To overview |
|
| | |||
| Social engagement |
| A Thousand Kilometers by Tandem Bicycle along the Way of St. James | Downloads and Links | ||
| Carl Zeiss supports awareness-raising campaign by PRO RETINA patient organization | RTF Documents
english (7865 KB)Further Information 
Deutsche Version
| ||
| JENA/Germany, 25.05.2012. The PRO RETINA Foundation has organized a 13-stage tandem bicycle ride from Stuttgart to Santiago de Compostela via Strasbourg and Lourdes to raise awareness of retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 20 tandem bikes from four countries – each crewed by a sighted pilot and a visually impaired co-pilot – will be cycling the route from May 25 to June 9, 2012. Carl Zeiss Meditec is once again supporting this year's Euro Tandem Tour under the motto “Being independent together”. Tandem Tour raises awareness of eye diseases Carl Zeiss Meditec’s business is closely linked to the goals that inspire the Euro Tandem Tour. As a manufacturer of ophthalmic instruments, Carl Zeiss Meditec is fully conscious of the importance of diagnosing eye diseases such as AMD at an early stage. The initiative run by the patient organization PRO RETINA aims to encourage early diagnosis by informing the public about AMD. “The tandem teams are putting in a huge effort and deserve our recognition and support,” says Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec. “Their journey will help raise awareness of people with vision impairments”. AMD is an irreversible eye disorder, but early diagnosis can help to slow its progress. Carl Zeiss Meditec develops products for AMD diagnosis and treatment which enable doctors to help patients from an early stage and maintain their vision as long as possible. “The support from Carl Zeiss has once again enabled us to organize a Tandem Tour which will reach many people. One of the highlights of the trip will be the Corpus Christi Mass in Santiago de Compostela at the very end of the ride,” says Horst Schwerger, the organizer of the Euro Tandem Tour. The teams, which consist of one sighted and one visually impaired rider, aim to show people the challenges that people with AMD face in their everyday lives. “We see tandem bikes as a meta- phor for how people can work in tandem within our society. We hope that it will mark another step on the road towards fair treatment for visually im- paired people in both sports and social contexts,” says Schwerger, explaining the message the cyclists hope to communicate on their journey. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in industrialized nations AMD causes sharp central vision to deteriorate by destroying the macula, or ‘yellow spot’. This results in blurred vision and an inability to focus properly. Retinal diseases such as AMD, which are primarily age-related, are among the leading causes of blindness in industrialized nations. There is currently no cure for AMD, but early diagnosis can slow the progression of the disease. Innovations such as the VISUCAM 200 and 500 fundus cameras from Carl Zeiss have further improved the range of diagnostic methods for AMD. They can be used for applications such as measuring the density of the macular pigment, which forms a kind of protective covering for the macula. The Retina International Foundation spearheads worldwide efforts to improve the treatment of eye diseases. In its role as an umbrella organization, it coordinates national associations such as PRO RETINA Deutschland e.V., which has more than 6000 members divided among 60 regional groups. Since 1977, patients and individuals who support them in Germany have been carrying out initiatives on a largely voluntary basis to raise awareness of eye diseases. The goal of PRO RETINA is to promote research into retinal dege- neration, provide support and practical assistance to people affected by this disorder, and to increase the general public's awareness of retinal diseases.  Uwe Thiele (left), manager of the tandem bicycle ride, is the sighted pilot of the visually impaired Horst Schwerger (right), the organizer of the Euro Tandem Tour. Jann Gerrit Ohlendorf Director Corporate Communications Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Phone: +49 3641 220-331 Fax: E-Mail: 
press@meditec.zeiss.comHenriette Meyer Director Investor Relations Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Tel.: +49 3641 220-106 Fax: E-Mail: investors@meditec.zeiss.com
Number: 0054-2012-ENG OP |
|
