Get Involved in Prevent Blindness America's 2010 Advocacy Efforts

Prevent Blindness America is kicking off our 2010 advocacy efforts, asking you to take part in Congressional meetings at home. In honor of the President Day's holiday on February 15, we are asking you to reach out to your Representative and Senators and request a meeting in their district offices that week while they are home on recess from Congress. We have prepared a template meeting request letter for you to download and personalize as well as a tips sheet for your meeting. You can find both documents at http://www.preventblindness.org. Download the meeting request letter, personalize it with your information, and send it to your Member of Congress today to request a meeting during the week of February 16-19!

Won't you share your story of vision and eye health with your Member of Congress? Please help Prevent Blindness America advocate for vision and eye health by sharing your story with your Representative and Senators. Eye and vision health issues affect all Americans.

For more information about our advocacy efforts, go to http://www.preventblindness.org or call (800) 331-2020.

Join your local Prevent Blindness America affiliate's advocacy efforts! To find an affiliate in your state, go to: http://www.preventblindness.org/about/affiliates.html.

Thank you, and keep checking our website for more information on these important visits, including a powerpoint training document and a template thank you letter you can send after your successful meeting.

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month and Prevent Blindness America seeks to educate the public on what they can do to maintain their eye and vision health.

Glaucoma, a disease that causes a gradual degeneration of cells that make up the optic nerve, is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in the United States. There are nearly 2.3 million Americans over the age of 40 suffering from glaucoma, and glaucoma costs the U.S. economy $2.86 billion every year in direct medical costs for outpatient, inpatient and prescription drug services.

Besides age, other risk factors include sex and race. Glaucoma is more common in women, but by age 65, the prevalence of glaucoma becomes more comparable between the sexes. Hispanic, Caucasian and African American populations are more susceptible to open angle glaucoma while acute angle-closure is more common in certain Asian populations and Americans of Asian descent, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

More information about glaucoma can be found at:
http://www.preventblindness.org/glaucoma/

To view a full copy of the January press release, go to: http://www.preventblindness.org/news/releases/011410_2.html

Happy New Year from Prevent Blindness America!

In this new year, Prevent Blindness America will continue to advocate for eye and vision health, and we are pleased to join our patient advocates in conversations about access, coverage, research and legislative developments in eye health.

As we roll out our 2010 legislative agenda, we are asking you to join us in advocacy activities through the United States. In February, in honor of the President's Day holiday on February 15, we are asking advocates across the country to make visits to the Congressional District offices that week. Prevent Blindness America will provide you with a meeting request letter, tips for making a Congressional visit and talking points for this meeting so you can advocate for eye and vision health. Materials will be posted on-line the week of January 11, 2010, and can be found at http://www.preventblindness.org.

Thank you again for your participation and for advocating for eye and vision health. Stay tuned to our website for continued updates, including information on an upcoming Capitol Call-in Day!