Iveric Bio partnering with actor Eric Stonestreet to raise awareness of geographic atrophy

(Image Credit: Yahoo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Iveric Bio, An Astellas company, announced a partnership with two-time Emmy award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet to raise awareness about geographic atrophy (GA), a form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that causes irreversible vision loss.¹

Stonestreet, best known for his role as Cam in “Modern Family,” and and his mother, Jamey, are sharing how GA and AMD has affected their family to inspire others to learn about the disease and be proactive around their eye health as part of the campaign.

According to an Iveric Bio news release, the focus of the campaign is to raise awareness of potential signs and symptoms of GA and its swift progression, and encourages individuals to talk to their eye care professional about how to monitor for the disease.

Stonestreet has seen firsthand the impact GA can have on a family member. The company noted in its news release the actor’s maternal grandmother, Helen, lived with significant vision loss due to her AMD and was later diagnosed with GA. While she faced challenges due to her symptoms, she persevered with an incredible support system and great sense of humor, which inspired her family tremendously. Stonestreet’s mother, Jamey, was also diagnosed with AMD, and she is determined to keep her independence by doing everything she can to preserve her vision.

“After watching how quickly my grandma Helen’s vision loss progressed, my family and I are motivated to prioritize our eye health,” Stonestreet said in a statement in the news release. “Knowing that GA runs in the family is why I am proactive about seeing my doctor for regular eye exams, and my mom regularly visits her eye doctor to stay on top of her AMD.”

According to the company, GA currently affects approximately 1.5 million people in the United States, and only one in four people have been diagnosed.² Initially, it starts to develop with subtle symptoms such as seeing washed-out colors, straight lines that look wavy or crooked, or even no symptoms at all.³ As it advances, GA can interfere with day-to-day tasks, which could cause difficulty driving, reading, and recognizing faces.⁴

“GA is a devasting disease that can lead to irreversible blindness, and early diagnosis is crucial to ensure GA is identified early. We are thrilled to be working with Eric and Jamey to help people learn about GA and AMD as well as the importance of prioritizing their eye health,” said Chris Simms, senior vice president and chief commercial officer of Iveric Bio.

According to the news release, the Stonestreets’ story will be a part of the More to See campaign. To learn more and hear Eric and Jamey’s story, visit AskAboutGA.com or follow @AskAboutGA on Instagram.

References:

1. Jaffe GJ, et al. C5 inhibitor avacincaptad pegol for geographic atrophy due to age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2021;128(4):576-586.

2. Colijn JM, et al. Enlargement of geographic atrophy from first diagnosis to end of life. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021;139(7):743-750.

3. The American Society of Retina Specialists. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. www.asrs.org/patients/retinal-diseases/2/agerelated-macular-degeneration.

4. Burguera-Giménez N, García-Lázaro S, España-Gregori E, et al. Multimodal Evaluation of Visual Function in Geographic Atrophy versus Normal Eyes. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2020;14:1533-1545.