We’re Officially Launching The Retina Access Foundation

Today marks an important step for us. We are grateful to officially launch The Retina Access Foundation and begin working toward a mission that is deeply personal to us: improving access, education, advocacy, and direct support for individuals and families affected by retinal disease and preventable vision loss.

At the core of this foundation is a simple belief. Access matters. Access to timely information, access to care, access to community, and access to the treatments that can preserve sight and independence.

Many retinal conditions, including diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration, are treatable when identified early and managed consistently. However, treatment often depends on repeated intravitreal therapy, which can be costly and difficult for many patients to sustain over time.

One of our central commitments is to help address this barrier directly. The Retina Access Foundation will work to financially support eligible patients by helping cover the cost of essential intravitreal therapies that are often required to preserve vision and slow disease progression. We believe that access to sight-saving treatment should not depend on financial circumstance.

For many patients, the challenge is not only medical but also financial and logistical. Some are uninsured, others are underinsured, and many face gaps in coverage that make consistent treatment difficult to maintain. Programs that once helped bridge these gaps have become more limited in recent years, leaving patients and families with fewer options and greater responsibility.

Why We Started

Retinal diseases affect millions of people worldwide, yet access to education, care coordination, and support remains uneven. After a diagnosis, many individuals are left to navigate a complex system with limited guidance.

We created The Retina Access Foundation to help reduce those barriers. Our goal is to make it easier for people living with vision loss, or at risk of it, to find reliable information, practical support, and assistance with care when they need it most.

Looking Ahead

As we grow, we plan to develop educational resources that are clear, accessible, and grounded in real clinical understanding. Our Education Center will provide information on both common and rare retinal conditions, along with patient-friendly guides, presentations, and learning materials designed to support understanding and informed decision-making.

We also hope to build partnerships with retina clinics across the Western North Carolina region to create opportunities for shadowing, mentorship, and exposure for students and individuals interested in ophthalmology and retinal care. Expanding access to these experiences is an important part of building a stronger and more informed future workforce.

In addition, we aim to expand outreach efforts that connect patients, caregivers, and providers more directly with the resources and support systems they need. As we grow, we will continue listening to the community and adapting our programs to meet real needs.

For now, this site will serve as our central hub for updates, educational materials, and foundation news. Organizational documents will be made available here as they are finalized, and can also be requested through the “Contact Us” page.

Thank You

Thank you for being here at the start of this journey. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, clinician, advocate, or supporter, we are truly grateful for your presence and trust.

We are building this foundation alongside the community it serves, and we are committed to keeping that connection at the center of everything we do.

Together, we can work toward a future where access to vision-saving care is more consistent, more equitable, and more compassionate.

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