Our Vision
We aim to globally eliminate preventable early childhood blindness. Our Vision: prevent children from losing theirs.
Our Mission
We raise public awareness of the Glow (leukocoria) and the more than twenty different glow-related eye diseases and drive action to prevent childhood blindness.
Our Purpose
We help parents see their child’s vision in a new light. Because no child should go blind from a preventable eye disease.
Megan and Ben's Story
Uploading family photos is something we all do – posting and sharing across our social platforms or saving to our phones for easy access. This is especially true for parents of young children, capturing milestone moments of those first years of life.
Normally, we don’t give this simple act a second thought — but for me, taking and sharing digital photos of my then five-year-old son, Benjamin, changed the entire course of our family’s life. Simply put, those pictures literally saved Ben’s life – and his sight.
Our story is a cautionary and valuable tale for all parents of young children to learn from, and act differently when it comes to their child’s eye health. In sharing our story, my hope is for every parent to look at their family photos through a new lens, know how to look for The Glow, and start early with periodic eye checks with an eye specialist. Read More...
Where Does The Term 'Know The Glow' Come From?
Know About The Glow" was the phrase given by Dr. A. Linn Murphree to the Co-Founders of KnowTheGlow when we first began in 2010 to assist us in our efforts to find children at risk of retinoblastoma and other leukocoria related blinding diseases through finding glows in flash photographs of the eyes of children. The phrase was later trimmed to KnowTheGlow and began to weave its way around the world helping to build awareness and save the sight of children all across the globe.
One of the world's premier Retinoblastoma surgeons, Dr. Murphree pioneered research leading to the classification system used worldwide for Retinoblastoma, identified the cause of RB through genetic mutations and developed innovative treatment tools and strategies to tackle this childhood cancer. Dr. Murphree received countless awards for his work in RB1 gene cloning and ocular oncology. He built a legacy of care that spanned the spectrum from treatment to research, but also included a huge focus on patient advocacy, early detection and awareness. Dr. Murphree was a legend in the field of Ocular Oncology and his work continues through all those he has mentored and guided. The Retinoblastoma Center he began at Children's Hospital Los Angeles has now been caring for children there for more than 30 years!
Countless families around the world owe their children's sight to his efforts and countless more have been identified in time thanks to his clever phrase and huge heart! As Dr. Francis Munier described in his words about Dr. Murphree, "He was an angel in the city of angels" and as Dr. Jesse Berry described him, "He was our hope". Dr. Murphree embodied hope in his demeanor, his words, his actions, and in his legacy. In his patients, his fellows, his fellow researchers and in all those battling against childhood blindness around the world he saw in them great hope for the future.
All of us at KnowTheGlow take very seriously our mission of carrying forward his legacy, his words, and his commitment to finding and caring for all children at risk of glow-related blindness wherever they may be.
He will remain in our hearts and our work forever.
The Founders
Megan Webber
Megan Webber launched Know The Glow after her son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Coats’ Disease in 2009...
Lannette Turricchi
Lannette Turicchi sits on the board of advisors for Know The Glow. As a mother of three...
Sandra Roderick
Sandra Roderick is the Co-Founder of Know the Glow and a close friend of Megan’s. Sandra considers...
Board Members
Ali Reilly
relocated to Los Angeles with her husband and two teenage children in 2012 after 14 years living...
Janette Flintoff
is the Grant Director for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which administers $3-$5 million annually in...
Kara Ciocca
has an intimate relationship with the Know The Glow campaign. As Megan Webber’s sister and Aunt to...
Cindy Mays
is the director of corporate development for Know the Glow. Her background is in infection disease and...
Helene Dameris
has been involved with KnowTheGlow for many years and currently serves as Director of Global Outreach. Helene...
Christina Gill
joined the KTG team in January 2022 after her youngest son Eli lost his eye to advanced Coats’ Disease in September...
Caitlin Villante
is the Partnership Liason for Know the Glow. She has been involved and supportive of KTG fundraising and awareness...
Medical Advisory Board Members
Jesse Berry, M.D.
is Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology and the Assistant Director of Ocular Oncology at the USC Eye Institute at the University...
Ashwin Mallipatna, M.D.
is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist and the Head of the Retinoblastoma Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada...
Francis Munier, M.D.
After medical studies and residency in Lausanne, Francis Munier obtained board certification in both Ophthalmology and Medical Genetics...
Bryan F. Shaw, Ph.D.
is a professor of chemistry at Baylor University. Bryan’s oldest son Noah is a survivor of bilateral retinoblastoma...
Carol L. Shields, M.D.
completed her residency in ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia in 1987 and subsequently did fellowship training in ocular oncology, ...
Paul T. Urrea, M.D., M.P.H, F.A.C.S.
Dr. Urrea is a Board Certified Eye Surgeon in practice in Los Angeles, California. He received his college education at Yale University, earning a...
Chien Wong, M.D.
is a consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH), Moorfields Eye Hospital....
Yogita L. Rajgandhi, M.D.
is a distinguished optometrist and low-vision specialist, has significantly impacted eye care and community service across India. In 2024...
Know The Glow Partners
