Kicking Off 2025: Glaucoma Awareness Month and More

January 2025

Dear NEHEP Partners,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2025, we’re excited to share new ways to support your efforts in promoting eye health. January marks Glaucoma Awareness Month, and this edition of the Eye Health Connection newsletter is packed with resources and events to help you raise awareness.

Looking ahead, February brings Low Vision Awareness Month. To keep you prepared, we are spotlighting resources on vision rehabilitation — invaluable for empowering people with visual impairments to live well and safely.

Healthy Vision Month (HVM) 2025 is coming up in May. If you are interested in partnering with NEI for HVM 2025, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at eyehealthmatters@nei.nih.gov to collaborate and spread the word.

We are excited to announce Allison Elkins joined NEI in December as our new NEHEP Director. She brings a wealth of expertise and a strong commitment to advancing eye health education and outreach. As she steps into her new role, we look forward to her leadership in continuing NEHEP’s mission.

It has been an honor to serve as your NEHEP Acting Director, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a dedicated network of partners. Thank you for your continued support and engagement in promoting eye health.

Wishing you a successful start to 2025!

Best regards,

Maria Zacharias

Acting Director, National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP)

National Eye Institute

Spread the Word — Resources for Glaucoma Awareness Month

Did you know glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss in the U.S.? Join us in raising awareness by visiting our Glaucoma Awareness Month toolkit. In it you will find fact sheets, videos, newsletter content, and social media resources to help you spread the word about glaucoma.

Explore NEI’s resources

A close-up of a person undergoing an eye exam.

Encourage U.S. High School Students to Enter Our Video Contest

“Eye on the Future Video Contest" text on a round blue background with colorful abstract shapes.

Do you know a U.S. high school student? Are they passionate about science? Are they always asking “Why” or testing out their latest theories? Encourage them to submit a video about science in their world, in action, or in their future for a chance to win $2,000 and a FREE trip to NIH! The contest will open on January 13th!

Learn about the contest

New Call Center Launched

Have questions about eye health? Call us at 1-800-680-2578 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm EST) to speak with an information specialist to get free, evidence-based information about eye diseases and conditions. We cannot diagnose or offer opinions, so please discuss what you learn with your doctor. You can also email 2020@nei.nih.gov.

A doctor shaking hands with a couple of people.

Empowering Lives Through Vision Rehabilitation

February is Low Vision Awareness Month. Millions in the U.S. live with visual impairments that can't be corrected with standard treatments.

Good news: Vision rehabilitation services can help people maximize their remaining vision and continue enjoying their favorite activities.

Find materials

"Prevalence of Glaucoma Among US Adults in 2022" Study Educational Materials

Prevent Blindness partnered with CDC’s Vision Health Initiative and other experts to distribute and amplify the findings of the "Prevalence of Glaucoma Among US Adults in 2022" study. The study found a higher prevalence of glaucoma than previously estimated. Prevent Blindness has created a webpage, social media graphics, and videos to educate the public and health professionals on these findings.

Explore the webpage

A doctor consulting with a pregnant woman in a clinical setting.

Managing Glaucoma During Pregnancy

Dr. Eydie Miller-Ellis discusses the challenges of managing glaucoma during pregnancy, the risks involved of therapy on the developing fetus, and how treatment should be adjusted to address the concerns of each trimester and the perinatal period.

Watch the free webinar

No-Cost Glaucoma Screening from EyeCare America

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. But blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment. The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s public service program, EyeCare America, provides baseline glaucoma screening referrals for eligible patients.

See if you qualify

RFA-EY-25-002: Advancing Vision Health Equity through Multi-level Interventions and Community-Engaged Research (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)

This notice of funding opportunity is a Request for Applications (“RFA”) - NEI and NIMHD intend to support 5-7 applications that addresses vision health equity. The application deadline is March 3, 2025. The purpose of this initiative is to request applications that aim to implement and evaluate multi-level interventions and community engaged research in advancing vision equity. This RFA supports research directed at preventing, reducing, or eliminating disparities in eye and vision health. Applications responding to this RFA must involve multilevel interventions that simultaneously address vision health conditions and social determinants of health (SDOH) at one or more levels of influence, such as individual, interpersonal, organizational, and community. Research must include a focus on improving vision health in one or more NIH-designated Populations with Health Disparities. Additionally, research must demonstrate meaningful community engagement in the research process.

Find more information here

Calendar of Events

Explore Careers in Eye and Vision Science at the ARVO Advance Conference

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is hosting its annual virtual Advance Conference on January 22-23. This virtual event features leading experts discussing career pathways in eye and vision science, providing invaluable insights for students, researchers, and professionals.

Learn more and register here

Other Events and Resources

January 8: BrightFocus is hosting a live Glaucoma Chat, offering expert insights and answering important questions about glaucoma.

January 31: The American Academy of Optometry's Lectures and Workshops Committee invites you to participate in the educational program at Academy 2025 Boston. The lectures and workshops submission window closes January 31.

February 1: The American Academy of Optometry Foundation is now accepting applications for the OD/PhD Scholarship Program, which funds optometrists receiving a PhD in eye and vision-related fields. The program provides vital support to those who will teach and lead the next generation of optometry students and advance the profession’s cutting-edge research.

Resource: The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America® program provides eligible older adults and people at higher risk for glaucoma with access to eye care, often at no cost.

Resource(s):  Managing glaucoma can mean adjusting daily routines. Hadley offers free resources to help individuals navigate these challenges effectively:

Living with Glaucoma: A workshop providing an overview of glaucoma and practical tips to cope and adjust.
"It's Not Often We Encounter an Angel": A short podcast where Bill shares how a chance encounter transformed his perspective on vision loss.
 Questions about Glaucoma: A podcast with Dr. Jullia Rosdahl of Duke Eye Center, discussing glaucoma, its risk factors, and treatment options.
Low Vision Series: Workshops offering practical advice on improving lighting, increasing contrast, and making home adjustments for those with visual impairments.
A Guide to Vision Rehab: A podcast episode exploring eligibility for vision rehabilitation services, key differences between medical and social service models, and how to locate resources in each state.

Resource: The IJCAHPO offers a free Focus on the Patient guidebook that explores functional vision loss and provides guidance on how to discuss vision loss with patients.

Resource(s): Prevent Blindness has created two educational videos to raise awareness about glaucoma and its impact:

The Eye Health Connection is a newsletter developed with the input of NEHEP Partners and shared with the community of NEHEP’s 60+ partner organizations. The links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only, they do not constitute an endorsement by the National Eye Institute or its employees.

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