Inside ENews Volume 60: New Leadership, Breakthrough Research, and a Full Calendar of Events

Our August 2026 edition of ENews is packed with news, and if you haven’t had a chance to read it in full yet, here’s a quick look at what’s inside.

A New Board, A New Chapter

This edition introduces our new Chairperson, Caryl Baum, who shares her pledge to the organisation and the community we serve. We also introduce the full new Board of Retina South Africa, including Vice-Chairperson Mariza Jurgens, Secretary Claudette Medefindt, Treasurer Jean Bowler, and Management Committee members Anton van Rooyen, Renesh Singh, Ferdi Danzfuss, Shannon Pretorius, Lauren Jonas, and Karla Rossouw. As our editorial notes, the question the Board is asking is simple but important: “Are we ready?” — ready for the new treatments on the horizon, ready as clinicians, and ready as a community to make sure these advances are accessible to South Africans.

Our Website Has a New Look

www.retinasa.org.za has had a complete makeover. It’s mobile-friendly, easier to navigate, and packed with support and resources for people living with retinal conditions. We’re proud to share that its accessibility score now matches that of the Foundation Fighting Blindness in the USA, at 99%. Have a look and let us know what you think.

Free E-Workshop Series: Living Well With Vision Loss

Starting in World Retina Week (20 to 27 September) and running through Eye Care Awareness month, we’re hosting a series of free interactive workshops on Zoom, including:

• Living Without Fear (22 September) — coping strategies for life after a diagnosis or progressive vision loss
• Know Your Eyes, Protect Your Eyes (29 September) — the basics of vision, inheritance, and daily eye health
• Moving Beyond Sight (6 October) — inspiring stories from visually impaired athletes
• Moving With Confidence (13 October) — mobility training, guide dogs, and mobility devices
• The World In Your Pocket (20 October) — accessible tech, apps, and tools
• Employment & Empowerment (27 October) — know your rights at work
• Seeing Differently, Living Fully (3 November) — understanding age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease

Spaces are limited, so register early. Details and registration links are in the full newsletter, or email headoffice@retinasa.org.za.

AGM Recap

Our Annual General Meeting was held on 25 July, hosted by Roche SA at their Vorna Valley headquarters, with a record number of members attending in person and online. Keynote speaker Professor John Marshall, MBE, gave an overview of retinal research, Claudette Medefindt updated members on current clinical trials, Ferdie Danzfuss introduced the Umsizi reading app (which converts text to speech in all 11 South African languages), and CEO Manny Moodley shared news on the Visions Conference. Talk recordings are linked in the full newsletter.

Research News: Reasons for Hope

Claudette Medefindt’s research column covers some of the most exciting developments in the field right now, including:

• RNA-based therapies — a newer, often safer alternative to traditional gene therapy, already in clinical trials for conditions like Retinitis Pigmentosa, Stargardt Disease, Usher Syndrome, and Leber Congenital Amaurosis
• Optobionics and photoswitches — new approaches that reprogram healthy retinal cells to sense light, offering hope even for people with advanced vision loss
• Artificial vision — including the PRIMA System, an implantable artificial retina for advanced dry age-related macular degeneration
• Neuralink’s Blindsight project — an early-stage effort to bypass the eye entirely by sending visual information directly to the brain

As always, Retina South Africa doesn’t endorse specific treatments — please discuss any of these developments with your own eye care professional.

Durban, We Are Coming to You!

On Saturday, 29 August, we’re bringing members, families, and friends together in KwaZulu-Natal for a free afternoon of discovery, connection, and hope at Tape Aids for the Blind in Essenwood, Berea. Expect updates on retinal research, assistive technology demonstrations, para-sport opportunities, and local exhibitors. RSVP by 23 August — seating is limited.

Get Involved

There are plenty of ways to support Retina South Africa this season:

• Ride Joburg 2026 (22 November) — join Team Retina SA and ride for a cause
• Dream Zanzibar Getaway raffle — R100 tickets for a chance to win a 7-night stay for two at Michamvi Sunset Bay Resort, valued at R75,000 (draw date 20 February 2027)
• Swing for Sight (1 September) — a golf day at Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, with four-ball and padel team spaces still available
• Membership and the Save Our Sight (SOS) Campaign, WhatsApp peer support groups, our podcasts on YouTube, and the Woolworths My Difference programme

Full details on all of the above, plus contact information, are in the newsletter itself.

Read the full E-News August 2026