in the US for the visually impaired.

The Retina International Group on Membership Development of Asia Pacific Region I fostered at June Ombler's urging at the Toronto conference, led by the Hong Kong RP society, is successfully fostering Retina societies in a number of Asian locations. It will hold its first Chinese Forum from 20 to 24 July in Guangzhou, focusing on Clinical and Laboratory Sciences on Retinal Degenerations, and Retinal Degenerations in Scope of Social and Humanities Sciences; It is expected that more than 100 participants including clinicians, scientists, patients and their family members from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Chinese communities in other parts of the world will come.

I have sent warm wishes to the societies in Asia. Back home, should you have Asian New Zealanders in need of peer support, you can assume we could link some of them by email to a relevant Asian society. It would be good if Retina NZ could also do more for Polynesians with retinal conditions - but the Asia Pacific membership group so far offers nothing to our Pacific Island neighbours - should and can we?

Governance

At the April consultations of the RNZFB consumer organisations CEO Jane Holden asked us to inform members of the proposed referendum on governance. The RNZFB had negotiated positions with the Association of Blind Citizens. Retina New Zealand offered no position on the issue - and was not asked for any. Documentation will be supplied under the authority of the RNZFB through its governance project person. Retina New Zealand is free to make and stake a policy if it wants, but the secret vote is one for each member to make for his or herself.

Finance and administration Retina New Zealand treasurer Kaye Newton has successfully led the society's application for funding for its targeted work programmes and back up support for the coming year from the RNZFB. The society also continues to attract NZ and international resources from outside RNZFB sources to enable it to be more effective.

Managing change Some of these issues inside and outside our programmes are going to prove challenging and divisive. We must constructively manage our important relationships, and make the best judgements possible - measuring what we do against the interests of consumers with concerns for the back of the eye.

NOMINATIONS REQUIRED FOR SOCIETY PRESIDENT

Tony Haas will have completed his two year term as President of Retina New Zealand at our AGM in September but is eligible to stand for a further term of two years.

Rule 7(a) of the Constitution of Retina NZ states that "the President shall be elected by the membership through a postal ballot to be conducted prior to an Annual General Meeting for a two year term of office and may serve no more than two successive terms of office".

All nominations must be signed by the Nominator, the Seconder and the nominee as accepting nomination with the date of acceptance. They must also include a Curriculum Vitae of the person nominated, not exceeding 500 words.

Please return the nomination form which is enclosed with this newsletter. Nominations must reach the National Secretary, Retina NZ Inc. at P.O. Box 27-177, Wellington by 5 pm on Friday, 3 August 2001. After that, their C.V's will be sent to all members with a voting paper to be returned to the Secretary.

RESEARCH

FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS RESTORE VISION IN CANINE MODEL OF CHILDHOOD BLINDNESS
By Tom Hoglund, US Foundation Fighting Blindness

In one of the single most important advances in the history of retinal degeneration research, a group of Foundation-supported scientists used gene therapy to restore vision in a canine model of severe childhood blindness, known clinically as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). This finding, published in the May issue of Nature Genetics, represents the first time researchers successfully restored vision in a large animal model of retinal degeneration.

Responding to the study findings, Dr Gerald Chader, Chief Scientific Officer of The Foundation Fighting Blindness, said, "With this study, gene therapy has overcome a major hurdle. Previously, researchers have restored vision in rodents. However, the Food and Drug Administration wants to see evidence that a treatment is safe and effective in a large animal model before granting permission to begin clinical trials in humans. Genetic medicine is now making things we could only once dream of a reality."

What is LCA? LCA is the name given to a group of severe, early-onset forms of retinal degeneration. Infants born with LCA have very little if any existing vision and usually develop unusual roving eye movements. The diagnosis of LCA is confirmed by an electroretinogram (ERG), a medical test that measures the retina's response to light. Patients with LCA have almost no detectable ERG readings, indicating near total blindness.

LCA Research Advances In 1997, Foundation researchers discovered that mutations in the RPE65 gene cause a form of LCA. As its name implies, the RPE65 gene is active in a layer of cells called the retinal pigment epithelium, or RPE for short. RPE cells support the function of photoreceptor cells in the neural retina. In 1998, experiments performed with a rodent model of LCA found that the RPE65 gene product supports the phototransduction cycle, the biochemical process that turns light into an electrical signal. Although photoreceptor cells in this form of LCA are thought to be entirely normal, RPE65 mutations in the adjoining RPE cell layer block phototransduction, resulting in blindness. That same year, Foundation supported scientists cloned the canine RPE65 gene and identified the mutation that is responsible for the disease in Briard dogs. This work set the stage for the present breakthrough.

Greater Understanding Leads to Treatment Breakthrough Applying the knowledge gained from these discoveries, a group of researchers from Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania and the University of Florida hypothesized that replacing the dysfunctional RPE65 gene with a healthy gene might restore RPE cell function and thereby engage the idle but still healthy photoreceptor cells. Testing this theory, the team treated four Briard dogs, a canine breed that, like humans, is genetically susceptible to this form of LCA.

Twelve weeks after a subretinal injection containing the RPE65 gene and a viral vector to deliver the gene to RPE cells, ERG tests revealed the treated eyes had a remarkable improvement in retinal function. By contrast, untreated eyes had almost no detectable ERG. Behavioral testing revealed that these canines had regained ambulatory vision, seeing well enough to avoid obstacles in their path even under dim lighting conditions.

Implications For Other Diseases That researchers can restore vision in the most severe form of retinal degeneration suggests that sight-restoring treatments for other diseases are also possible. As Dr Jean Bennett, a co-author of the study said, "We have worked hard for many, many years trying to develop a treatment for retinal degeneration, and this is the biggest leap forward yet. These results will expand the possible treatment strategies for a diverse set of retinal degenerative diseases."

OTAGO/SOUTHLAND DIABETIC RETINOPATHY STUDY RESULTS
From: Supervisor, Gordon Sanderson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Ophthalmology, Otago Medical School

Two students, Kelli Hart and Rob Mitchell, working in the Department of Ophthalmology at Otago University have completed a preliminary investigation into the effectiveness of the Otago Diabetic Eye Monitoring Service.

By way of background, in Otago approximately 70% of all diabetics (the largest percentage in the country) have their eyes photographed on a regular basis, in most cases this means annually. These photographs are then reviewed by an ophthalmologist who decides whether or not there is any diabetic eye disease and if so recommends treatment.

This study was intended to prove or disprove the effectiveness of the Otago Eye Monitoring Service. To achieve this, the two students firstly acquired details of the numbers of people who had gone blind with diabetic retinopathy in this area. Secondly, compared those statistics with the national figures for blindness from diabetic retinopathy and thirdly compared those national figures with international figures. The results showed that the percentage of blindness registration in Otago for diabetics was significantly lower than the rest of the country, 2.5% for Otago compared to 4.4% for the rest of New Zealand and that the figures for blindness due to retinopathy in New Zealand was lower than most other western countries.

The study supports the use of retinal photography as a technique for monitoring diabetic eye disease and a way of preventing this form of blindness.

Kelli Hart's Summer Scholarship was funded by the S.A. and G.J. Ombler Charitable Trust.

WHAT IS DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?

Diabetic retinopathy can be divided into two types:

Background

Diabetes causes the walls of the smallest blood vessels to weaken, causing small balloon-like bulges to occur in the vessel walls - microaneurisms. Bleeding from the blood vessels, (retinal haemorrhages), or leakage of fats, (hard exudates), and fluid, (retinal oedema), into the surrounding tissues may occur. If this leakage of fluid into the tissues, (macula oedema), occurs at the macula then it will lead to reduced vision.

Proliferative retinopathy

In some cases, background retinopathy may progress to proliferative retinopathy. This proliferation poses one of the greatest threats to vision. If undetected and untreated, serious visual loss occurs in more than 50% of those affected.

From: Diabetes New Zealand Inc.

FRASER ALEXANDER, RETINA NEW ZEALAND'S INTERNATIONAL DELEGATE REPORTS ON HIS VISITS IN NEW YORK AND LONDON.

NEW YORK

I met with the U.S. Foundation Fighting Blindness fundraiser for New York, Vivienne Holmes to discuss how they make this happen and discovered the "people attract people" philosophy that is used for events, major gift solicitation etc. This involves recruiting well known sports stars, actors, business people, medical people to front campaigns that rely on attracting other well known people to attend events, donate money or time. The Foundation Fighting Blindness has an impressive record of raising over $US15,000,000 annually of which 82% is invested in research programmes. Vivienne was confident the FFB would continue to provide information on eye conditions and research internationally and believes the pool of experience within their organisation meant they were well equipped to make the best suggestions as to the validity of studies and therapeutic approaches which sought FFB funding. She suggested the best way affected people in a country like New Zealand could help their work would be to monitor their website (www.blindness.org) for opportunities to assist with fundraising ventures, lobbying for public funding etc.

Lighthouse International

A semi-formal meeting was arranged for me with Betty Bird, Joanna Mellor, Amy Horowitz, Mary Stine, and Lorraine Lidoff, all senior employees of Lighthouse International.

There was considerable interest shown by this group in our efforts to initiate a Peer Support service in New Zealand and the general consensus was that our programmes must be user friendly both for the caller and the peer support provider. It was stressed our programmes needed to be flexible in terms of recruiting volunteers, subjects discussed during calls and the training levels for new volunteers in order to maintain the scale and momentum of the programme. Low vision services were discussed and the salient points that were communicated were that sight-impaired people should be involved in the service as much as possible and that ophthalmologists and optometrists needed training in the techniques needed in elucidating the main frustrations requiring solutions. I was introduced to some Lighthouse Services that are considered leading edge around the world and I would encourage members to read more about these at www.lighthouse.org

Columbia University Eye Institute

Abraham Spector, Ph.D led a discussion on the team of researchers and their approaches to investigating Retinal degenerative conditions and the biochemical and physiological processes involved in vision. The group also included Malcolm P. Aldrich (Research Professor of Ophthalmology & Research Director, Department of Ophthalmology). Attending were members of my track club who are vision impaired Malcolm Cox and Amanda Olivier. Dr Spector spoke of his 40 years involved with Biochemical and genetic research. He believed in the next 10 years the world would see as many breakthroughs in knowledge of disease as he had seen in his 40 years as a researcher. "I wish I'd started this year as a student doing my first thesis", he said.

This research facility is partly government funded and partly US FFB funded. As we were leaving we were approached by Dr Peter Gouras (transplantation) and this proved to be the highlight of the visit. Peter took advanced technology moving mirror photos of each of our eyes and took blood samples for future reference or testing and gave his contact details to follow him up on any research breakthroughs he was aware of.

LONDON

Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital I spoke with Professor Alan Bird about the research presented at Vision Quest 2000 in Toronto and realised that while many advances had been made on many different approaches, there is little likelihood of effective treatments emerging for conditions such as MD, RP, Ushers etc in the next five years. Professor Bird did reflect the huge optimism for stem cell manipulation and considered it alongside gene expression and gene transplantation in terms of being the most likely therapeutic approach to succeed first. He did not believe Prosthetic Retinal Implants or technology involved with cameras attached to the optic nerve had progressed at all in the last 20 years and was of the view much of the publicity surrounding these devices was aimed at soliciting further funding to continue research. Overall I came away from the meeting with Professor Bird with a deflated outlook on where the scientific and medical fraternity are at with respect to launching a FDA approved breakthrough for the treatment of an inherited retinal condition.

British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, The Rayne Institute, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, London I met with Dr Stephen Jones (sejones@hgmp.mrc.ac.uk) and his colleague Dr Catherine Jomary to discuss a research project supported by the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and the Iris Fund for Prevention of Blindness.

During the discussion I realised the complexity of the puzzle that is RP. While Dr Jones has made significant discoveries with respect to genes causing apoptosis (a degenerative chemical pathway causing photoreceptor cell death), in his own words "we hope the genetic defects identified in RP patients lead to just one apoptosis pathway so that our manipulation of that gene will prevent apoptosis resulting in vision loss but it is unlikely this will be the case for significant numbers of RP patients given the number of RP genes discovered". Dr Jones did mention that New Zealanders need to ensure they are registered organ donors as RP, MD, CHM or other eyes are very important and sought after specimens with respect to genetic research, and in all studies he has been involved with, a greater supply of such tissue would be statistically very valuable.

I spoke briefly with Professor Marshall, Chairman of the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society's Scientific & Medical Advisory Board who encouraged us to support applications for research funding made by overseas researchers using e-mail. He did make a comment with respect to Visudyne treatment for wet MD that he didn't feel many patients would benefit and that they needed to be treated very early and followed up at least twice with further laser applications.

COPING

LET THERE BE LIGHT, NOT GLARE!
By Susan Clarke, RNZFB Rehabilitation Instructor, Christchurch

A low vision aid is not the only way to help people see better. In fact, it is less than half the story. Most visually impaired people see better if they can work in a good light. Eyes need light in order to see. It is not just the size of objects that makes them easy or difficult to see. Contrast is also a vital factor. A white elephant in a snowstorm would be difficult for most people to spot! Good lighting enhances contrast, poor lighting reduces it.

Retinal degenerative disorder is the name given to a group of diseases which affect the light sensitive cells in the retina. People with these disorders may suffer from glare, night blindness, or adapting to "light to dark" environments or vice versa, or they may just need extra general or task lighting to promote good contrast, thereby allowing the person to "see better". Good quality lighting throughout the home is vital. It is therefore important to have a critical look at your lighting to avoid both gloom and glare.

The consequences of poor lighting are reduced concentration span, eye fatigue, headaches, irritability, nervous tension, difficulty seeing print and doing daily household tasks. Many home accidents are caused by inadequate lighting of halls, stairways, doorsteps and the kitchen.

Good general lighting is needed as well as task lighting, but can be just as dangerous as poor lighting which if positioned wrongly can cause glare. Light that is too bright (Glare) may cause someone to see much less and complain bitterly, and with justification. Bright lights can be positively painful and cause people to see less because of the glare. All lighting therefore needs to be placed in the right position for each individual.

Contact your local Royal NZ Foundation for the Blind Techniques of Daily Living (TDL) Instructor or a local occupational therapist and ask them to come and do a lighting assessment in your home.

Here are a few tips to look out for in your home: * Light levels between rooms and corridors should roughly be the same. To come out of a brightly lit bathroom into a dimly lit stairway or landing can be dangerous.

* Many people's needs are met by having powerful light bulbs with good lamp shades that direct the light downwards and not into your eyes.

* Sit in your favourite chair, in your lounge, at the table or desk, or at your kitchen workbench. If you can see a source of light within your field of vision, you have a direct glare problem and will either need to re-position yourself or the light.

* Replace curtains with blinds as they can allow the maximum amount of light to enter the room, but can be adjusted to keep out sunlight.

* Illuminate the room with a second lamp to reduce the contrast when you look up from reading, watching TV, or a daily task.

* Place a mirror on your desk, workbench or against the screen of your computer. If a light source can be seen in the mirror, this light source is in the wrong place. Indirect glare is from poorly positioned lights and causes rapid fatigue.

* "Dimmer" lights are lights that have switches that can control the brightness of the light. These lights can be helpful to control general room lighting for your comfort but can be quite costly.

* In a dining room, a light fitting hanging from the ceiling directly above the table is ideal.

* Outdoor timed lights that light the footpath to the door of your home are ideal, but be careful of sensor lights as they may cause glare from their sudden onset.

* Ask your local TDL instructor to show you some good task lighting. This is excellent to enhance reading with your low vision aid. It also makes kitchen tasks a lot easier as it enhances good contrast.

* Using a torch is a simple way of providing more light just where it is needed and can be very effective. Torches with Halogen bulbs are especially helpful for those who tend to experience particular difficulty in getting about after dark.

* Ask your TDL Instructor or your Orientation and Mobility instructor to show you the full range of NoIR glasses. These are ideal for those who suffer from glare and finding the right ones will protect you from glare and will not block any of your residual vision.

SPECTRA SHIELDS

Spectra Shields are a new style of sunglasses produced by NoIR Medical Technologies. The Spectra Shields come in three styles, small fitover, large fitover and non-fitover. They are a more comfortable and stylish frame than those previously produced by NoIR. They can come in any of 50 UVSHIELD, NoIR, or Glareshield colours. At the moment the Foundation has three colours available, 13% dark grey, 32% medium grey, and 16% amber. However, we are able to get in any colour which NoIR produces for someone. The price at the moment is $44.84, but this price can change at any time due to currency and shipment changes.

The best way to buy a pair of Spectra Shields or any NoIR glasses would be to contact Equipment Services at the RNZFB on 0800 24 33 33. NoIR Medical Technologies also have a website on which their catalogue is available. The address is http://www.noir-medical.com/

PEOPLE

JUMPING OVER BARRIERS
By Julie Dalloway, Otago Branch

Jumping over barriers is something Bevan Gardiner is getting good at and not just with his horse riding. Visually impaired since birth, Bevan was diagnosed at two with Lebers Congenital Amaurosis. He is now in his first year at Logan Park High School in Dunedin.

"High school has been a big change for me" said Bevan. "All my classes are in different parts of the school. I have bits of equipment scattered all over the place". "Bevan's bag gets quite heavy" said his father John, "with all his books and materials as well as his laptop and other equipment"

Bevan has learned proficiency in Braille. He is the competent user of a laptop computer, a scanner, a closed circuit TV, a magnifier and a monocular. All of his equipment is funded by the Special Education Service along with his teacher aid hours.

Photograph: Bevan Gardiner with horse Cassie on a typical Saturday morning

Getting around the school is something Bevan's orientation and mobility instructor, Nancy, has helped him with. "I use my cane at school to help me get about", said Bevan "and I meet my teacher aid at the next class room. The only other time I use my cane is when I think I am going to bump into Nancy".

But school is not the only challenge in Bevan's life. He has learned the guitar by ear since he was six and also enjoys playing the mouth organ and singing. His outdoor pursuits include trolley-riding, horse riding for which he already has three ribbons for show jumping and also mountain biking.

"We take the mountain bikes with us when we go on holiday" said Bevan "and I follow my Dad around on the trail. Once I followed him", laughed Bevan " and when my Dad went left I carried on straight ahead and went right over a bank. But it didn't hurt!" "I don't worry about him mountain biking", said John. "The most he can do is fall off or hit a tree, but it is more road biking I worry about because of the traffic".

When asked what was the worst thing about not being able to see very well Bevan replied "Knowing in a couple of years I won't be able to go for my driver's licence".

His future looks bright. Bevan hopes to pursue his love of horses and make a career of it. At the moment though, at the age of thirteen he is enjoying Music, mountain biking and McDonalds.

Ariana-Hemara Wahanui and Kelli Hart

News has reached us of these two students who both worked in the Otago RD (Retinal Degeneration) laboratory last year.

Ariana is now working in Wellington for the National Centre for Disease investigation, a MAF Operations group as the Microbiological Security and Safety Officer.

After completing her summer scholarship investigating whether the Otago Diabetic Eye Monitoring Service improves the visual outcome of Diabetic patients in Otago and Southland ,Kelli , who has a B.Sc (Hons) degree has started doing medicine this year at Otago University. She says she thoroughly enjoyed her time in the Eye Department and has a continuing interest in visual disorders and blindness.

LETTER

From: Judy Lloyd Kaukapakapa

I would like to congratulate all those involved in the updated version of the "A Family Affair" booklet. It is clear and concise and must surely answer most of the questions a newly diagnosed person would ask.

Further congratulations are extended on the establishment of the Peer Support network. This has been a while coming but will surely be of great assistance to many people. Retina NZ is really making headway!

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW DUE

Subscriptions for the current year commencing 1 April 2001 are now due. If you have NOT already paid for this year, please complete your Membership Renewal form and send it to the National Secretary, Retina New Zealand Inc., P.O. Box 27-177, Wellington together with your cheque ($5.00 unwaged or $10.00 waged). Those members who receive the newsletter on tape or by email, will receive a print copy of the membership/renewal form and nomination form for Retina New Zealand President, separately by post. Quite a number of members paid their subscription early upon receipt of their last newsletter. If you have already paid yours, thank you!

DO YOU NEED HELP OR ADVICE?

The Retina NZ Peer Support programme is free and confidential service, operating nationwide. To make contact, telephone 0800 243 33 33, press 1 for general enquiries and then ask the call centre operator to put you in touch with a Peer Supporter in your area.

Ring any of the following freephone numbers if you want to speak to a geneticist or genetic counsellor about your own particular diagnosis of RP, Macular Degeneration or other retinal degenerative disorders:

Auckland Genetic Hotline (Ask for Dr Julie McGaughran) 0800 476 123

Wellington Genetic Hotline 0508 364 436
Christchurch Genetic Hotline 0508 364 436
(South Island callers ask for Dr Caroline Lintott)

Janet Palmer, National Secretary
P.O. Box 27-177,
Wellington
Phone: (04) 389-1538.
Fax: (04) 389-5254.
Email: retinanz@ihug.co.nz
Website address: www.retina.org.nz

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF ARTICLES FOR THE NEXT ISSUE IS FRIDAY 3 AUGUST 2001.

NOMINATION FORM FOR PRESIDENT OF RETINA NZ INC.

Please return this form to:

The National Secretary
Retina NZ Inc.
P.O. Box 27-177
WELLINGTON

Nominations close at 5 pm on Friday 3 August 2001.

We, the undersigned, being current financial members of Retina NZ Inc.,

wish to nominate...........................................................
for the position of President of the Society for a term of two
years, to take effect from the date of the forthcoming Annual
General Meeting.

Nominee:.................................................................

Nominated by:..........................................................

Seconded by:...........................................................

Date:......................................................................

Anthony Haas