141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

281838
Preventing vision loss and promoting eye health into the golden years

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 4:50 PM - 5:10 PM

Neyal J. Ammary-Risch, MPH, MCHES , National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
John McInerney Jr., MA , ICF International, Rockville, MD
Ana Toro, MA, APR , Strategic Communication and Marketing Division, ICF International, Atlanta, GA
KiChe Tate, MSA, CHES, CPHA , Strategic Communications and Marketing Division, ICF International, Calverton, MD
Millions of people have problems with their vision each year, often affecting how they carry out their day-to-day activities. Although vision is often considered one of the most precious and feared senses to lose, many Americans are unaware of the eye diseases that cause preventable vision loss and blindness. Many eye diseases and conditions that can result in low vision or blindness—such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and glaucoma—often have no early warning signs or symptoms. A comprehensive dilated eye exam by an eye care professional can help protect a person's sight by detecting eye diseases in their early stages, before vision loss has occurred. This session will describe how the National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP) of the National Eye Institute has worked with traditional and social media outlets, professional groups, and community-based organizations to promote the importance of comprehensive dilated eye exams and prevent vision loss among older adults. Attendees will learn about the most common causes of age-related vision loss and blindness, the common effects of vision loss on everyday tasks, and the role of early detection and timely treatment in reducing the risk of vision loss. In addition, participants will learn about strategies for working with traditional and social media outlets, professional groups, and community-based organizations to promote the importance of eye health. Finally, attendees will learn about a variety of resources that NEHEP has available to increase awareness about the importance of comprehensive dilated eye exams among older adults.

Learning Areas:
Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how vision loss can impact a person’s quality of life as they grow older. Explain the role that traditional and social media outlets, professional groups, and community-based organizations can play in educating the public about eye health and blindness prevention. Describe the National Eye Health Education Program resources available to promote the importance of early detection and timely treatment of eye diseases and conditions, particularly among older adults.

Keywords: Vision Care, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a communications professional with over 23 years experience in public relations. For the past 8 years I have conducted health promotion and community outreach in support of the federal government,educating the American public in the prevention and management of diabetes, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and other disease areas.
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.