2021 Florida Pre-Med Scholarship Program

Vision is a vital part of living a happy and independent lifestyle, yet there is a looming shortage of eye care professionals in the United States. Shane Retina supports aspiring eye care professionals with our Florida pre-med scholarship opportunities. These bright and enthusiastic students will become the next generation of medical professionals dedicated to the eye health of seniors and working-age people alike.

$2,500

1ST PRIZE

$1,500

2ND PRIZE

$1,000

3RD PRIZE

Using research & data from the educational institutions, government, private agencies or non-profits, please create an infographic that addresses one of the topics listed below.

Eye floaters are a common visual symptom that tends to worsen in middle age. New floaters should be taken seriously, as they can be a sign of a dangerous eye condition, like retinal tear or retinal detachment. Sometimes, floaters become more chronic, causing significant interference with vision. What are eye floaters? If a patient experiences new eye floaters, what should they do? Can anything be done to reduce or eliminate chronic eye floaters?

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak into the center of the retina known as the macula. Because the macula controls central vision, the leaking fluid can lead to blurred vision or blind spots, causing the loss of reading and driving ability. With early detection and intervention, vision loss from wet macular degeneration can be avoided.  Furthermore, regular and timely treatment is critical for preventing recurrence and further vision loss. Unfortunately, wet macular degeneration continues to be detected too late or treated too infrequently to prevent significant vision loss.

Despite great advances in the treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD) in the past 20 years, many patients continue to experience significant loss of vision from the disease. In those patients who develop blindness from AMD, there are two common culprits. The first involves unrecognized or undertreated wet macular degeneration. The second involves advanced dry macular degeneration, for which there is no treatment. Fortunately, there are several advances in monitoring and treatment on the horizon that may reduce the number of patients losing vision from macular degeneration.

• Florida Resident
• Involved in Pre-Med program
• Enrolled in a 4-year college in Florida with the intention to pursue an advanced degree in medicine following graduation
• Will be attending an accredited college in Florida during the Fall 2021 semester

• Full Name
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Name & Address of the College & College’s Financial Aid Office they will be attending in Fall of 2021.
• Proof of enrollment/registration from the institution they plan to attend in the Fall of 2021.
• Their major or other program of study
• If the applicant is under 18, the contact information will need to be for his or her parents or guardians

Shane Retina and Dr. Thomas Shane will review the submissions received and will determine the winners based on the quality and accuracy of the infographics and the applicants’ demonstrated potential for academic success in the medical field.

A winner will be announced on our website’s Florida pre-med scholarship page and will be notified by email by July 14, 2021. Please note that the winners’ checks will be issued directly to the institution’s financial aid office.

All personal information collected from Florida pre-med scholarship applicants will be used only for the purpose of awarding the scholarships. No personal information will be distributed, sold or provided to third parties.

Please note that by entering the Shane Retina Florida Pre-Med Scholarship Contest, you are providing permission to Shane Retina to edit, use, and publish all infographics submitted.