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This summer, the new Disney/Pixar animated movie Elio takes us on an incredible intergalactic adventure. The main character, Elio Solis, wears an eye patch. Could Elio have amblyopia? Did he injure himself playing sports? Does he like to pretend he is a pirate? What do eye patches mean for children in real life? Prevent Blindness answers common questions asked by parents and caregivers. |
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Have Some Free Time?
Want to Help Children?
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With school out, it’s a wonderful time to become a certified vision screener. The Prevent Blindness Children’s Vision Screening Certification Course is available for individual online purchase and large group enrollment with discounts for groups of 10 or more participants. Learners completing the course earn a 3-year nationally recognized certificate and 5 contact hours for professional development. The preschool course has 8 self-paced modules, and the combined preschool and school-age course has 9 self-paced modules.
The course includes a virtual skills assessment and mentoring session that runs an average of 30 minutes. Did you get your certification three or more years ago? It is time to recertify! A recertification course is also available online.
For answers to questions about the online course, information on recertification, or information on group discounts, contact P. Kay Nottingham Chaplin, EdD, at nottingham@preventblindness.org.
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Recruiting for a Study: Child with Blindness
or Visual Impairment Ages 9-17 Years
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Texas Tech University is beginning an exciting study funded by the National Eye Institute to investigate the impacts of social discrimination and stress on the development of children who are blind or visually impaired. This study is open to any U.S. resident age 9 through 17 who is blind or visually impaired. Children with additional disabilities may participate as long as they are able to communicate in some way. Please share this opportunity with families of children who may be eligible.
Interested families should complete the screening survey.
| | Follow the NCCVEH on LinkedIn | | |
| The National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness is excited to announce the launch of its own LinkedIn page! Follow us to stay up to date on our latest efforts to safeguard children’s vision and eye health, see new resources, and connect with colleagues. | | | Support H.R. 2527, the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act | | |
H.R. 2527, the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act (EDVI Act) has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX). The goal of the EDVI Act is to ensure that every child with a possible vision problem is identified and connected to appropriate eye care.
The EDVI Act would support schools, early childhood professionals, health care providers, public health professionals, and families with updated and evidence-based vision screening methods, improve referrals to eye care, and advance follow-up protocols to ensure that children who need eye care receive it before a vision problem leads to potential vision loss. Under the EDVI Act, grants and cooperative agreements will be available to states and local communities.
You can help get this legislation passed into law by sending a message to your Member of Congress, asking them to support the EDVI Act.
| | Support Funding of Vision and Eye Health Programs in FY 2026 | | |
The Trump Administration has released its Fiscal Year 2026 budget request to Congress for programs under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Unfortunately, if this budget plan were to pass Congress and become reality, the Vision Health Initiative at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would be completely eliminated as part of a 45% total cut to the overall CDC budget. In addition, the Administration's budget request includes several impacts to vision and eye health at the National Institutes of Health and the National Eye Institute.
The message is clear: Vision and eye health programs are under a significant threat, and advocates must stand up for these programs and our collective vision and eye health.
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Get Ready for the New School Year:
Three Eye Health Lessons for Young Children
| | We are excited to bring you three new FREE eye health lessons for children ages 4 through 6 years. Each lesson includes interactive activities. Complete our request form for free download links. | |
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Why Children Wear Eyeglasses
This lesson teaches children ages 4, 5, and 6 years about how eyeglasses help peers see better and are objects that should be respected/cared for. Children learn why it is important to be empathetic towards individuals who wear glasses through the three activities in this lesson, Arthur's Eyes book, Blurry Eyeglasses, and “Pin” the Eyeglasses on the Lion.
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Eye Safety and Sun Protection
This lesson teaches children ages 4, 5, and 6 years how to keep their eyes safe from the sun and everyday hazards while playing outside or at home. Through a safety gear scavenger hunt and a craft activity, children will learn to wear sunglasses and use protective eye gear to prevent eye injuries.
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Eye-Grabbing Healthy Foods
This lesson teaches children ages 4, 5, and 6 years about healthy foods that keep eyes strong, including colorful, vitamin-rich foods such as carrots, broccoli, and oranges. Through activities with flashcards and a memory game, children learn to identify foods they already enjoy and about new foods they can try.
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Access to Eye Care Delivery
in the Black Community
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Listen to the recording of the fascinating interview on BlackDoctor.org with Dr. Joy Harewood and Dr. Clifton Peay about vision health and eye care in the Black community. Watch here.
Watch monthly interviews about children’s and adult vision health topics through the Seeing Eye to Eye series on BlackDoctor.org.
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The 2025 Prevent Blindness
Focus on Eye Health Summit
“Perspectives in Vision”
Recordings Available
| Perspectives in Vision brought together professionals, policymakers, patient advocates, and innovators to exchange ideas, share experiences, and forge strategies to promote equitable access to vision care. Check out session 2: "An exploration of key factors that impact eye health and vision research, including race, ethnicity, gender, and social determinants of health" with Ruth Y. Shoge, OD, MPH, FAAO, Associate Clinical Professor and Chief Diversity Officer, University of California Berkeley School of Optometry & Vision Science and M. Roy Wilson, MD, MS; President Emeritus, Wayne State University; Distinguished Professor, Wayne State University School of Medicine. |
The Focus on Eye Health Podcast | | In the June episode of the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Podcast, Sara Brown, Senior Director, Government Affairs at Prevent Blindness; Philip Goglas II, Managing Partner at Health and Medicine Counsel; and Dan Ignaszewski, Executive Director of the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR) and the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR), discuss the potential impact for vision research and eye and vision programs due to proposed Federal budget cuts. They also provide an overview of advocacy work in support of the EDVI Act. |
| Support children's vision and eye health and make your gift today! | | | | |
