December is Give the Gift of Sight Month at ISPB/PBIL. Become a sight-saver by donating today! For more information visit HERE
Community Happenings
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations, conferences, and screenings!
December 13, 2024
4:00pm – 6:00pm Aetna Winter Wellness Fair 3533 W North Ave – Chicago, IL
December 16, 2024
1:00pm – 2:00pm Friendship Center Food Pantry 2711 W Lawrence Ave – Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Toy Selection Guidelines
Before you purchase a toy:
Read all warnings and instructions on the box.
Ask yourself if the toy is right for your child’s ability and age.
Avoid purchasing toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous edges.
Check the lenses and frames of children’s sunglasses; many can break and cause injuries.
Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.
Look for the letters “ASTM.” This means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off. Remember that BB guns are NOT toys.
Before letting your children play with toys:
Inspect toys for safe, sturdy construction.
Explain how to use the toy.
Fix or throw away broken toys.
Always
Keep young children away from toys meant for older children.
Supervise your children while playing.
Store toys properly after play to avoid risks or falls.
Supervise children’s craft projects (scissors and glue can be extremely dangerous to a child’s eyesight).
Have children wear the right eye protection for sports (face shields, helmets, eyeguards).
ISPB and PBIL have declared November as Diabetes-related Eye Disease Month. Early detection and treatment of diabetes is essential, as the risk of developing significant vision loss and blindness increases the longer someone has diabetes. To help educate the public, including parents and care partners of individuals with diabetes, as well as allied health professionals, we are offering free resources that include fact sheets and social media graphics in English and Spanish, web pages, and a variety of educational videos.
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations, conferences, and screenings!
November 9, 2024
10:00am – 1:00pm State Rep 2nd Annual Housing Education & Wellness Fair 3030 N Mobile Ave – Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Be a Voice for Vision: Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts from Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness regularly issues email alerts when there is an opportunity for advocates to contact legislators in Congress with sight-saving policy and legislative updates. Advocates who are interested in making their voices heard can register with their email address at the Prevent Blindness Legislative Action Center. Advocates who register will also receive bi-monthly advocacy news and policy updates from Prevent Blindness.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@preventblindness.org. Thank you for your commitment to preventing blindness and preserving sight!
ISPB and PBIL have declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month. The purpose of the awareness initiative is to educate the public on the proper use of contact lenses, both prescription and cosmetic. We offer fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, and dedicated webpages.
We also offer the “Contact Lens Safety” episode as part of its Focus on Eye Health Expert Series. Prevent Blindness President and CEO, Jeff Todd, discusses patient advocacy and the potential dangers of misusing contact lenses with Dr. Thomas L. Steinemann, professor of ophthalmology at Case Western Reserve University.
The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, in collaboration with NASN, is excited to introduce this toolkit designed to support school nurses, school staff, parents, and caregivers. The toolkit encompasses online eye health and safety information, financial aid resources, practical tips, and engaging activity ideas for World Sight Day. Together, we aim to improve children’s vision health and readiness to learn as well as promote equity and access to eye care. For more information visit HERE
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations, conferences, and screenings!
October 5-6, 2024
all day IOA Conference 701 E Adams St – Springfield, IL
October 9, 2024
2:00pm – 5:00pm World Sight Day Vision Screening 1 Takeda Parkway – Deerfield, IL
October 10, 2024
time tbd World Sight Day Vision Screening 225 W Wacker Drive Lobby – Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Be a Voice for Vision: Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts from Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness regularly issues email alerts when there is an opportunity for advocates to contact legislators in Congress with sight-saving policy and legislative updates. Advocates who are interested in making their voices heard can register with their email address at the Prevent Blindness Legislative Action Center. Advocates who register will also receive bi-monthly advocacy news and policy updates from Prevent Blindness.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@preventblindness.org. Thank you for your commitment to preventing blindness and preserving sight!
ISPB and Prevent Blindness Illinois (PBIL) have once again declared September as Sports Eye Safety Month to educate the public on the risk of painful and potentially blinding eye injuries while playing sports without the proper eye protection. Prevent Blindness HAS RELEASED NEW DATA that shows there were more than 32,600 sports-related eye injuries treated in the United States in 2023.
Types of sports-related eye injuries include blunt trauma, including retina tears or detachment, penetrating injuries, corneal scratches and abrasions. Some eye infections are contracted through water sports, with contact lens wearers at higher risk.
We recommend that athletes wear eye guards when participating in sports as prescription glasses, sunglasses and even occupational safety glasses do not provide adequate protection. Athletes, or parents of children participating in sports, should always consult an eye care professional to determine the best kind of eye protection for their sport and medical needs.
Prevent Blindness Presentation on Mental Health Care for Blind Clients
September 24th 12:00 – 1:15pm Central Time
Prevent Blindness’ Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Health Initiatives, Julie Grutzmacher, MPH, MSW, will be joined by Shervonne Poleon, Ph.D, a recognized consultant, speaker and clinical psychologist with lived experience of age-related macular degeneration. They will speak on considerations for the clinician who plans to, is currently seeking, or is unfamiliar with blind patients for psychotherapy, counseling, or medication management
This year’s events kick off on September 12th on Capitol Hill, with a vision screening and Congressional Briefing aimed at bringing attention to children’s vision and the Early Detection of Vision Impairment for Children Act (EDVI). There will also be screening and education event all across the country!
Community Happenings Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations, conferences, and screenings!
October 4, 2024
9:00am – 12:00pm Alderman Cardona Senior Health & Resource Fair 2465 N Lamon Ave Chicago, IL
October 5-6, 2024
all day IOA Conference 701 E Adams St Springfield, IL
October 9, 2024
2:00pm – 5:00pm World Sight Day Vision Screening 1 Takeda Parkway Deerfield, IL
October 10, 2024
time tbd World Sight Day Vision Screening 225 W Wacker Drive Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Be a Voice for Vision: Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts from Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness regularly issues email alerts when there is an opportunity for advocates to contact legislators in Congress with sight-saving policy and legislative updates. Advocates who are interested in making their voices heard can register with their email address at the Prevent Blindness Legislative Action Center. Advocates who register will also receive bi-monthly advocacy news and policy updates from Prevent Blindness.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@preventblindness.org. Thank you for your commitment to preventing blindness and preserving sight!
We were honored last week to join VSP on their mobile van, Odyssee. With the help of 7 volunteer doctors, we provided 145 patients with full eye exams, and 90% of them received free glasses as well! Thank you to all the volunteers that made this possible and to our partners RefugeeOne, Hawthorne Race Track/RICF Centro de Salud, and CommunityHealth for their hospitality.
Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month
Prevent Blindness IL and ISPB has once again declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. The goal is to educate parents, caregivers, professionals and policy makers on the important role vision and eye health plays in a child’s development, learning ability, and social engagement. Prevent Blindness offers free materials on children’s vision issues, such as myopia (nearsightedness) and amblyopia (lazy eye), provides information on access to eye care, and encourages individuals to advocate for federal funding for state and community children’s eye health programs.
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations and screenings!
August 10, 2024 10:00am – 2:00pm State Rep. Jimenez and State Senator Aquino’s Back to School Event 2148 N Long Ave Chicago, IL
August 10, 2024 10:00am – 12:00pm West40 BackPack GiveBack 3801 S Central Ave Cicero, IL
August 17, 2024
10:30am – 1:00pm Northwestern/YMCA Back to School Giveaway Health & Resource Fair 3808 W Iowa Chicago, IL
August 31, 2024
10:00am – 12:00pm Senator Javier Cervantes Back to School Event 4800 S Western Ave Chicago, IL
October 4, 2024
9:00am – 12:00pm Alderman Cardona Senior Health & Resource Fair 2465 N Lamon Ave Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Be a Voice for Vision: Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts from Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness regularly issues email alerts when there is an opportunity for advocates to contact legislators in Congress with sight-saving policy and legislative updates. Advocates who are interested in making their voices heard can register with their email address at the Prevent Blindness Legislative Action Center. Advocates who register will also receive bi-monthly advocacy news and policy updates from Prevent Blindness.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@preventblindness.org. Thank you for your commitment to preventing blindness and preserving sight!
Volunteer with us!
Join us as we venture out into the community and present on Eye Health and Safety. For more information please visit HERE or email rbarraza@preventblindness.org
ISPB and Prevent Blindness Illinois (PBIL) have declared June as Cataract Awareness Month to provide patients and professionals with free educational resources on cataract, a clouding of the eye’s lens. According to the CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. Additionally, an estimated 20.5 million Americans aged 40 years and older have cataract in one or both eyes.
ISPB and PBIL offer a variety of free informational resources in English and Spanish including fact sheets, social media graphics, and a listing of vision care financial assistance programs. The group also offers a dedicated web resource at PREVENTBLINDNESS.ORG/CATARACT, and the “UNDERSTANDING CATARACT” episode in the “Focus on Eye Health Expert Series,” featuring Albert Cheung, MD, Cataract, Cornea, Anterior Segment Specialist with Virginia Eye Consultants and Assistant Professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology.
Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award
Nominees for the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award may be an individual or group comprised of diverse stakeholders, including family/caregiver and community leaders, public health, healthcare, education, etc., who are implementing changes to improve children’s vision in the United States and reduce disparities in children’s vision and eye health. Nominations are being sought of individuals or groups who seek out new and innovative solutions to barriers to healthy vision in children and have successfully implemented solutions that are replicable and sustainable.
The award recognizes significant efforts by an individual or group of individuals to improve public health approaches for children’s vision and eye health. The deadline for submission is July 1, 2024.
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations and screenings!
We will be continuing our efforts during these dates:
July 9, 2024 1:30pm – Carillon Clubhouse Presentation: Plainfield, IL
July 19, 2024 3:00pm – Chicago Commons Community Health Fair: Chicago, IL
July 30 – August 1, 2024 9:00am – VSP Eyes of Hope: Chicago, IL
August 3, 2024 10:00am – State Senator Mattie Hunter’s 20th Annual Family Health & Fitness Fair: Chicago, IL
August 3, 2024 12:00pm – Hope Fest: Chicago, IL
August 10, 2024 tbd – Annual Back to School Health Fair: Chicago, IL
August 10, 2024 10:00am – West40 Backpack GiveBack: Chicago, IL
October 4, 2024 9:00am – Senior Health & Resource Fair: Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
BEING SEEN AND HEARD: July 10-11, 2024
2024 Focus on Eye Health Summit, a virtual interactive event
This year’s event emphasizes the importance of a person-centered approach to vision health interventions, research, communications, and care. Being seen and heard by providers, policy makers, researchers, public health experts and other stakeholders allows an individual’s complex health issues to be addressed while taking into consideration their preferences, cultural background, and social context. And ultimately, it leads to the most ideal outcomes for all involved in the interaction.
The free event attracts a global audience of patient advocates, community-based organizations, vision and eye health organizations, researchers, public health experts, health-care providers, educators, early childhood education professionals, senior- and child-care professionals, government agency staff, corporate partners, health program professionals, legislative staff, and other stakeholders.
Prevent Blindness will be hosting the ASPECT Patient Engagement and Advocacy Summit, May 14-16, 2024, at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Summit will bring together ASPECT (Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training) Patient Engagement Program graduates (eye health patients and their allies), and program sponsors.
As part of the event, Prevent Blindness will also hold its 19th Annual Eyes on Capitol Hill legislative day, providing participants with the opportunity to meet elected officials and their staff to discuss important public policy and federal funding requests.
Prevent Blindness and ISPB have designated May as “Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) Genetic Testing Awareness Month,” expanding its previous IRD and Genetic Testing Awareness Week initiative. We are providing a variety of tools to promote awareness and education for IRDs and the importance of genetic testing, including a free webinar, expert and patient videos, shareable social media graphics, and fact sheets in English and Spanish. IRD Genetic Testing Awareness Month is supported by funding from Johnson & Johnson, and Spark® Therapeutics.
Pathway to Diagnosis: Genetic Testing for Inherited Retinal Diseases May 29, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET.
In this 90-minute webinar, you will gain a deeper understanding of genetic testing as it contributes to diagnosis for an IRD. Topics include when and how children may receive genetic testing; benefits of receiving results for diagnosis, registries, clinical trials, and treatments; strategies for providing information and support to families and children; and patient testimonials about their IRD journeys.
This webinar is tailored for families of children with inherited retinal diseases and visual impairment, patient support organizations, school nurses, early childhood program staff including Head Start, Early Intervention and special education professionals, teachers of students with visual impairments, and healthcare providers.
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations and screenings!
We will be continuing our efforts during these dates:
July 9, 2024 1:30pm – Carillon Clubhouse: Plainfield, IL
August 9, 2024 11:00am – RUSH’s 9th Annual Community Health Fair: Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
BEING SEEN AND HEARD: July 10-11, 2024
2024 Focus on Eye Health Summit, a virtual interactive event
This year’s event emphasizes the importance of a person-centered approach to vision health interventions, research, communications, and care. Being seen and heard by providers, policy makers, researchers, public health experts and other stakeholders allows an individual’s complex health issues to be addressed while taking into consideration their preferences, cultural background, and social context. And ultimately, it leads to the most ideal outcomes for all involved in the interaction.
The free event attracts a global audience of patient advocates, community-based organizations, vision and eye health organizations, researchers, public health experts, health-care providers, educators, early childhood education professionals, senior- and child-care professionals, government agency staff, corporate partners, health program professionals, legislative staff, and other stakeholders.
Be a Voice for Vision: Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts from Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness regularly issues email alerts when there is an opportunity for advocates to contact legislators in Congress with sight-saving policy and legislative updates. Advocates who are interested in making their voices heard can register with their email address at the Prevent Blindness Legislative Action Center. Advocates who register will also receive bi-monthly advocacy news and policy updates from Prevent Blindness.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@preventblindness.org. Thank you for your commitment to preventing blindness and preserving sight!
Prevent Blindness and ISPB have declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. According to Orbis International, globally there are 112 million more women than men living with vision loss, including blindness. Prevent Blindness is offering free resources, including fact sheets, shareable social media graphics, educational videos, and web pages, on a range of eye health issues that predominantly affect women.
Women have a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, dry eye, glaucoma, refractive error and thyroid eye disease. According to The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: vision beyond 2020 report, the gender imbalance can be attributed to demographic factors (women living longer than men) and social factors (women having reduced access to care).
Be a Voice for Vision: Sign Up for Advocacy Alerts from Prevent Blindness
Prevent Blindness regularly issues email alerts when there is an opportunity for advocates to contact legislators in Congress with sight-saving policy and legislative updates. Advocates who are interested in making their voices heard can register with their email address at the Prevent Blindness Legislative Action Center. Advocates who register will also receive bi-monthly advocacy news and policy updates from Prevent Blindness.
If you have any questions, please email advocacy@preventblindness.org. Thank you for your commitment to preventing blindness and preserving sight!
The Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness (ISPB) offers unique grant opportunities supporting mentored pre-clinical or clinical research programs designed to foster junior investigator development while advancing clinical care in ophthalmology and optometry
The primary mission of ISPB is to reduce preventable causes of blindness by educating the public on the necessity for and the methods of preventing blindness. ISPB annually awards grants to support research in eye and vision health, with priority granted to areas of inquiry with direct clinical relevance (translation research). Please keep this in mind when filling out your application.
Grant applications are due by Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at midnight. Reviews will take place in June, 2024. For more information visit HERE
Community Happenings
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations and screenings!
We will be continuing our efforts during these dates:
April 18, 2024 2:00pm – Bickford of Champaign: Champaign, IL
April 30, 2024 1:00pm – Centennial Activity Center Presentation: Park Ridge, IL
July 9, 2024 1:30pm – Carillon Clubhouse: Plainfield, IL
August 9, 2024 11:00am – RUSH’s 9th Annual Community Health Fair: Chicago, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Yoan Moncada in his Prevent Blindness Eclipse glasses Image curtesy of @WhiteSox Instagram
Prevent Blindness Eclipse Watch Party
Total Eclipse
The Solar Eclipse was this past Monday. Prevent Blindness hosted a viewing party at 225 W. Wacker Drive in Chicago. Hundreds gathered to view the Eclipse! We hope everyone had a safe viewing! For more information on the eclipse visit HERE
ISPB and Prevent Blindness Illinois (PBIL) have declared March as Workplace Eye Wellness Month to encourage employers and employees to make eye safety and eye protection a priority on the job. We offer a variety of free resources including WORKPLACE EYE SAFETY FACT SHEETS, SHAREABLE SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS, and, to help employers educate workers on eye protection and safety, Prevent Blindness also offers the Workplace Safety module in the HEALTHY EYES EDUCATIONAL SERIES.
According to a recent report from the U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, workers suffered 18,510 eye-related injuries and illnesses in 2020. Contact with objects or equipment led to the majority of eye injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work in 2020. Of these cases, close to 60 percent resulted from the worker rubbing or being abraded by foreign matter in the eye. Another 35 percent resulted from the eye being struck by an object or equipment. The AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY recommends eye safety gear that protects eyes from hazards such as:
Flying shards of metal or glass
Tools that slip or malfunction
Particles such as wood splinters, metal shavings or crystalline silica
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations and screenings!
We will be continuing our efforts during these dates:
March 06, 2024 3:30pm – Bridle Brook Assisted Living: Mahomet, IL
March 10, 2024 2:00pm – Prairie Winds of Urbana: Urbana, IL
March 17, 2024 1:00pm – Pop Up Farmer’s Market: Chicago, IL
March 19, 2024 2:00pm – Evergreen Place: Champaign, IL
March 25, 2024 1:00pm – Waukegan Township Presentation: Waukegan, IL
April 04, 2024 1:30pm – Carriage Crossing Senior Living: Champaign, IL
April 09, 2024 1:30pm – Skokie Low Vision Support Group Presentation: Skokie, IL
April 30, 2024 1:00pm – Centennial Activity Center Presentation: Park Ridge, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
The Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness (ISPB) offers unique grant opportunities supporting mentored pre-clinical or clinical research programs designed to foster junior investigator development while advancing clinical care in ophthalmology and optometry
The primary mission of ISPB is to reduce preventable causes of blindness by educating the public on the necessity for and the methods of preventing blindness. ISPB annually awards grants to support research in eye and vision health, with priority granted to areas of inquiry with direct clinical relevance (translation research). Please keep this in mind when filling out your application.
Grant applications are due by Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at midnight. Reviews will take place in June, 2024. For more information visit HERE
Total Eclipse is April 8, 2024
The next total solar eclipse in North America will occur across most of the United States on April 8, 2024, including a small band of total solar eclipse stretching from southwest to northeast across much of the continent. Prevent Blindness hopes you enjoy taking part in this important astronomical and cultural event. Before you do, please take the time to learn about the dangers to your vision and how to protect your eyes from injury during the eclipse.
CONGRATULATIONS to the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health (NCCVEH) as they celebrate their 15th year of service! Pleasevisit them for more information and to stay up to date.
AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
ISPB and PBIL have once again declared February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month. We offer a variety of free educational resources to the public and professionals, including fact sheets and social media graphics in English and Spanish, as well as dedicated online resources and informative videos.
AMD is a retinal disease that affects part of the back of the eye called the macula. When AMD damages the macula, the center part of a person’s vision may become blurred or wavy, and a blind spot may develop. According to the National Eye Institute, 11 million people in the United States have AMD.Low vision is defined as vision loss that cannot be corrected by medical or surgical treatments or conventional eyeglasses, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. More than 7 million Americans have low vision.
Our staff, team of interns, and volunteers provide eye health education and outreach at all types of community events – including health fairs, presentations and screenings!
We will be continuing our efforts during these dates:
February 24, 2024 10:00am – Boys + Girls Club Health Fair: Freeport, IL
March 17, 2024 1:00pm – Pop Up Farmer’s Market: Chicago, IL`
March 25, 2024 1:00pm – Waukegan Township Presentation: Waukegan, IL
April 30, 2024 1:00pm – Centennial Activity Center Presentation: Park Ridge, IL
For more information, please contact rbarraza@preventblindness.org
Total Eclipse is April 8, 2024
The next total solar eclipse in North America will occur across most of the United States on April 8, 2024, including a small band of total solar eclipse stretching from southwest to northeast across much of the continent. Prevent Blindness hopes you enjoy taking part in this important astronomical and cultural event. Before you do, please take the time to learn about the dangers to your vision and how to protect your eyes from injury during the eclipse.
Jessica Babu is joining the PBIL/ISPB team this Spring as our Community Outreach Intern for Urbana-Champaign! Jessica is graduating this May with a Bachelor’s of Science in Community Health with a minor in Business and Health Administration. Welcome to the team, Jess!
