Political Quotes

“Over 1 million Americans are legally blind and 80 million Americans are at risk for developing diseases that potentially can cause blindness. Currently, more than 6 million Americans suffer from retinal degenerative diseases. In my State of Florida, an estimated 1 million people are affected by these problems. My constituents, Ilana Lidsky and her husband Patrick McGuinn, have traveled to our Nation's Capitol today to learn about recent gene therapy that has actually given sight to Lancelot, a Briard dog born with a blinding genetic mutation. This recent National Eye Institute-supported research that has given sight to Lancelot holds promise for children born blind and for persons like Ilana and her siblings who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that may lead to blindness. Today, eye and vision disorders cost society $38 billion every year, and this cost will escalate unless existing research opportunities are vigorously pursued. The Alliance for Eye and Vision Research and the Foundation Fighting Blindness are to be congratulated for their gene therapy research that will soon find a cure for blindness.”