Meet Kristin – the 2012 Youth Ambassador

The color pink, watching cartoons, learning to read and draw – these are some of five year old Kristin’s favorite things. However Kristin had a vision problem that could have left her unable to see her favorite things clearly.

Kristin took part in a free vision screening at her preschool conducted by Prevent Blindness Iowa. Kristin was unable to pass the vision screening and was referred for a complete eye exam by an eye doctor. The eye doctor diagnosed Kristin with amblyopia or lazy eye –a sight stealing disease where one eye is stronger than the other. The weak eye eventually stops working and permanent sight is lost.

Kristin’s parents had no idea that she was having trouble seeing. The eye doctor told them that without early detection and treatment that Kristin could have permanent vision loss in her weak eye by the time she was seven years old.

Kristin is now wearing glasses and wears a patch daily to strengthen her weak eye. Kristin likes her glasses and says that “now things look clear”!  Thanks to Prevent Blindness Iowa’s early detection of her vision problem Kristin will have two healthy eyes to read, draw and watch cartoons!

Kristin will serve as Prevent Blindness Iowa’s 2012 Youth Ambassador. Kristin will take part in the 15th Annual Light the Night for Sight walk with appearances at kickoffs, media interviews and by leading the walkers on the route. The walk will take place at 7:30pm on June 14th at Johnston Green Days in Johnston Iowa. Check out www.preventblindness.org/iowa for more info!

Vision Loss from Glaucoma Can Be Diminished with Early Diagnosis and Treatment

Prevent Blindness Iowa Joins in National Glaucoma Awareness Month in Effort to Save Sight from Second Leading Cause of Blindness

Today, more than 23,650 Iowans age 40 and older have open angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma. At least half don’t even know they have it. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world, second only to cataracts, and the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans. According to research funded by Prevent Blindness America, glaucoma costs the U.S. economy $2.86 billion every year in direct medical costs for outpatient, inpatient and prescription drug services. 

As part of January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness Iowa is joining with other leading eye health organizations in encouraging everyone to educate themselves on the disease as well as make a New Year’s resolution to make eye health a priority. 

Glaucoma has long been termed the “sneak thief of sight” because it slowly takes away vision, often without the patient even realizing it.  Glaucoma damages the optic nerve which sends information from the eyes to the brain. When the optic nerve is damaged, peripheral vision begins to diminish.  If left untreated, over time, glaucoma may also damage central vision. Unfortunately, once symptoms are detected, the effectiveness of treatment diminishes.   Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored. 

Risk factors for glaucoma include advancing age, family history, nearsightedness, eye injury or surgery and the use of steroid medications.  Race is another major risk factor as, according to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in blacks than in whites and blacks are four times more likely to go blind from it.  Hispanics are more likely to develop glaucoma after age 60 than any other group.

Prevent Blindness Iowa and Prevent Blindness America provide free resources to educate consumers on glaucoma, including treatment options and general information at “The Glaucoma Learning Center,” a free website at www.preventblindess.org/glaucoma. Free printed materials are available by request including the “Guide for People with Glaucoma.” This comprehensive booklet serves as a handbook for patients and includes information on what to expect during treatment and even a list of questions to ask the eye doctor. 

The Glaucoma Learning Center also hosts the “Glaucoma Web Discussion Forum” that allows patients and caregivers the opportunity to discuss online all subjects related to the disease.  Topics range from general information on the condition and its treatment, to shared experiences and emotional support. 

We want to stress to everyone that vision can be saved from glaucoma through early diagnosis and treatment. Please visit our website or call our toll-free number to get all the free information you can to educate yourself on risk factors, treatment options and even Medicare coverage. Let’s all commit to make 2012 the year to make our eyes a priority and save our sight!

For more information on glaucoma or other eye diseases, please call Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515/244-4341, 800/329-8782 or visit www.preventblindness.org/iowa.

Children Should Spend the Holidays with Friends and Family, Not in the Emergency Room

The holiday shopping season is already in full swing for retailers as well as shoppers who are eager to begin purchasing everything on their lists.  But, when it comes to toys and gifts, the lowest sale price may not be the safest for children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimated in its most recent report that hospital emergency rooms treated 251,700 toy-related injuries in 2010 throughout the United States.  Of that number, 72 percent of injuries were to children under 15 years old.

Additionally, the CPSC found that 46 percent of the estimated 251,700 ER-treated injuries occurred to the head and face area. Lacerations, abrasions and contusions made up most of these injuries.    

Prevent Blindness Iowa has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month.  We encourage everyone to make conscientious purchasing decisions based on what is best for each individual child.   

In the excitement of the season, sometimes we may forget that not every gift is appropriate for every child, By taking a few, easy safety precautions the holidays can be happy for everyone!

Prevent Blindness Iowa suggests:

• Make recommendations to family members and friends about gifts that you feel are appropriate for your child.  Be diligent about inspecting these gifts before allowing your child to play with them.
• Inspect all toys before purchasing.  Monitor toys that your child has received as gifts to make sure they are appropriate for your child’s age and developmental level.
• For younger children, avoid play sets with small magnets and make sure batteries are secured within the toy. If magnets or batteries are ingested, serious injuries and/or death can occur. 
• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (such as a basketball along with eye goggles or a face guard with a new batting helmet for baseball or softball). 
• Any toy that is labeled “supervision required” must always be used in the presence of an adult.  Keep toys meant for older children away from younger ones. 
• Always save the warranties and directions for every toy.  If possible, include a gift receipt.  Repair or throw away damaged toys.  
• Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off. 
• Inspect toys for sturdiness. Your child’s toys should be durable, with no sharp edges or points. The toys should also withstand impact.  Dispose of plastic wrapping material immediately on toys as they may have sharp edges. 
• Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. Young kids tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking.  If the part of a toy can fit in a toilet paper roll, the toy is not appropriate for children under the age of 3. 

For more information on safe toys and gifts for children as well as general children’s eye health topics, please contact Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515-244-4341/800-329-8782 or www.preventblindnessiowa.org/iowa.

Prevent Blindness Iowa Launches “Live Right, Save Sight!” Diabetes Campaign

More than 25 million Americans have diabetes.  In addition to being the leading cause of kidney failure and non-traumatic lower limb amputations, it is the leading cause of new cases of blindness in those ages 20 and over.  People with diabetes are also twice as likely to develop other eye diseases such as cataract and glaucoma.  Fortunately, recent studies have shown that the onset of Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented and the risk of vision loss reduced through a healthy diet and exercise.

As part of November’s Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness Iowa is launching the “Live Right, Save Sight!” campaign.  The goal of the new program is to educate the public on diabetes and its potential effect on vision, as well as healthy choices they can make today to save sight in the future.  Live Right, Save Sight! also provides free information including risk factors, treatment options and Medicare benefits as well as a dedicated web page at preventblindness.org/diabetes. 

Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that weakens the small blood vessels in the retina. Retinal blood vessels can break down, leak, or become blocked – affecting and impairing vision over time. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, damage to the eye can occur when abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. Diabetic macular edema is a result of diabetic retinopathy and can lead to loss of central vision.

There are two common types of diabetes.  Type 1 accounts for approximately 5 percent of all diabetes cases and is usually diagnosed in children. It occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, an essential body requirement.  Type 2 accounts for up to 95 percent of diabetes cases. This form of diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body does not effectively use the insulin that the body does produce. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood, although increasing numbers of children in some populations are being diagnosed.

The diabetes epidemic that we are facing is very serious and the resulting complications from this disease can be devastating to our health. The good news is that by making a committed effort to leading a healthy lifestyle today, we can help delay or even prevent developing diabetes and its effects in the future.

As part of the Live Right, Save Sight! campaign, Prevent Blindness Iowa recommends:

• Visit an eye doctor at least once a year if you have diabetes or if you are at high risk.  For some, diabetic retinopathy is one of the first signs of diabetes.
• Maintain a healthy weight – if you are overweight, even a modest weight loss can help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
• Increase your physical activity – exercising 30 minutes a day, five times a week can cut your risk of Type 2 diabetes by more than half. It is important to check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
• Watch and control your blood sugar levels.
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of eye disease, as well as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. It may be necessary to change diet and exercise habits or take medication to keep blood pressure under control.
• Quitting smoking can significantly reduce the risk for diabetic retinopathy as well as provide other health benefits.
• All women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant and have been diagnosed with diabetes should get a full, dilated eye exam.

Live Right, Save Sight!

Home is the Most Dangerous Place for Eyes

Home may be where the heart is, but it can also be a dangerous place for the eyes. More than half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur every year happen within or around the home.

 According to results from the “Seventh Annual Eye Injury Snapshot” by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT), the most common place of injury was the yard or garden. In addition, one in four eye injuries that occurred in the home were due to home repair or use of power tools. 

 Prevent Blindness Iowa has declared October as Home Eye Safety Awareness Month in an effort to urge the public to take extra care in protecting their eyes in order to avoid painful and potentially blinding eye accidents.  Eye injuries include everything from painful corneal abrasions, to chemical splashes or punctures to the eye that can cause permanent vision loss. 

 When doing everyday chores around the house or repair work in the garage, we can become complacent about remembering to use the proper eye protection, But, we must remember that an eye injury that can occur in a split second can have lifelong impact on vision.

 We urge everyone to wear eyewear approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  The eyewear should have the “Z-87” logo stamped on the frames.

 Prevent Blindness Iowa also recommends the following:

•  Provide effective lights and handrails to improve safety on stairs and reduce the risk of falls.
•  Never mix cleaning agents.  Read and follow all manufacturer instructions and warning labels.
•  Wear safety glasses with side protection or dust goggles to protect against flying particles, and chemical goggles to guard against exposure to fertilizers and pesticides.
•  If you wear prescription glasses, many safety glasses or goggles will fit over your regular glasses.  Regular eyeglasses do not always provide enough protection, and may even cause further injury upon impact.
•  Inspect and remove debris from lawns before mowing.  Make sure others in the yard are wearing eye protection as well as bystanders can be hit by flying debris.
• Keep paints, pesticides, fertilizers, and similar products properly stored in a secure area.  Read and follow all product instructions.
• Keep tools in good condition; damaged tools should be repaired or replaced.
•  Welding or brazing requires special safety goggles or helmets.  Consult your equipment instruction or supplier for the proper protection.

 For more information on how to protect the eyes at home and eye protection recommendations, call us at 800/329-8782 or 515/244-4341 or log on to www.preventblindness.org/iowa.

Stay in the Game, Protect Your Eyes While Playing Sports

Every year, more than 40,000 athletes suffer an eye injury while playing sports.  And, every 13 minutes, an emergency room in the United States treats a sports-related eye injury.   Adults and children can protect their vision while playing sports by wearing the proper eye protection. Prevent Blindness Iowa has dedicated September as Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month to encourage everyone to make eye safety part of the game plan.

 Polycarbonate lenses must be used with protectors that meet or exceed the requirements of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).  Each sport has a specific ASTM code.  Polycarbonate eyewear is 10 times more impact resistant than other plastics, according to the National Eye Institute.  There is no evidence that wearing eye protection hampers athletic performance. 

 Eye injuries can include painful corneal abrasions, blunt trauma and penetrating injuries, inflamed iris, fracture of the eye socket, swollen or detached retinas, traumatic cataract and blood spilling into the eye’s anterior chamber.  The consequences of eye injury can range from temporary to permanent vision loss.

 Any athletes who have poor vision or blindness in one eye should take particular care to protect their remaining vision.  Yet, many forgo eye protection.  According to a recent survey conducted by researchers at the Ohio State University, only 21 percent of college football programs required the use of a faceshield in players with poor vision in one eye, while a mere 20 percent recommended faceshields.

 Whether it is goggles for basketball or faceshields for football players, everyone must make eye protection part of their uniform.  We can’t stress enough how important it is for those who have diminished or no vision in one eye to protect their healthy eye while playing sports.  An eye accident can happen in a split second yet impact the rest of your life.

 Prevent Blindness Iowa provides the following guidelines for purchasing the best eye protection:

• If you wear prescription glasses, ask your eye doctor to fit you for prescription protective sports eyewear.
• If you’re a monocular athlete, ask your eye doctor what sports you can safely participate in. Monocular athletes should always wear sports eye protectors.
• Fogging of the lenses can be a problem. Some eye protectors are available with anti-fog coating. Others have side vents for additional ventilation. Try on different types to determine which is most comfortable.
• Check the packaging to see if the eye protector has been tested for sports use. Also check to see that the eye protector is made of polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate eyeguards are the most impact resistant.
• Sports eye protectors should be padded or cushioned along the brow and bridge of the nose. Padding will prevent them from cutting the skin.
• Try on the eye protector to determine if it’s the right size. Adjust the strap and make sure it’s not too tight or too loose.
• For outdoor sports, look for eye protection that blocks harmful UV rays.

 In an ongoing effort to educate children and their parents on the importance of sports eye injury protection, Prevent Blindness Iowa, Prevent Blindness America, The Coalition to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries and Liberty Sport, Inc., have embarked on the second year of the “September is Sports Eye Injury Prevention Awareness Month” campaign. The program provides free educational materials to eye care professionals, specifically those who are Sports Eye Injury Prevention Centers. 

 For more information on sports eye injury prevention and information on sport-specific eye protection recommendations, please call Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515-244-4341/800-329-8782 or log on to www.preventblindness.org/iowa.

Before School Starts this Year, Make Sure Every Child Takes the Test that May Help them Pass all the Rest

The first day of school is quickly approaching.  And, parents know there is so much to be done before the first day of school to make sure that their child has all of the tools to succeed this school year. A key part of this success starts with healthy eyesight in the classroom.

A child’s ability to see the blackboard and the words on a page clearly is critical to their learning experience.  Prevent Blindness Iowa has declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month in an effort to encourage parents to learn about ways they can help protect their child’s vision.

Often children do not realize they have problems with their vision because they think how they see is how everyone else sees. They learn to compensate with their vision problems without fixing them, which can lead to more problems in school and later in life. Unfortunately, some students are misdiagnosed as having a learning disability or behavioral problems when they may simply have vision impairment.  This confusion can be eliminated taking a child for a certified vision screening or an eye exam.

“Vision problems affect one in four school-aged children.  We want all children to make sure their child’s eye problems do not go unnoticed this school year,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America.  “A child should not have to struggle in school because of an undetected vision problem.”

Eye problems can range from common refractive errors such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, to serious eye conditions including:

Amblyopia or “lazy eye” – the most common cause of visual impairment in children.  As the brain develops and receives diminished images from the affected eye, it begins to suppress those images and favor the unaffected eye.  If this condition persists, the weaker eye may become useless.  Amblyopia becomes more difficult to treat effectively as the child becomes older.

Strabismus or “crossed eyes” – a condition where eyes are misaligned, or do not line up with each other.  This problem is caused when the muscles do not work together.  Strabismus may eventually lead to amblyopia.  Approximately one in 50 children has strabismus.

Parents should hit the books as well to learn more about how to keep their children’s eyes healthy.  Prevent Blindness America has created “Star Pupils,” a free program specifically designed to educate parents on what they can do to ensure healthy eyesight for their kids.  Parents may visit Starpupils.org and receive free information on everything from common eye conditions in children to tips on how to protect eyes from injury while playing sports.

For more information on children’s eye health and safety, please call Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515-244-4341 or log on to www.preventblindness.org/iowa.

The Most Beautiful Eyes Contest

The Most Beautiful Eyes Contest begins today!

The “Most Beautiful Eyes Contest” allows children across the United States the chance to become the face of the Star Pupils program in 2012 and win a $25,000 scholarship.

From today through August 31^st, 2011, parents of children ages zero to 17 are encouraged to enter their child in the Prevent Blindness America Most Beautiful Eyes Contest by submitting a photo to the Prevent Blindness America Facebook page.

For the entire month of September, the public will be encouraged to place online votes for their choice of the child with the most beautiful eyes. The first 50 entries will receive a free pair of RKS Sunglasses.  Each state will have one winner (void where prohibited), which will advance to the second round of voting.  All state winners will receive a free pair of Eagle Eyes Optics Astro and Rocketeer Sunglasses for kids plus a Kids’ Fisher® Space Pen. Celebrity judges will include legendary broadcaster Larry King, Baltimore Orioles player Derrek Lee and former astronaut Walter Cunningham, who will then select three finalists and the contest winner.

The three finalists and their families will enjoy a weekend in Chicago to attend the Prevent Blindness America Annual Awards Banquet on Friday, November 18, 2011, where the overall winner will be announced. In addition to a $25,000 scholarship, the winner will become the face of the Star Pupils program for 2012. The second prize winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship, followed by third place to receive a $2,000 scholarship.

“Our Most Beautiful Eyes Contest is a fun, positive way to make a big difference in a child’s life,” said Jeanne Burmeister, Prevent Blindness Iowa Executive Director. “We continually stress the role that vision plays in a child’s learning and now, not only are we bringing this awareness to parents, we can also help parents support their child’s education with the Star Pupils scholarship. We are excited that we can truly make a difference in the future of these children, starting now.”

The “Most Beautiful Eyes Contest” is designed to support the Star Pupils program, the signature vision and education platform for Prevent Blindness Iowa and Prevent Blindness America. The contest is sponsored by Marchon Eyewear, Advantica Eyewear, Eagle Eyes Optics®, and Real Kids Shades (RKS).

Millions of children with vision problems across the country do not have access to vision care or may not realize they have a vision problem, which can impact their education and lead to problems later in life. But vision problems can be solved with a visit to an eye care professional. Star Pupils seeks to help five million kids become star pupils through preventative vision care.

Sign your children up today for the Most Beautiful Eyes Contest!

For more information about the Most Beautiful Eyes contest, please visit facebook.com/preventblindness

Spend the Fourth of July with Friends and Family This Year, Not in the Emergency Room

Nearly 6,300 Americans spent part of their Fourth of July holiday in the emergency room in 2010 due to fireworks injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Of those, fireworks caused an estimated 1,800 eye injuries. The injuries included contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies in the eye.  Some injuries even caused permanent vision loss.

 According to the National Fire Protection Association, “safe and sane” fireworks cause more injuries than illegal fireworks, especially to preschool children.  For children under the age of 5, half of the total injuries were from sparklers. Children ages 15 and younger make up a significant number of fireworks injuries, accounting for 40 percent. 

 Prevent Blindness Iowa supports the development and enforcement of bans on the importation, sale and use of all fireworks and sparklers, except for authorized public displays by competent licensed operators. The non-profit group believes it is the only effective means of eliminating the social and economic impact of fireworks-related trauma and damage. 

 “We encourage everyone to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday this year without using consumer fireworks,” said Jeanne Burmeister, Prevent Blindness Iowa Executive Director.  “Whether you’re attending community events, family picnics or public displays by fireworks professionals, we wish you and your family a safe Independence Day.”

 Prevent Blindness Iowa offers the “Safe Summer Celebrations” brochure free to parents.  The brochure offers creative tips on celebrating safely for kids and adults.  Suggestions include everything from face-painting, to making patriotic desserts, to creating glow-in-the-dark t-shirts and hats with special paints and markers.

 In case of an eye-related accident, Prevent Blindness Iowa also offers its “First Aid for Eye Emergencies” sticker in both English and Spanish, free to the public, and recommends the following should an eye injury occur:

 If there are specks in the eye,

• DO NOT rub the eye.
• Use an eye wash or let tears wash out specks or particles;
• Lift the upper eyelid outward and down over the lower lid;
• If the speck doesn’t wash out, keep the eye closed, bandage and see a doctor or go to the emergency room.

 If the eye or eyelid is cut or punctured,

• DO NOT wash out the eye with water.
• DO NOT try to remove an object stuck in the eye.
• Cover the eye with a rigid shield without pressure.  The bottom half of a paper cup may be used.  See a doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.

 For more information on fireworks safety, or to request a free copy of the Safe Summer Celebrations brochure or the First Aid for Eye Emergencies sticker, Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515/244-4341 or 800/329-8782 or log on to www.preventblindness.org.

From everyone at Prevent Blindness Iowa we wish you a Happy Independence Day!

 

Don’t Fry Day

Hi, everyone I’m Nina the new Intern at Prevent Blindness Iowa! With summer fast approaching May has been designated as ultraviolet awareness month, and The Vision Council and Prevent Blindness Iowa encourage everyone to protect their eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays. These two groups are teaming together with The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention to voice their support for Don’t Fry Day this coming Friday, May 27. Don’t Fry Day is meant to help reduce the rising numbers of skin cancer in theUnited States.

“The Vision Council, Prevent Blindness Iowa and Prevent Blindness America want to make sure that people are aware of the need to protect their vision as well as their skin from overexposure to the sun,” said Ed Greene, CEO of The Vision Council. “Along with sunscreen, hats and other protective gear, we want people to remember to wear UV-blocking sunglasses whenever they’re outside.”

Both the Vision Council and Prevent Blindness Iowa have tools that can help keep everyone stay safe in the sun.  The Vision Council’s new report “Hidden Dangers of UV: Keeping Your Eyes Safe” will soon be released and tells the importance of protecting the eyes and the skin around the eyes. Prevent Blindness America also offers “The UV Learning Center,” that gives free information about the dangers of UV rays and how to protect yourself.

“You can still enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors,” assures Jeanne Burmeister, Prevent Blindness Iowa Executive Director. “Putting on sunglasses and applying sunscreen takes only a few minutes and helps avoid dangerous sunburns and future vision issues, such as cataracts or macular degeneration.”

 Wearing sunglasses or other eyewear that shield your eyes from the sun is the best protection. To learn more go to: www.thevisioncouncil.org/sunglasses or www.preventblindness.org/iowa .

Welcome to the PBIowa Blog

Hi, thanks for checking out our blog. I’m Moriah, the intern this summer at Prevent Blindness Iowa. I’m passionate about preventing vision loss both because of my own vision problems (I’m legally blind without my contacts) and my connection with Delta Gamma’s Foundation- Service for Sight- as I am the President of the Eta Epsilon Chapter of DG at Vanderbilt Univeristy in Nashville.

However, I am home in Des Moines for the summer and will be helping Prevent Blindness Iowa build up their use of social media through Twitter, Facebook, and this blog. Through all three platforms, we will be providing you with information about eye health, safety, and awareness as well as our upcoming events. Make sure to mark your calendars for both our Light the Night for Sight Walk on June 17th as part of Johnston Green Days and A Shot in the Dark Golf Outing on April 27th!

Thank you for interest in and support of Prevent Blindness Iowa! Feel free to leave comments or questions.

Light the Night for Sight

If you’re looking for a fun and simple way to support Prevent Blindess Iowa, look no further. On June 17th, we will be hosting the Light the Night for Sight Walk. The walk is in coordination with Johnston Green Days, and is on the first night of their four day long free festival.

There is no cost to participate; however, we strongly encourage walkers to raise donations. If you raise at least $100, you will receive a glow-in-the-dark t-shirt! The walk is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of consumer fireworks, educate the public on the importance of sports eye safety and UV protection and provide information on how to preserve sight.

Registration for the event begins at 6:15pm, and the walk will start at 7:30pm. If you are interested in participating, please contact Amy O’Brien at (515)244-4341 or e-mail her at aobrien@preventblindness.org. We look forward to seeing you on the 17th!

May: UV Awareness Month

With all this nice, sunny weather we’ve been having, I’m sure many of you have slipped on your sunglasses lately. But do you know how to find eyewear that will adequately protect your eyes from UV rays? And furthermore, do you know what negative effects UV rays can have on your eyes?

One of the primary missions of Prevent Blindness Iowa is to educate the public about eye health and safety. As such, we are so fortunate to have our national organization- Prevent Blindness America- provide us with informative materials each month about a particular topic.

Since the month of May and its focus on UV awareness is coming to an end, I wanted to provide you with some information about how to keep your eyes protected throughout the summer and beyond.

You can keep your eyes protected by wearing protective eyewear as well as a wide brimmed hat to block out the sun. When selecting your eyewear make sure it reduces glare and blocks out 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays. Remember that protective eyewear is just as important, if not more so, for children as it for adults.

There are many risks and dangers of exposing your eyes to UV rays. These include macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium (a growth on the white of the eye), skin cancer around the eyelids, and corneal sunburn (also known as photokeratitis)

Spending a little time finding the proper eyewear can protect you from the lifelong damages of UV rays. If you want to find out more about how you can keep yourself protected, visit Prebent Blindness America’s UV Learning Center. If you need a new pair of sunglasses, check out Prevent Blindness America’s Online Auction which has sunglasses as well as other items such as restaurant gift cards and sports memorabilia up for sale to raise money for the organization’s educational programs and eye screenings.. Be sure to check out the auction soon as it ends Friday, May 28th at 4pm CST.

Vision Research on a National and Local Scale

June is Prevent Blindness America’s Vision Research Month. The national organization has provided over $500,000 to eye safety and disease studies through its Investigator Awards Program. But beyond that, the national organization has worked tirelessly to promote awareness over the past decade. In 2003, Prevent Blindness America entered a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control that has furthered public education  and partnerships with individual state public health departments.

If you’re interested in learning more about the programs implemented by affiliates such as Prevent Blindness Georgia’s Adult Demonstration Project that trains workers at senior centers to screen for eye problems or Prevent Blindness Tennessee’s vision symposium, you can check out PBA’s “Working to Advance Public Health, Vision and Eye Care in the US”.

However, today, I thought I would share with you about a project we have here at Prevent Blindness Iowa that combines research with community action. We are currently contacting school districts across Iowa in an attempt to find out how they conduct vision screenings in their district.

Over the past week, I’ve successfully contacted 30 school districts (about 10% of all districts statewide) with a few simple questions for the school nurse. We want to know at what grade levels they screen, what kind of equipment they use (charts or machines), what kind of screening they do (distance, near, and/or color), if they receive help from any outside sources, and most importantly, would the nurses be interested in further education on the topic of vision screenings in schools.

As you might imagine, I’ve made some interesting discoveries. First off, there are more school districts in the state with a total enrollment of less than 1,000 students than there are districts with an enrollment of over 1,000 (240 districts vs. 117 districts). Maybe this only surprises me because I grew up in Des Moines where one high school has more than 1,000 students, but I digress.

Of the 30 districts I’ve spoken with, only one (and a very tiny one at that) does not provide vision screenings. The majority of sampled districts provide screening at multiple elementary grades, and many larger districts own their own screening machhine (usually a Keystone or a Titmus).

Several districts receive help with vision screening, in particular for pre-schoolers, from their local Lion’s Club, and some districts receive assistance from their AEA.

Over 70% of nurses I’ve spoken with are interested in further education although many are concerned that they wouldn’t be able to get off of work to attend training. One nurse informed me that many school nurses are nurse’s associates rather than a R.N., so it would be beneficial to provide training for both groups.

As we get in touch with more districts, Prevent Blindness Iowa will try to determine what the best course of action is to ensure that school nurses are properly trained to vision screen students. Our local research may not work to find the cause and cure for eye diseases like the research Prevent Blindness America supports nationally, but we hope our findings will have a significant impact on the wellbeing of schoolchildren in our state and the knowledge of our school nurses.

Prevent Blindness IA on YouTube and Your Television

Thanks to Josh Fleming, one of our great board members, Prevent Blindness Iowa now has two videos posted on YouTube to promote our organization and its goals.

The first video is a short Public Service Announcement that will be playing on Mediacom Cable here in Iowa through the month of July.

The second video provides a more detailed look at the positive outcomes of Prevent Blindness Iowa’s work in the community as 8-year old Regan and her mom tell their story.

As you probably noticed, both videos emphasize the importance of prevention as the first video states that 50% of all blindness is preventable and the second video provides a case study of the effectiveness of vision screenings. Of course, this should come as no suprise from an organization with the word “prevention” in its name.

However, if you would like to learn more about the vision Prevent Blindness America has for prevention efforts that will catch sight problems early, please read the national organziation’s Call to Action. This document outlines PBA’s current work such as workin with the Office of Head Start and being a leading support of VSP Vision Care Sight for Students program as well as the 2020 Visionary Goal that all children in the US receive proper screening before attending school.

Light the Night for Sight 2010 Post-Event Wrap-Up

It was hot and windy, but the rain held off last Thursday evening for the over 250 participants to walk in support of Prevent Blindness Iowa. This year’s event was a great success and raised over $44,000 for PBI.

This year’s walk was led by Lane, our 2010 Youth Ambassador. Lane’s family and friends raised $2129.90 which was enough to earn Walkin’ with Lane 1st Place for an individual team.

Team Drew Man came in 2nd in the individual team category with $1825 raised.

Doug Gardner and Chris Schroeder were the 1st and 2nd place individual walkers raising $1825 and $1628 for Prevent Blindness Iowa respectively.

Wolfe Eye Clinic was the 2nd placing team in the category for coporate teams with 500 employees or less. They raised $1959 for PBI. NCMIC came in 1st in this division with $2510 raised.

Wells Fargo Diversity Champs were the 1st Place team for corporate teams with more than 500 employees raising an impressive $7989.50.

A special thanks goes out to all our sponsors: Hy-Vee, ABC-5, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Wells Fargo, West Bancorporation, CDS Global, Bankers Trust, Iowa Health System, NCMIC Group, and Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Thanks to everyone who participated and get ready for Prevent Blindness Iowa’s next event- A Shot in the Dark taking place August 27th at Willow Creek Golf Course in West Des Moines.

Happy Safe Fourth of July!

If you grew up in Iowa you no doubt knew of someone who would cross the border into Missouri every summer to pick up some fireworks for their own backyard 4th of July celebration. Maybe it was your own family or just your cool neighbor next door. Plenty of Iowans seem to forget there’s a reason Iowa has outlawed fireworks outside of professional displays, and it’s not because our state representatives and senators are a bunch of killjoys.

Just ask Zachary Alford of Stuart, Iowa. When Zachary was fourteen, he thought he was a safe distance from bottle rockets being shot off. Unfortunately, one went astray and hit him in the eye. Zachary suffered a puncture wound from the bottle rocket to his eye. He immediately underwent surgery, and in the three years since his injury Zachary has endured three more eye surgeries. He now also has glaucoma in the injured eye. Zachary has some peripheral vision but has permanently lost much of the sight in his eye.

Zachary’s story is just one among the 5,000 Americans sent to the emergency room every 4th of July weekend due to fireworks injuries. 1,000 of those were eye injuries. And don’t think you’re playing it safe by sticking just to sparklers. There are 800 injuires each year due to sparklers, and 30% of those are to children under 5.  In fact, 40% of all fireworks related injuries are to children under the age of 15. So be sure to keep you and your kids this safe this weekend. Take them to one of the central Iowa fireworks displays listed below. It will be much more entertaining and definitely safer than playing with firecrackers in the backyard.

July 1st: Yankee Doodle Pops- West Capitol Terrace, State Capitol Grounds. Local Metro Arts group, Soya Vista will open the concert at 6:45 p.m. and the orchestra will take stage at 8:30 p.m. A fireworks display will culminate the event.

July 4th: Windsor Heights- fireworks set off from Colby Park at 10pm.

July 4th: Urbandale- Lions Park. Fireworks at 10pm.

July 4th: West Des Moines- Railroad Park, Valley Junction. Fireworks in the evening to culminate a day-long celebration.

July 4th: Ames- Reiman Gardens. The Gardens will be open late so visitors can view the fireworks display.

July 4th: Waukee- Centennial Park. Fireworks at 9:30pm following live music by Standing Hampton.

July 4th: Altoona- Adventureland Park. Fireworks at 9:45.

July 4th: West Des Moines- Raccoon River Park. Fireworks at 8:30.

Work or Play at A Shot in the Dark

Prevent Blindness Iowa will be hosting its 23rd Annual A Shot in the Dark golf outing on August 27th at Willow Creek Golf Course in West Des Moines.  This unique event presents interesting challenges for all types of golfers and introduces them to the major disability of blindness as they test their skills at night.

The golf outing is a nine hole best shot for four person teams. Registration is $75 a person and includes green fees, dinner, awards party and other necessary equipment for night golf, excluding golf clubs and flashlights.  The night is full of fun and laughter as foursomes make their way around the moonlit course with only flashlights and glow in the dark products.  After golf, the clubhouse is the place for snacks, drinks, music and more fun.  At the awards ceremony, high and low score teams are announced for each of the courses along with auction prize winners.

If you’re not a golfer, we would love to have you volunteer with the event. Volunteers will serve as Hole Marshals to help keep the golfers on course through the challenges of golfing at night. Volunteers are asked to be available from 6:45-10:30, but are invited to the the post event awards party.

If you’re interested in either registering to play in the outing or to volunteer for the event, please give us a call at (515) 244-4341 or e-mail us at mail@preventblindnessiowa.org

Screening for Our Future

This morning, one more certified screener was added to the ranks of over 100 Iowans PBI has trained over the years.

Our Executive Director, Jeanne Burmeister, led Des Moines University medical student Jeana through the two and a half hour Children’s Vision Screening Certification that covers how to set up and perform a vision screening for preschoolers as well as how to go about referring students with eye problems to a health professional.

Jeana, who aced her certification exam, is now qualified to conduct eye exams for children with the assistance of either volunteers or other certified screeners. As we get closer to the start of the school year, having qualified screeners available at schools is an essential part of the work Prevent Blindness Iowa does.

If you’re interested in being screened yourself, PBI will be at the Iowa State Fair on August 18th in the Farm Bureau Tent conducting screenings for both children and adults.

For further information about screenings or how you can get involved, please e-mail us at mail@preventblindnessiowa.org.

Cataract Awareness Month

August is a busy month for Prevent Blindness Iowa. In addition to our A Shot in the Dark Golf Outing on August 27th, Prevent Blindness America has declared August both Cataract Awareness Month and Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. With so much going on in this upcoming month, I decided to get a little head start by sharing some information about cataracts with you.

What exactly defines a cataract? It is a clouding of the eye’s lens, and is also the leading cause of blindness worldwide.

You’re probably aware that cataracts are a serious problem for older adults. In fact, half of all Americans will develop cataracts by age 80. PBA estimates that by 2020, there will be 31 million Americans over the age of 40 living with cataracts.

However, cataracts are not a problem just for the middle-aged and elderly. They may occur in children and younger adults. Some risk factors for developing cataracts at a younger age include: long-term exposure to UV rays, inflammation in the eye, hereditary influences, long-term steroid use, and smoking.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a report entitled, “Protecting the Ozone Layer Protects Eyesight – A Report on Cataract Incidence in the United States Using the Atmospheric and Health Effects Framework Model”. The report estimates  more than 22 million cataract cases will be avoided for Americans born between 1985 and 2100 as the result of international efforts to reduce human-made ozone-depleting substances under a treaty with universal participation.

As a result of this report, Prevent Blindness has joined the EPA with its SunWise Campaign that teaches children and their caregivers how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun.

As positive environmental changes take place, the prevalence of cataracts will hopefully decrease. Fortunately, cataract surgery is an effective and safe method to treat cataracts. In fact, surgery is the only treament proven to work. There were 2.79 million cataract surgeries perfomed in the US in 2005.

Children’s Eye Health and Contact Lenses

This month is an important time for Prevent Blindness America and its affiliates to raise awareness about the importance of children’s eye health and safety. It just so happens the awareness month coincides with a recently relased report from the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal that found a shockingly high rate of emergency visits among children and young adults due to injuires relating to their contact lenses.

The study found in the course of a year at 100 hospitals there were 34,000 visits to the emergency room from contact lens injuries. 16-21 year olds were the most likely to be admitted with 11-15 year olds right behind.

The important thing to learn from this study is that contacts must be treated with care and caution especially among young people. The findings support both the American Academy of Opthalmology’s and Prevent Blindness America’s position that contacts should be treated as medical devices that should only be used with a prescription and with the oversight of a eye care professional.

New Year – New Blog!

Well a new blog POST at least!  We were fortunate to have a great intern at Prevent Blindness Iowa for the summer of 2010.  She concentrated on social media and moved our organization forward by keeping up on Facebook and Twitter and getting this blog going.  Since she left I have dropped the ball.  So here goes…

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month.  Unfortunately this has new meaning for me this year.  My dad has recently been diagnosed with glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye disease that slowly robs a person of their vision.  It is called the sneak thief of sight because most people don’t know they have it until vision is permanently lost.  Fortunately my dad has always had regular eye exams and his glaucoma was detected early.  He is currently being treated with daily eye drops, but he may eventually have permanent vision loss.  I can’t even imagine what impact this will have on my dad.  He is constantly reading, is an avid fly fisherman – tying his own flies and loves to ski and bike.  While he can compensate for vision loss in some of those activities, it would have a dramatic impact on him and the rest of the family.  Glaucoma is a hereditary eye disease.  My sister and I will have to be extra diligent with our vision care – as will my young children as they age.

Unfortunately there are many people facing the same situation.  Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in America.  According to the study “Vision Problems in the U.S.” by Prevent Blindness America and the National Eye Institute (NEI), there are over 23,600 Iowans ages 40 and older who have glaucoma.

There are many risk factors for glaucoma including:

• Age: Those who are 40 and older are more likely to develop glaucoma. The older you are, the greater your risk.
• Race: Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African American and Hispanic populations in America.
• Family History: If you have a parent or sibling who has glaucoma, you are more likely to develop the disease.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
• Nearsightedness: People who are very nearsighted are at greater risk.
• Eye Injury or Surgery: Those who have had eye surgery or eye injuries may develop secondary glaucoma.
• Steroid Medication: Steroids may increase the risk of glaucoma when used for extended periods of time.

Prevent Blindness Iowa offers a dedicated website for free information on glaucoma at preventblindness.org/glaucoma.  Additional information may also be obtained in English or Spanish by calling 515-244-4341/800-329-8782.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for glaucoma.  However, the good news is that if detected and treated early, the effects of vision loss can be diminished.  We hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2011 and that it includes a visit to the eye doctor!

FREE Workplace Eye Health Program

Free Eye Health Program for Employers!

 Prevent Blindness Iowa has been dedicated to protecting vision in the workplace for decades and has designated March as Workplace Vision Wellness Month in an effort to educate corporations and their employees on the importance of vision health. 

 Prevent Blindness Iowa is offering our Healthy Eyes Vision Wellness Program free to employers across Iowa.  The program offers printed posters to hang in common areas of the workplace as well as various eye health educational materials designed to encourage workers to make their vision health a priority.  Topics include eye protection recommendations for work or at play, and information on various eye diseases and conditions for adults and children.  The materials were developed by leading eye care professionals including ophthalmologists, optometrists and research professionals.

 By promoting eye health and safety in the workplace, companies can actually help reduce their annual healthcare costs.  An eye exam by a licensed eye care professional can detect the early signs of eye disease which can be more easily treated if detected early.

 In addition, eye exams can help to uncover evidence of other diseases including diabetes or hypertension.  The more vision ailments that employees have, the more medical care they utilize, which generates increased health-related expenditures for the employer such as absenteeism, sick leave and premature retirement due to vision-related illness or work related eye injuries.

 By joining the Healthy Eyes Vision Wellness Program, participants will receive:

• Vision Wellness in the Workplace Promotion Guide
• Prevent Blindness America’s Healthy Vision Observance Calendar
• Monthly vision health and safety posters
• A year of monthly fact sheets based on the Healthy Vision Observance Calendar
• A free download of the Adult Vision Risk Assessment
• Common Eye Myths poster

Our hope is that companies big or small will sign up for this unique, no-cost program that provides essential information on protecting the eyes of their most precious resource, their employees!

 To find out how your company can sign up for the Healthy Eyes Vision Wellness Program or to receive free information on eye safety in the workplace, please call Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515/244-4341 or 800/329-8782 or visit preventblindness.org/wellness.

Meet Ethan!

Four year old Ethan is an energetic preschooler.  He loves to play with his friends, build snow forts, play football and read books.  But Ethan was having trouble seeing the football games and books and no one knew.

 Ethan participated in a free vision screening at his preschool conducted by Telephone Pioneers, a group of retirees who provide screenings as volunteers of Prevent Blindness Iowa.  Ethan was unable to pass the vision screening and was referred for a complete eye exam by an eye doctor.  The eye doctor diagnosed Ethan with a vision problem and prescribed glasses for him.

 Ethan’s parents, Maren and Michael, were very surprised as they had not noticed any vision problems with Ethan.  Since neither Maren or Michael had vision problems as children they never suspected that Ethan was having trouble seeing.  They are grateful that Ethan received Prevent Blindness Iowa’s free screening!

 Ethan is now wearing glasses and will have regular eye exams.  Ethan’s teacher has even noticed that he seems to pay attention better during class now that he has his glasses!  Thanks to Prevent Blindness Iowa’s early detection of his vision problem Ethan will be able to play football and read books with healthy eyes!

 Ethan is really excited to be the 2011 Ambassador because he “wants to help other kids”!

Women’s Eye Health Month

Prevent Blindness Iowa Provides Information to Help Protect Women’s Vision from Prevalent Eye Condition

April may be Women’s Eye Health Month but eye problems can affect men and women.  The following information about Dry Eye Syndrome is important to everyone.  And men should share this with their mother, wife, sister or daughter!

Dry Eye Syndrome, a painful condition that can impair vision and increase the risk of eye infection, affects millions of Americans.  Dry Eye is actually a group of disorders caused by the inability to produce enough tears with sufficient lubrication.  Symptoms can include burning or itchy eyes as well as increased eye mucus and a gritty or scratchy feeling on the eyes.  Severe cases may even include corneal scarring or ulcers.    Dry Eye is one of the leading causes of visits to eye care professionals.  Treatment options vary from eye drops and ointments to some types of surgery.

 The risk of Dry Eye increases with age.  Other risk factors include patients who have undergone refractive surgery (such as LASIK), have severe allergies, are on certain medications, or are contact lens wearers.  Those with rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases are also at increased risk.

 Women are also more likely to develop Dry Eye.  Approximately 6 million have moderate to severe symptoms of dry eye syndrome, as compared to 3 million men, according to the National Women’s Health Resource Center.

 Women who are pregnant, on certain types of birth control, or experiencing menopause have increased rates of Dry Eye.  In fact, according to the National Eye Institute, women who are on hormone replacement therapy are also more likely to experience symptoms.  Women taking only estrogen are 70 percent more likely to experience Dry Eye, and those taking estrogen and progesterone have a 30 percent increased risk of developing the condition. 

 As part of April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness month, Prevent Blindness Iowa offers the following tips on helping to avoid irritation from Dry Eye:

• Use a humidifier to keep natural moisture in the air
• Avoid hair dryers, harsh winds, overly warm rooms and cigarette smoke
• When outdoors, wear goggles or sunglasses that wrap around the eyes
• Use drops of artificial tears, if directed by your doctor, especially in climates with low humidity, in air conditioned environments, and in airplanes or cars when the heater or defroster is on.
• When using a computer, remember to blink often and give eyes a rest from staring at the screen
• Apply a warm washcloth to soothe irritated eyes
• Do not use harsh soaps or cleansers on around the eye area

 “Not only do more women have Dry Eye, they are also more likely to develop eye diseases such as cataracts and glaucoma.  And, because of increased longevity, women are more likely to develop macular degeneration,” said Lynn K Gordon, MD, PhD, president of the national organization, Women in Ophthalmology.  “It is imperative that women of every age make an appointment with their eye doctor as soon as possible to ensure that they are protecting their vision for the future.”

 For more information on Dry Eye or other eye diseases or conditions with higher incidence rates in women, please contact Prevent Blindness Iowa at 515-244-4341/800-329-8782 or visit www.preventblindness.org.