As Part of November's Diabetes-related Eye Disease Month, Prevent Blindness Launches New Resources to Educate Public on the Effects Diabetes has on Vision

According to the study, "Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021," approximately one in four Americans ages 40 and older with diabetes have Diabetic Retinopathy. A higher percentage of Black (8.7 percent) and Hispanic (7.1 percent) individuals with diabetes are at risk for vision loss compared to their White (3.6 percent) counterparts. There are significant variations by state and county which reflect related factors such as access to eye care and resources.

Diabetic retinopathy can lead to other serious vision problems including diabetes-related macular edema, cataract, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. And, diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults.

Fortunately, the risk of vision loss and blindness from diabetes-related eye disease can be significantly lessened if it is detected and treated early. That's why Prevent Blindness is offering free educational resources that include webpages, fact sheets and social media graphics in English and Spanish, and a variety of educational videos.

New this year, Prevent Blindness is launching the Prevent Blindness Eye Health Audio Library offering free, 24/7 access to critical diabetes eye health information, accessible via voice commands in both English and Spanish. Patients or care partners are invited to call 1-833-998-5850 for medically vetted information on diabetes-related eye disease, eye exam preparation and scheduling, condition management strategies, and specialized guidance for pregnant patients and the newly diagnosed. Co-created with patients and providers, and supported by funding from Regeneron and Genentech, this resource is designed to provide prevention information accessible to diverse audiences.

For eye care providers, Prevent Blindness will also soon be releasing a modular education program focused on patient-centered, bias-free diabetes and vision care. Working with the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology's ophthalmic allied health professionals Continuing Education (CE) program as well as the American Optometric Association's paraoptometric CE program, this new effort works to identify gaps in care and patient experiences. This program is also made possible through funding support from Regeneron and Genentech.

As part of theJuvenile Diabetes and Vision Health resource, new "Diabetes + Your Eyes: Vision Health in Youth" fact sheets (available in English and Spanish) are available including "Diabetes: Be Your Teen's Vision Hero!" and "Diabetes: Your Vision, Your Life." These resources are supported by funding from UnitedHealthcare.

The Prevent Blindness Diabetes-related Eye Disease video series includes a variety of educational videos designed for the public.

• The Patient Perspective: Diabetes-related Eye Disease
• Diabetes and Your Eyes ABCs
• Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes: What you need to know about your eyes
• Introduction to the Diabetes + the Eyes Educational Toolkit

An upcoming new Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health podcast will host a special roundtable discussion about diabetes and eye health. Guests include Rajeev S. Ramchandran, MD, MBA, associate professor of ophthalmology at University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute; Talana Townsend, president of Visually Impaired Advocates - Houston; and Nita Sinha, senior director, Public Health at Prevent Blindness.

Finally, Prevent Blindness recently assembled its new Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee. The all-volunteer committee brings together leaders from eyecare and public health, patient advocates, diabetes-education professionals, and more. Among many of the group's charges are improving diabetes and eye health programs and education, increasing access to quality eye care and treatment, drafting and advancing federal and state policy, and promoting research and surveillance.

"By educating patients on how to prevent vision loss from diabetes and implementing systems and programs that increase access to eye care across the United States, we will empower millions of patients with diabetes to avoid unnecessary vision loss and blindness," said Dr. Ramchandran, member of the Prevent Blindness Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee.

For general diabetes-related eye disease information, please visit http://preventblindness.org/diabetes. For more information on Prevent Blindness Eye Health Audio Library, visit https://preventblindness.org/audio-library

For a free listing of organizations and services that provide financial assistance for vision care in English or Spanish, please visit https://preventblindness.org/vision-care-financial-assistance-information/. 

About Prevent Blindness 
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, visit us at PreventBlindness.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

SOURCE Prevent Blindness