Eye Health Connection

July 2024

Dear NEHEP Partners,

For this summer edition of our newsletter, we’re focusing on children and youth.

First off, to mark Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month this August, we’re spreading the word about children’s vision care. Early detection and proper treatment of eye conditions are crucial for safeguarding a child’s vision throughout their life. Explore the resources provided in this newsletter and share them with the parents and caregivers you serve to enhance children’s eye health in your community.

We also want to thank everyone who helped promote the third annual Eye on the Future teen video contest. With your support, we received over 80 submissions this year — and we’re so excited to share the winning videos with you. Every year, we’re impressed by the teens’ creativity and curiosity, and this year was no exception. Be sure to watch these young scientists’ videos and get inspired by their fascination with science.

Best,

Maria Zacharias

Acting Director, National Eye Health Education Program (NEHEP)

National Eye Institute

Congratulate the 2024 Eye on the Future winners

Teens from across the United States participated in this year’s contest and wowed us with their passion for all things science. We hope you’ll join us in congratulating our winners in each category: Dan Aasa (Science in Your World), Aaron Shao and Ethan Shao (Science in the Field or Lab), and Amy Sun (Science in Your Future).

Watch the winning videos

A diagram of the eye with labels for the pupil at the front of the eye and the sclera, retina, and optic nerve at the back of the eye. Many blood vessels branch off from the optic nerve and spread out into the eye.

Support children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)

ROP can happen in babies who are premature or weigh less than 3 pounds at birth — and it can cause vision loss. To help parents and professionals support children with ROP, Prevent Blindness offers educational materials in English and Spanish with information on the causes, treatment, and more.

Get the resources

Laptop with the Glaucoma Chats graphic, a speech bubble with 3 dots, and a smartphone.

Learn about the different types of childhood glaucoma

In BrightFocus Foundation’s new Glaucoma Chat, expert Javaneh Abbasian, M.D., discusses the different types of childhood glaucoma, including primary congenital, infantile, and juvenile glaucoma. She also shares the role of genetics and associated systemic diseases, trauma-induced cases, and diagnosis and treatment.

Listen to the episode

A child wearing glasses and holding a book.

Protect kids’ eyes throughout their life

As children grow, their eyes change quickly. Paying careful attention to their eye health is a good way to catch problems early, while their eyes are still developing. To help, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) spotlights 20 important things to know about kids’ eyes — and a few eye problems parents and caregivers should never ignore.

Read and share the article

Calendar of Events

ADCES24. Your Passion. Your People. August 9-12 / New Orleans.

Explore advances in diabetes care

Join the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists at the ADCES24 Annual Meeting August 9 to 12, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, and get up to date on the latest in diabetes education, technology, and more.

Learn more and register today

Other Events and Resources

July 17 to 20: The American Society of Retina Specialists will host their 42nd Annual Scientific Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. Attend in person or virtually to learn about the newest developments in retina science, therapeutics, and innovation.
August 9 to 11: The American Academy of Ophthalmology will host the Global Ophthalmology Summit in Portland, OR. Attendees can learn from one another, build networks, and explore collaborations to further enhance global eye care.
September 18 to 21: The Vision Council will host Vision Expo West 2024 , offering members an exclusive industry experience, including diverse exhibits, engaging programming and events, and a world-class education program.
Resource: The American Optometric Association published a resource on vision health in school-aged children, highlighting the vision competencies needed for school.
Resource: The International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology’s webinar, presented by William Astle, M.D., discusses new and effective treatments of amblyopia.
Resource: The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s new article shares the latest treatments for pediatric myopia — and advice for parents of children with myopia.
Resource: The National PTA offers this article highlighting NEI’s 10 tips to keep kids’ eyes healthy.

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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