Healthy People 2010 - Chapter 28 "Vision and Eye Health" Mid-Course Review

Prevention of vision loss and associated disabling conditions through improved health promotion, disease prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitation methods is a public health priority. The US Department of Health and Human Services (US DHHS) coordinated document Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) provides a set of 10-year evidence-based objectives for improving the health of all Americans. Chapter 28 contains ten Vision and Eye Health Objectives. Midway through the decade, the US DHHS conducts a Midcourse Review of the progress made towards achieving the 467 objectives set forth in HP2010. Vision is a primary element of one of the two HP2010 Overarching Goals: Increase quality and years of healthy life. People depend on vision to provide primary cues for conducting the basic activities of daily life. Vision is critical to most work and recreation activities. Some progress has been made. For example, a reduction in the overall cases of blindness and visual impairment in children and adolescents aged 17 years and under occurred. Continuing efforts are needed. This presentation provides an overview of the progress made and activities facilitated by the inclusion of Vision and Eye Health Objectives. It will include a discussion of public/private partnerships at local, state, and national levels for increasing the knowledge of health professionals and the general public that have been instituted to aid in making progress toward these objectives. Resources for helping to integrate HP2010 Vision and Eye Health Objectives into the local community, professional associations, worksite wellness program or public health department will also be provided.