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October is Contact Lens Safety Month | Many consumers may not be aware that all contact lenses, even lenses that are “decorative,” “cosmetic,” and non-vision correcting, are regulated medical devices that require a prescription and proper fitting by a doctor. As Halloween approaches, some revelers may want to enhance their costumes with these types of contact lenses. Only contacts purchased through a valid prescription from a qualified eye health professional are safe to wear. |
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Celebrate World Sight Day
October 8, 2026
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Prevent Blindness is joining with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) for its annual “World Sight Day” initiative. Prevent Blindness, its affiliates and partners, in keeping with the annual theme of “Love Your Eyes,” will be engaging in a variety of advocacy and eye health education events leading up to World Sight Day on Oct. 8, 2026.
Activities and resources offered free to the public for World Sight Day include certified vision screenings for adults and children, downloadable resources for health professionals including school nurses, advocacy activation activities, and more. These World Sight Day activities are generously supported by funding from Amgen, Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, and ANI Pharmaceuticals.
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Investing in Lived Experience
Building Partnerships That Create Systems Change
October 20, 1:30-3:00 pm, CT
| | For the third webinar of the 2026 Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Webinar Series, join a funder, researcher, and individual living with a vision loss for a conversation about how well-resourced and thoughtfully planned patient and community partnership can turn lived experience into action and impact. Together, they will explore how patient expertise can strengthen research, inform decision-making, drive advocacy, and create lasting systems change—and how funders and community-based organizations can help create the space for human-centered engagement. | | |
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In this episode of the Focus on Eye Health Podcast, host Christopher Hord talks with Michael Lehmicke of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM). Michael explains how cutting-edge cell and gene therapies are transforming treatment options for conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, and other vision disorders. Learn about current clinical trials, FDA-approved therapies, and what the future may hold for people living with blindness and low vision. | |
Inflammatory Eye Disease Week
October 19-25
| | Inflammatory eye disease (IED) includes a range of conditions associated with eye inflammation. Prevent Blindness has declared Oct. 19-25 as the sixth annual IED Week, offering a variety of free educational resources including a dedicated webpage, updated social media graphics and several downloadable fact sheets in English and Spanish, and videos. IED Awareness Week is supported by funding from Keenova. | | Join Us for the 2027 Person of Vision Dinner | | |
Prevent Blindness has announced that the 2027 Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award will be presented to Reade Fahs, Executive Chairman, National Vision Holdings, Inc. (“National Vision”). The Person of Vision Award Gala will be held on March 10, 2027, at The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas, in conjunction with Vision Expo. All proceeds from the annual celebration support the sight-saving work of Prevent Blindness.
The Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award recognizes an individual whose inspired outlook champions healthy vision and its importance for a healthy life. An all-volunteer committee selected Fahs for his leadership in the optical industry combined with a commitment to expanding access to vision care for those in greatest need.
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The NORTHSTAR study is testing the safety, effectiveness, and tolerability of an investigational drug called gildeuretinol acetate (ALK-001) in those with Stargardt disease. Participants who are medically eligible to take part in the study will be randomly assigned to receive either the investigational drug or placebo during the treatment period. The study drug and placebo come in capsule form and are taken by mouth once a day.
You may be able to join if you:
- Are 8 to 45 years old
- Have been diagnosed with typical autosomal recessive Stargardt disease (STGD), a form of inherited macular dystrophy
- Have genetic test results showing at least one disease-causing change (mutation) in the ABCA4 gene
If you or your child choose to participate, the investigational drug and all study-related visits, exams, tests, and procedures that are not part of routine care will be provided at no cost to you.
Email trials@alkeus.com for more information or to see if you qualify.
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Support Our Sight-Saving Mission
Give to Prevent Blindness
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