A $600,000 gift to the University of Louisville announced Wednesday will be used to boost research into age-related macular degeneration.U of L Department of Opthalmology Chairman Henry Kaplan says the disease is the leading cause of vision loss for Americans aged 60 and older.He says the money will allow researchers to pursue two basic goals."The first is really to prevent the disease from happening, which would be the best outcome. But the second, if the disease does occur, to reverse the visual loss that has occurred," Kaplan said.The gift comes from longtime U of L benefactor Heddy Kurz. A macular degeneration research lab at the university's Kentucky Lions Eye Center has been named in honor of Kurz and her late husband, Herman.