March 2022
Dear NEHEP Partners,

Just last month, we launched our Low Vision Awareness Month (LVAM) campaign. This year, we centered LVAM around vision rehabilitation — services that can help people with vision impairment make the most of the vision they have.

One of the leading causes of vision loss in older adults is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). And vision rehabilitation can be an important tool for people with AMD — that’s why we’re using this month’s newsletter to connect you to resources for both.

We also want to make sure that Healthy Vision Month (HVM) in May is on your radar! The goal of this year’s HVM is to raise awareness about the importance of healthy eye behaviors for the whole family, with a special focus on educating parents and caregivers of African American and Hispanic/Latino children. Please email me at devina.fan@nih.gov if you’re interested in partnering with NEI for HVM.

Best,
Devina Kuo Fan, M.P.H.
Director, National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP)
National Eye Institute
Address health disparities and tackle barriers to eye care
NEI and the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO) have partnered to present an educational webinar on March 15th at 7:30 p.m. CT. Registration closes on March 14 at 2 p.m. CT. NEI Director Dr. Michael Chiang, NEHEP Director Devina Fan, and NEHEP Planning Group member Dr. Anju Goyal will explore barriers to eye care, health disparities, NEI and NEHEP’s resources, and how technicians can empower their patients through eye health education.
Empower women to understand their eye health
Common eye conditions, including AMD, disproportionately affect women. The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) developed an eye health patient toolkit with NEI to provide information on these conditions. SWHR’s toolkit is designed to empower women to take charge of their eye health as they age.
Support people with blindness and low vision in the workplace
The attitudes of healthcare providers play a vital role in how patients perceive and adjust to vision loss. The National Research and Training Center at Mississippi State University’s free course provides patient education on working with blindness and low vision. With this training, ophthalmic professionals can improve patients’ attitudes toward work and employment outcomes.
Spread awareness about geographic atrophy
Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced and severe form of AMD. BrightFocus Foundation created a fact sheet that provides detailed information for patients and their families about GA. The fact sheet covers symptoms, diagnosis, tips for living with the disease, and resources for support.
Calendar of Events
Keep your eye on the future
NEI’s video contest, Eye on the Future, is still open until April 8. We want to hear what the next generation of scientists has to say in response to the chosen prompts. We’ll pick 3 stand-out video entries. Winners will get cash prizes and the opportunity to visit NEI!
Other Events and Resources
March 1, 8, 15, 22:  IJCAHPO is hosting 4 webinars in March about new ophthalmic technologies, addressing health disparities, tackling barriers to eye care, and improving the patient experience. IJCAHPO’s weekly webinars help you learn from leaders shaping the future of ophthalmology. Register for the webinar series by March 21!
May 1 - May 4 and May 11 - 12, 2022: The Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology will host its 2022 Annual Meeting, which will feature the latest eye and vision research findings. Join in person in Denver, CO, from May 1 to 4 and online everywhere from May 11 to 12!
Resource: NEI hosted a live panel discussion, Function at the Forefront: A Conversation about Vision Rehabilitation, with experts in the field of vision rehabilitation to describe and promote vision rehabilitation to professionals.
Resource: Prevent Blindness has a wide variety of resources on AMD and low vision, including their AMD GuideMe app and online resource, Living Well with Low Vision.
Resource: Lighthouse Guild’s low vision online educational programs are specialized for different healthcare professions.
Resource: Hadley has 2 podcast episodes that are useful for people with AMD. In the first, hear Dr. Tim Murray of the American Society of Retina Specialists answer common questions about macular degeneration and other retinal diseases. In the second, hear from 2 support group leaders on how they run their low vision support groups and what their members get out of these sessions.
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