Health

February Marks Age-related Macular Degeneration and Low Vision Awareness Month: Essential Resources from Prevent Blindness

2025-01-29

Author: Daniel

In a significant public health initiative, Prevent Blindness has declared February as Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the challenges posed by AMD among the public, patients, and healthcare providers. With ocular health being a growing concern, this initiative seeks to educate and help those affected by age-related eye diseases.

To facilitate education, Prevent Blindness offers an array of free educational resources available in both English and Spanish. These resources include expert-approved fact sheets, engaging social media graphics, and dedicated webpages to provide crucial information. Additionally, patients and their caregivers can utilize the Prevent Blindness AMD GuideMe app, which allows them to create and download personalized guides that detail their condition, along with actionable steps and tailored resource lists designed to preserve sight.

Among the noteworthy offerings, the Focus on Eye Health Expert Series provides free episodes that delve deep into AMD and low vision. One highlight features Dr. W. Lloyd Clark from the Palmetto Retinal Center discussing the complexities of AMD.

Another alarming aspect of AMD is Geographic Atrophy (GA), which impacts around 20% of individuals diagnosed with this condition. The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes that GA represents a more advanced stage of dry AMD. Prevent Blindness has developed a suite of resources focused on GA, including fact sheets and social media content to spread awareness, supported by funding from Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Engaging discussions in the Expert Series, led by professionals like Dr. Rajeev S. Ramchandran from the Flaum Eye Institute, also focus on recent breakthroughs in treatments for GA.

To ensure widespread access to these educational materials, the organization encourages both the general public and healthcare professionals to subscribe to the Prevent Blindness YouTube channel for the latest updates and video content.

Additionally, the comprehensive resource titled “Living Well With Low Vision” serves as a popular destination for individuals seeking guidance on navigating life with reduced vision. This site features a wealth of information, including low vision directories, practical self-help guides, and various rehabilitation resources tailored for healthcare professionals. This crucial resource is bolstered through grants from major corporations such as Alexion, Amgen, Genentech, and Johnson & Johnson.

Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness, highlighted the profound effects that eye diseases like AMD can have not only on patients but also on their families and caregivers. He stated, “By providing trusted informative resources that help save sight, we continue our essential mission spanning over 117 years to be the patient's partner in eye health.”

For more comprehensive information, individuals can visit specific web pages dedicated to AMD, Geographic Atrophy, and resources on living well with low vision at PreventBlindness.org.

With the increasing prevalence of AMD, which is a growing concern in the US with millions affected, raising awareness and providing education is more crucial than ever. As we observe this awareness month, don’t miss the opportunity to educate yourself and those around you about critical eye health issues that could impact your loved ones.

Stay informed: Together, we can make a difference in the fight against preventable blindness!