Retinopathy of Prematurity Awareness Week
February 24 - March 2
Among babies who are born prematurely in the United States, about 14,000 children will be diagnosed with ROP each year. ROP affects the retina and occurs when blood vessels in the eye vessel that didn't finish growing before the baby was born, begin to grow abnormally and in the wrong direction. Most ROP resolves on its own without any damage to the retina or vision loss.
In severe cases, ROP can worsen, and abnormal blood vessels can form that may leak and even cause the layers of the retina to separate. Scar tissue can form and damage the retina by pulling the retina away from the back of the eye (retinal detachment) leading to vision loss or blindness. For babies with ROP, it is difficult to know which cases will resolve or worsen.
“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.
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.
Living Well with Low Vision from Prevent Blindness makes it as easy as possible for people to learn about loss of vision and how to meet daily challenges that arise from dealing with vision loss. There are resources for all, whether you are a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional. Some resources include:
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!
February 20, 2025
4:00pm - Healthy Heart Fair: Cicero, IL
March 07, 2025
tbd - ISEPS-COS Conference: Rosemont, IL
April 02, 2025
11:30am - NEIU Health Fair: Chicago, IL
April 02, 2025
11:00am - Family Enrichment Program Screenings: South Holland, IL
April 09, 2025
9:00am - Warrenville Health Fair
If you have an event you'd like ISPB/PBIL to attend, please reach out to rbarraza@preventblindness.org !
Welcome Miranda!
Miranda Ludwig will be joining the ISPB/PBIL team for Spring 2025. She will be focusing on the Champaign - Urbana area in southern Illinois as she promotes health education and safety while helping ISPB/PBIL expand its reach and help even more people.
Save the date!
Join us for the 2025 Focus on Eye Health Summit, a groundbreaking gathering of leaders in public health, eye care, and government sectors. This year’s theme, Perspectives in Vision, emphasizes the need for a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to addressing eye health challenges in an evolving world.
