The Macular Degeneration Association (MDA) is pleased to announce Dr. Sonya M. Braudway as the newest member of the MDA Medical Advisory Board. Dr. Braudway received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the Corpus Christi State University and her doctorate from the University of Houston College Of Optometry.

Dr. Braudway completed a fellowship in low vision rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Braudway is a board certified optometric physician in Winter Haven, Florida, and is active in several professional organizations including the American Academy of Optometry, the American Optometric Association, the Florida Optometric Association and the Florida Division of Blind Services. Her current research interests include outcome studies in vision rehabilitation.

As a member of the MDA Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Braudway will help to develop a comprehensive low vision resource that will be added to the MDA patient education website, www.maculardegenerationassociation.org.

“It’s an honor to welcome aboard a distinguished doctor and low vision specialist. Dr. Braudway will fulfill a great need for many of the patients MDA works hard to serve,” said Chairman, Lawrence Hoffheimer, “we look forward to working with her.”

About the Macular Degeneration Association (MDA)

The Macular Degeneration Association is a nonprofit health organization dedicated to educating and empowering age-related macular degeneration patients all across the world. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an increasingly prevalent degenerative eye disease, affecting millions of aging seniors. The mission of MDA is to educate patients on the latest advances in treating AMD. However, our focus extends far beyond diagnosed patients. The MDA is committed to the senior population at large, those most at risk of developing macular degeneration.

MDA's goal is to provide information about risk factors, genetic predisposition, and proper diagnosis, as well as preventative efforts and treatment options that will likely reduce the most adverse effect of AMD, blindness. MDA is passionate about funding and developing sophisticated patient education and advocacy programs designed to improve macular patients’ quality of life. This is accomplished through the Association’s patient education conferences and seminars held nationwide.

The Association honors its commitment to prioritizing patient education by aligning itself with experts in the macular field, investigating retina-related scientific breakthroughs, and disseminating new scientific advances to macular patients across the world. The  Association strongly believe that providing support, education and empowerment to the millions of people living with age-related macular degeneration will improve patient quality of life, and energize the retina field to develop advances in treating AMD.

 It is MDA's hope that encouraging knowledge and awareness will ultimately lead to a cure.

For more information, please visit the MDA website at: www.maculardegenerationassociation.org.