March 2, 2023 — Prevent Blindness is hosting its 18th Eyes on Capitol Hill advocacy event on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, so patients, care partners, allied personnel, and medical professionals can speak with elected officials about a variety of vision and eye health issues and the need for legislative and funding support.
 
Some key issues Prevent Blindness continues to raise awareness and provide education about are inequitable access to eye health, health and income disparities, the negative impact of vision loss on independence and mental health, and the emotional and financial toll of eye diseases and conditions.
 
The event is also an opportunity for Prevent Blindness’s ASPECT (Advocacy, Support, Perspective, Empowerment, Communication, and Training) Patient Engagement Program participants to share their stories with legislators and utilize advocacy communication skills taught by the program. At this year’s event, 22 returning ASPECT graduates and 34 new ASPECT-trained advocates will be present.
 
The following are specific actions 2023 Eyes on Capitol Hill advocates will ask of elected officials:
 

• Support a funding level of $5 million for the Vision and Eye Health Budget Line, which provides federal funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Vision Health Initiative.
• Maintain the current funding level of $4 million for the CDC’s glaucoma program, which allows the CDC to continue glaucoma detection, referral, and treatment programs through community-level partnerships.
• Join the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Vision Caucus, which is dedicated to strengthening and stimulating national dialogue and policy on vision-related issues.

 
“The Eyes on Capitol Hill program provides our legislators a unique opportunity to truly understand how vision issues impact their constituents through the personal stories of patients, families, medical professionals, and more,” says Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. “Now in our 18th consecutive year, we are proud to continue this legacy of patient advocacy and look forward to working with government officials to help save sight.”
 
For more information: preventblindness.org/advocacy-initiatives.