Annual dinner offered sighted guests the ability to experience, appreciate challenges of visually impaired

The Foundation Fighting Blindness' Dining in the Dark honored three individuals for their contributions to eye care.

The annual fundraiser, where diners are treated to the experience of eating a meal with the lights off to simulate vision loss, was also an opportunity for the foundation to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to low vision and blindness research.

David E.I. Pyott, CBE, chairman and chief executive officer of Allergan, was one of the recipients of the Visionary Award. Mr. Pyott was honored for leading Allergan in research and development of products that may prevent, treat or cure blindness.

Mr. Pyott, in accepting his award, noted that Allergan, while a profit-driven company, also exists in a larger community of academic researchers and clinicians working toward a common goal of managing retinal pathologies. He said that partnerships with organizations such as the Foundation Fighting Blindness are critical in realizing that mission.

"The Foundation Fighting Blindness is truly one of the greatest research and patient education organizations, not in the United States, but around the world," Mr. Pyott said. "More than 80% of money raised by the foundation goes directly to research and patient education."

The foundation also honored Rebecca L. Kammer, OD, FAAO, an assistant professor at Southern California College of Optometry and chief of the Mary Ann Keverline Walls Low Vision Center, for her service to the Orange County Chapter of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Dr. Kammer was also recognized for her volunteer efforts in providing eye exams and glasses to impoverished populations in Honduras and Africa.

Recognized by her colleagues at the foundation as an energetic, passionate and caring individual, Dr. Kammer said that it is the work of the entire team at the foundation that moves the mission forward.

"The Foundation Fighting Blindness is truly a testimony to what can be accomplished when many individuals with different talents work together for the purpose of providing hope," Dr. Kammer said.

The foundation also presented a Visionary Award to Ronald Kurtz, MD, associate clinical professor at University of California, Irvine, for research that has changed ophthalmic practice. Dr. Kurtz is one of the co-investigators that created the IntraLase femtosecond laser.

Noted as an academic, clinician, entrepreneur, surgeon and leader, Dr. Kurtz thanked the foundation for ongoing support of not only his research efforts, but research efforts in general that make breakthroughs in science possible.

During the entrée part of the dinner, the room was completely darkened, and dinner guests were served by visually impaired waiters. The goal was for guests to experience blindness for a short 30-minute time period. The powerful experience was heightened by the appreciation that they were being served and assisted by people who are permanently blind.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to "drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people with retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases."