ISPB and Prevent Blindness Illinois (PBIL) have once again declared February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month.
AMD is an eye disease that impairs central vision and may appear in two forms, wet AMD and dry AMD. A recent study, “The Prevalence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the United States In 2019” developed using data within Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS), estimated that 19.83 million Americans were living with some form of AMD. AMD can cause low vision. Low vision is visual impairment that cannot be corrected with prescription lenses, medication or surgery.
To help educate the public, patients and their care partners, and allied health professionals, we offer a variety of free educational resources including expert-approved fact sheets and social media graphics in English and Spanish, and dedicated webpages. Patients and care partners are encouraged to create and download a free guide using the Prevent Blindness AMD GuideMe app. It provides a customized overview of the disease along with a tailored resource list and suggested steps to help save sight from AMD.
Dedicated episodes in the Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health Expert Series are also available at no cost including:
- “Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision,” featuring W. Lloyd Clark, MD, Palmetto Retinal Center, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.
- “Low Vision,” featuring R. Tracy Williams, OD, FAAO, Executive Director at Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Loyola University and Adjunct Professor, Illinois College of Optometry. Dr. Williams is also a former Prevent Blindness Board of Directors member.
- “Vision Impairment and Mental Wellness,” with AMD patient Dr. Connie Hills, psychologist, consultant and speaker.
Geographic Atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry AMD affects around 20 percent of all people with AMD, according to the Cleveland Clinic. ISPB and PBIL provide resources that include a downloadable fact sheet and a series of shareable social media graphics in English and Spanish, and a dedicated webpage. These resources are supported by funding from Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. GA episodes in the Focus on Eye Health Expert Series include:
- “Advancements in Treatments for Geographic Atrophy,” featuring Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Flaum Eye Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, and volunteer member of the Prevent Blindness Public Health and Policy Committee.
- “Geographic Atrophy and Patient Support,” featuring Sherry Williams, Prevent Blindness Ohio past president and CEO, sharing her story as a care partner for her mother diagnosed with GA.
- “Geographic Atrophy,” featuring Janet S. Sunness, MD, Medical Director of the Richard E. Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
To view these and other informative videos, the public and professionals are encouraged to subscribe to the Prevent Blindness YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@PreventBlindnessNational.
Finally, we offer the comprehensive resource, “Living Well With Low Vision.” One of the most visited Prevent Blindness websites, Living Well With Low Vision provides a robust variety of content such as low vision resource directories, a Self-help Guide to Non-visual Skills, the ABCs of Caring for the Visually Impaired, a listing of Vision Rehabilitation Resources for Eyecare Professionals, and much more.
This resource is supported by grants from Alexion, Amgen, Genentech, and Johnson & Johnson.
For more information on AMD, please visit PreventBlindness.org/amd. For information on geographic atrophy, please visit PreventBlindness.org/geographic-atrophy. And, for more information on Living Well With Low Vision, or other general eye health information, please visit lowvision.PreventBlindness.org/.
