Services

There are a lot of mistruth about what can harm your eyesight, we know you have heard them... Eating carrots are good for your eyes; don't read in dim light; and blindness just happens. Not true! Nearly 50% of all blindness is caused needlessly and can be prevented. Knowing the truth can help. Here is the truth to some commonly known myths about eyesight...

MYTH: Reading in dim light will cause your eyes to deteriorate.
TRUTH: It may product eye strain, fatigue, headaches and discomfort, but it won't permanently damage your eyes.

MYTH: Watching television too closely or for too long will damage your eyes.
TRUTH: Eye strain, yes. Permanent damage, no. Give your eyes a periodic rest if you plan to watch television for a long time.

MYTH: Eating carrots will improve your vision.
TRUTH: While Vitamin A in carrots is good for a well-balanced diet, eating extra helping won't improve your vision.

MYTH: You can look at the sun when you wear sunglasses.
TRUTH: Never look directly into the sun. Sunglasses will reduce the sun's glare, filter out the majority of ultraviolet light, provide visual protection, and comfort and minimize color distortion. Bright sunlight can damage the cornea, the lens and the retina.

Did you know that out of 1,313,721 Iowans over age 40...

48,944 are visually impaired
15,682 are legally blind
23,841 have age-related macular degeneration
257,490 have cataracts
57,231 have diabetic retinopathy
24,543 have glaucoma

It is for reasons like this that Prevent Blindness Iowa is here today! To learn more about the Services we provide, click on the links below...

Home Eye Test Kits - Publications/Educational Materials - Eye Patch Club -

Vision Service Plan (Sight for Students) - Media Releases -

Children's Vision Screening

In 2003, Prevent Blindness Iowa provided the following services to Iowans:

Public education programs, presentations and exhibits about eye disease, eye care and safety.
Distributed over 20,000 publications and materials to help Iowans better understand the causes, risk factors and treatments of eye disease and injury.
Helped support the Fight for Sight research division of Prevent Blindness America, which explores new treatments for eye disorders and diseases.
Provided free vision screening to over 22,000 preschool and school age children.
Helped provide free eye exams and glasses to 149 low income children through the Vision Service Plan "Sight for Students" Program.
Provided innovative vision screening training to volunteers and share the latest research and treatment advances.