Prevent Blindness North Carolina and WISEWOMAN: An example of a successful collaboration to increase community awareness of preventive health services

Objective: Prevent Blindness North Carolina (PBNC) collaborated with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's WISEWOMAN Program (WW) to provide vision- related services and increase awareness of the WW program.

Methods: PBNC held vision screenings within various venues including senior centers, congregate nutrition sites, health fairs, health departments, diabetes clinics, and industries within designated WW counties. Offering screenings in these locations helped to identify those women who might not have heard about WW but would benefit from the program. PBNC's screening included risk assessment, near and distance visual acuity tests, and a visual fields test. Once the screening was completed, the results were explained to the participants and, if they failed the screening, they were advised to make an appointment with an eye doctor. Brochures on various vision problems as well as WW program information were distributed. Additionally, PBNC conducted follow-up services for adults referred through the screening program by sending letters and making phone calls.

Results: PBNC increased awareness about eye health and the WW program through the expansion of vision screening activities to women within the WW service areas.

Conclusion: Partnering with the WW program offered more opportunities for the receipt of preventive health services to women who might not have been aware of these activities. PBNC was successful in identifying adults at high risk for an eye exam as well as providing information about a very important public health program.