2005 Media Releases

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month
More than 2 million Americans age 40 and older suffer from glaucoma. Nearly half do not know they have the disease—it causes no early symptoms. Prevent Blindness America will provide insightful information about this "sneak thief of sight."

February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss, affecting 1.6 million Americans age 50 and older. Low vision aids can make the most of remaining vision. Information on eye disease warning signs and treatment will be available.

March is Workplace Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month
Can you see the dangers in your workplace? Accidents at work are a major cause of preventable blindness. Contact Prevent Blindness America for information on The Wise Owl® Program which promotes eye safety in the workplace.

April is Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
Women often manage family health concerns.  Do you know how to protect your sight?  Hormonal changes, age and smoking can endanger sight.  Information on women's and family eye-health issues will be provided.

May is National Sight Saving Month: Ultraviolet Awareness
Exposure to UV rays can burn delicate eye tissue and raise the risk of developing cataracts and cancers of the eye.  Protecting your eyes from UV dangers, choosing the right sunglasses, and home eye safety will be the topic of the month.

June is Vision Research Month
While millions of Americans benefit from vision research, many eye diseases have no effective treatments or cures.  An overview of vision research successes and the urgent need for future studies will be covered.

Also during the month of June, Prevent Blindness Iowa will hold it's annual Light the Night for Sight walk, where we will raise money to support our sight saving programs here in Iowa.

2004 Light the Night for Sight Press Release

July is Fireworks Safety Month
Activities during this period will alert parents and children to the dangers of playing with fireworks. Prevent Blindness America will offer safer ways to celebrate the Fourth of July.

August is Children's Eye Health/Safety Month & Cataract Awareness Month
Included in this month will be information about amblyopia, a condition that can affect 2 to 3% of children and cause permanent vision loss. Also included will be tips about preventing eye injuries in children, signs of possible eye problems and general eye health.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world.  There are close to 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older with cataracts.  More than half of all Americans will have cataracts by age 80.  Prevent Blindness will offer tips about prevention and information about surgery.

September is Home & Sports Eye Safety Month
There are thousands of eye injuries a year related to common household products and sports. Tips on how to protect yourself and your children from such eye injuries will be discussed. 

Also during this month, Prevent Blindness Iowa will hold it's annual A Shot in the Dark night golf outing, where we will raise money to support our sight saving programs here in Iowa.

October is Halloween Safety Month
There are steps you can take to make it a safe Halloween for children and teens. Information about the dangers of cosmetic contact lenses will be included, as the use of these lenses increases during this holiday.

November is Diabetic Eye Disease Month
Can people with diabetes prevent the onset of diabetic eye disease? During this observance, Prevent Blindness America will offer information to help the 5.3 million Americans age 18 and older who suffer from diabetic eye disease.

December is Safe Toys & Gifts Month
What are the most dangerous toys to children's eyesight? Tips on how to choose age-appropriate toys will be distributed this month.

Prevent Blindness America's 2004 National Press Release

Contact Prevent Blindness Iowa if you would like more information or to schedule a speaker concerning one of these topics.  515-244-4341 or toll free 800-329-8782