238675 See well for a lifetime: A community-based resource for raising awareness of eye health among older adults

Monday, October 31, 2011

David Corman, MS , Strategic Communications and Marketing Division, ICF Macro, Rockville, MD
Neyal J. Ammary-Risch, MPH, CHES , National Eye Institute, National Insitutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Lindsay Stern, BA , Strategic Communications and Marketing Division, ICF Macro, Rockville, MD
Vision loss and blindness are often assumed to be a natural part of aging. While normal functions of the eye decrease and the risk of blinding eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and cataract increases, vision loss and blindness can often be prevented.

This presentation will provide information on age-related eye diseases and their prevalence by race and ethnicity; discuss what older adults in the United States report knowing, believing, and practicing in regards to eye health; and describe how new educational resources can be used to increase the capacity of senior centers and other community-based organizations to address eye health and aging.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the most common blinding age-related eye diseases and conditions and their impact on an aging population. 2. Discuss knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to eye health among U.S. adults ages 50 and older. 3. Use a new toolkit and educational resources available from the National Eye Health Education Program of the National Eye Institute to educate older adults in senior centers and other community settings about eye health.

Keywords: Aging, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Director of the National Eye Health Education Program and oversaw the development of the "See Well for a Lifetime" Toolkit.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Translating Ocular Research into Community Health
See more of: Vision Care Section