June | 2024

Prevent Blindness is launching a new campaign, “It Started With an Eye Exam,” to encourage consumers to share their stories of how eye care had a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

The goal of the new program is to increase awareness about the role that vision health plays in overall health, demonstrate the dramatic impact that improved vision can have on productivity and quality of life, and to educate the general public about steps they can take to prepare for an eye examination. The “It Started With an Eye Exam” program is supported by funding from Viatris Inc., a global healthcare company.

Stargardt disease, also called Stargardt macular dystrophy, causes vision loss due to a buildup of fatty material in the macula. The macula is a small area in the center of the retina that is responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision. Stargardt disease is a rare eye genetic disease – part of a group of conditions called inherited retinal diseases (or IRDs), generally caused by a variation in one or more genes, causing the gene to not work properly. Stargardt disease affects about 1 in 10,000 people in the United States.

Prevent Blindness has created new educational materials on Stargardt disease, a form of inherited retinal disease (IRD). Prevent Blindness now offers a dedicated webpage, fact sheets, a new Focus on Eye Health Expert Series episode, and social media graphics. The effort is supported by funding from Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Eye drops are used to treat many different eye conditions, including dry eyes, allergies, and glaucoma. A new Prevent Blindness video and online guide offer simple steps and tips for putting drops in your eyes to help you prevent infection and get more of the medicine into your eyes where it can do its work.

Prevent Blindness will host the 13th annual Focus on Eye Health Summit on July 10-11, 2024, as a FREE virtual interactive event. This year’s theme – “Being Seen and Heard” – emphasizes the importance of a person-centered approach to vision health interventions, research, communications, and care.

Agenda

DAY 1:

• Keynote Presentation: The Patient Voice & Reaction Panel 
• Vision Research and the Citizen Scientist
• Presentation of the 2024 Jenny Pomeroy Award for Excellence in Vision and Public Health
• Seeing and Hearing Children's Vision Needs
• Presentation of the 2024 Rising Visionary Award

DAY 2:

• Keynote Fireside Chat: The Human Side of AI in Healthcare
• The Many Eyes in Artificial Intelligence
• Visible Voices: Vignettes of Being Seen and Heard

We are sharing an opportunity to participate in a clinical research study being conducted by Janssen Research & Development, LLC.

The purpose of this study is to learn more about the safety and efficacy of an investigational gene therapy for adults with geographic atrophy (GA) caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The investigational gene therapy is given through a one-time intravitreal injection, which is an injection delivered into the gel-like fluid interior of the eye. This type of injection is a common procedure for people with various eye conditions.

You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:

• Are 60 years of age or older
• Have GA caused by AMD

Additional eligibility criteria will apply. Not all individuals with GA may qualify to participate in this study.

If you would like to learn more about this study or to check if you may be eligible to participate, please visit the study site.

PreventBlindness.org