September 2020
Dear NEHEP Partners, 

Back-to-school season looks different this year, with many kids attending classes online due to COVID-19. This means they’re spending more time on screens — which can increase their risk for eye strain.  

We’re using this Eye Health Connection Newsletter to feature news and resources about protecting kids’ eyes and promoting healthy vision. We’re also recognizing our ¡Ojo con su visión! pilot program partners for their work educating their communities about eye health.

We’d also like to wish Kristina Beaugh Savitske farewell after stepping down from her role as NEHEP Director in August. We appreciate all of her contributions to NEHEP over the last 2 years, and wish her well in her future endeavors!

Best, 
Maria Zacharias
Director of Communications
National Eye Institute 
Thanks to our ¡Ojo con su visión! pilot program partners
This year, we partnered with the Mexican Coalition for the Empowerment of Youth and Families in New York City and the University of Arizona Primary Prevention Mobile Unit program in Phoenix to pilot an activity to measure the impact of the ¡Ojo con su visión! (Watch out for your vision!) eye health education program. We worked with dedicated community health workers to empower Hispanic/Latino adults to take care of their eye health. Our partners quickly adapted to the challenges of COVID-19 by switching from in-person to virtual outreach and group training sessions. 
Help kids ACHIEVE healthy vision with NOA’s vision health campaign 
The National Optometric Association (NOA) and the National Children’s Center for Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) at Prevent Blindness are partnering for the first All Children’s Health Initiative for Eye and Vision Excellence (ACHIEVE) campaign. The ACHIEVE campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of vision health for learning and development — particularly for minority children. 
Learn about keeping kids’ eyes safe from laundry detergent packets 
Did you know that the detergent inside liquid laundry packets can harm kids’ eyes? It’s true — which is why we partnered with the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) to create this GIF with tips to help keep kids’ eyes safe when handling laundry detergent packets. 
Check out AAO’s back-to-school tips for preventing eye strain during virtual classes
When schools moved to virtual classes in the spring due to COVID-19, many families saw how screen time can cause problems for kids, including tired, dry eyes and headaches. But you can help prevent digital eye strain in your kids and teens with these tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Calendar of Events
Continue your eye health education with IJCAHPO’s virtual program
This November and December, join the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology’s (IJCAHPO) 48th Annual Virtual Continuing Education Program! The fully virtual program for Allied Ophthalmic Personnel (which includes opticians, ophthalmic and optometric technicians, vision therapists, and more) also offers continuing education credits.
Other Events
September, 2020: NEI’s Pinterest and Flickr accounts are closing — you can now find all of our graphics in the NEI Media Library 
September 15, 2020: The Glaucoma Foundation’s Art Challenge runs through mid-September and supports the Foundation’s next round of research grants
November 30, 2020: IJCAHPO’s scholarship deadline for students and eye care technicians who want to advance their career is coming up
Ongoing: Every 2 weeks, the Vision Council’s video series InFocus features interviews with Vision Expo’s OPTImum attendees
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