Sacred Heart Hospital's SeniorSpirit! program will present a free seminar on "Age-Related Macular Degeneration" on Wednesday, Jan. 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Dudley Greenhut Auditorium on Sacred Heart's main campus.

The seminar will be presented by Dr. John Myers, a board certified ophthalmologist with Retina Specialists. The seminar will cover the signs and symptoms macular degeneration, as well as prevention and treatment options.

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of severe vision loss for people over the age of 65. There are two types of this disease - "wet" and "dry." "Dry" macular degeneration, the most common type of the disease, results in the thinning of the macular, which is located in the retina of the eye. This leads to some vision loss.

The "wet" form of macular degeneration only occurs in about ten percent of the cases, but it is a more serious disorder. This form occurs when new blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak, creating a blind spot in the middle of one's field of vision.

Registration is required and seating is limited. To register, call (850) 416-1620 or 1-877-416-1620.

Sacred Heart SENIORSpirit is a free program for persons 55 and older. Benefits include free screenings, seminars, special in-patient benefits such as three free guest meal tickets and newspaper delivery, a monthly calendar of events detailing all SENIORSpirit events, and a quarterly newsletter containing health and event information.

For more information, please call (850) 416-7000 or visit http://www.sacred-heart.org/.