February | 2026

Prevent Blindness has declared February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Month in an effort to provide education and expert-approved resources to the public and professionals. This year’s AMD and Low Vision Month is generously supported by Gold Sponsor EyePoint, Inc.

In the newest addition to the Prevent Blindness ASPECT Patient Engagement Program Member Spotlight Series, graduate Laurie shares her story about living with AMD.

Prevent Blindness is embarking on its second “It Started With an Eye Exam” campaign, aiming to spread awareness and encourage the public to share their stories on the positive impact of eye exams and treatment on their life. The program is supported by a grant from Viatris Inc., a global healthcare company.

February 23 - March 1 is ROP Week

As part of our comprehensive Prevent Blindness Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Education and Support Program, our third annual Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Week, February 23-March 1, 2026, highlights materials and resources focused on family education and support, early intervention program resources, and social media outreach to raise awareness of ROP.

The Prevent Blindness

Focus on Eye Health Podcast

In our February episode, host Christopher Hord talks about AMD and Low Vision Month, discusses Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) with Eva Potts, president and co-founder of Mary Carmel's Light, and speaks with ASPECT Program graduate Daria Bannerman about her journey with ROP.

If you missed our January 20 webinar, you can watch the recording on YouTube or on our website.The webinar was designed for people living with glaucoma, their care partners, and family members, and offers practical guidance, reassurance, and support.

Congress Cuts Vision and Eye Health Funding by One-Third in Fiscal Year 2026

Prevent Blindness is dismayed that Congress has included a $2 million cut to the Vision and Eye Health program (also known as the Vision Health Initiative, VHI) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Reducing VHI’s budget from its current level of $6.5 million to $4.5 million in FY26 takes away nearly one third of the total funding currently available to conduct basic public health functions- including community-level intervention programs, surveillance, and public health coordination- which help people avoid preventable vision loss across the country.

PreventBlindness.org