Prevent Blindness has established the “Diabetes + the Eyes Advisory Committee” to guide national programming and education on diabetes-related eye health. The committee’s focus includes raising awareness, promoting early identification of diabetes-related eye diseases, improving access to care and treatment, advancing policy, supporting research, and enhancing surveillance.

Diabetes-related retinopathy affects more than 1 in 4 Americans who are living with diabetes and is a major cause of blindness among adults. According to the National Eye Institute, it can progress to diabetes-related macular edema and increase the risk for cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. The risk of significant vision loss and blindness rises with the duration of diabetes.

The all-volunteer committee includes leaders from ophthalmology, optometry, public health, the vision and eye health industry, nonprofit diabetes and vision organizations, and patient advocacy groups. All members are named in a press release.

Prevent Blindness is rolling out several new initiatives to address diabetes-related eye disease:

1. North Carolina Pilot Program (Supported by UnitedHealthcare) – This project will:

   • Test new educational materials for parents of children with diabetes and young adults.

   • Expand tele-retinal screenings for individuals under 40 in community health centers.

   • Improve care coordination.
      

2. Bilingual Eye Health Audio Library (Supported by Regeneron and Genentech) – This voice-activated platform provides short educational content in English and Spanish that is shareable via text message. Currently in final testing, the platform will be launched in clinic settings with affiliate and partner collaboration.
    

3. Modular Education Program for Eyecare Providers (Supported by Regeneron and Genentech) – Focused on patient-centered, bias-free care, these modules are informed by community-based research across 5 states. They will be available through the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology’s Continuing Education Unit (CEU) program and the American Optometric Association’s paraoptometric CEU program.

These efforts build on the Diabetes + the Eyes Educational Toolkit, which was created in 2019 to educate the public about diabetes’ impact on vision and to provide resources for accessing eye care. The toolkit is available in English and Spanish and is supported by Regeneron and VSP Vision.

Information on diabetes-related eye disease for patients can be found at PreventBlindness.org/diabetes. For details on the educational toolkit, visit PreventBlindness.org/diabetes-and-eyes-educational-toolkit. A list of financial assistance resources for vision care is available here.