The AMDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, publicly supported organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Category: Living and Thriving with Macular Degeneration

Tips for living and thriving with age-related macular degeneration and low vision.

New Documentary on Living with Macular Degeneration

Image reads: Presented by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, Losing Sight, Finding Hope: Living with Macular Degeneration. A film by AMDF & Nick Czerula. Overlayed over a close up side profile of a woman's eye and nose.

Losing Sight, Finding Hope: Living with Macular Degeneration

The new documentary, Losing Sight, Finding Hope: Living with Macular Degeneration, from The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, and created by filmmaker Nick Czerula, premieres on YouTube on:

Monday, March 20, 2023 at 8PM EST

View the teaser below:

How to Watch

The full documentary, Losing Sight, Finding Hope: Living with Macular Degeneration, can be watched in the viewer below, or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/XSApwfhJJPg, during the premiere on March 20th, at 8PM EST. (The viewer below will not play UNTIL that date and time.)

Can’t Make the Premiere?

Don’t worry! AFTER the premiere, the film will be available to watch anytime at the same link, or in the viewer below.

What to Know About YouTube Premiere Viewing

YouTube offers a “premiere” feature that allows us to release a video on a particular date and time, and for viewers from across the country to watch the premiere at the same time.

In terms of actual viewing, it’s not much different from watching any other video on YouTube, but there are a few things to know.

The film will auto-play on YouTube at the set time and date (March 20, 8PM EST) – as long as you’re on the premiere page at https://youtu.be/XSApwfhJJPg, the video will automatically start playing at 8PM EST on March 20th.

There will be a one-minute countdown – YouTube automatically inserts a countdown that will start at 8PM and run for one-minute. This gives you a moment to settle in for viewing. This is not part of the film, just a YouTube feature that only happens during the premiere viewing.

You can pause, and even rewind, but not fast-forward – During the premiere viewing time, you can pause or rewind if you missed something, but you will not be able to fast-forward past the point of play that is current. For example, if the film has been running for 20 minutes, and you want to go back to the 15 minute mark, you can do that, but you wouldn’t be able to fast-forward past the 20-minute mark. Keep in mind that if you DO pause or rewind, you will be out-of-sync with other viewers. This only really matters if you are participating in the optional chat (more below on the chat feature).

Once the premiere ends the video is available to view anytime at the same link – Once the film has played in full, the premiere is “over” and the video will behave like any other YouTube video from then on. You will be able to watch it anytime you like, even if you didn’t view during the premiere.

You have the option to chat with us and other viewers during the premiere.

If you watch during the premiere time on YouTube, there will be a chat box available to the right of the viewer window where you can chat with other viewers, and some special guests from AMDF and the film. THIS IS OPTIONAL. Keep in mind, if we have a lot of viewers, the chat can get very crowded and fast-moving, and the chat font size is small (a YouTube feature we can’t customize).

If you DO want to participate in the chat, you will need to be logged into YouTube. If you have a gmail account, you can log in with that. Otherwise, you may need to create a new account.

The chat is only available just before and then during the premiere film viewing time. Once the film ends, the chat is automatically ended by YouTube.

The good news is that there are other options to leave comments or ask questions if you can’t make the premiere, don’t have a Gmail or YouTube account, or would rather focus on the film while it’s playing and comment after. You can:

  • Leave a comment here on this blog post. Just scroll to the end and leave your comment.
  • Leave a comment on YouTube below the viewer window. You’ll need to be logged into YouTube to leave a comment there. If you have a gmail address, you can use that to log in. Otherwise, you may need to create a new account.
  • Write to us via our contact form.

About the Film

This powerful, 48-minute documentary features people living with vision loss from macular degeneration, and special expert guests.

From macular degeneration diagnosis, to losing sight, to new ways of living and hope for the future – five patients share their stories, their vulnerabilities, and the wisdom they’ve gained through their personal journeys living with vision loss from macular degeneration.

Expert guests shed light on what we know about macular degeneration, and provide hope for what’s available to patients now, as well as what’s coming in the future.

Presented by The American Macular Degeneration Foundation

Created by filmmaker Nick Czerula, https://czvideoproduction.com/

Featured in the film:

Elizabeth Baker – Paralympian, Physical Therapist, Team USA site: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/athletes/elizabeth-baker

Samuel D. Seavey IV -Assistive Technology Expert for the Blind & Visually Impaired, The Blind Life LLC: www.theblindlife.net

Sensei Jack Stewart – Artist, Tai Chi, Kyudo and Kendo https://www.barnettradepost.com/finearts/contemplativearts.htm

Lori Fletcher – Naturalist, Herbalist

Joan LeBaron – World Traveler

Experts include:

Dr. Dorothy L. Hitchmoth – “America’s Eye Doctor”, nationally recognized, award-winning professor, lecturer and patient advocate https://www.drdorothy.org/

Dr. Allen Taylor – Professor of Nutrition, Development, Molecular & Chemical Biology, and Ophthalmology, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University https://gsbs.tufts.edu/people/faculty/allen-taylor-phd

Beth Daisy – Occupational Therapist, Future In Sight, MS OTR/L, ATP https://futureinsight.org/

Chip Goehring III – Founder and President of The American Macular Degeneration Foundation

Matthew Levine – Director of Grants, Partnerships, Advocacy for The American Macular Degeneration Foundation

Artists with Macular Degeneration – Three Films Highlight Creative Perseverance with Vision Loss

Old-school film reel with film stills featuring artists with macular degeneration, Robert Andrew Parker, Serge Hollerbach, and Lennart Anderson. Text above and below reads, "Three artists, creating in the face of vision loss"

In honor of AMD Awareness Month 2023, The Vision & Art Project put together a playlist of the films they have produced on three different artists with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

In their words, “As a whole, these artists’ stories inspire a deeper respect for and understanding of the profound capacity of humans to remain creative and vital in the face of adversity and loss.”

Each film focuses on the history of each artist’s work, weaving in the vision loss from macular degeneration that impacts their work and how they’ve adapted.

Serge Hollerbach – A Russian Painter in New York

“I think partial loss of vision freed me from attention to detail.” – Serge Hollerbach

In this short, award-winning documentary, the Russian emigre painter Serge Hollerbach (Nov 1, 1923 – Feb 19, 2021) creates two paintings, separated in time by a period of four years during which he has visibly aged and his vision has declined. While painting, he discusses art, his displacement during World War II, building a new life in New York City, and how vision loss has affected his ability to paint.

Lennart Anderson – Seeing With Light

In Seeing with Light, the artist Lennart Anderson (August 22, 1928 – October 15, 2015) works on a portrait of his friend and fellow artist, Kyle Staver, as he discusses his life and work. Though he struggles to see her, he is determined to continue his life-long interest in portraiture. First released on Oct. 30, 2014, it was one of our first major projects at the Vision & Art Project.

It’s not until 8 minutes in that it becomes apparent Lennart is working with vision loss, as you see him position his eyes inches away from his canvas and tilt his head in order to see what he’s working on. This moment is a breathtaking illustration of the artist’s perseverance.

Robert Andrew Parker – A is for Artist

In A Is for Artist, the Connecticut-based artist and illustrator Robert Andrew Parker talks about the impossibility for him of a life without painting and how he ‘keeps on keeping on’ by embracing the inevitable changes that vision loss has brought to his work.

About the Vision & Art Project

The Vision & Art Project is an AMDF-supported project that chronicles the intersection between macular degeneration and the arts.

From the Vision & Art Project’s website: “Our mission at the Vision & Art Project is to give greater visibility to the overlooked influence of vision loss from macular degeneration on historical and contemporary artists. We strive to ensure the legacy of individual artists, to educate the public about macular degeneration, vision, and art, and to inspire a deeper respect for the human capacity to adapt and change. Our hope is that the work we present provides incontrovertible evidence that, even with compromised eyesight, the visual world remains beautiful and within reach.”

AMDF Premieres New Film on ‘Living with Macular Degeneration’ for AMD Awareness Month 2023

February 8, 2023

As part of AMD Awareness Month 2023, The American Macular Degeneration Foundation announces the premiere of:

Life with Macular Degeneration
Patient Stories
Mary Toss: The Perseverance of Spirit

About the Film

In this honest, short documentary, Mary Toss shares her personal story of living with macular degeneration. She reflects on the reality of vision loss and grief, and the film reveals the eventual potential for the triumph of spirit. 

Through interviews with Mary and conversations with friends and family, we get an intimate view into Mary’s daily life. From the tricks she’s discovered to adjust to vision loss, to the people who make up her support network, we see Mary persevering, with acceptance, and humor, to live independently with dignity. 

AMD patient Mary Toss sits at table with her four daughters. Coffee and food sits on the table as the women talk.
Movie still showing Mary Toss discussing living with macular degeneration with her four daughters.

AMD Awareness Month 2023

AMD Awareness Month is a nationally recognized awareness month dedicated to raising awareness about the disease of age-related macular degeneration. You can learn more about age-related macular degeneration at What is Macular Degeneration.

You can help! Help us reach more people by sharing this article with your network, and if you’re on Facebook, follow us there and amplify the reach of awareness content by liking, sharing and commenting.

Another way to help is to support this work, along with research, education and advocacy through a one-time or monthly donation, or create your OWN awareness building Facebook fundraiser here.

American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515
Northampton, MA 01061-0515
413.268.7660 - Contact us
1-888-MACULAR (1-888-622-8527)
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AMDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, publicly supported organization (Charity ID #04-3274007). Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.