Achromatopsia Network
P.O. Box 214
Berkeley, CA 94701-0214
http://www.achromat.org
• Provides information about achromatopsia and about the resources that are available to meet the special needs of those affected by this disorder that is characterized by severe color vision defect and poor visual acuity. Seeks to promote awareness and education about achromatopsia. Assists patients and family members in networking. Publishes a newsletter and other publications.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
540 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 427-1364
1-800-358-9295 (AHRQ Clearinghouse)
http://www.ahrq.gov
• Promotes effective, appropriate, high-quality health care; increased access to care; and improves the way health services are organized, delivered, and financed. Provides Now You Have a Diagnosis: What's Next, a publication designed to assist patients in their decision-making. (Also available in Spanish).
Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 250
Rockville, MD 20852-1606
(240) 221-2905
http://www.eyeresearch.org
• A coalition of organizations that includes ophthalmic and optometric professionals, consumer advocates and industry which is dedicated to educating Congress and the public about the economic and societal value of federally funded eye and vision research.
AMD Alliance International
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M4G 3E8
1-877-263-7171
(416) 480-7505
http://www.amdalliance.org
• Works to raise the awareness about age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and an understanding of available options for treatment, rehabilitation, and support services. Publishes an educational brochure in five languages.
American Academy of Ophthalmology
P.O. Box 7424
San Francisco, CA 94120-7424
(415) 561-8500
http://www.aao.org
• Represents board-certified ophthalmologists in the United States. Offers public information materials and clinical education programs in a variety of formats. Offers a Find a Doctor service on their website to help people locate local board-certified ophthalmologists.
American Academy of Optometry
6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 506
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 984-1441
http://www.aaopt.org
• Seeks to maintain and enhance excellence in optometric practice. Fosters research and the dissemination of knowledge in both basic and applied vision science.
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
P.O. Box 193832
San Francisco, CA 94119-3832
(415) 561-8505
http://www.aapos.org
• Dedicated to ensuring quality medical and surgical eye care of children and adults with strabismus. Provides information on common eye problems including strabismus, amblyopia, retinopathy of prematurity, conjunctivitis, and learning disabilities. Offers a website tool to help people find pediatric ophthalmologists in their local areas.
American Association of the Deaf-Blind (AADB)
814 Thayer Avenue, Suite 302
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4500
(301) 495-4403
(301) 495-4402--TTY
http://www.aadb.org/
• Encourages independent living for individuals who are deaf-blind. Provides technical assistance to persons who are deaf-blind, families, educators, and service providers.
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
(AARDA)
22100 Gratiot Avenue
E. Detroit, MI 48021
(586) 776-3900
1-800-598-4668 (Literature Requests)
http://www.aarda.org
• Dedicated to bringing a national focus to autoimmune diseases, conditions caused by the body attacking itself. Provides information on eye-related diseases include Behcet's disease, Graves' disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, sarcoidosis, Sjogren's syndrome, temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis), and uveitis.
American Behcet's Disease Association
P.O. Box 19952
Amarillo, TX 79114
1-800-723-4238
http://www.behcets.com
• Provides support and information to individuals with Behcet's disease, symptoms of which include ocular inflammation (uveitis). Publishes a quarterly newsletter and distributes patients pamphlets. Coordinates a pen pal/phone pal network. Provides physician referrals. Coordinates a network of local support groups. Holds an annual international conference.
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
1-800-424-8666
(202) 467-5081
http://www.acb.org
• Serves as a national clearinghouse on blindness issues for individuals, organizations, and institutions. Provides an information and referral service on Federal legislation, administrative action, and rule making on national and state levels. Offers group insurance plans, coordinates class action litigation, and educates the public about blindness and the abilities of visually impaired people. Publishes The Braille Forum, a free monthly national magazine.
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
1-800-232-5463
(212) 502-7600
http://www.afb.org
• Serves as a one-stop information and referral resource for people who are blind or visually impaired, the people who work with them, and the general public. Conducts a wide variety of programs to support independent living, literacy, employment, and access to technology. Publishes professional materials for blindness and low vision and Talking Books. Offers consultation services to eye care, rehabilitation, and education professionals. Provides referrals to low vision centers. Advocates for legislative change.
American Health Assistance Foundation
22512 Gateway Center Drive
Clarksburg, MD 20871
1-800-437-2423
(301) 948-3244
http://www.ahaf.org
• Funds research on glaucoma and macular degeneration around the world. Educates the public about the dangers of these diseases and provides important information and resources to patients, caregivers, and loved ones on ways to cope with age-related diseases. Publishes a low vision resource list, the Macular Degeneration Research News, the National Glaucoma Research Report, and other patients education materials on glaucoma and macular degeneration.
American Optometric Association
243 N. Lindbergh Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 991-4100
http://www.aoanet.org
• Represents optometrists in the United States. Provides brochures on eye problems for the lay public and professional materials on eye care delivery. Offers a Find a Doctor service on their website to help people locate optometrists.
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206-0085
1-800-223-1839
(502) 895-2405
http://www.aph.org
• Promotes the independence of blind and visually impaired persons by providing specialized materials, products, and services needed for education and life. Products include Braille and large-print textbooks, Braille teaching tools, and talking books. Provides free subscriptions to Reader's Digest and Newsweek on disposable audiocassettes. Provides Reader's Digest in Braille.
American Society of Ocularists
P.O. Box 608
Earlysville, VA 22936-0608
1-866-973-4066
(434) 973-4066
http://www.ocularist.org/
• American Society of Ocularists is an international, non-profit, professional and educational organization founded by technicians specializing in the fabricating and fitting of custom-made ocular prosthetics (artificial eyes). Offers referrals to local ocularists.
American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS)
222 South Westmonte Drive, Suite 101
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
(407) 774-7880
http://www.asoprs.org
• Dedicated to advance training, education, research, and the quality of clinical practice in the fields of aesthetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery specializing in the face, eyelids, orbits, and lacrimal system. Provides information on anophthalmos and orbital implants, blepharospasm, ptosis and other eyelid disorders, excessive tearing, and thyroid disease and the eye.
Associated Services for the Blind
919 Walnut Street, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 627-0600
http://www.asb.org
• Offers personal adjustment to blindness training and orientation and mobility training. Provides materials in Braille. Offers computer training using adaptive devices.
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
1703 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 440
Alexandria, VA 22311
1-877-492-2708
(703) 671-4500
http://www.aerbvi.org
• Includes educators, rehabilitators, administrators, parents, and houseparents of blind children; agencies, schools, and others interested in the education, guidance, vocational rehabilitation, or occupational placement of the blind and partially-sighted. Cooperates with colleges and universities in conferences and workshops. Presents awards, conducts certification programs, and maintains job exchange services. Works with state, provencial, and national governments on legislation affecting services to blind and visually impaired individuals.
Association for Macular Diseases
210 E. 64th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 605-3719
http://www.macula.org
• Offers education and information on macular disease through seminars, newsletters, and a hotline. Offers counseling to patients and their families.
Association for Retinopathy of Prematurity and Related Diseases (ROPARD)
P.O. Box 250425
Franklin, MI 48025
1-800-788-2020
http://www.ropard.org
• Dedicated to eliminating the problems of low vision and blindness in children caused by premature birth and retinal disease, by funding clinical research to understand, treat, and prevent retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and related retinal diseases. Funds innovative work on the development of new low vision devices, teaching techniques and services for children who are visually impaired and their families.
