GA Won’t Wait^™

My late father-in-law lit up a room, but his vision dimmed with age. He had AMD. I didn’t know it then, but it can progress to GA, an advanced form of the disease. His struggle with vision loss from AMD made me want to help you see warning signs of GA, like: Straight lines that seem wavy, blurry, or missing visual spots that make it hard to see faces—like this one or trouble with low light that makes driving at night a real challenge. If you’ve been diagnosed with AMD and notice vision changes, don’t wait. GA is irreversible, it’s important to catch it early. Talk to your eye doctor about GA and learn more at GAwontwait.com.

Hi. I’m on set, raising awareness of geographic atrophy, or GA, which is an advanced form of a condition that hits really close to home.

When you marry your wife, you marry her family too. Now, that might be a good thing or a bad thing… but for me, that was a great thing. My father-in-law Ed, he is the person who showed me what it’s like to be fully loved and accepted as a son.

When a family member struggles, you rally. So when Ed was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, we were there for him through it all. We were there through the heartbreaking decision he made to give up his dental practice when he could no longer see cavities. And we were there to read letters to him or drive him around when vision loss made it impossible for him to do those things himself. You’ve got to keep your cup not only half full, but three quarters full to fill some of their cup and keep their spirits up.

Watching his experience gave me a new perspective. Whether it's seeing for my professional career or for my family, my eyes connect me to everything. So, I’m proactive when it comes to vision. If I started seeing changes, I’d carry my car to the eye doctor’s office. That’s how on top of your vision you have to be.

Knowing that AMD can progress to GA, an advanced form of the disease, made me want to get the word out. Back then, I’d never heard of GA—I want to make sure you do. I get how serious and isolating vision loss can be, and I’m committed to making sure no one living with GA feels alone.

If you’ve been diagnosed with AMD, vision changes may be a warning sign of GA. Early diagnosis is really important. There’s a ton of great resources on this site, I encourage you to explore. And make sure to talk to your eye doctor about GA today if you notice changes in your vision.