Ventura, CA - Age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans, will be the focus of a free seminar the Community Memorial Health System is holding on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

JillAnne McCarty, M.D., a specialist in diseases and surgeries of the eye, will lead the seminar from 6 to 8 p.m. in the eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium at Community Memorial Hospital, located at 147 Brent St. in Ventura.

Nearly 2 million Americans are affected with the advanced form of advanced macular degeneration, and Dr. McCarty will discuss the causes of AMD and lifestyle strategies to minimize the risk of developing it. She also will cover current AMD treatment as well as the current research and methods for coping with the disease.

Dr. McCarty, who has been on staff at Community Memorial Hospital since 1992, received her PhD degree in pharmacology from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. She trained in ophthalmology at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA. Dr. McCarty is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Admission is free but space is limited, and reservations are required. Call 652-5436, or visit www.cmhshealth.org.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and eleven family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.