Emmy-award winning actor Eric Stonestreet has pivoted from Modern Family to modern healthcare as part of a recent Iveric Bio campaign.
The New Jersey-based biotech cast Stonestreet in an ad supporting its More to See campaign aimed at educating people about geographic atrophy (GA), a form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that results in vision loss.
Stonestreet, who is perhaps most well-known for playing Cameron Tucker on the ABC sitcom Modern Family, has a personal connection to GA. His maternal grandmother developed vision loss and was diagnosed with the disease, and now his mother, Jamey Stonestreet, has AMD as well.
“After watching how quickly my grandma Helen’s vision loss progressed, my family and I are motivated to prioritize our eye health,” Stonestreet said in a statement. “Knowing that GA runs in the family is why I am proactive about seeing my doctor for regular eye exams, and my mom regularly visits her eye doctor to stay on top of her AMD.”
In a three-minute video posted on the campaign website as well as Instagram, Stonestreet sits down with his mother, Jamey Stonestreet, and discusses how they stay proactive. They encourage viewers to pay attention to any eyesight changes or symptoms, especially as they get older.
“With mom having dry AMD, we want to make sure it doesn’t progress,” Stonestreet says in the video. “She stays on top of going to the doctor and listening to what he has to say about eye care and healthcare in general.”
“I go to the doctor regularly to get checked,” his mother adds. “You need to protect your eyes when you’re out in the sun. Eating certain foods is good for your eyes – leafy green vegetables and things like that… If you notice any difference in your eyesight, you go to check other parts of your body – you should check your eyes too.”
Eric and Jamey’s story will be a part of the larger More to See campaign, which consists of other personal stories from patients living with GA.
There are nearly 20 million people in the U.S. living with AMD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 1.5 million people in the U.S. have developed GA, but it’s often underdiagnosed, according to Iveric Bio.
“GA is a devastating disease that can lead to irreversible blindness, and early diagnosis is crucial to ensure GA is identified early,” Chris Simms, senior vice president and chief commercial officer at Iveric Bio, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to be working with Eric and Jamey to help people learn about GA and AMD as well as the importance of prioritizing their eye health.”
This is one of Iveric Bio’s most significant ad campaigns since Japanese drugmaker Astellas bought the company in a $5.9 billion deal earlier this year. That acquisition was sealed to expand Astellas’ ophthalmology portfolio and contribute to its 2025 revenue targets.
